Chandigarh, April 3: The Punjab government has extended the deadline for its One-Time Settlement (OTS) scheme, offering a 50 percent rebate on pending non-construction fees for Improvement Trusts until April 30, 2026. Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora announced the decision on Friday, framing the extension as a significant relief measure for property owners across the state.
Minister Arora affirmed that the state would not increase property tax slabs in the current fiscal year. He noted that house tax collections for 2025–26 have already climbed to ₹600 crore, surpassing the ₹500 crore collected during the previous year. To maintain this momentum, officials have been assigned specific targets to recover any outstanding dues.
In a move to improve urban mobility, the government is investing ₹1,300 crore to develop 2,120 km of roads within municipal jurisdictions. The Minister maintained that the project is slated for completion by the end of May 2026. “Special emphasis is being laid on ensuring pothole-free roads before the monsoon using the latest repair technologies,” Minister Arora stated.
The administration also introduced reforms to the building plan approval process. Under the new guidelines, files will be submitted to the Commissioner only once, and Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) approvals will now only be mandatory for plots of half an acre or larger. To further expedite development, a single-window committee system has been established at both district and head office levels.
Regarding public safety, the Minister declared that ₹131 crore is being spent on modernizing fire services. This investment includes the addition of 13 new fire stations and the procurement of advanced fire tenders.
Additionally, the government is prioritizing the maintenance of the state’s drainage systems. Minister Arora affirmed that nine specialized vendors are currently using super suction machines to desilt the sewerage network before the rainy season begins. Projects totaling ₹450 crore for sewerage works have already been allotted for the current fiscal year.
