Mohali deputy commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal has identified traffic congestion, unauthorised construction and the drug menace as the district’s immediate priorities, promising coordinated enforcement across the civil administration and police. He also said the administration would examine delayed housing projects, prepare for monsoon waterlogging and improve public access to government offices.
During his first interaction with the media after assuming charge, Dachalwal described Mohali as a gateway to Punjab and an emerging centre for information technology, education and healthcare. He said the district would be developed as a model of growth and progress, while acknowledging the administrative challenges created by its rapid urban expansion.
On construction and land-use enforcement, the deputy commissioner said no building would be permitted without approved layouts and building plans. He said strict action, including sealing and demolition, would be taken against unauthorised constructions and illegal encroachments, particularly those obstructing public spaces or worsening traffic congestion.
Dachalwal said he would personally inspect major roads and congestion points during the coming week. The administration will coordinate with the senior superintendent of police and road-safety experts to identify practical interventions. Possible measures include one-way traffic arrangements, restrictions on heavy vehicles and the use of alternative routes, depending on local conditions.
The announcement places traffic management alongside unauthorised development, rather than treating congestion only as a road-capacity problem. Encroachments and buildings constructed without approved plans can affect road access, public spaces and the movement of vehicles and pedestrians. The deputy commissioner did not announce specific locations, enforcement dates or a final traffic plan, but said the inspection would guide the next steps.
The district’s housing sector is also included in the administration’s initial agenda. Dachalwal said he would examine cases in which homebuyers had made payments but had not received possession of their flats. The administration would assess the reasons for non-delivery and take appropriate steps to safeguard the interests of affected buyers. He also said alleged fraud by unauthorised immigration companies would be examined.
On public safety, Dachalwal called for closer coordination between the police and civil administration to address extortion threats and firing incidents. He urged residents to report threatening calls, messages and suspicious activities to the police instead of attempting to handle such matters privately.
The deputy commissioner also said the state government’s anti-drug campaign, Yudh Nasheyan Virudh, would be intensified in Mohali with greater public participation. He linked the campaign to the district’s wider administrative priorities, which include making the city cleaner, safer and better planned.
Monsoon preparedness was another issue raised during the interaction. Dachalwal assured residents that the administration would make advance arrangements to prevent waterlogging, although specific drainage works or response measures were not detailed. He also said residents would be able to approach his office directly on working days without prior appointments or intermediaries.
The administration’s performance, he said, would be assessed through tangible results rather than merely the disposal of files. He also urged residents to participate in the Census and the Special Summary Revision of electoral rolls. The first review of major roads and congestion points is scheduled to take place during the coming week, after which the administration is expected to consider traffic restrictions, alternative routes and enforcement action against unauthorised construction.
