Ludhiana: Modi Road Launches, Women Scheme, and ED Raids
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched key road projects in Punjab on July 17, including the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway and the Ludhiana Bypass. The same week brought welfare scheme milestones and a federal agency raid linked to a Punjab cabinet minister.
Modi Flags Off Punjab Expressway and Ludhiana Bypass
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched several key road infrastructure projects in Punjab on July 17, including the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway and the Ludhiana Bypass. The Delhi-Amritsar-Katra corridor is expected to significantly reduce travel time between the national capital and Katra, the gateway to the Vaishno Devi shrine, while also improving freight movement and economic connectivity across northern India. The Ludhiana Bypass is designed to ease chronic traffic congestion in one of Punjab's most industrially significant cities, facilitating smoother movement of goods and people. The launches were part of a broader infrastructure drive by the central government in the state. Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary was in Ludhiana around the same period and praised the city for its industrial strength, describing it as a vital engine of Punjab's manufacturing economy. A BJP functionary also highlighted Prime Minister Modi's development agenda for Punjab, framing the road projects as evidence of sustained central government investment in the region. Together, the events underlined the ruling party's focus on presenting concrete infrastructure progress to voters and residents in Punjab. [2]
7.4 Lakh Ludhiana Women Enrol in Monthly Allowance Scheme
The Punjab government reported that 69 lakh women have enrolled under the Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojana, the state's monthly financial allowance scheme for women. Of those enrollees, 7.4 lakh are from Ludhiana district alone, making it one of the highest-contributing districts in the state. The scheme is part of the Punjab government's broader effort to provide direct financial support to women across the state, and the figures suggest strong uptake particularly in urban and semi-urban areas. Ludhiana's large population base and its dense network of urban wards likely contributed to the high enrolment numbers from the district. The data was cited in reporting that covered the scheme's overall reach across Punjab. The figures represent a significant milestone in the state's social welfare agenda, with the enrollment numbers reflecting both administrative outreach and public awareness of the scheme's benefits. Officials had not immediately released district-wise details of payment disbursements alongside the enrolment data at the time of reporting. [7]
ED Raids Punjab Minister Sanjeev Arora's Ludhiana Premises
The Enforcement Directorate conducted raids at premises linked to Punjab Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora in Ludhiana. The searches were part of an ongoing probe, though officials did not immediately disclose the specific nature of the allegations under investigation at the time of the raids. No charges had been publicly confirmed at the time of reporting. Sanjeev Arora is a member of the current Punjab state government. The raids mark the latest instance of federal investigative agencies conducting searches at premises linked to state politicians in Punjab. The Enforcement Directorate, which operates under the Union Ministry of Finance, handles cases related to money laundering and foreign exchange violations. The development drew attention amid an already active political environment in the state, given the central government's recent infrastructure launches and ongoing welfare scheme enrolments. Minister Arora had not issued any public statement responding to the raids at the time this report was prepared. [9]
Sources: [2] Swarajya · [7] The Times of India · [9] News On AIR