SPECIAL COVERAGE
CHANDIGARH

LUDHIANA

DELHI



THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS
50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
D E L H I   A N D   N E I G H B O U R H O O D

Ravan dahan marks victory of goodThe burning effigy of Ravana at Subhash Maidan in New Delhi
New Delhi, October 9
Effigies of Ravana, his brother Kumbhakaran and son Meghnad went up in flames across the city as the sun set today, marking the victory of good over the evil. Men, women and children watched in amazement dazzling fireworks lightening up the sky, as the giant size effigies crackled in the fire.

The burning effigy of Ravana at Subhash Maidan in New Delhi on Thursday. Tribune photo

  • Celebrations in Faridabad amidst tight security

Cabinet approves 150 more ambulances
New Delhi, October 9
The Delhi government has decided to augment ambulance services by deploying 150 more new fully equipped ambulances and 20 first responders (two- wheeler) ambulances.


EARLIER STORIES




Devotees celebrate the samadhi diwas of Sai Baba with a rath yatra organised by the Sree Sai Ma Palki Sewa Samiti at Adarsh Nagar in New Delhi on Thursday.
Devotees celebrate the samadhi diwas of Sai Baba with a rath yatra organised by the Sree Sai Ma Palki Sewa Samiti at Adarsh Nagar in New Delhi on Thursday. Ttribune photo: Mukesh Aggarwal

Risk of breast cancer high in infertile women
New Delhi, October 9
Infertility in women is not just the end to all her problems but just the beginning! The world’s largest study on infertile women has come to the conclusion that these women are at a significantly high risk of two life threatening diseases namely breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

Women working in night shifts feel insecure: Study
New Delhi, October 9
About 53 per cent of working women feel insecure, especially during night shifts, in all major hubs of economic activities across the country, especially in key segments such as BPO/ ITeS, hospitality, civil aviation, nursing homes and garment industry, and consistently call for suitable safety norms from their respective establishments, according to the Assocham Social Development Foundation (ASDF).

Drinking this festive season? Call a cab
Letting someone else drive you home or hailing a cab can ensure you aren’t a risk to the others
New Delhi, October 9
‘If you find this hard to read - book a cab!’ - many restaurants and bars here will put up such signboards this festive season, urging customers to take a cab instead of driving their own vehicles after drinking.

Devotees immerse an idol of Goddess Durga in river Yamuna in New Delhi Idols of Durga immersed, thousands bid farewell
New Delhi, October 9
Amid hollering crowds and the frenzied beating of drums, hundreds of idols of Goddess Durga and her four children were immersed in the Yamuna river here Thursday, with many devotees bidding a tearful farewell to the deity.

Devotees immerse an idol of Goddess Durga in river Yamuna in New Delhi on Thursday.

Purana Qila to light up with classical dance festival
New Delhi, October 9
The little nip in the air in the month of October also heralds the colours of the festive season in Delhi. It is also the month to keep a date with the five-day Ananya Dance Festival from October 11 organised by Seher, an NGO, in association with the government of NCT of Delhi and Sahitya Kala Parishad. In its seventh year, the festival takes place against the backdrop of the majestic Purana Qila (Old Fort), bringing out the best of the dialogue between the Indian classical dance and the ancient heritage of India.

Odissi dance by Guru Durga Charan Ranbir and Nrutyayan group of Bhubaneswar. (Right) A scene from the Ananya Dance festivalOdissi dance by Guru Durga Charan Ranbir and Nrutyayan group of Bhubaneswar. (Right) A scene from the Ananya Dance festival
Odissi dance by Guru Durga Charan Ranbir and Nrutyayan group of Bhubaneswar. (Right) A scene from the Ananya Dance festival

Rs 1200-cr mega project to improve Noida raods by 2012
Noida, October 9
The Noida Authority has come up with a magnificent road improvement project in the city which is destined to transform not only the shape of the roads but will overhaul the entire transport system in the town boasted as the gateway to Uttar Pradesh.

Boy who went missing is in hopsital
Noida, October 9
The 14-year-old boy, who had gone missing on Saturday from Vasundhara in Ghaziabad, was found unconscious in Noida the next day. Till Wednesday, he was in the ICU at Kailash Hospital and could not remember who had kidnapped or assaulted him.

Speed kills biker, cyclist
Greater Noida, October 9
Once again the thrill of driving at high speed cost a young biker his life, while his two companions were seriously hurt in Greater Noida, yesterday.

MCD schools to teach enviro conservation as subject
New Delhi, October 9
In a step towards building much needed awareness among children in the Capital on environmental conservation, primary schools run by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) will soon have a new subject – Natural Environment Conservation.

Fortis sends team to Bihar
New Delhi, October 9
Delhi-based Fortis Healthcare has sent a team of 26 experts, including five doctors, to the flood-hit Bihar to provide medical aid to the sufferers.

14-year-old gangraped
New Delhi, October 9
A 14-year-old minor was allegedly gangraped for two consecutive days in the Shakarpur area.

Couple commit suicide on rail track
Greater Noida, October 9
A young couple, married only a year ago, allegedly committed suicide by lying on the railway track. They were crushed to death under the wheels of the Mahananda Express on Wednesday afternoon.

Journalist cremated
New Delhi, October 9
Senior journalist Umesh Lakhanpal, who died of heart attack yesterday, was cremated here today. The body of Lakhanpal, chief reporter with ‘Punjab Kesri’ newspaper, was consigned to flames by his brother Deshraj at Shalimar Bagh cremation ground.

Satta racket busted
New Delhi, October 9
The Delhi police has claimed to have busted a satta racket in North East district of New Usman Pur last night. Seventy-two people were arrested from the site.

3 robbers held
New Delhi, October 9
With the arrest of three alleged robbers —Noor Ahmed, Mohd. Yasin and Danish— South district police has claimed to have busted a gang of robbers and solved the case of a robbery attempt on a TV journalist. All the three were arrested last night from Hauz Khas Deer Park.






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Ravan dahan marks victory of good
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 9
Effigies of Ravana, his brother Kumbhakaran and son Meghnad went up in flames across the city as the sun set today, marking the victory of good over the evil.

Men, women and children watched in amazement dazzling fireworks lightening up the sky, as the giant size effigies crackled in the fire.

The biggest show, like in previous years, was at the historic Ram Lila Maidan, which dates back to the Mughal period. People were jostling for space, stepping on each other’s toes to get a glimpse of the effigies.

And as in previous years, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi accompanied by daughter Priyanka and her two children witnessed the show.

Even the threat of a possible terrorist strike and the presence of huge police force could not deter people from coming in large numbers.

Dussehra is also an occasion when many non-Hindus join the celebrations, as most of the artisans involved in the erection of attractive pandals and the making of the giant size effigies are Muslims.

“I love to work for Dussehra celebrations. It has got nothing to do with my religion. Back home nobody is against my work. It gives me immense pleasure. It is not just a Hindu festival, families from different religions come together and enjoy it,” said Zakir Ahmed, an artisan.

Celebrations in Faridabad amidst tight security

The effigies of Ravana were burnt at several places in the city amidst tight security.

However, owning to the security concerns, this year there were certain changes in the traditional rituals. The effigies were burnt much earlier in the day. Also, they were thoroughly scrutinised by police personnel yesterday.

Another prominent change was that the processions (jhankees) of Ravana were taken out on shorter routes.

The Dussehara ground, the biggest ground for burning of effigies, had a thin attendance.

In fact, all the places like Sector 16, Sector 2, Sector 31, where the effigies were burnt also had less attendance than usual.

Five DSPs were looking after the security affairs

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Cabinet approves 150 more ambulances
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 9
The Delhi government has decided to augment ambulance services by deploying 150 more new fully equipped ambulances and 20 first responders (two- wheeler) ambulances.

It has also approved issuance of e-entitlement Smart Cards to beneficiaries for availing benefits of various welfare schemes under Mission Convergence, enhancement of remuneration of part time vocational teachers and revised scales and enhancement of superannuation age from 60 to 62 to the librarians of the diploma level polytechnics under government of Delhi.

These decisions were taken in a cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit yesterday.

Briefing media after the meeting, Dikshit said that her government was committed to provide pre-hospital emergency medical response services of international standards to Delhi citizens, with at least one ambulance per lakh population, which is the recommended norm.

She said that the Delhi government had undertaken an exercise to explore feasibility and modalities of expanding ambulance services in the capital city. Since 1991, pre-hospital medical emergency transportation i.e. ambulance services have been provided through Centralized Accidents and Trauma Services (CATS), a Govt. of Delhi organisation under the Societies Registration Act 1860.

The cabinet has decided to deploy a total of 150 ambulances out of which 141 would be basic life support ambulances and nine would be advanced life support. In addition to this, another 20 first responders (two-wheelers) ambulances would be deployed to reach difficult and congested areas, in the first phase.

The services would be branded and promoted as “102 Ambulance Service-Government of Delhi”. The services would be restricted to the territory of Delhi. It would be ensured that the ambulance reaches the patients/sites within 15-20 minutes. It would also be ensured that the patient is shifted to the nearest hospital within 20 minutes. This would go a long way in overcoming casualties.

Dikshit also claimed that Delhi would become the first state to issue E-entitlement Smart Card in shortest possible time to beneficiaries for availing benefits of 47 different welfare schemes relating to nine departments under Mission Convergence.

The cabinet has approved an Action Plan for issuance of such cards. This integration would have certain advantages such as holders would take advantage of bus travel automatic fare collection, facilitate use of a single smart card for multiple services i.e. ration shops, hospitals, social assistance, DTC buses, private buses, to use all multi-modal transport system and enable the people to have the bank accounts.

Dikshit said that the cabinet had also decided to enhance the remuneration of all 781 part time vocational teachers working on contract basis. PGT Vocational teacher on contract basis would now be entitled for remuneration of Rs 13,160 per month instead of Rs 8200. Those part time teachers who are not qualified as per the recruitment rules of PGT Vocational would now get monthly remuneration of Rs11,140 per month instead of Rs 8200.

This decision has been taken to bring part time vocational teachers at par with other teachers. The cabinet has also decided to grant revised pay scales to the librarians of diploma level polytechnics under Government of Delhi.

The CM said that the superannuation age of librarians has also been enhanced from 60 to 62 years. They have now become entitled for pay scale of Rs 8000-13,5000 at the entry level, Rs 10,000-15,200 at the senior scale level and Rs 12,000-18,300 at the selection grade level with effect from 01-01-1996 provided they fulfill the provisions of the Recruitment Rules.

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Risk of breast cancer high in infertile women
Ravi Bhatia
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 9
Infertility in women is not just the end to all her problems but just the beginning! The world’s largest study on infertile women has come to the conclusion that these women are at a significantly high risk of two life threatening diseases namely breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

“Breast cancer and ovarian cancer or gynecologic cancers are known to be caused by many factors. One of the most well established risk factors for breast, ovarian cancer is one’s parity or the number of times the women have given birth,” expresses Dr Shivani Sachdev Gour, gynaecologist of Fortis Hospital.

“Nulliparous” woman (a woman who has never given birth) has an increased risk in comparison to “parous” woman.

“The hormone implicated in breast and ovarian cancer is the female hormone called estrogen and that seems to be the link connecting these medical disorders. This study has important implications for women who have had difficulty in conceiving. Ideally such women should consciously screen themselves regularly for breast and ovarian cancer so that the disease is picked up at an early stage,” explains Dr Shivani Sachdev Gour.

She adds, “I have had cases of ovarian cancer in women with infertility and as women are diagnosed late, not much can be done, just palliative care. Survival rate for late diagnosis is is few months.”

According to the experts, a comprehensive research was conducted among a large population of 54,362 women with a diagnosis of infertility who were referred to Danish fertility clinics between 1963 and 1998. Through 2003, 1,975 cancers were identified by linkage to the Danish Cancer Registry. Cancer risk was assessed through Standardized Incidence Ratios (SIRs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals, using general and parity-specific cancer incidence rates in the general population of Denmark as a reference.

After adjustment for parity status, significantly increased SIRs were observed for breast and ovarian cancer. The risk of breast cancer increased with follow-up time. Similar risk patterns were observed for the different histological types of breast cancer and all non-mucinous types of ovarian cancer, whereas the risk of mucinous ovarian cancers seemed not to be increased. It was concluded that these data suggest higher risks of breast and ovarian cancer in infertile women.

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Women working in night shifts feel insecure: Study
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 9
About 53 per cent of working women feel insecure, especially during night shifts, in all major hubs of economic activities across the country, especially in key segments such as BPO/ ITeS, hospitality, civil aviation, nursing homes and garment industry, and consistently call for suitable safety norms from their respective establishments, according to the Assocham Social Development Foundation (ASDF).

The assessment based on the feedback received from stakeholders further reveals that 48 per cent female working population with small-scale firms are extremely worried and concerned as regards to their outside moments and nearly 26 per cent of this workforce in the medium sector are quite apprehensive about their safety and security, particularly after dark. The same fear of security lapses is felt by about 23 per cent working women engaged in large-scale establishments.

The assessment was made in the wake of the recent murder of a young TV journalist, Soumya Vishwanathan, while she was returning home after work in the early hours of the morning and several incidents of attacks on women returning home from night shifts in the National Capital Territory of Delhi.

Releasing the assessment, Assocham secretary-general D S Rawat said in sector-specific cases, BPOs and ITeS women employees are the most vulnerable and prone to both physical and non-physical attacks, especially after their duty hours. As a result of this, female employees remain extremely security concerned.

In nursing homes, including hospitals, 53 per cent women employees continue to suffer from a sense of insecurity. This percentage in leather and garment industry is 45 and 34, respectively.

Among the women working force belonging to the low skilled category, 34 per cent are concerned about their well-being. In the case of moderately skilled women category it is 29 per cent and those women who are endowed with high skilled power, the sense of insecurity is pervasive among 8 per cent women workforce.

The fast growing BPO/ ITeS, hospitality, civil aviation industry has generated parallel employment for cab drivers. The number is many times more in Bangalore, the world’s largest BPO hub employing about 2.5lakh people, half of them are women. Still a large number of industries have to pay adequate attention to the quality or background of these drivers. According to the assessment, 86 per cent of women on night shifts face commuting problems because of lack of adequate transport arrangements by employers. Those working in Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune face the maximum commuting problem and those in Delhi, Hyderabad and Ludhiana face the least.

Among the various metros, Delhi topped the list with 65 per cent of women respondents complaining that they feel unsafe. As much as 35 per cent of women in Hyderabad, 28 per cent in Chennai, 26 per cent in Mumbai have reported feeling unsafe while working in night shifts. They expect their employers to make the security arrangements.

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Drinking this festive season? Call a cab
Letting someone else drive you home or hailing a cab can ensure you aren’t a risk to the others

New Delhi, October 9
‘If you find this hard to read - book a cab!’ - many restaurants and bars here will put up such signboards this festive season, urging customers to take a cab instead of driving their own vehicles after drinking.

“This is part of our ‘you drink - I drive’ campaign during this festive season,” Gavin Dábreo, vice-president marketing Meru Cabs, told IANS.

Meru Cabs has tied up with four TGIF (Thank God It’s Friday) outlets and 160 fine dining restaurants and bars where it will place tent cards and coasters on the tables as well as display messages on LCD screens advising customers to take a cab rather than drive.

Interestingly, not only will slogans be displayed but colour-coded coasters will also accompany drinks to “pinch customers about their drinking”.

“The first drink you are served has a black coaster. The next is green, followed by an amber one and the fourth drink has a red coaster - signifying that it is time to call a cab,” Dábreo added.

Regarding the trends in cab usage among Delhi-based clientele, he said, “People are prone to booking a cab between 5 pm and 11 pm - cabs are booked for night outs or family dinners and even many one-way drops from the restobar to residences have been registered.”

Among the Indian cities, New Delhi has the highest number of car accidents caused by drinking and driving. About 105,000 people die in drunken driving accidents every year in the country, according to figures provided by social activist Prince Singhal.

Although there are laws in place against drunk driving, they are poorly enforced and every year the death and injury toll simply increases.

“Given the long distances in Delhi and the poor public transportation available, especially at night, commuters need to realize the need for alternatives,” Singhal says.

“You can’t expect that people won’t be drinking in festive spirit - but if you get drunk, letting someone else drive you home or hailing a cab can ensure you aren’t a risk to others,” adds Singhal, who has been running a campaign ‘Citizens Against Drunk Driving’ for the past seven years.

Leading psychiatrist Sameer Parekh said: “It’s a good initiative taken by the radio cab service providers and restaurants. Such steps create awareness in a responsible way.

“Restaurants may not stop you from drinking but by helping in getting a cab back home they are doing a commendable job. Such a practice should be exercised everywhere.”

But he also stressed on enforcing the laws more stringently.

“When you are drunk, money is not an issue. If someone spends thousands on drinks, spending Rs 300 on a cab ride home is not an issue. The challenge is ensuring he is not behind the wheel,” Parekh added.

Singhal said generally during the festival season revellers take to streets and drive carelessly.

“In the Dussehra-Diwali season, drinking peaks - so do accidents. Then there is the marriage season in November that gets carried on to January and the cold season when drinking-driving cases really surge,” he pointed out.

The Delhi police too welcomed the initiative. “We always appeal to the people not to mix drinking and driving, and such a step will definitely help the people not to violate traffic rules,” Delhi Police spokesman Rajan Bhagat said. — IANS

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Idols of Durga immersed, thousands bid farewell

A Bengali woman celebrates with colour in New Delhi on Thursday.
A Bengali woman celebrates with colour in New Delhi on Thursday. Tribune photos: Mukesh Aggarwal

New Delhi, October 9
Amid hollering crowds and the frenzied beating of drums, hundreds of idols of Goddess Durga and her four children were immersed in the Yamuna river here Thursday, with many devotees bidding a tearful farewell to the deity.

For many Bengalis, the immersion at the end of the Durga Puja festival was like parting with a member of the family after five days of praying, feasting and merry-making at marquees across the city that housed the idols.

Emotionally-charged chants in Bengali of “Hail the mother goddess! She’ll return next year!” reverberated across the calm riverbed, as devotees thronged the immersion point at Kalindi Kunj in southeast Delhi.

“We have just immersed our idol from our house puja. This has been a tradition for ages - 30 of our family members and friends take out a procession from our home and immerse the goddess’ idol in the waters of the Yamuna here,” said Nipa Nag Chowdhury, a 40-year-old homemaker.

Each year her family organises a family puja at their home in Chittaranjan Park, a predominantly Bengali colony in South Delhi.

The final day of the festivities is called Vijaya Dashami or Bijoya, when Durga - the goddess of strength - triumphs over the demon Mahishasura, signifying the victory of good over evil.

On this day, the morning is marked by a ritual called ‘sindur khela’, when women smear vermilion on one another, signifying the return of Durga to her marital abode.

In the afternoon, the idols of Durga and her children - Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartik - that were worshipped for five days at hundreds of marquees across the city were loaded on to trucks.

Hundreds of processions comprising these trucks and buses loaded with devotees as well as private vehicles then spilled on to the streets and made their way to the Yamuna banks.

Some of the idols were taken to Kalindi Kunj.

The other immersion point near Delhi University was for idols from north Delhi.

After the serial blasts in Delhi on September 13, which left 24 killed and over 100 injured, the security arrangements for the Durga immersions along the procession routes and at the Yamuna banks were tight.

This year the security has been so tight that unlike in other years we were not able to take a boat to immerse our idol. Instead, we had to wade into the waters. Only police were monitoring the immersions from boats,” Nag Chowdhury added.

Her daughter Yagna said after several days of festivity, the parting left everyone said, almost tearful.

“After immersing the idol I realised that festivities had come to an end. I am very sad, and letting Ma Durga go each year is very painful for us. We plan all year for the pujas and wait for this time of the year, but suddenly it’s over.”

Aditya Majumdar, a member of the Joint Puja Committee (JPC), said: “Although the idols are carried amidst much cheering, on our return we fall silent to express the sorrow of having to part with the goddess.”

“The JPC - the committee that coordinates the pujas ensures that all the idols are immersed.

The small household idols come in first, by noon, and are followed by the bigger ones,” said Mazumdar.

For immersing the idols from big pandals like K Block or B Block in Chittaranjan Park, cranes are required, so the immersion takes place once the crowds lessen towards the evening.”

With the immersions, Goddess Durga and her children depart, leaving devotees with memories of five fun-filled days and a yearning for next year’s festivities. — IANS

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Purana Qila to light up with classical dance festival

New Delhi, October 9
The little nip in the air in the month of October also heralds the colours of the festive season in Delhi. It is also the month to keep a date with the five-day Ananya Dance Festival from October 11 organised by Seher, an NGO, in association with the government of NCT of Delhi and Sahitya Kala Parishad. In its seventh year, the festival takes place against the backdrop of the majestic Purana Qila (Old Fort), bringing out the best of the dialogue between the Indian classical dance and the ancient heritage of India.

Sanjeev Bhargava, festival director, says: “Ananya is an attempt to popularise Indian classical arts amongst the youth. In this age of television boom, our heritage and culture need to be preserved and marketed smartly. This festival’s growing popularity amongst all sections of Delhi’s audience is testimony that our classical arts have what it takes to weather all storms.”

The festival gets under way with Kalakshetra from Chennai, who are renowned for featuring different styles of music and dance from across the country. Choreographed by Leela Samson, they will be performing the bharatanatyam, a classical dance form originating from Chennai.

This will be followed the next day by the traditional dance form from Kerala, mohiniattam, by Jayaprabha Menon, one of the most accomplished dancers of the new generation. A disciple of Padma Shri Guru Bharthi Shivaji, Jayaprabha’s dance is rooted in tradition. She blends in her dance a refreshing originality with traditional discipline.

One of the participating choreographers is veteran Guru Sri Durga Charan Ranbir who will be presenting odissi, the classical dance form of Orissa. He says, “Odissi’s colour, rhythm and gaiety evolve from the sculpture of the temples. It is completely engrossed in the varied moods and sentiments of sringar rasa.”

A sought-after nattuvanar, Sri Jaikishore Mosalikanti, has not only mastered the intricate kuchipudi style of Andhra Pradesh but also developed a unique personal style with innovative use of rhythm and rhythmic variations. Says Jaikishore, “the innovative choreography retains the essence of the kuchipudi form. With lilt and drama, the dance is rooted in classical poetry.” At Ananya, Jaikishore will be showcasing his recent works along with five dancers.

The finale is with Malti Shyam’s performance of kathak, the major classical dance form of northern India. Belonging to the Lucknow gharana, she credits her growth as dancer, to Pandit Birju Maharaj’s guidance.

Says Malti, “At Ananya, our presentation begins with prayers offered to the Lord of the Lords Shiva. Then there is the thumri (tender, evocative turn of wrists); dadra that gets into the heart of the stealer of hearts, and then there is the radiant smile of tarana and Sargam.”

An interactive seminar with the artistes of the dance festival will take place at Alliance Francaise de Delhi on October 13 & 14 from 10.30 am to 1.30 pm.

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Rs 1200-cr mega project to improve Noida raods by 2012
Parmindar Singh

Noida, October 9
The Noida Authority has come up with a magnificent road improvement project in the city which is destined to transform not only the shape of the roads but will overhaul the entire transport system in the town boasted as the gateway to Uttar Pradesh.

Bad roads will be a thing of the past so will be the most of the red lights crossings and other frustrating and irritating features for the drivers and the pedestrians. Many of the features in the proposed Noida Authority new road project costing Rs 1,200 crore will not only boost its road and transport infrastructure by 2012, but will give the city new-look road landmarks like flyovers, underpasses, elevated roads and parking lots, most of which are slated to be completed by well before the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

According to the chief executive officer of Noida Authority Mahinder Singh, “A Rs 1,200 crore traffic and transportation plan has been prepared for Noida. It is a three-in-one as it mainly comprises a road infrastructure development plan, a traffic management plan and a public transport plan.”

Singh said six major roads would be widened, 21 crossings would be made signal-free, new road corridors would come up along the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway. These are besides 25 foot overbridges and multilevel parking lots, 348 buses will also be added for a better public transport system.

“Major arterial roads will be widened from four to six lanes in the first phase of implementation by 2009 end. The projected roads include the Delhi Noida Link Road, Harsinagar Marg, MP Road No 3 etc,” he said.

Mahinder Singh said new road corridors will be constructed for better connectivity to new residential and institutional areas planned in Sector-62 and in sectors along the Gautam Buddha Expressway. “Twenty-one crossings are projected to be made signal-free by construction of grade separators by 2009,” he said

Besides these, elevated roads at the Agrasen Chowk junction and the Sector-25, 25A, 31 and 32A crossings are expected to cater to the large volume of traffic. These are proposed to be implemented by 2012. Around 25 foot overbridges or subways are proposed to be developed at densely populated areas like DSC Road adjoining Sector-18 and MP Road No. 2 near the Great India Place.

Seven parking spaces would be developed. This includes one multilevel parking lot for 2,000 vehicles at Sector-18, four at Sector-3 and Sector-58.

To boost the public transports system, 29 bus routes have been identified where 358 new buses – 308 ordinary and 40 – will be added. Singh said about 10,000 to 12,000 rickshaws ply in the city and at some locations are the only means of public transport available. In order to regulate the movement of non-motorised modes, cycle rickshaws will be allowed only on service roads. 

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Boy who went missing is in hopsital
Our Correspondent

Noida, October 9
The 14-year-old boy, who had gone missing on Saturday from Vasundhara in Ghaziabad, was found unconscious in Noida the next day. Till Wednesday, he was in the ICU at Kailash Hospital and could not remember who had kidnapped or assaulted him.

Rahul is a class VII student of Media Public School. His uncle, Manjoj Kumar, said, “On Saturday, Rahul had gone to the central park inside Vartalok complex at Vasundhara where he lives. He went missing from there. On Sunday morning, his father got a call from the Noida police that Rahul had been found unconscious in bushes near the Okhla barrage area”. Rahul’s father is employed with the Ministry of Defence.

According to another relative, “We do not know the motive but definitely he was kidnapped from the park at Vasundhara and after assaulting him, the kidnappers threw him in the bushes presuming him to be dead.”

Kailash Hospital doctor Narender Kumar said, “Rahul had injuries in the head. The CT scan showed a blood clot. He was unconscious and unable to recognise anyone. On Wednesday he recognised his father and responded when we called his name. But when we asked him about what happened, he could not remember.”

Rahul’s father Om Pal said he was a good student and a well-behaved boy. “We have no enmity with anyone. How and who kidnapped him has been puzzling us. Only proper police investigation can reveal the truth,” he said.

SHO Ashutosh Gautam of the Indirapuram police station said, “Once Rahul comes into proper senses, only then truth will come out and culprits would be exposed.”

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Speed kills biker, cyclist
Our Correspondent

Greater Noida, October 9
Once again the thrill of driving at high speed cost a young biker his life, while his two companions were seriously hurt in Greater Noida, yesterday.

In another incident, a bus allegedly knocked down a cyclist in Noida who died on the spot.

Razak, a resident of Mussori in Ghaziabad, an AC technician, who was going on his bike along with two colleagues, was killed when his out-of-control bike hit a road divider while his companions were seriously hurt.

Both were admitted to Prayag Hospital in Greater Noida but referred to a Noida hospital in view of their critical condition.

Razak was on his way to Greater Noida from Sector-37 Noida along with Sadham Hussain and Nasimuddin as pillion riders. As he crossed LG roundabout, he started telling his friends about the Greater Noida buildings and landscape. Since the bike was being driven at a fast speed, suddenly Razak lost control of the bike which hit a road divider. Razak was killed on the spot as he had sustained a serious head injury.

A police patrol quickly took all the three to Prayag Hospital where Razak was declared brought dead while Sudham was referred to Noida’s Prayag Hospital. Nasimuddin is said to be in stable condition.

The police has sent the Razak’s dead body for a post-mortem.

In the Noida accident opposite Great India Place in Sector-38A, a company bus going to drop its employees in Sector 62, allegedly knocked down a cyclist who died on the spot. The Sector-39 Kotwali police has sent the body of the cyclist, who could not be identified, for a post-mortem.

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MCD schools to teach enviro conservation as subject
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 9
In a step towards building much needed awareness among children in the Capital on environmental conservation, primary schools run by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) will soon have a new subject – Natural Environment Conservation.

Vijendra Gupta, chairman of the MCD standing committee said recently “The government has introduced smoking ban, but penalising people is not the solution. If children are taught civic sense and ills of smoking, they will grow up to be responsible citizens and become more sensitive towards the environment.”

Gupta further informed that the course material of the subject would be prepared after consultation with field experts. “If schoolchildren are taught the essential contents of environment preservation, then, within a short period of time, we will get a big force to help us in fighting problems owing to increase in population, rapid urbanisation and environmental degradation,” Gupta added.

The civic body is also planning to write to the government of Delhi to introduce similar course material in its schools. The course will be introduced by the MCD up to Class XII, if it successful at the primary level.

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Fortis sends team to Bihar

New Delhi, October 9
Delhi-based Fortis Healthcare has sent a team of 26 experts, including five doctors, to the flood-hit Bihar to provide medical aid to the sufferers.

“People in the flood-hit state are living under a major threat of an epidemic. Women and children are amongst the worst affected,”said Brig B.L.Kapur, head of the centre for community initiatives, Fortis. —TNS  

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14-year-old gangraped
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 9
A 14-year-old minor was allegedly gangraped for two consecutive days in the Shakarpur area.

The victim claimed that she was taken to a house by two women, who allegedly lured herwhile she was playing outside her house in Anand Vihar on Sunday. The women, identified as Asha and Rani, then handed her over to two men.

According to the victim, after being drugged and gang raped by the men for two days, she was taken to a guesthouse in Shakarpur. She was later dropped in the vicinity of her residence on Tuesday.

Sources said that the medical reports of the victim have confirmed sexual abuse and rape.

While one woman has been detained by the police for questioning, no formal arrests have been made so far.

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Couple commit suicide on rail track
Our Correspondent

Greater Noida, October 9
A young couple, married only a year ago, allegedly committed suicide by lying on the railway track. They were crushed to death under the wheels of the Mahananda Express on Wednesday afternoon.

According to a police officer, Sonu, 23, and Minakshi, 20, residents of Dhoom Manikpur village in Greater Noida, were seen going around hand in hand for several hours before they committed suicide.

“They left no suicide note. We are investigating what led them to take the final step. They live in a joint family and it is possible that the suicide is linked to friction amongst family members. We have sent the bodies for a post-mortem examination and investigations are on. Sonu was working as a driver of a local private bus,” he said.

In another incident, a 38-year-old woman hanged herself to death from the ceiling fan in her house yesterday. The police said it is possible that the woman, a resident of P-3, had taken the step because she had been in a state of depression for sometime. This was possibly linked to her heart ailment.

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Journalist cremated
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 9
Senior journalist Umesh Lakhanpal, who died of heart attack yesterday, was cremated here today. The body of Lakhanpal, chief reporter with ‘Punjab Kesri’ newspaper, was consigned to flames by his brother Deshraj at Shalimar Bagh cremation ground.

Present on the occasion to pay their tribute to the veteran scribe were a host of personalities from the Delhi political scene including Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, BJP’s chief ministerial candidate Vijay Kumar Malhotra, MPs Sajjan Kumar, Sandeep Dikshit, DPCC chief J P Agarwal and Delhi BJP chief Harshvardhan.

A condolence meeting will be held in the Press Club of India on October 11 at 3:30 pm.

Meanwhile, Sheila Dikshit has announced Rs one lakh as ex-gratia amount to the family of Lakhanpal, who was the chairman of the Delhi Press Accreditation Committee. 

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Satta racket busted
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 9
The Delhi police has claimed to have busted a satta racket in North East district of New Usman Pur last night. Seventy-two people were arrested from the site.

The police claimed that the large-scale satta was organised by a woman called Pushpa, who is the wife of an alleged satta king Ramesh. The organisers were also related to the satta agencies around the Capital.

According to the police they lured people by claiming that they would receive 80 times the money betted by them if they won. One calculator, mobile phone, hundred satta slips and Rs 8,250 was recovered from the accused. 

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3 robbers held
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 9
With the arrest of three alleged robbers —Noor Ahmed, Mohd. Yasin and Danish— South district police has claimed to have busted a gang of robbers and solved the case of a robbery attempt on a TV journalist. All the three were arrested last night from Hauz Khas Deer Park.

According to the police, two cases of robbery and attempted robbery were registered against these men by Saurav Mishra and Deepak Rana.

The alleged accused used to hire autorickshaws at night and rob people at knifepoint. One auto rickshaw, mobile phone, knives, silver rings and Rs 1200, were recovered from them.

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