Chandigarh, June 19:The Punjab Department of Social Security, Women and Child Development has commenced the construction of five dedicated working women hostels across Mohali, Jalandhar, and Amritsar to provide secure, affordable, and dignified housing for professional women. This major residential initiative, spearheaded under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, seeks to ease the living burdens of women employed away from their native towns.
“The Government’s primary objective is to ensure that women pursuing employment opportunities away from their homes are provided with safe, dignified and affordable accommodation, enabling them to work with confidence and peace of mind,” declared Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur while launching the flagship project in Sector 66, Mohali.
The newly initiated Sector 66 facility is being built by the Public Works Department at an estimated cost of ₹70 crore and will stand as a seven-storey structure. Once completed, it will be the state’s largest government-run working women hostel, featuring single rooms, double sharing options, and dormitories tailored to house 484 residents comfortably.
“Upon completion, it will be the largest government-run Working Women Hostel in Punjab, providing modern, secure and comfortable accommodation to 484 women,” affirmed the Cabinet Minister, noting that the building will feature unique amenities including an on-site crèche for children and indoor recreational spaces.
The broader state-wide plan includes two additional structures in Mohali: a 150-capacity hostel at NIFT Phase-I costing ₹25.26 crore, and a 100-capacity facility in Sector 79 at ₹12.57 crore. Expanding beyond the district, the department is establishing a 100-capacity hostel at Gandhi Vinita Ashram in Jalandhar for ₹10.11 crore alongside a 150-capacity facility in Amritsar built at an estimated ₹27.34 crore.
“In a rapidly developing city like Mohali, such facilities would greatly benefit women professionals arriving from different parts of the state and country, while also reflecting the Punjab Government’s commitment to women’s safety, empowerment and social welfare,” asserted local MLA Kulwant Singh, who extended gratitude to the administration for prioritizing the projects within a strict timeline.
