* Location: Sector 63 (Phase IX) of Mohali

* Stadium area: 13.5 acres

* Capacity: 27,500

* Chandigarh Airport to PCA: 12km

* Sector 17 bus stand to PCA: 10 km

* Sector 43 bus stand to PCA: 7 km

* Entry Gates: 10

* educational institutions closed in Mohali tomorrow.

* additional flights: At least six by private airlines tomorrow from Delhi and Mumbai

* No airport parking for private planes

* Astrological predictions signal an Indian victory

* Inconvenience on the cards for residents and shopkeepers in the vicinity of the stadium

* arrived: 400 Pakistanis in city

Chandigarh, March 29
All eleven opposition councillors of the municipal corporation were suspended from the house for a fortnight by Mayor Ravinder Pal Singh for unruly behaviour and misbehaving with the marshals.

Councillors, who were suspended, included eight from the BJP, one each from the BSP and Akali Dal and an independent.

When the proceedings of the house commenced in the morning, all opposition councillors protesting against the ‘booth scam’ entered the house wearing black gowns on which slogans like “Bansal should resign and fair investigation into booth scam should be conducted”.

Without waiting for any directions from the Mayor, who presided over the house, Congress councillor Manjit Singh blocked the way of the opposition councillors and tried to tear the gown worn by opposition councillor Raj Kumari Mishra in the well of the house. Following which all Congress councillors present in the house tore all posters and stated that the protest could not be staged in the house, as it was against the customs of the house.

Ultimately, the Mayor suspended three opposition councillors, including Anil Dubey, Surinder K Jagota and Jagit Singh Kang.

Terming this action unjustified, nominated councillors, including Dr AP Sanwaria, Pallav Mukherjee, MPS Chawla and Brig Kuldeep Singh Chandpuri, requested the Mayor that as both ruling and opposition party councillors had misbehaved the mayor should not adopt a pick-and-choose policy.

When marshals tried to take three of them out of the house, all opposition councillors gathered in the well of the house to block their way and staged a protest. Following which, the Mayor suspended all opposition councillors and declared a tea break.

After the break, the opposition councillors staged a protest at the entry point to the house. In protest, all opposition councillors entered the house from the media gallery and started protesting on the floor of the house.

He doesn’t know how to conduct proceedings

Ironically, Mayor Pali has failed to smoothly conduct the proceedings of the General House since day one and is now commenting on the non-performance of the nominated councillors. He remarked that whenever he supported any party on any issue it was for the betterment of the city and not for any other reason.

— Dr AP Sanwaria

He has cleansed the House of ‘dirty politicians’

I appreciate the gesture of Mayor Pali for cleansing the MC General House of dirty politicians who were trying to raise the issues of booth scam and public welfare in the House that was not to his liking. In this context, he first suspended all the opposition councillors and now he wants to terminate two of us from the House.

— Pallav Mukherjee

Zirakpur, March 29
Finally meeting the long-pending demand of Zirakpur residents to name an official building or institution after former Cabinet minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today announced that an upcoming business school in the area will be named after him.

This was stated by the Chief Minister on the second death anniversary function of late Capt Kanwaljit Singh at Gurdwara Nabha Sahib on the Zirakpur-Patiala highway.

While praising former Akali stalwart, Badal said Capt Kanwaljit was a great leader and he would always be remembered for his achievements.

In what is being construed as an indication that the former minister’s son and Banur MLA Jasjit Singh Bunny will be given the ticket from Dera Bassi subdivision for the next Assembly elections, Badal appreciated the work done by him. He also asked the people to support the family of Capt Kanwaljit Singh.

Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal said it was difficult to get a leader like him. He was a main soldier of the party and always attended party conferences with high spirits, Sukhbir added.

Meanwhile, senior Akali and BJP leaders, including Rajya Sabha member Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Chief Parliamentary Secretary (Punjab) Raj Khurana, Jathedar Ujjagar Singh Wadali and NK Sharma of the district planning board, Mohali, also paid their tributes to Capt Kanwaljit Singh.

Mohali, March 29
Hundreds of policemen brought in from different districts of Punjab to provide full-proof security cover in and around the PCA Stadium have been left in the lurch.

Deputed at different strategic locations around the stadium, the policemen were forced to leave their duties while looking for eateries around the stadium to satisfy their hunger.

Around 3,500 policemen have been deputed within two-kilometer radius around the stadium. The police spoke contrary to the version of senior police officials, who claimed that proper arrangements for their stay and food had been made at different police stations and community centres.

Packed food would be provided to the policemen during the match, as PCA had given around Rs 3 lakh for the same.

The police from Sangrur stated that they were dependent on makeshift eateries but there was no availability of potable water. A plate of “kulche chole” was being sold for Rs 30 and a plate of rice and dal was being sold for Rs 40, complained the policemen. During previous matches, the packed food was delivered at the place of the duty. Punjab Police commandoes complained that they had to waste time in looking for food and water.

Kasturi Lal, who was selling “kulche chole”, said due to security reasons, no water tanker was being allowed in Phase X market, the cops were being forced to go without water. There was no arrangement for the policemen to ease themselves. The policemen deputed on the rooftops of houses complained that no one had bothered to ask them for food and they were at the mercy of the residents.

Chandigarh, March 29
With at least six special flights operated by commercial airlines and another about 50 private aircraft expected to arrive here tomorrow, the Chandigarh airport would be witnessing an unprecedented flight activity.

These aircraft would have spectators, including political leaders, government officials, corporate honchos, Bollywood stars and other personalities, on board for the World Cup semifinal between India and Pakistan at Mohali.

The special flights would be in addition to regular fights operated by scheduled airlines from the city. There are 24 scheduled flights, including arrivals and departures, daily from Chandigarh. Kingfisher Airlines, Jet Airways and Go Air are operating two additional flights each to Chandigarh from Delhi and Mumbai. Airline officials claim that these flights are fully booked.

With the additional flights, the total number of arrivals and departures from Chandigarh will touch 136. Besides, there will be two special aircrafts that will have on board the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan.

Arrivals are expected to commence early Wednesday morning and the airspace is expected to be closed for brief durations when the aircraft ferrying in the Prime Ministers of both the countries touch down at different times.

Air Force sources said no private aircraft would be allowed to park at the Chandigarh airfield. These would be flown elsewhere once their passengers disembark and would return to pick them up the next day. Amritsar and Delhi are among the airports that would be used for overnight parking by private aircrafts.

Similarly, the special commercial flights would also return to their place of origin with fresh passengers. The average turnaround time for airliners operating from Chandigarh, like the Airbus A-320, Boeing 7373 and ATR-72 is 30 minutes. Night flying by commercial and private aircrafts is not permitted from Chandigarh.

The air traffic services in Chandigarh are controlled by the Air Force, as the airfield here is a defence installation with a civilian enclave attached to it. Air Force sources said there would be no disruption of scheduled commercial operations despite heavy traffic and certain restrictions on the use of airspace.

An Air Force helicopter was seen in the evening making low sweeps of the area around the venue of the match as part of the strict surveillance and security protocol put into place for the event, which assumes political hues. Though Air Force sources have discounted the possibility of combat air patrols over the Tricity, routine airspace monitoring and operational readiness platforms would be maintained at designated airfields.

The Army would be providing air defence cover against possible threats from low flying platforms to the venue of the match for which anti-aircraft guns and mobile air defence missile units have been deployed. An Army bomb disposal unit has also been activated.

Chandigarh, March 29
Heavily burdened with VVIPs descending in droves on the city to watch the semifinal match between India and Pakistan, the Chandigarh Police has, besides exhausting its own limit of deploying 75 per cent of the force for security cover, requsitioned the service of over 2,000 commandos of the paramilitary forces for security cover tomorrow. With prime ministers, high-profile politicians and corporate honchos arriving for the Wednesday's match, the police is not taking any chances on the security front.

The police has roped in services of six different forces - four companies of the Haryana police; Special Action Group (SAG) commandos of the National Security Guard (NSG); the Railway Protection Force (RPF); the Rapid Action Force (RAF), the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and even elements of the Army. In addition, the Special Protection Group (SPG) will exclusively protect the Prime Minister and any member of Sonia Gandhi’s family if they visit.

The total number of police personnel present in Chandigarh for security of the VIPs tomorrow will be close to 5,000 - 3,000 from the Chandigarh Police and the rest drawn from the above listed security forces.

UT Senior Superintendent of Police Naunihal Singh said it was for the first time in the history of Chandigarh that such a large number of police force was being deployed for security cover. “Multifarious forces have been pressed into service and 75 per cent of the UT police force has been deployed for the VIP security. “The Chandigarh police will remain on its toes and stringent arrangements have been made,” he added.

Armed security personnel will be lined up on both sides of the 15-km road, between Hotel Taj and the stadium, along which the teams' convoys will pass. The team buses will take a 5-km longer route to avoid the busy city roads. The force will maintain vigil at Hotel Mountview in Sector 10, the Punjab Raj Bhawan, the UT Guest House and Hotels Taj GVK and Shivalik View. The police will guard all the roads leading from the Chandigarh Airport to these destinations. Security forces will also remain present on the roads leading to Mohali cricket stadium from these hotels where the VIPs are staying.

Mohali, March 29
Heavy presence of policemen around the stadium is not only affecting residents living around the PCA stadium, a number of business establishments are losing on business for the past two days.

Hundreds of policemen have taken over the parking lots and verandas in front of shops in Phases IX and X, adjoining the stadium.

Baljeet Singh Walia, who runs a fast food joint in Phase X, said his routine customers have stopped calling, as he was unable to book home delivery orders due to security restrictions. “My delivery boys are not being allowed to move in and out of the Phase X market. The water tanker was also not allowed in the market,” he said.

The presence of policemen is only proving to be a blessing in disguise for the small-time shopkeepers who were busy selling “kulche chole” to the policemen.

Another shopkeeper selling hardware items said he was sitting idle for the past two days. I am planning to close my shop tomorrow. Dr Mukesh Gaba, a doctor in Phase IX market, said policemen have taken over the corridor in front of his shop. “I have been left with no option but to close my shop tomorrow,” he said.

Though the local administration has not passed any orders for the closure of shops, shopkeepers apprehend that due to the heavy police presence, there would be no business. 

Panchkula, March 29
The Haryana police has finally woken up to security in the town in view of the high profile semifinal cricket match between India and Pakistan to be played in Mohali tomorrow.

Two companies of police personnel from the commando training institutes have been brought to the city.

Besides, mobile commando force (quick response team) with latest weapons and bullet-proof jackets have also been positioned in major intersections in the city.

The police has also been positioned near hotels and other commercial establishments. Four policemen have also been positioned outside every hotel in the city and its periphery besides strengthening the intelligence network to keep a tab on the anti-socials elements.

Notably, the city has about 15 hotels, five government guesthouses and a couple of dharmashalas in the town with a combined room capacity of 900.

Fans have booked the rooms well in advance leaving no space for the huge rush that has begun descending on the town to witness the high profile cricket match.

The police team headed by DSP Ram Chander Rathi also searched the local hotels, guesthouses and dharamshalas and sought the details of the persons who had booked the rooms there. The police directed the hotel owners to keep a complete record with identity proof of the hotel guests.

The police has instructed cyber café owners in the city to keep the address and identity proof of visitors.

Ambala Superintendent of Police Shashank Anand, who is holding the additional charge of Panchkula, said all the entry points to the city have been sealed by setting up 26 nakas besides deploying to check the entry of anti-social elements from the neighbouring states of Ambala, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh 
and Union Territory of Chandigarh.

Chandigarh, March 29
Good wishes of a billion people, a cheering crowd of about 30,000 people at the PCA Stadium, led by the Prime Minister and who’s who of the country, and a confident team India. So what can possibly prevent MS Dhoni and his men from crushing Shahid Afridi’s eleven?

Nothing perhaps, as even the stars, the numbers and plants are in favour of Team India and soothsayers assert that Dhoni’s victory is “inevitable”.

For those who don’t believe in astrology, numerology and tarot cards, the forecast for tomorrow’s match is a pure music for the ears as it unanimously predicts a victory for India. But leaving all the predictions aside, team India should not let this hype and frenzy affect their performance.

And for young fans of Yuvi, who have been praying for his success in Mohali, the stars are poised favourably for him and he may well script yet another victory for the country.

Tarot card reader Renu Mathur, says patriotic fervour apart, the tarot card chariot shows a position of command and control for the Indian cricket team.

“Yuvraj is once again destined to play a great innings with at least a half century and two wickets,” she says while cautioning “Mahi” to play his style.

Though Renu doesn’t say with conviction that whether Sachin will be able to score a century in Mohali, she maintains that Sachin will make a major contribution to the team.

Similarly, both Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir will also make their presence felt. She advises India to bat in case they win the toss and warns them to be wary of the Rawalpindi’s express ball and Younis Khan’s bat.

If they win the toss, the Indian team is advised to bat first. And for skipper Shahid Afridi, she says despite a good game plan he may not be able to bring his team up to the mark of winning this match.

Astrologer, Madan Gupta Spatu, says the numeric value of tomorrow’s date (30-3-2011) is 1, which represents the Sun and being Wednesday (Budh) both the planets are friendly and very near to each other. He says: “The Sun becomes the main planet of the day which coincides with the planetary position of the captain and the place where the historic event will take place. The alphabet M (the first letter of Dhoni’s name) astrologically represents Leo, which in turn represents the Sun. The name and place both start with M,” he says while predicting India’s victory.

Spatu says: “The time of the commencement of the match, the ascendant will be Cancer, the sign (rashi) will be Capricorn under Dhanishtha nakshatra (constellation). The Lagna lord Moon will be in the Kendra (centre), which makes the event stronger. Secondly, in the horoscope cast for 30.3.2011 at 14.30 pm in Mohali, the fifth house which represents games and entertainment makes a direct link with ninth house which is the house of destiny. In the destiny house, three friendly planets Mars, Sun and Jupiter will rule. This combination brings India in a winning position on Wednesday and this is inevitable,” he adds.

For Pakistan he says: “Their horoscope is governed by Virgo (Kanya rashi). Retrograde position of Saturn in the Virgo sign does not show any indication for Pakistan to win.” This prediction will surely disappoint people across the border.

Chandigarh, March 29
The flourishing black-marketing business in the city has caught the fancy of migrant labourers. A majority of daily wagers hailing from UP and Bihar have shifted to last minute “managing” tickets.

Hundreds of these daily wagers, rickshaw-pullers have taken a break from their usual course and are running from pillar to post to arrange tickets for the semifinal match at the PCA Stadium in Mohali.

The migrant labourers in large number were seen standing in long queues outside the stadium to buy tickets.

“I got Rs 20,000 from someone to buy a ticket, but unfortunately no ticket is available here,” said Ram Khilawan, a rickshaw-puller.

Chandigarh, March 29
The high-octane Indo-Pak semifinal match is turning out to be a big boon for the city’s economy. With the city expected to host about 15,000 visitors, the city’s business community is expecting to register a 40 per cent increase in sales.

Businessmen, mainly comprising restaurant owners, hoteliers, electronic goods owners and transport service providers are together expecting sales worth about Rs 15 crore over and above normal.

With hotels and guesthouses located in the city and all cities and towns located in a 60-km radius fully occupied for the coming three days, the total income expected to be earned by the hotel industry alone is estimated to cross Rs 10 crore.

Similarly, the food and beverages industry is expected to witness a three-fold rise in turnover during this period.

Gurwinder Singh, treasurer of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Northern India, maintained that the industry (food and beverages) witness a business of around Rs 50 lakh per day. “But tomorrow, the figure will be three-times more. In fact, we have been witnessing a boom in the business for the past one week due to cricket frenzy. If India wins tomorrow, the business is expected to touch a new high till the World Cup final,” said Juneja.

Tomorrow’s match will also give fillip to the transport business that is hopeful of earning five times more income than any other normal day. “The fares of rickshaws, auto-rickshaws and private taxis will touch the roof tomorrow as we will also cash in on the opportunity,” admitted a group of auto rickshaw drivers in Sector 22.

Notably, a spurt in the sale of television, LCDs and LEDs is also being noted this week. “On any normal day we would sell two or three sets but yesterday the sale was good. In just one day, we sold as many as 17 sets”, said Arwinder Singh, owner of a noted electronics goods shop.

He was hopeful that the sale was likely to be up in the coming days provided India won tomorrow’s match.