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Airport hopes to bring down losses
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Local traders not happy with Amritsar-New Delhi-Birmingham flight
Night sanitation from tomorrow
Residents resent increase in petrol, diesel prices
Customers at a petrol pump in Amritsar on Thursday. Photo: Sameer Sehgal
Residents, farmer unions stage dharna, demand action against petrol pump owner
e-trip bothers yarn traders
Admission schedule for GNDU colleges
Two arrested in murder case
Youth ends life, doctor booked
2 booked for forging bail documents
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Airport hopes to bring down losses
Amritsar, August 1 The Amritsar-New Delhi-Birmingham flight, a new 256-seater Boeing 787 Dreamliner having 238 economy and 18 business class seats, will operate four days a week - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The response to the flight seems to be tremendous right from the beginning as close to 90 per cent of the seats were booked for the inaugural flight that took off from here this morning. Sources said the talks were also on for facilitating export of fresh vegetables to the European market through the flight, as the airport boasts of an impressive perishable cargo facility. Besides the much-awaited resumption of the air link to Birmingham, the airport will also get air connectivity with Australia from August 29. However, it will be a hub and spoke arrangement, wherein the passengers will first fly to New Delhi from where they will board an aircraft bound for Australia. Talking to The Tribune, Airport Advisory Committee member Gunbir Singh said the Amritsar-New Delhi-Birmingham flight was a huge opportunity for the national career, both in terms of passenger load and perishable cargo, while adding that the airline must ensure that it isn't any stopgap arrangement. "Continuity is a must for any kind of business operation." Punjabi farmers used to export veggies to European market from the airport prior to 2010. Among the veggies were green chilli, bottle gourd, bitter gourd, lady's-finger and coriander. The daily export of veggies at that time would vary between 1.5 tonne to 4 tonne. However, the trade was hit following withdrawal of one flight after another. Incidentally, the resumption of air connectivity between Amritsar and Birmingham comes after a gap of almost three years. Earlier, the Air India had sprung a surprise by discontinuing its Amritsar-Birmingham-Toronto flight, which was termed by many as the most successful flight in the annals of the national carrier's history. The flight, which used to witness over 90 per cent occupancy, was withdrawn on October 31, 2010. However, it was not the only flight to be discontinued from the Amritsar airport. The British Midland International (BMI) had pulled out its Amritsar-Almaty-London flight in October, 2012. Prior to it, the Air India had suspended its Amritsar-Toronto flight due to the strike of pilots, which is yet to be resumed. Singapore Airlines had launched thrice a week Amritsar-Singapore flight on October 1, 2004. The service ran well for around five years before being discontinued in early 2009. Later, Jet Airways launched its Amritsar-London flight only to withdraw it after sometime. Flights withdrawn from the airport in past
BMI’s Amritsar-Almaty-London Air India’s Amritsar-Birmingham-Toronto Air India’s Amritsar-Toronto (suspended due to pilots’ strike, yet to be resumed) Singapore Airlines’ Amritsar-Singapore Jet Airways’
Amritsar-London Flight timings Amritsar-New Delhi-Birmingham Take-off from Amritsar 10:30 am Arrival in Delhi 11:45 am Take-off from Delhi 1:30 pm Arrival in Birmingham 6 am Birmingham-New Delhi-Amritsar Take-off from Birmingham 9:30 pm Arrival in Delhi 10:05 am Take-off from Delhi 12:05 pm Arrival in Amritsar 1:10 pm
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Local traders not happy with
Amritsar-New Delhi-Birmingham flight
Amritsar, August 1 Although it came as good news for the international airport, the disappointment came with the fact that the flight will not be direct but via New Delhi. Gunbir Singh, member of the CII Council, said: "The direct flights from Amritsar to Toronto and Birmingham were cancelled stating the commercial aspects. The fact that it was one of the most successful flights in Air India's history with over 90 per cent occupancy was overlooked. Even this flight will fly to Birmingham via Delhi but since the present route crosses back over Amritsar skies on its way from Delhi makes it a time consuming travel." Rajdeep Uppal, a businessman and chairman of the CII, Amritsar, said the city needs to be connected internationally. Though the flight to Birmingham came as good news, it still undermines the potential of an international airport. When attempts are being made to build international airports across various cities in Punjab, more direct international flights and frequent air traffic from city to important business destinations will definitely help." Maninder Singh, a textile businessman, said: "The flight is time consuming since we have travel to Delhi first. It will be cumbersome and add to the already long hours of the travel. " Guneet Arora, a businessman, said: "For holidays, the flight is a welcome decision. One can understand that the business travellers might find it a task to travel via Delhi but for personal and leisure travel, the flight offers economic service. And since the city needs one, I believe time consumption is not going to be a big issue."
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Night sanitation from tomorrow
Amritsar, August 1 Amritsar is known as an international tourist destination. Thousands of tourists visit the holy shrine of Golden Temple every day. Taking it into account, the MC has taken a step ahead by introducing this novel concept to create positive awareness about sustainable and healthy living in Amritsar, with the goal of making it a model city in terms of hygiene and clean environs. All roads leading to the Golden Temple will be covered in the first phase. The drive will be launched on August 3. Members of the ruling alliance, including Ministers Bikram Majithia, Anil Joshi, RP Singh, Inderbir Bolaria, Kamal Sharma and their supporters will attend the event. A Chandigarh-based sanitation company has been hired for the job. Around 40 workers with four garbage-lifting trolleys will be put on job to clean the roads and sprinkle water after removing the garbage on the prescribed route during the wee hours. According to MC's Health Officer Dr Yogesh Arora, the roads en route to the Golden Temple from the Hall Gate, Sakandari Gate, beneath the elevated road leading to Saragarhi parking, Dharam Singh Market, Baba Atal Gurudwara-Shaheedan Sahib Gurudwara, besides the Heritage Walk route, would be on the list in the first phase. The MC has entered into a contract with the firm for one year. Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora said, "We have decided to pick the routes leading to religious places. After the Golden Temple, it will be turn of routes touching the Durgiana Mandir. Thereafter, some other most places of the holy city will be put on agenda."
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Residents resent increase in petrol, diesel prices
Amritsar, August 1 The local residents have asked the state government to lower the VAT and octroi on diesel and petrol. Jagtar Singh, a local resident, said: "An increase of 70 paisa per litre means that price will go up by Re 1 per litre in state. The tax collection of the state government automatically increases when the prices of petrol or diesel are increased by the companies.” Kuljit Singh, a lawyer, said: “The government should not let oil companies increase prices whenever they wish to. At least there should be some checks. Increase in fuel prices directly impacts the prices of other essential goods. “ Harman Kumar, a private employee, said: “While salaries are constant, the prices of all other goods are increasing every month. The inflation is such that with each passing month you actually take less amount home than the previous month. The government should regulate the prices.”
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Residents, farmer unions stage dharna, demand action against petrol pump owner
Amritsar, August 1 The protestors had kept the body on the road while holding the protest which started around 4.00 pm after their talks with the petrol pump owner for giving compensation to the deceased’s family failed. The protest continued for over an hour. Baljinder Singh, a resident of Hardowal Khurd village, and an attendant at the Kisan Filling Station, Ramdass, was shot dead by two unidentified persons who had come to the petrol pump for filling petrol in their motorcycle. Before fleeing, the accused also took away Rs 5,000 cash from his pocket. The police has registered a case under Sections 392, 397, 302 of the IPC and 25, 27, 54, 59 of the Arms Act against the unidentified persons. Dhanwant Singh, district secretary, Kirti Kisan Union, alleged that it was due to the negligence of the petrol pump owner Dalbir Singh that the incident occurred. He said there were no walls, shades or security guards deputed at the petrol pump. Ajnala DSP Tilak Raj said a case of negligence has been registered against the owner of the petrol pump on the demand of the residents and unions. “The owner earlier flatly refused to give compensation to the deceased’s family. The petrol pump has failed to install CCTV cameras and no security staff was deployed. Following which a a case has been registered against the owner also,” he said. The incident brought forward the glaring lapse on part of the petrol pump owners, especially in rural areas who failed to install CCTV cameras besides making elaborate security arrangements. Earlier too a similar instance had occurred in which two unidentified motorcycle-borne youths had robbed Rs 4,195 from two attendants on gun point at Raja Kissan Sewa Kender petrol pump in Pandori Waraich village on July 28.
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e-trip bothers yarn traders
Amritsar, August 1 The traders said this makes the procedure cumbersome for them. They said that when they bring yarn from other states they have to submit online information about the consignment and deposit entry tax. The traders have to further file monthly return, quarterly return, annual return, VAT, CA PAN Audit. Yarn Dealers Association president Tejinder Singh Babbu said, "The new e-trip system is another addition to the already cumbersome procedures." He said server of the website for e-trip remains slow most of the time, which further adds to their difficulty. He said the system requires them to give the registration number of the vehicle which would be used for transportation of the goods. It further requires the traders to specify the time during which the goods would be transported. Babbu said, "For transportation purposes, traders hire transport contractors, who send the vehicle whichever is available at the time. Besides, the loading and unloading time cannot be calculated specifically as number of factors as availability of labour, traffic jams at particular time cannot be calculated." The association demanded that the procedures for traders should be simplified in real terms. "The government should consider the problems of the traders so that the business can flourish in state," said Babbu
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Admission schedule for GNDU colleges
Amritsar, August 1 Dr Inderjit Singh, Registrar, GNDU, said as per the revised schedule, the admission could be sought with late fee of Rs 1,000 along with the permission of the Vice-Chancellor till August 6. Similarly, the admission could be sought from August 7 to August 13 with the late fee of Rs 5,000 along with the permission of the Syndicate.
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Two arrested in murder case
Amritsar, August 1 Sukhjit Singh was found murdered at his residence in Mahaar village on the intervening night of July 29-30. His throat was slit with a sharp weapon and there were injury marks on his head and other parts of the body. On the statements of the Bhupinder Kaur, the biological mother of the victim, the police has booked two persons, Avtar Singh of Kohali village and Harjinder Singh of Tola Nangal village, on murder charge. Earlier, it was being suspected that he was killed by unidentified robbers. Bhupinder Kaur told to the police that a land dispute could be the reason behind the murder. Sukhjit was the owner of about 15 acres of land which he had inherited from his maternal uncle Jasbir Singh who had adopted him. Jasbir had disowned his real daughter Kuldip Kaur who had married against his wishes. Kuldeep’s husband Kashmir Singh had filed a property case against Sukhjit. The family earlier suspected that the robbers had killed him and also took away Rs 24 lakh which he got from a land deal and a gun “The police has recovered about Rs 24 lakh and a .12 bore gun from his residence while there were no signs of gaining forceful entry into the house,” said SHO Rashpal Singh, Rajasansi police station.
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Youth ends life, doctor booked
Amritsar, August 1 The police has booked the doctor following the statement of Navjit Singh, brother of Simranjit. Navjit stated to the police that a few days before taking the extreme step of ending his life, Simranjit told everything about his relationship with the doctor to him. He said the doctor was pressurising him to permanently stay with her as she was expecting his child. He alleged that the doctor threatened Simranjit with disclosing everything to his family in case he refused to accept her illegitimate demand.He said after the threats, his brother starting remaining under depression and on July 28 he consumed celphos tablets in the bathroom. He was immediately rushed to a private hospital, where he died late last evening. The Bandala police said a case under Section 306 of the IPC was registered against the doctor and further investigations were under progress.
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2 booked for forging bail documents Amritsar, August 1 Harminder Singh Makan, District and Sessions Judge, lodged a complaint with the Civil Lines police in this regard.Those booked are Sandeep Singh of Odeon Gali, Majitha Road, and Kuldip Singh of Ranjit Pura, Guru Ki Wadali.The District and Sessions Judge stated to the police that Sandeep was sentenced to jail by the court of Kulbhushan Kumar, JMIC, while Kuldip Singh got him released on bail on forged documents.A case under Sections 419, 420, 465, 468 and 471 of the IPC has been registered.—TNS
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As the oil companies have again increased the petrol and diesel prices, the city residents today demanded a rollback in the prices. The residents complained that oil prices have increased five times in the past two months.