Chandigarh, Sept 26 — The Punjab government has announced a ₹125-crore plan to build 500 modern Panchayat Ghars and Common Service Centers (CSCs) across villages, calling it a step toward realizing the dream of a “Rangla Punjab.”
Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sondh said villages with populations of more than 2,800 will each receive one Panchayat Ghar and one Common Service Center. “These are not just buildings of bricks and cement; they are the foundation for transforming the destiny of villages,” Sondh noted while detailing the project.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann formally launched the initiative in Fatehgarh Sahib, stressing that Panchayat Ghars would give village councils “a proper platform to come together and make collective decisions for the welfare of their villages.” Each Panchayat Ghar will be built at a cost of ₹20 lakh, while every Common Service Center will cost ₹5 lakh.
According to Sondh, the Panchayat Ghars will address the absence of dedicated infrastructure for community meetings, while the CSCs will expand access to crucial digital services. “From government scheme registrations to school and college admissions, Aadhaar cards, passports and more, these centers will play a crucial role in bridging the gap for rural citizens,” he said.
Officials described the program as an effort to bring parity between villages and cities. Clean, modern spaces, they said, would restore pride to rural communities and provide a dignified venue for decision-making. The government underscored that the project is not limited to urban areas but is intended to empower grassroots institutions and strengthen democracy in Punjab’s villages.
The Mann government said the CSCs will serve as “digital gateways” for villagers, making government services available at their doorsteps. The centers are expected to improve digital literacy and reduce dependence on middlemen, while also helping villagers enroll in welfare schemes with greater transparency.
“This project is about more than facilities—it is about giving villages the confidence that the government is truly committed to their progress,” Sondh said. He added that the effort reflects the AAP government’s vision of inclusive development, ensuring rural areas are not left behind in Punjab’s growth story.
The initiative is being projected as part of a larger promise to revive Punjab’s lost glory by making villages self-reliant and modern. Officials said the plan is designed to build “smart villages” where people feel empowered and better connected to the state’s development agenda.
By creating these spaces, the government hopes to transform villages into centers of progress, where collective decision-making is transparent, services are accessible, and residents feel a renewed sense of pride. The Mann government emphasized that the journey to a prosperous Punjab will begin not in cities but “from the very heart of every village.”
