Amritsar, April 3
Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Company (PMIDC), a department of the Local Government, has prepared a comprehensive mobility plan (CMP) for infrastructure development like road widening, construction of railway overbridges, flyovers, rail transport system and many more, keeping in mind needs of the holy city for the next four decades.

The CMP envisages an investment of Rs 79544.39 million in four phases, starting from 2012 to 2032 and the Amritsar Municipal Corporation (AMC) could avail 50 per cent of its cost from the Jawahar Lal Nehru Urban Renewal Misison (JNURM), under the Ministry of Urban Development.

AMC Commissioner Bhupinder Singh said as per the provisions of the ministry, 50 per cent of the cost of these projects would be borne by the Union Government, 30 per cent by the Urban Local Body of the Punjab Government and the rest of the 20 per cent would be arranged by the corporation itself. However, in order to materialise these projects under the JNURM, it was mandatory to prepare the CMP.

The overall vision of the CMP for Amritsar was to plan, develop, operate and manage an integrated multi-model transport system (IMMTS) for the LPA. The final report of the CMP had been forwarded to the Union Government, envisaging its infrastructure needs up to 2032.

The CMP was prepared by Consulting Engineering Services Private Limited in association with SYSTRA MVA Consulting (India) Private Limited while incorporating the suggestions made in the unified metropolitan transport authority (UMTA) meetings, AMC.

A comprehensive study methodology had been devised and followed in the preparation of the CMP for Amritsar, based on the study area of the local planning area (LPA) as defined in Amritsar Master Plan, approved in 2010. It extends over 1394.19 square km and contained a population size of 2.02 million, which includes corporation area, four urban settlements and 310 rural settlements.

It states that the holy city lies on the main GT road, which runs through the whole of the northern half of the Indian subcontinent. The road network of the city is radial-cum-circumferential covering an area of 139 sq km. The total road length is about 525 km as per the city development plan.

It states that at present the city’s gross developed area density is 125 persons per hectare. Keeping in view the rapid urbanisation, it anticipates 16,594 hectares area to be required to come under it by 2031.

During its intensive survey, it found that the expenditure on transport was higher than the expenditure either on housing or education or on health in Amritsar. It was next only to expenditure on food, which was a cause for concern. The probable expenditure on transport was about Rs 2090 per household. Its reason was given to the absence of adequate public transport service. All categories of vehicles, except buses and mini-buses, had shown a considerable increase in their numbers during the period 2005 to 2010. There is a considerable growth in the number of two-wheelers and three-wheelers in the city since 2005.

It found a total of over 14.20 lakh person trips were generated in the AMC area on an average day. The mobility rate (per capita trip rate) works out to 1.20, including walk trips and 0.88 excluding walk trips. Walk trips accounted for nearly 27 per cent of all trips. Auto-rickshaws play a major role in model share (22.03 per cent). The share of bus was very low (4.64 per cent). Cycle trips accounted for 12 per cent. The Amritsar Transport Model has predicted person trips to be increased to 1.04 million trips per day by 20321.

It strongly suggested doubling the share of public transport modes from present 30 per cent to 60 per cent and increase the share of Public Mass Transport System (PMTS) from 4 per cent to 40 per cent to bring down congestion and pollution level in the environment.

As many as six corridors were identified for planning, development and operation of the BRTS. These corridors are Walled City Orbital road 7.3 km, Inner Ring Road 42.5 km, Middle Ring Road (MRR) 74 km, Bus Stand to Majitha along Majitha road 15.2 km, Bus Stand to MRR along Fatehgarh Churiyan Road 7.2 km, Lahori Gate to MRR along Khemkaran Road 7.6 km.

It proposes Light Rail Transit System (LRTS) on the three corridors. Firstly, from Transport Nagar (Lahori Mal) to Jandiala via Bus stand, along NH-1 34.1 km, second from Verka to Mandiala Industrial via Bus Stand through Walled city along NH-15 17.5 km and third LRTS suggests from Bus Stand to Airport along Ajnala road 11.5 km.

It recommends the formation of the Central Area Traffic Control Scheme (ATCS), under which all major intersections were signalised and then be linked and integrated. SSSS Chowk, Puttalighar Chowk are proposed to be improved immediately. 23 important intersections were grade separators, based on traffic intensity in 2032. Flyovers are proposed at 6 locations, 16 Railway Over Bridges and Railway Under Bridges (ROBs/RUB) are proposed for improvement as well as new construction.

Three inter-state bus terminal are proposed at Jandiala, Verka and Tarn Taran road. Present Shahid Madan Lal Dhingra Inter-state Bus Terminal would turn inter-city bus stand while the proposed inter-city bus stand, for the long-awaited City Bus Service, at Mall Mandi would turn into night shelter and maintainance for buses.

Amritsar, April 3
The Chheharta police has booked two persons for allegedly molesting a girl when she was alone at her house.

The accused were identified as Hardeep Singh and Aato of Bhutanpura village. A case under Section 354-A has been registered in this regard. However, no arrest has been made so far.

The victim, in her complaint submitted to the police, alleged that the two accused entered her house when she was alone. She said Aato covered her eyes with hands while Hardeep held her arms and tried to molest her. She said she escaped after she bit Hardeep’s hand and raised an alarm. Hearing her shouts, a neighbour came to her house, following which the accused fled from the scene.

The police authorities said investigations were under progress in the matter.

Amritsar, April 3
More than 12 youngsters demanding jobs in Power Corporation on compassionate grounds climbed atop a water tank in the Pink Plaza area here today. The protesters were adamant not to come down till the power corporation accepted their demand.

The fathers of all protesting youngsters had died while in service . Suchchain Singh, a protesting youngster, said, “There are 340 such cases in Power Corporation which are pending.”

It was the third kind of protest organised by these youngsters. They had earlier climbed atop a water tank in the Ram Bagh area on November 15, 2012.

Sukhchain said power corporation officials had at that time assured them that their cases would be solved within a month’s time. “Even after five months ,nobody has got the job. My own father had died of cardiac arrest while in service,” he said.

Even as policemen and residents had gathered under the water tank and requestd the youths to come down, they said that they would come down only when they were given jobs.

The protesters had climbed the tank early in the morning and were still at the place at the time of the filing of this report. “We would stay here even during the night,” said Sukhchain while talking to The Tribune on phone.

Another youngster Ranjit Singh said, “We have been running from pillar to post to get what is rightfully ours. We had not opted for the Rs 3-lakh compensation offered by the department and are,thus, eligible for the job on compassionate grounds.

He said while around a dozen youngsters had climbed the tank, seven of them were on the ground. “We expect that around two dozen more youngsters with the same grievance would join us tomorrow,” said Ranjit. He said that it is a do-or-die fight for them.

Srinagar, April 3
Sulakh Singh, a resident of Amritsar, died when he was hit by a stone while working at a construction site in north Kashmir’s remote Gurez region, the police said today.

Sulakh, who was working with Hindustan Construction Company, was hit by a falling stone at a tunnel construction site in the Gurez area of Bandipora district.

He was rushed to a hospital with serious injuries but succumbed on way to the hospital, the police said, adding a case had been registered in this regard.

Amritsar, April 3
The Amritsar rural police today booked as many as 25 smugglers active in border villages of Daoke, Rajatal, Bharowal, Jathol and Rajputa etc. Six of them have been arrested so far.

Among those booked were Rawel Singhm, Ajit Singh, Arjun Singh, Bachan Singh, Baldev Singh, Bua Singh, Harjinder Singh, Puran Singh, Salwinder Singh, all residents of Daoke, Bakshish Singh and Baldev Singh of Attari, Bakshish Singh, Joginder Singh, Khazan Singh, Nishan Singh and Suba Singh of Rajetal, Baldev Singh of Bharowal, Sukhwinder singh, Dharjit Singh of Lahori Mal, Gurmej Singh of Jathol, Joginder Singh of Balluwal, Sukhwinder Singh of Ranike, Sahib Singh of Dhanoe and Baldev Singh of Rajputa village.

They were charged under Sections 25/54/59 of the Arms Act, 14 Foreign Act, 3, 34, 20 of the Indian Passport Act, Sections of the 21/22/61/85 NDPS Act has been registered against them at the Gharinda police station in this regard.

The police authorities said intelligence agencies informed the police that the accused were active in smuggling of narcotics, arms and ammunition, besides gold and silver. They said as per the intelligence input, the above said accused had relations with Pakistan’s intelligence ISI.

The police said that out of these Angrej Singh, Saroop Singh, Gurmeet Singh of Bharowal, Sukhwant Singh of Daoke, Parmjit Singh of Lahori Mal and Nishan Singh Rajatal has been arrested.

Amritsar, April 3
The Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT) has passed a nearly Rs 2-crore surplus budget with Rs 146.14 core income and Rs 144.27 crore expected expenditure in the financial year 2013-2014.

AIT chairman Sandeep Rishi said the budget planned to invest huge sums in raising infrastructure and raising dwellings for economic weaker sections (EWSs).

A sum of Rs 3 crore has been earmarked for Ajnala road development and expansion scheme, including construction of a flyover, Rs 4 core for lower income group (LIG) dwellings at Mall Madhi, Rs 32 crore under Section 69-A Punjab Town Improvement Act 1922 for providing civic amenities in assembly constituencies, Rs 1 crore for the construction of double-storeyed shops in New Amritsar, Rs 3 crore for raising SCOs in New Amritsar, Rs 7 crore for a sports complex and a stadium, Rs 4 crore for raising flats on the Maqbool road, Rs 2 crore for EWS flats at New Amritsar, Rs 2 crore EWS flats at Mall Mandi, Rs 10 crore construction of parking and other works for the beautification of the Durgiana Mandir scheme.

Amritsar, April 3
The recent rape of a 21-year-old girl in amoving car and the thrashing of a girl and her brother following a molestation bid on her has raised a serious question mark on the lawand order situation in the city.

The police department has been facing flak from the public, which is critical about the dismal law and order situation in the city. Women in the city are now thinking twice before moving out of their houses.

The goons having strong backing of political bosses seem to have become stronger than the law.

The National SC/ST commission categorically pointed out that the political interference in the functioning of the police department had rendered it handicapped. Raj Kumar Verka, vice-chairman of the commission, said women in Punjab were not safe, with repeated instances of rape, molestation and eve-teasing cropping up at regular intervals. The city is no exception to it, he alleged.

Even policemen are themselves becoming target of the miscreants who hardly fear n attacking the cops to save themselves.

A traffic cop was almost run over by a group of youths when he signalled them to stop near Circuit House a few days back while earlier, too, such instances have occurred putting a question mark. Unfortunately,most of the times they got scot free.

Amarjit Singh Asal, district secretary ,CPI ,rued the law and order situation had become worse in the recent past. He categorically blamed the ruling party for the same.

The nexus among political leaders, police and anti -social elements had been playing a havoc in society, opined Manmohan Singh,a city resident. He said bad elements had entered politics as well as the police department which had led to this situation.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Kaustubh Sharma said following thekilling of an ASI while he was protecting the honour of his daughterlast year, the police had initiated a number of steps to improve the law and order situation, besides preventing crime against women.

He said such incidents were now being investigated only by special investigating teams. while patrolling parties have been augmented bythree times which working in shifts in various parts of the city. Hesaid women police constables have been deputed near educationalinstitutes. He said the police force have been sensitized to deal withsuch instances in a better way.

Amritsar, April 3
One of the most acclaimed agriculture scientists and Rajya Sabha MP Prof MS Swaminathan will address with the students and faculty members of historic Khalsa College, Amritsar (KCA) on Thursday. He will deliver a lecture on the issues the agriculture sector is confronting.

Prof Swaminathan and Dr KL Chadha, a top-most scientist in horticulture, would be welcomed by the honourary secretary of the Khalsa College Governing Council (KCGC), Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina. Acting Principal of the college, Dr JS Bal said, it was a matter of pride that a man of the stature of Prof Swaninathan would be addressing the students. He said Prof Swaminathan was adjudged one of the most influential Asians of 20th century by Time magazine.

`"He is the best mind in the agriculture economy and ecology and our students, faculty members would be immensely benefited by his speech and interaction," said Chhina.

Prof Swaminathan was called by former secretary general of UN Javier Perez de Cuellar as a living legend. He is basically a plant geneticist and his contributions in the agricultural renaissance has been immense.

Amritsar, April 3
A deputation of Private Colleges' Non-Teaching Employees' Union met Cabinet Minister Bikram Singh Majithia and submitted a memorandum of their demands here today.

The memorandum contained various demands of the employees, including release of arrears from January 1, 2006 and lifting of ban on the posts at aided colleges.

The president of the union, Madan Lal Khullar, apprised the Cabinet Minister about the state government granted pay parity to the non-teaching staff in 1978. On the basis of the pay parity, the government had implemented the recommendations of the fifth Pay Commission for the non-teaching staff.

However, following the implementation of the sixth Pay Commission, non-teaching employees with government colleges got the 70 per cent of the arrear amount but the same has been denied to the non-teaching staff at private colleges.

He said the minister had assured them that he would raise the matter before the Chief Minister.

Amritsar, April 3
Remember growing up on numerous dubbed and original versions of fantasy shows like "Aladin" and "I Dream of a Jeanie". We secretly wished for a jeanie who would get anything you wish for with a snap of a finger. Well, nostalgia returns on television with SAB TV's latest show "Jeanie Aur Juju", a fantasy comedy that has picked up fans gradually.

Billed as one of the most promising shows on television, the show not only breaks the monotony of kitchen-politics and family dramas, but also brings back the old world magic of jeanie.

So, when the stars of the show, Gia Manek, the cute jeanie, and Ali Asgar, her Juju, came to Amritsar, they spelt a charm. "It's a fantasy show, and since everyone has fantasies, it relates to the audiences. Especially, playing a jeanie, who is everyone's favourite on fantasy list," says Gia. Post her docile Gopi Bahu avatar on popular show Saath Nibhana Saathiya, Gia is having fun playing the the role of affable Jeanie. "I am a lively person, and though my first show made me popular, after a while it gets monotonous playing the same character. With "Jeanie Aur Juju", I had a great fun and show my comic side," she shares.

As for her Juju ( Ali Asgar), who is already popular for his versatile comic timing, playing a romantic lead was a surprise. "My character is quite balanced on the show-comic as well as sensible- even romantic at times. The concept is quite interesting and so is playing the role of Juju," says Ali.

A known face of comedy on the Indian television, Ali says comedy shows are important as they break the usual "rona-dhona" format of daily soaps, but there is a problem of plenty. "Though comedy shows have become quite popular these days, the quantity has led to similarity. When I did Comedy Circus along with Pakistani artist Kashif Ali, our jokes were clean. But gradually the competition and the content defeats the purpose. The fact is that there are very few good comic writers in the industry and that makes it tough for the artistes as well," he shares. He said the lack of popular shows puts pressure on actors. "In West, popular shows are run season-wise, But here, once stuck with a show, an actor can't get out easily," he said.

Amritsar, April 3
It’s one of the most popular shows on television and the protagonists are not scheming, manipulating, pancaked bunch of characters in designer dresses but dotting children. In fact, it’s more of camaraderie than melodrama that makes "Veeran-Ek Veer Ki Ardas" a bit different from other prime time daily soaps on TV.

While, most shows make money by playing around romantic angles and kitchen politics, this show has a sweet story of a brother and sister, looking out for each other in the thick and thin of life. In Amritsar, the star cast, including the child actors- Bhavesh (12) and Harshita (6)- who play the role of Ranvijay and Veeran on the show respectively, along with actors Sneha Wagh and Kapil Nirmal, visited the Golden Temple.

The team has a shooting schedule lined up in the holy city as the show is currently based in Amritsar. “We shot at the Golden Temple, which was amazing experience as we got the opportunity to do langar seva and serve the visitors. Then, we had a blast eating out at the famous dhabas and interacted with the fans here. It’s a very lively city and since our show is based in Punjab, we enjoyed every aspect of being a Punjabi,”said Sneha.

While the senior actors maintained their composure, the child actors had a little fun while shooting. Whether it was impromptu lassi-drinking competition between the two children or playing various fun games.

The show has touched many hearts and made the audiences cry and laugh while showing the innocence and unconditional love of Ranveer and Veera’s on the screen. The show has been praised for being different as it shows the sensitive portrayal of a brother-sister relationship. Producer Yash Patnaik said, “The show had started with a new concept and we have maintained the story line till date. About the show’s Amritsar connection, he says the holy city always had a special part to play in the story.

“The Golden Temple is an iconic religious place for Sikhs. Earlier, it has been shown in the show that Ranvijay always visits the Gurdwara for his ardas. Now, he visits the Golden Temple with an ardas to find his father, which will be followed by his mother Ratan, Nihal and Veera."About the experience of shooting here, Yash says, "The people were very cooperative. It has been an amazing experience for the entire team to shoot in Amritsar.

Amritsar, April 3
Heman Nama of Karnatka reached semifinal after outplaying Pranjoy Kukreti of Delhi 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-1 in boys' under-14 quarterfinals during the the AITA Talent Series Tennis Tournament, organised by the Punjab State Lawn Tennis Association at Maharaja Ranjit Singh Tennis Stadium, here today.

In another quarterfinal Sabrang Sandal of Chandigarh drubbed Calvin Golmei of Maharashtra 6-7(8), 6-4, 7-6(6). Kabir of Chandigarh, Sanchit Sikka of UP also won their quarterfinal matches. Ruchit of Andhra Pradesh beat Satyakam Kohli of UP 5-4, 4-2. Divesh Gehlot of Haryana defeated Aakarshit Mahajan of UP 5-4, 5-3. Meanwhile, Drona Walia and Arav Kumar managed to reach in the semifinal of the tournament after winning their quarterfinals today.

Tanya Batra of Chadigarh outplayed Simran Pritam of Punjab 6-4, 6-3, Stephan Chelsea of Karnatka drubbed Hansika of Chandigarh 6-4, 6-3 in the under-14 category (girls). In other two matches of the category, Seerat Kaur Pannu and Alisha Menon managed to overpower their rivals.

In the U-12 (boys) category, Arshpreet Kaur Bajwa of Chandigarh, Kiran Kalkal of Delhi, Jamir Lenien of Assam and Alish Menon of Punjab managed to gallop their way to semifinal after beating their rivals today.