By: Express News ServiceChandigarh | January 15, 2026 12:18 PM IST 2 min readThe minister, however, did not give any time frame for when the amount would be returned to the department. (Photo: Instagram/@hardipsinghmundian)Punjab Urban Development and Housing Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian said on Wednesday that his department had given Rs 12,000 crore to the state government, and it should not be considered a loan.The housing department, which deals in property and sells housing projects, is considered one of the richest departments of the state government.Fielding a media query here, Mundian said, “You cannot call it a loan. The department has lent money to the government. When the government has money, it will return it to the department.”The minister, however, did not give any time frame for when the amount would be returned to the department. The government had asked the department for money in the past. In September last year, the government did not have money to pay salaries to the staff. The housing department had given Rs 3,500 crore to the government as a bailout.The government had sought funds from the housing department several times in the last year.Mundian said the department would auction 42 prime sites worth Rs 5,460 crore through an online process by the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA). “This first mega auction of 2026 will be held from January 14 to February 11. The properties offered for online auction include residential plots, SCOs (Shop-cum-Offices), mixed-use land, group housing, and land for hospitals and hotels.”“The properties offered in the auction are located in the heart of the cities and are easily accessible through various modes of transport such as the international airport, railway station and road network,” the minister said.Story continues below this adHe said that due to the government’s investor-friendly policies, there has been massive investment in the real estate sector in the state, giving a significant impetus to the sector.The minister expressed hope that this auction, like the previous successful auctions, would also be successful, further accelerating the economic development in the state, and the revenue generated from the auction would be utilised by GMADA for development works within its jurisdiction, setting new standards.“The ‘Invest Mohali 2026’ auction has provided new opportunities for inclusive and transparent urban development, making Mohali emerge as one of north India’s fastest-growing investment hubs,” he added.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Punjab