The Unfinished Dream: Mohali's TDI City Residents Demand Accountability and Basic Dignity

Imagine, for a moment, investing your hard-earned savings into a place you hope to call home, a 'smart city' no less. You envision paved roads, working streetlights, reliable water, and perhaps, just a touch of peace. But what if that dream, instead, morphs into a daily battle for basic dignity, a constant struggle against crumbling infrastructure and a seemingly absent developer? Well, that's the stark reality, honestly, for hundreds of residents in Mohali’s TDI City, Sector 117.

For too long, the people living across various blocks — from TDI City to Smart City, Wellington, and beyond — have been grappling with a host of issues, issues that one might genuinely expect to be resolved in any urban setting, let alone one touted as modern. And, you see, their patience, quite understandably, has worn thin. This past week, a collective of exasperated residents, under the banner of several welfare associations, decided enough was enough. They marched, metaphorically speaking, to the office of Mohali MLA Kulwant Singh, armed with a detailed memorandum, a plea for intervention, a cry for help.

The list of grievances? Oh, it’s a rather long one, unfortunately, and frankly, quite shocking. Top of mind for many is the alleged dereliction of duty by the builder, TDI. Residents claim the developer has simply failed to uphold its maintenance responsibilities, leaving the community in a state of disrepair. We're talking about fundamental civic amenities here, the absolute essentials, that are reportedly missing in action across many blocks.

Just consider the sewage system; it’s blocked, causing unsanitary conditions that are, let’s be real, a public health nightmare. And if that wasn't enough, the state of the roads is dismal — damaged, pockmarked, a hazard for anyone trying to navigate them. Security? It’s said to be virtually non-existent. And what about the streetlights, those vital beacons of safety after dusk? Many are simply not working, plunging areas into darkness and creating, well, a palpable sense of unease. Even something as basic as water supply is reportedly erratic.

Beyond the daily woes, there’s a deeper, more systemic problem brewing. Residents are deeply concerned that the builder hasn’t transferred the common facilities and maintenance responsibilities either to their own registered Resident Welfare Association (RWA) or, crucially, to the Mohali Municipal Corporation (MMC). This leaves the community in a frustrating bureaucratic limbo, unable to take control of their own local governance, you could say. And it doesn't stop there. Many are still waiting on property registries, facing frustrating delays, and to add insult to injury, the builder is reportedly yet to provide Occupancy Certificates (OC) or Completion Certificates (CC), documents absolutely essential for peace of mind and legal standing.

Sanjeev Kalra, the President of RWA TDI City, summed up the collective frustration rather eloquently, stating, 'We have held multiple protests, met with various officials at both local and state levels, but our issues remain unresolved.' This isn't just about a few minor hiccups; it’s about a pattern of persistent neglect, a failure, in truth, to deliver on promises made. The associations, including RWA TDI City, TDI Smart City, and TDI Wellington, among others, highlighted what they perceive as clear violations of agreement terms and a concerning lack of transparency from the developer.

But for once, there might be a glimmer of hope. Mohali MLA Kulwant Singh listened intently to the residents' impassioned plea. He didn't just offer platitudes, it seems; he assured them he would personally visit the site on June 20. And, crucially, he promised swift action, pledging to address the myriad issues promptly and to ensure that development in the area, finally, becomes a reality. It's a promise, to be sure, that residents will be holding him to. Here's hoping, truly, that this time, their voices will not only be heard but acted upon.