Punjab's state-level body for urban planning and private colony licensing. PUDA licences residential and commercial colonies across all of Punjab, sets development norms, and enforces compliance — distinct from GMADA's direct-development mandate in Greater Mohali.
The Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) is the state government body responsible for urban planning, land use regulation, and the licensing of private residential and commercial colonies across Punjab. Constituted under the Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Act 1995, PUDA operates across all urban centres in the state — Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Mohali, Patiala, and others.
In the Greater Mohali context, PUDA's role is primarily regulatory: it licences private colonisers who develop townships, plots, and apartment projects on their own acquired land. When a developer holds a PUDA licence number, it means the authority has approved the layout plan, infrastructure commitments, and title chain. PUDA does not directly develop or allot plots in Mohali — that is GMADA's domain.
Buyers in PUDA-licensed colonies should verify the licence status at the PUDA office or online portal, confirm the developer has not defaulted on development obligations, and ensure the plot number matches the sanctioned layout plan before transacting.
| Dimension | PUDA | GMADA |
|---|---|---|
| Role | Licences private colonisers statewide | Directly develops and allots plots in Greater Mohali |
| Geography | All urban areas across Punjab | SAS Nagar (Mohali) district only |
| What buyer gets | Plot in a private licensed colony; developer's registry deed | Government allotment letter → LOI → formal registry |
| Secondary market instrument | Standard registered sale deed | LOI (Letter of Intent) — GMADA-specific tradeable instrument |
| Default risk | Developer default possible; PUDA can cancel licence | Government authority; allotment backed by state |
| RERA applicability | Yes — builders must register under RERA Punjab | Government allotments generally outside RERA ambit |
| Typical buyers | End-users and investors in private townships | LOI traders, investors, NRIs seeking government-backed plots |