Punjab’s elite schools await inauguration in Ludhiana.

Ludhiana: A few thousand public school students face prolonged educational uncertainty as Punjab enters its month-long summer vacation with two flagship, high-tech “Schools of Eminence” left shuttered past multiple official deadlines.

The multi-crore-rupee Millerganj and Kidwai Nagar campuses were designed to revolutionise public education in Ludhiana. Local lawmakers heavily promoted the projects during repeated high-profile site inspections, promising specialised sports and wellness infrastructure, including terrace badminton courts, indoor table tennis arenas, and dedicated yoga spaces.

Instead, the campuses sit empty at the start of the June 1 break, with state education officials failing to provide clear explanations for the ongoing operational delays.

In April, deputy district education officer Amandeep Singh announced that Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann would inaugurate both sites within weeks. However, no ceremony has materialised.

District education officer Dimple Madaan insisted the campuses were structurally complete but blamed the gridlock on a lack of higher-level administrative clearance.

“The construction and interior work are fully complete,” Madaan said. “We expected the inauguration by the end of May, but we never received official state confirmation. Hopefully, it will happen as soon as possible.”

Frustrated parents argue the delays waste vital academic time, as the specialised schools require separate enrolment pipelines that remain frozen until the gates officially open.