12082025-CT-01.qxd 8/12/2025 12:32 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune SECTOR 16 ROSE CLUB TO GET RESTAURANT, EVENT SPACES CITY’S HIMAL QUALIFIES FOR CHESS WORLD CUP Will play in the FIDE World Cup on the basis of his performance in the National Chess Championship 2024. P3 RAIN MAX 31°C | MIN 28°C YESTERDAY MAX 30.4°C | MIN 26.5°C FITNESS IS A JOURNEY, NOT A RACE: SHARAD MALHOTRA The Rose Club here is all set to get a new look as the MC has floated a tender for its operation and maintenance. P3 FORECAST The actor says fitness is not just about body but also the mind. If the mind is healthy, body will naturally follow. P4 » » SUNSET TUESDAY 7.07 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 5.49 AM » TUESDAY | 12 AUGUST 2025 | CHANDIGARH /THETRIBUNECHD FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE ~3,167-cr Chd-Ambala expressway nears completion Tribune News Service WHAT’S ON CHANDIGARH HIV AWARENESS: Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh to launch intensified campaign on HIV awareness, Chandigarh University, Gharuan (Mohali), 10 am APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sectors 29 and 56, and Dhanas Panchkula: Sector 15 Mohali: Sectors 68 and 71 Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com INBRIEF MOBILE THIEF HELD Chandigarh: The police arrested Avinash (19) for a mobile theft reported a year ago. Two stolen phones were recovered from him. Sandeep Kumar had reported that four mobile phones were stolen from his room at Shastri Nagar, Manimajra, in September, 2024. TNS 6 years on, man acquitted in hit-&-run case Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 11 A local court has acquitted an accused, Rohit, who was arrested on the charge of ramming his car into a policeman. In the FIR registered on August 10, 2019, the complainant, Head Constable Raj Kumar, had stated that when he was on duty in Sector 40, he saw a car coming from the Sector 39/40 chowk and the driver was talking on the phone. He tried to stop the car but it hit him and sped away. He suffered injuries. A PCR vehicle rushed him to the Sector 16 hospital. Advocate of the accused Himanshu Sharma argued that the police had falsely implicated Rohit. The prosecution had failed to prove that the accused hit the cop. After hearing of the arguments, the court acquitted accused Rohit. UT invokes ESMA, bans strike at PGI for six months Chandigarh, August 11 The Chandigarh-Ambala Greenfield Corridor being built at a cost of Rs 3,167 crore is nearing completion. This 61.23-km expressway, which is one of the biggest highway projects under construction over 395 hectares of land in this part of the region, will ease traffic in and around Chandigarh, Zirakpur, Panchkula, Mohali and Kharar. It will also improve connectivity from Delhi and Haryana to Chandigarh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. The 31.23-km Package-2 of the NHAI project, which originates from the IT City Chowk in Mohali and culminates at Kurali on the Kurali-Siswan road, is 95% complete and is scheduled to open next month. Also, 65% work has been completed on the 30km Package-1, which starts from Devinagar village on the Ambala-Hisar road and ends at IT City Chowk in Mohali, and it is slated for opening in March next year. The NHAI officials told The Tribune that the sixlane expressway will ease local traffic significantly, improve connectivity and reduce congestion between 31.23-km Part 2 to open next month, 30-km Part 1 to start March next 95% MOHALI-KURALI BYPASS COMPLETE The NHAI’s Greenfield expressway to decongest Chandigarh, Zirakpur, Panchkula, Mohali, Kharar; ease traffic flow, connectivity from Delhi and Haryana to Chandigarh, Punjab, HP and J&K PACKAGE KM COST (~ CR) LANES COMPLETE LAND 1 30 1,641.66 6 65% 180 HA 2 31.23 1,525.3 6 95% 215 HA TOTAL 61.23 3166.96 6 80% 395 HA (SOURCE: NHAI) MAP NOT TO SCALE Nitin Jain Part 2 (Mohali-Kurali bypass) starts at Tangrori village on the Banur-Landran road. PHOTO: VICKY While the Mohali-Kurali bypass will open by September 30, the Ambala-Mohali section will be ready by March next. TO EASE TRAFFIC, BOOST DEVELOPMENT BIGGEST PROJECT IN THIS REGION OPENING SHORTLY Aimed at improving overall connectivity and traffic management, the expressway is one of the biggest highway projects in this region. It will serve as a larger network of road Chandigarh and Ambala. Part of a major initiative to improve traffic flow and logistics in the region, the expressway includes a spur connecting to Lalru and a four-lane section in Punjab. Designed to handle the increasing traffic volume in Chandigarh, Zirakpur, projects in the region, including the upcoming Zirakpur bypass, Pinjore-Baddi-Nalagarh road and the Siswan highway on 60meter-wide PR-4 road connecting Chandigarh Panchkula, Mohali and Kharar towns, the Greenfield Corridor’s Lalru spur will serve as a connecting section to Lalru while the four-lane section in Punjab will extend the expressway into Mohali in Punjab. Package-1, coming up over 18 hectares, will also boundary to Kurali-Siswan road near Boothgarh village. It will provide a faster and major link between Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. include 43.42-km service and slip roads to improve local access. With seven vehicular underpasses (VUPs), one vehicular overpass (VOP), 10 large vehicular underpasses (LVUPs), two small vehicular underpasses (SVUPs), seven flyovers, This expressway will significantly ease traffic flow, improve connectivity, decongest existing roads and boost development in the Greater Mohali area. two major bridges and six new minor bridges, Package-1 is being built at a cost of Rs 1,641.66 crore to enhance transportation and logistics between Chandigarh and Ambala. Aimed at improving regional connectivity and infrastructure, Package-2, which is also known as MohaliKurali bypass, will cover a 30km distance over 215 hectares from the IT City Chowk in Mohali to reach Kurali on the Kurali-Siswan major district road. “It will be a Greenfield alignment bypassing NH205-A to decongest urban areas, especially Mohali, Kharar and Kurali towns, serving as a bypass to these towns, which are at present witnessing a massive traffic flow,” the officials said. This access controlled expressway with high embankment will crisscross through Greenfield lands and help decongest the Airport Road in Mohali by providing a direct access to the traffic coming from Delhi and Haryana towards the Mohali International Airport Chowk to Kurali. It will bypass Mohali, Kharar and Kurali’s internal arteries, for further reaching to major parts of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Already boosting the real estate development and investment in and around IT City in Mohali, New Chandigarh, Kharar and Kurali, this second leg of the six-lane expressway will cost Rs 1,525.3-crore and significantly reduce travel time between Chandigarh and Delhi, as well as to major parts of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. “We are working to open Package-2 by September 30, while Package-1 is scheduled to be ready by March 31, 2026,” the NHAI functionaries disclosed. Rain leaves roads waterlogged, mercury dips 4 degrees UT earmarks land for hi-tech Intelligence Bureau office in Sec 31 Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 11 The moderate to heavy rain continuing in the afternoon and evening hours once again disrupted the normal life in Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula. However, the day temperature registered a considerable dip of over 4 degree Celsius, providing much relief from hot and humid weather conditions. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for another spell of heavy rain coupled with thunderstorm at isolated places in Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana from Wednesday to Friday. Around 12:30 pm and 4 pm today, the tricity region witnessed moderate to heavy downpour, leading to waterlogging and traffic chaos in major parts of Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula. While Chandigarh experienced 14-mm rainfall, comprising 10.8-mm during the day and 3.2-mm between 5:30 pm on Sunday and 8:30 am on Tribune News Service A waterlogged road at Lohgarh in Zirakpur during the rain on Monday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: RAVI KUMAR Monday, Mohali and Panchkula got 6.5-mm and 6-mm showers in the past 24 hours. Low-lying areas, major roads and junctions were inundated, causing bottlenecks in the smooth flow of traffic. The waterlogging once again exposed the ill-preparedness and lackadaisical approach on the part of the Municipal Corporation authorities, who failed to ensure the proper cleaning of road gul- lies for rainwater disposal. Sumit Kumar, a trader of the Sector 34 market, said parking areas were inundated as the rain continued for the whole day. He said there were many educational institutes in the market. A large number of students visiting these institutes had a tough time wadding through waterlogged roads. The residents of Continued on page 2 Chandigarh, August 11 In a major step towards further strengthening the security apparatus, the UT Administration has earmarked nearly 1.5 acres in Sector 31 for an hi-tech office complex of the Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau. Land has also been allocated for Urban Ayushman Arogya Mandir in Sector 51 and Mahila Police Station in Sector 52. The Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau is the regional-level wing of the Centre’s Intelligence Bureau, which looks after security, counterterrorism, organised crime, cybercrime and internal threats. The Administration has also earmarked 1.11 acres in Sector 52 for a women police station. At present, the women police station is operating from the Sector 17 complex which also houses the offices of other police wings. After the allotment of land, a DPR will be prepared. With the aim of providing affordable and quality health services to the people of the city, the Administration has allocated 0.25 acres for Urban Ayushman Arogya Mandir in Sector 51. In 2023, the UT had earmarked the land for Ladakh Bhavan, offices of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and National Investigation Agency (NIA) in the city. The ED has been allotted 1.72 acres for its office in Sector 38-West. Land for Ladakh Bhawan was allotted in Sector 33C. Jaws of fear grip Panchkula as dog bite cases cross 3,000 mark Sheetal Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 11 The UT Administration has invoked the Haryana Essential Services (Maintenance) Act (ESMA), 1974, which is more stringent than the East Punjab Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1947, prohibiting any strike at the PGIMER for the next six months. A notification issued by the Administration said any strike at the PGIMER, Chandigarh, will affect services or supplies, public safety, health or sanitation and the maintenance of public order necessary for the life of the community at large. Panchkula, August 11 Every month, around 300 to 400 residents are falling prey to stray dog attacks, as more than 3,000 bite cases have been reported this year, according to the Municipal Corporation data. In multiple sectors and neighbourhoods, locals say they are living in fear, with children and elderly persons becoming victims to aggressive strays. In a complaint shared by a group of residents, they detailed how a single aggressive dog in their lane has been attacking two-three children every morning, particularly targeting school- going kids aged between 5 and 12. “The dog doesn’t spare anyone — be it passersby, beggars, vegetable vendors or milk delivery men. Even adults are being bitten regularly,” a resident said. Despite previous complaints to the authorities, the residents said no action has been taken so far, forcing many victims to seek anti-rabies treatment at their own expense. “We’re mulling submitting a signed petition to the authorities and are looking for the right department to approach. At the very least, the aggressive dogs must be captured and vaccinated. If sterilisation isn’t possible right away, vaccination is critical to prevent Residents flag six-month halt in sterilisation drive STRAY DOG POPULATION DOUBLED IN PAST DECADE According to official data, only 156 dogs were sterilised in January, compared to 2,596 in 2024, 1,234 in 2023, and 3,023 in 2022. Meanwhile, estimates suggest the stray dog population has doubled from 8,000 to nearly 16,000 in the last decade. << Stray dogs often attack children and elderly persons. rabies,” the residents said. Civic body efforts under the lens Contributing to the worsening situation is the Municipal Cor- c m y b poration’s failure to streamline sterilisation efforts. The process came to a halt in February this year due to the nonrenewal of the contractor’s agreement, resuming only in late July after a six-month gap. Congress MLA Chander Mohan criticised the BJP-led Municipal Corporation for its “shocking indifference” and failure to act. “In what civilised city are over 3,000 dog bites tolerated in eight months while the administration remains silent?” he asked, slamming the sixmonth delay in sterilisation as clear negligence. He termed the corporation’s promises of compensation and medical aid “hollow” and questioned why pet dog registration, leash laws and feeding rules remain unenforced. Notably, the Mayor confirmed that the sterilisation process resumed in July, adding, “It’s been a month of continuous efforts to control rising population of dogs.” In addition to the risk of bites, residents are also burdened with the cost and inaccessibility of proper medical care. While anti-rabies injections are available at General Hospital, Sector 6, for Rs 100, the hospital does not stock Human Rabies Immune Globulin (HRIG), a vital injection required for deeper wounds. Victims are referred either to Sector-19 dispensary in Chandigarh, or asked to purchase the HRIG injection themselves at private hospitals, where it can cost up to Rs 15,000. The civic body had in March proposed that doctors, vaccines and nurses would be made available at five community centres to give medical relief. Besides, Rs 10,000 was discussed as compensation to dog bite victims but the proposals Continued on page 2