Five prime government-owned properties in Punjab are set to be auctioned under the Optimum Use of Vacant Government Land (OUVGL) scheme, as the state looks to boost revenue through commercial development.
A high-powered committee chaired by Chief Secretary K.A.P. Sinha finalized the decision in its 59th meeting this week. Out of ten properties under review, five were approved for auction and transfer to the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA).
Printing Press Colony, Patiala – 8 acres
Printing Press Site, Patiala – 10 acres
Veterinary Hospital Land, Barewal Awana, Ludhiana – 2.27 acres
Sugar Mill, Sheron, Tarn Taran – 89 acres
PWD Guest House, Gurdaspur – 1.75 acres
Together, these sites span nearly 111 acres and are expected to fetch significant revenue once auctioned for commercial use.
Five other sites, including hospital lands in Gurdaspur and Ludhiana and a heritage PWD rest house in Patiala, were excluded due to concerns over heritage status and possible controversies. The Patiala rest house, built in 1940, is a protected structure, and any demolition or redevelopment requires prior approval.
Officials indicated that the Ludhiana veterinary hospital will be shifted to a nearby location, while the Gurdaspur guest house will be relocated as well, making way for commercial exploitation of the prime land.
This move is part of the government’s wider attempt to generate revenue by monetizing unused or underutilized properties. Earlier, a land pooling policy aimed at raising ₹25,000 crore was scrapped following strong protests from farmers and opposition parties.
Employee unions of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (PSTCL) have already raised objections, warning of protests if departmental assets are put on sale or lease. According to union leaders, such decisions could affect the future expansion of state power infrastructure.
The Opposition has strongly criticized the government’s decision. Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of trying to “sell Punjab’s future” to mask its financial crisis. He alleged that the state is being reduced to “a bankrupt, mismanaged wreck” and warned that people will not accept the auction of valuable public assets.
Bajwa also questioned AAP’s earlier promises of raising thousands of crores through anti-corruption measures and mining reforms, claiming that the present asset sales reflect a “failure of financial governance.”
All finalized properties will now be handed over to PUDA for auction. The government hopes this step will ease its fiscal stress, but with employee unions threatening strikes and political opposition mounting, the move is likely to remain contentious in the months ahead.