Written by Hina RohtakiChandigarh | October 9, 2025 12:45 AM IST 4 min readVinod Vashisht, convener, City Forum of Resident Welfare Associations highlighted that recently Chandigarh has been facing budget constraints and on the top of this financial prudence was “conspicuously absent” on many occasions at the local executive levels.The Chandigarh Administration now cannot even spend a penny without the approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs. For, as per a recent order, the approval of all new works, projects or schemes will now have to be sought from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) — a power that earlier lied with the UT administration officers.Chandigarh Finance Secretary Diprava Lakra told The Indian Express that the order shall not affect any ongoing works but will be applicable for all new works.“It is for all new schemes or projects coming up — either a new building or a road. However it is not for any ongoing works or minor repair works. The order says new schemes or new projects,” he specified.While asking about monetary approval he said even if a new project or scheme is of Rs 10 lakh, approval from the MHA will be required.Chandigarh engineering wing officials said that the directives have left them in the lurch as they are apprehending that their files be stuck in the MHA even for minor works worth lakhs.“With this order, even the small works shall suffer, let alone the execution of big projects. The files will keep piling up in the Home Ministry and work in Chandigarh will take a hit,” a senior officer of the UT administration said.In its orders last week, the Home Affairs ministry while citing Rule 12(2) of the Delegation of Financial Powers Rules (DFPR), 2024, specified that such powers “cannot be re-delegated” to UT administrators or their departments.Story continues below this adTill now, the Chandigarh officers had powers to grant administrative approvals to projects or allotment of tenders. Any major project otherwise would go to the UT Administrator through the Chief Secretary for key approvals.“So many works are pending. We can’t even get a new road or a new building without the MHA’s approval. We have requested the senior officers to take up the matter with the ministry and seek review of the order,” the officer from the engineering wing added.Surinder Bahga, former nominated councillor and an architect, while speaking to The Indian Express said that Chandigarh is already suffering at the hands of “top-heavy bureaucracy”, adding that the decision is not a “citizen-friendly governance model at all”. “Withdrawing powers from officers will add more red tapism and add to the woes of residents. The system needs total revamp,” he added.R K Garg, president, Second Innings Association said that it is a hurriedly issued order. “It is a hurriedly issued order which does not clarify many issues such as what are modalities to get sanction from MHA, what will be the time limit, and who is the face of the UT and the MHA. We oppose blatant withdrawal of powers without discussing reasons to do so,” Garg added.Story continues below this adVinod Vashisht, convener, City Forum of Resident Welfare Associations highlighted that recently Chandigarh has been facing budget constraints and on the top of this financial prudence was “conspicuously absent” on many occasions at the local executive levels.“The cutting of financial powers by the Union Home Ministry seems to be as a result of lack of prioritisation and righteous application of funds by the city’s executive which is headed by its Administrator. Till the time the Home Ministry streamlines this delegation of financial powers again, which has now been curtailed, we expect the UT Administrator and the new Chief Secretary making extensive follow-ups with their central bosses so that no work gets affected,” he added. Hina Rohtaki is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express, Chandigarh. She covers Chandigarh administration and other cross beats. In this field for over a decade now, she has also received the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award by the President of India in January 2020. She tweets @HinaRohtaki ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:chandigarh