Ludhiana: The Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) has once again found its flagship Atal Apartment Scheme mired in controversy. As the process to issue forms for the draw of pending high-income group (HIG) and medium-income group (MIG) flats commenced, prospective applicants raised serious concerns regarding the department’s transparency and procedural readiness.The primary grievance centers on the non-availability of project brochures. Applicants alleged that while the LIT is charging Rs 500 per application form, they are being issued without the accompanying brochure—a document critical for establishing the project’s official terms, conditions, and technical specifications. This omission, they claim, has created widespread confusion and left the public “applying blindly” without full information.Complainant Arvind Sharma highlighted the administrative hurdle, stating that when applicants requested the brochure, they were directed to contact the LIT landline and return to the office at a later date. However, officials reportedly could not guarantee that the documents would be available even upon a second visit. This lack of preparation has led to accusations of public harassment, with residents demanding that all project details be provided at the point of sale.The Atal Apartment project has a history of setbacks since its initial announcement, and critics argue that the current rush to sell forms without finalised literature suggests a lack of due diligence. Concerned citizens emphasised that a brochure is not merely a pamphlet but a legal framework that protects the interests of the buyer.Addressing the backlash, Tarsem Bhinder, chairman of the Ludhiana Improvement Trust, admitted to the current unavailability of the brochures. He assured the public that the documents are being processed and claimed they would be made available to all applicants by Monday.
