19032026-JTR-01.qxd 3/18/2026 10:31 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune HEALTH OFFICER SUSPENDED FOR FILING FALSE AFFIDAVIT OVER 1.5 LAKH HEALTH CARDS ISSUED UNDER SEHAT YOJANA CHEF KUMAR BRINGS FLAVOURS OF RAJASTHANI CUISINE TO AMRITSAR Dr Shri Krishan, Assistant Health Officer of the MCJ, was suspended for allegedly submitting a false affidavit. P2 The Mukhya Mantri Sehat Yojana witnessed rapid adoption with around 1,52,522 health cards issued in district since Feb 1.P3 Chef Kumar, who hails from Chomu, is a second generation specialist in traditional Rajasthani cuisine. P4 » » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY/RAIN MAX 20°C | MIN 15°C YESTERDAY MAX 23°C | MIN 15°C SUNSET THRUSDAY 6.38 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 6.31 AM THURSDAY | 19 MARCH 2026 | JALANDHAR After three years wait, city’s e-bus project finally takes off Bus depot infrastructure work begins at Company Bagh Rishika Kriti Jalandhar, March 18 After wait of nearly three years, Jalandhar is finally set to receive 97 electric buses (ebuses) with the Municipal Corporation (MC) kick starting construction of the key depot infrastructure under the PM-eBus Sewa scheme. The project aimed at improving public transport and reducing pollution, will bring a fleet of 16 standard 12-metre buses and 81 mini buses to the city. These buses will run on 12 identified routes covering key areas and providing better connectivity across the city and its outskirts. According to MC officials, the proposed routes include inner and outer ring roads as well as major corridors such as bus stand on the road heading to LPU (12.9 km), road heading from Kartarpur to bus stand (20.8 km), bus stand on road going towards Gopalpur (12.1 km), road heading from Kishangarh to bus stand (18.2 km), bus stand on road heading to Jandu Singha (12 km), bus stand on road going towards Lambra (10.2 km), bus stand on road heading to Jamsher Khas (8.2 km) and road heading from Rama Mandi to Jalandhar Kunj (8 km). The inner ring route is 11.1 km, the main ring route is TRIBUNE PHOTO: MALKIAT SINGH Tribune News Service Municipal Corporation workers carry out civil works of the bus depot at Company Bagh in Jalandhar. 21.9 km, and the outer ring route is 28 km. In total, the planned network covers around 180 km. Officials said the routes can still be revised based on public demand and better coordination with existing transport systems. The project is being implemented on a public-private partnership (PPP) model for a period of 10 years. Under this project, private operators will run buses, while the government will provide financial support. Central assistance will also be given on a per kilometre basis with around Rs 22 per km for smaller buses and Rs 24 per km for 12 metre buses, making operations financially viable. Explaining the development, MC officials said depot construction, which was necessary before buses could start run- ning, had now begun. “As a part of the project, two depots are planned with one at Lamba Pind Chowk (2 acres) with capacity for accommodating 55 buses and another at the MCJ Central Town (Company Bagh) site (1.5 acres) for 42 buses,” officials said. Officials of the MC said after the clearance of pending noobjection certificates (NOCs), civil work at the Company Bagh depot at the cost of Rs 3.08 crore had started and was expected to be completed within six months. Once the depots were ready, the Centre would provide all 97 buses along with operational staff, they said. “Civil work at Lamba Pind, estimated at Rs 3.99 crore is still pending due to NOC issues. Substation works worth Rs 48 lakh, set to be car- ried out by the Public Works Department have also been approved at the Company Bagh depot,” officials added. “On the power side, low tension work has been allotted to contractors, while high tension infrastructure will be handled by Punjab State Power Corporation Limited. Work at Company Bagh will begin soon after final approvals, while Lamba Pind is still awaiting clearances,” officials said. When contacted, MC Commissioner Sandeep Rishi said, “We have initiated the civil work at the Company Bagh depot, felicitating the process of receiving 97 e-buses. Once operational, the e-bus service is expected to improve city transport, reduce traffic congestion and provide a cleaner travel option.” Two incidents of LPG cylinder theft reported BJP leaders Ashwani Sharma and Tarun Chugh address media in Jalandhar. MALKIAT SINGH Lay on worn-out rugs all night in police custody: BJP, Cong leaders Tribune News Service Jalandhar, March 18 Having spent almost 10 hours in police custody after trying to oppose demolition of a hotel on the Police Lines road last evening, sixteen leaders of the BJP and the Congress narrated harrowing tales before the media this morning. Ex-MP Sushil Rinku, exminister Manoranjan Kalia, ex-MLAs Sheetal Angural and Rajinder Beri, Congress councillors Paramjot Singh Sherry Chadha and Dr Jasleen Sethi, Congress youth leader Angad Dutta, BJP leaders Pardeep Khullar, Darshan Bhagat and Ashok Sareen Hikky were among those who were detained from the spot where they had been protesting hotel demolition. The leaders said they were made to tour all around Jalandhar Cantonment in a bus. “The bus moved at a snail’s pace for around one hour and fifty minutes after which the police eventually brought us down at the Sadar police station. Our mobile phones were confiscated by the police. Using phone of a gunman, we asked a worker to provide us food at the police station. Continued on Page 2 Jalandhar, March 18 Amid issues of availability of the LPG, incidents of theft of gas cylinders are being reported from across the city. The most recent case was reported from Raja Garden Colony where scooter-bound thieves entered a house and fled with three cylinders. Promila Devi, complainant, said one of the stolen cylinder was registered under her husband’s name, while the other two were of their Nepalese neighbours. The police are checking the CCTV footage from the area to find whereabouts of the thieves. Another such incident was reported from the Bhargo Camp where two persons, who tried to steal cylinders, were caught by residents. The residents kept thieves tied with ropes till the police reached the spot and arrested them. —TNS K’thala instructor scales Mount Kilimanjaro Ashok Kaura Phagwara, March 18 In a remarkable feat of endurance and determination, 34-year-old instructor Navpreet Kaur Basra has successfully scaled Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 metres), becoming the first woman from Kapurthala district to conquer Africa’s highest mountain and one of the world’s tallest freestanding peaks. Currently serving as a cosmetology instructor at the Government ITI for Women, Khiranwali, Basra combined professional commitment with an extraordinary passion District’s first woman to conquer Africa’s highest peak Navpreet Kaur Basra with her family in Kapurthala. for mountaineering. A resident of Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar, she achieved the mile- stone after a challenging fiveday expedition marked by extreme weather conditions, reduced oxygen levels and physical exhaustion. Basra began her journey on March 8, coinciding with International Women’s Day, and reached the summit on March 13. Battling temperatures ranging between -15°C to -20°C and nearly 50 per cent lower oxygen levels at higher altitudes, she navigated key points along the route, including Gilman Point and Stella Point, before reaching the Uhuru Peak. Upon reaching the summit, she unfurled the Indian Tricolour along with a flag representing Punjab, marking a proud moment for her community and the state. Continued on Page 2 c m y b Teachers pulled out of classrooms to INBRIEF FOR STEALING conduct drug survey amid exam season ONE HELDWIRES Rishika Kriti Tribune News Service Jalandhar, March 18 Despite Education Minister writing to the Chief Secretary in October last year that teachers should not be deployed for non-academic work except during the elections, population census and natural calamities, educators across Punjab are once again being pulled out of classrooms, this time in middle of the board examination to act as enumerators under the upcoming drug and socio-economic survey starting on April 5. The move has sparked sharp backlash from teacher unions, who have termed the decision “deeply misplaced” and detrimental to academic functioning. With board exams underway and evaluation work in full swing, teachers argue that their deployment for identifying and counting drug addicts in villages from April 5 would severely disrupt both classroom teaching and timebound assessment duties. In a letter dated March 13, the Directorate of School Education (Elementary), Punjab, directed all district education officers to mobilise teachers and office staff as enumerators for the state’s first ever Drug and Socio Economic Census. The directive instructs officials to ensure maximum registration of staff through an online portal by March 18 with daily monitoring and reporting of applications. The letter also instructed district and block level officials to closely track participation and submit day to day reports on staff enrolment. While the exercise is officially described as voluntary, teachers say the scale of monitoring has effectively made it compulsory. Teachers further alleged that schools were being informally asked to nominate at least two teachers each, turning what was meant to be a voluntary exercise into a forced assignment. Vikramdev Singh, state president, Democratic Teachers Front, said, “The survey guidelines clearly state that enumerators should undertake the work only after office hours or on holidays. But, in reality, teachers are being compelled to register, forcing them to work beyond their duty hours.” He added that multiple academic responsibilities were converging at the same time. “Training under Mission Samrath is set to begin with the new academic session, while exam duties are ongoing. In such a situation, when we will focus on academic growth of students,” he noted. Similarly, Sukhwinder Singh Chahal, state president, Government Teachers’ Union, said, “The timing could not have been worse. Teachers are already occupied with board duties, paper evaluation and the admission cycle. Diverting them now reflects a complete disregard for academic priorities.” “Repeated claims of an “education revolution” ring hollow when teachers are continuously burdened with non-teaching responsibilities,” he said. Despite repeated attempts, Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains did not respond to calls and text messages seeking his comments on the issue. When contacted, Sonali Giri, Additional Administrative Secretary, School Education, said, “Information being circulated in this regard may not entirely be accurate. No teacher is being forced to participate in the survey. It is a paid assignment with remuneration of around Rs 63,000 and is meant for a limited number of enumerators. Interested individuals have to voluntarily register on the portal and give their consent. The process is not being enforced through any top to down orders.” Nakodar: The Nakodar Sadar police have arrested a migrant on the charge of stealing motor wires from a farmer’s fields. Investigating officer (IO) Jiwan Singh said the accused was identified as Sunni Kumar, a native of Bihar, who was presently residing at Kang Sahibu village. Jagan Preet Singh of Sahem village complained to the police that the accused stole wires from motor in his fields. OC MAN ARRESTED UNDER NDPS ACT Lohian Khas: The police have arrested one individual on the charge of selling intoxicating tablets. Investigating Officer (IO) Jaspal Singh said 85 intoxicating tablets were recovered from the accused, identified as Mandip Singh, alias Sodhi, a resident of Yusafpur Alowal village. OC TWO HELD FOR CONSUMING DRUG Nurmahal: The Bilga police have arrested two individuals on the charge of consuming heroin. Investigating Officer (IO) Charanjit Singh said the accused were identified as Jaspreet Singh, alias Jassa, and Avrindar Kumar, alias Avi, of Bilga village. The IO said a lighter, a silver paper and plastic pipes used for consuming drug were recovered from them. OC