In an unprecedented move to streamline industrial growth, the Punjab government launched a comprehensive package of 12 transformative initiatives under the Punjab Udyog Kranti. The reforms mark a decisive break from bureaucratic red tape, introducing a legally enforceable 45-day deemed approval system, a genuine single-window portal, and a host of land and infrastructure-related reforms to attract new investment and simplify doing business in the state.
Time-Bound Deemed Approvals: 45 Days or Automatically Approved
One of the most significant announcements is the rollout of a 45-working-day deadline for all industrial approvals. If government departments fail to process applications within this timeframe, the Fast-track Punjab Portal will issue an automatic deemed approval, carrying full legal validity. This effectively ends the uncertainty and indefinite delays that had previously deterred many investors. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, with Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal as the chief guest, mentioned that the applicants will receive a preliminary review of their submissions within seven days. Any deficiencies will be flagged immediately, enabling applicants to respond within the 45 days.
Single-Window Fast-track Portal: Simultaneous Clearance from All Departments
For the first time, Punjab has launched a functional single-window system that centralizes approvals from all departments. The Fast-track Punjab Portal integrates every regulatory body and provides real-time updates, auto-escalation in case of delays, and one-time visibility of all departmental objections—significantly cutting down on back-and-forth that previously consumed months.
“We are a Japanese company providing agricultural solutions in Punjab and across the globe. Our company is quite impressed with the idea of this initiative of the Punjab Government, where we do not have to rush from pillar to post for approvals anymore,”
said Sumit Kaplish, Vice President of Operations at Yanmar Agricultural Machinery India Pvt. Ltd.
Expedited Approvals Under Right to Business Act
Tarunpreet Sond, Minister of Rural Development & Panchayats Tourism & Cultural Affairs Industry & Commerce Investment Promotion Hospitality Labour stated that the government has also extended and amended the Right to Business Act to fast-track clearances for investments up to ₹125 crore.
Projects within industrial parks will get in-principle approval in 3 days.
Projects outside industrial parks will receive the same within 15 days.
These in-principle approvals will remain valid for 3.5 years, covering up to 95% of potential investment proposals in sectors such as manufacturing, IT, healthcare, hospitality, and education.
Construction Simplification: Self-Certification Introduced
Major compliance burdens in construction have been eased:
Architect-certified building plans will be accepted without further verification.
Structural stability certificates issued by any qualified civil/structural engineer will be honored.
The same self-certification system is being extended to fire safety NOCs. The validity of fire NOCs has been increased to three to five years, depending on risk classification.
“This one-window Fast-track Punjab Portal will prove to be a boon for industries in Punjab as the Government is itself keen to clear the hiccups. I was asked for input by Invest Punjab, and I think many industrialists shared their long-standing grievances. We are happy that it is finally happening.
We are world leaders in making rugby balls and footballs for world championships—so for us, this is a win-win scenario,”
said Mukul Verma, Director of Savi International, Jalandhar.
Land-Linked Reforms: Transparency, Sub-Division & Freehold Conversion
Four of the 12 reforms directly address land ownership, usage, and marketability:
Digital Land Feasibility Certificates will now be issued within 15 days, verifying land ownership, zoning, and site suitability.
Sub-division of industrial plots is now simplified and digitized—allowing co-developers, family members, and joint ventures to efficiently manage land assets.
A framework for conversion of leasehold plots to freehold will soon be introduced to improve land marketability and ease access to finance.
Reforms also include transparency measures for land zoning and digitized registries, offering assurance to prospective investors.
“Industrialists never grow alone—we grow with the society. If the government’s clear intent, as demonstrated through these initiatives, gets real momentum, then no one can stop Punjab’s industrial growth in the years to come,”
said Aditya Goyal of Modern Automotives, a global service provider to BMW.
Incentive Disbursement & Industrial Plot Availability
The Mann government is setting new records in industrial support:
₹250 crore will be disbursed in the first quarter of FY 2025–26 alone, outpacing previous regimes.
₹150 crore has already been released since April, compared to ₹53 crore in five years under the previous Congress government, and zero incentive disbursal under the Akali-BJP rule.
Additionally, 260 industrial plots across PSIEC focal points are now available for auction—fulfilling a longstanding demand for fresh industrial land.
₹300 Crore for Industrial Infrastructure by November 2025
To enhance operational environments, the government will spend ₹300 crore by November 2025 on infrastructure upgrades across focal points:
New roads, lighting, green belts, sanitation, signage, and security walls.
Sewerage and STP works are scheduled to be completed by June 2026.
The government will also implement a co-maintenance model where industry and government collaborate to sustain infrastructure quality over the long term.
To eliminate field-level harassment and delays, the Fast-track Punjab Portal now includes a grievance redressal module, supported by a call center, ensuring prompt resolution of issues faced by investors and entrepreneurs.
“Rangla Punjab” Vision: From Paperwork to Progress
Chief Guest Arvind Kejriwal praised the initiative as a historic industrial revolution in Punjab, calling it the “end of corruption, nepotism, and political patronage” in the state’s economic ecosystem. He emphasized that Punjab now offers a model that surpasses even the most industrialized states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Karnataka.
He encouraged investors who had left the state due to bureaucratic red tape to return and restart operations, promising full facilitation by the state.
With its legally mandated timelines, seamless digital systems, and proactive policy updates, Punjab has become a first-mover in industrial facilitation. By combining clear timelines, digital transparency, land flexibility, and infrastructure investment, the Punjab government has launched Punjab on a trajectory to become a national industrial leader.
