30032026-LT-01.qxd 3/30/2026 1:03 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune MARGINAL FARMER TURNS TO ANIMAL REARING, MILKS PROFIT ADVANI SHINES AS TOP CUEISTS SEAL QUARTERFINAL SPOTS VIJAY VARMA TURNS MATKA KING Gurnam Singh, who started a dairy in 2017, bagged PAU progressive farmer award in 2023. P2 The round of last 16 was full of action with a mix of dominant victories and thrilling finishes. P2 Prime Video celebrated Vijay’s birthday by announcing April 17 as premiere of his upcoming drama Matka King. P4 » » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 28°C | MIN 20°C YESTERDAY MAX 28°C | MIN 17°C SUNSET MONDAY 6:40 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 6:13 AM MONDAY | 30 MARCH 2026 | LUDHIANA Two daily flights at Halwara airport to start from mid-May Bookings will be started from first week of April, minister makes announcement LONG WAIT IS OVER Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 29 At last the wait is over as Air India announces to start two flights from the Halwara airport from mid-May. Bookings for the same will start from the first week of April itself. Ravneet Singh Bittu, Minister of State (MoS) for Railways and Food Processing Industries, made the announcement on Sunday. He said: “It is a proud moment for the state. Flight bookings from the Halwara airport are set to begin in April first week, with the first flight expected between May 10-15. Operations will start with a 180seater A320 economy aircraft. Initially, there will be two daily flights between Delhi and Halwara — one in the morning and the other in the afternoon — marking a major leap in connectivity for the region,” he said. Congratulating the people of the state, Bittu said the long wait was over. This milestone will boost travel, trade and economic growth across the state. He thanked Prime Minister ❝ The long wait is over. This milestone will boost travel, trade and economic growth across the state. ❞ Ravneet Singh Bittu, MOS FOR RAILWAYS Operationalisation of the Halwara airport is expected to enhance regional air connectivity. FILE Narendra Modi for his vision and continued commitment to strengthen infrastructure and empower Punjab. “I also remain committed, as Union Minister, to continuously work towards state’s growth, ensuring such transformative projects reach the people,” he said. To start operations, it is mandatory to start bookings for flights 45 days in advance. The minister said all necessary NOCs and permission were taken and the airport would see the light of the day in coming days. Recent statements made by minister Bittu regarding the development and progress of the airport were misleading and did not reflect the ground reality, said Power Minister Sanjeev Arora during a press briefing held here recently. He stated that he had already confirmed that flight bookings for Halwara would commence from the next week. “The same was Policeman caught taking ~15K bribe Ludhiana, March 29 The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its ongoing drive against corruption in the state has apprehended assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Lakhwinder Singh posted as in-charge, police post, Kitchlu Nagar, red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 15,000. Disclosing this here on Sunday, an official spokesperson for the state VB said the ASI had been arrested based on a complaint lodged by a resident of Bank Colony, Noorwala road, in Ludhiana district. In this regard, the complainant alleged that the ASI demanded a bribe of Rs 30,000 in lieu of not implicating the complainant’s sister and mother in a case. The complainant had recorded the entire conversation of demanding bribe. Unwilling to pay any illegal gratification, the complainant The suspect in custody of Vigilance Bureau sleuths in Ludhiana. approached the Vigilance Bureau range, Ludhiana. After a preliminary inquiry on his complaint, the VB team laid a trap during which the ASI was arrested red-handed while accepting a bribe money of Rs 15,000 from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses. In this regard, a case under Prevention of Cor- ruption Act has been registered against the suspect at the VB police station, Ludhiana, and further investigation into the case is on. reiterated by Bittu on Sunday after three days. Some “opportunists” are merely repeating whatever has been brought into public domain by me,” he quipped. “This landmark achievement is the result of sustained, consistent, and multilevel efforts spearheaded by me in the past as former Rajya Sabha MP and now as a minister. I pursued the matter relentlessly across successive years.” he said. Arora said the operationalisation of the airport was expected to significantly enhance regional air connectivity, reduce travel time for industry and passengers, and provide a major boost to state’s industrial, export, and investment ecosystem — particularly benefitting Ludhiana, one of North India’s largest manufacturing hubs. Residents write to rights panel over encroachments on footpaths Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 29 Encroachment on public walkways has become a pressing civic issue in the city, drawing sharp criticism from residents who feel footpaths have been turned into ‘showrooms’, forcing the people to walk on roads. A formal complaint submitted to the Punjab State Human Rights Commission by the Model Town Market Welfare Society highlights how shopkeepers across the city have placed oversized signboards and mannequins on footpaths and corridors, forcing pedestrians to step onto busy roads. The letter describes the practice as a violation of human rights, particularly the right to safe passage for ordinary citizens. The condition is same in the Civil Lines, Model Town Extension, Ghumar Mandi, Model Town and Rajguru Nagar Market, the frustration of residents is evident. Ravinder Kaur, a retired teacher, explained: “Every day, I take a walk for my health but now I’m forced to step onto roads as footpaths are blocked. It’s dangerous, especially for senior citizens like me. It is not just inconvenience but negligence of our rights.” Young people too are voicing their concerns. Arun Sharma, a college student from the Civil Lines, said: “We talk about smart cities, but how can Ludhiana be smart when basic pedestrian space is stolen? “Shopkeepers may want to attract customers but not at the cost of public safety,” said civic activist Arvind Sharma. His statement underscores the contradiction between city’s aspirations for modern urban development and the reality of unchecked encroachments. Meena Gupta, a homemaker from Ghumar Mandi, said: “I walk with my children and it terrifies me when they have to step into traffic as the corri- dor is blocked by dummies and boards. The authorities must act before an accident forces them to wake up.” Despite repeated reminders to the Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana, residents allege that no corrective action has been taken. The complaint letter specifically named busy commercial hubs such as Ghumar Mandi, Civil Lines and Islam Chowk as hotspots of encroachment. Arvind Sharma of SBS Nagar summed up the sentiment: “Encroachment is theft of public space. If the authorities don’t act, it sends a message that commercial interests are above human rights.” “The issue goes beyond aesthetics or convenience. It is about safety, dignity and accessibility. Ludhiana’s citizens are demanding accountability, urging the civic authorities to reclaim footpaths and corridors so that pedestrians can walk freely and safely,” he added. Fleeing snatchers ram bike into child; 1 nabbed Ludhiana, March 29 Three miscreants riding a bike hit a child standing by the roadside while escaping after snatching a person’s mobile. The child was seriously injured in the accident. Two of the suspects riding the bike fled the scene while the third person was caught by the people, who beat him up severely. After hitting the child, they lost balance over the vehicle and fell on the road. The child, Ayush, said he was standing along the Ganesh Nagar Road when a speeding bike came from the rear and hit him. His arm and leg sustained serious injuries in the accident. The people rushed him to a private clinic. The nabbed suspect is a resident of Salem Tabri. — TNS A footpath encroached upon by shopkeepers at a market in Ludhiana. 28-yr-old man dies by suicide In notes, blames wife, mother-in-law for extreme step Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 29 Fed up with alleged mental torture, Bikramjit, a 28-year-old man from the Bal Singh Nagar area, ended his life by hanging himself from a ceiling fan. The police have recovered two suicide notes from the spot in which he blamed his wife and mother-in-law for his death. It is learnt that his wife was staying at her house for the past two months and their six-monthold daughter was also with her. The deceased’s mother, Sarabjit Kaur, told the police that her son Bikramjit was married to Kajal. She said it was Kajal’s second wedding and an arranged marriage. But some time after the wedding, fights started among the couple. It was alleged that his wife and her mother Raj Rani were constantly harassing him. As per relatives, on the day of the incident, members of the family were having meals. Meanwhile, Bikramjit quietly went to his room upstairs. When he did not come down for a long time, they went upstairs and found him hanging. The police have registered a case against his wife Kajal and mother-in-law Raj Rani of Karamsar Colony on the basis of statement of the deceased’s mother. Showers bring cheer to residents; wheat growers worried Elderly couple hurt Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 29 Early morning showers accompanied by chilly winds brought smiles to residents, offering a soothing change in the weather. While temperatures hovered around 20°C during the night and about 23°C by 10 am, the overcast skies and cool breeze added to the pleasant atmosphere. Residents hope that this weather would bring respite and acute summers could be delayed for a few days. Many residents were seen enjoying the pleasant weather. However, commuters faced minor inconvenience due to rain, particularly at ongoing construction sites near Domoria Bridge and flyovers on Jassian Road. as speeding vehicle hits two-wheeler According to weather forecast agencies, the sky is expected to remain partly cloudy, with chances of light rain continuing intermittently over the next few hours. Meanwhile, farmers across the region have expressed concern over rains and strong winds, which can adversely affect the standing ripened wheat crop. Tarsem Jodhan, a farmer leader from Jodhan village, said strong winds pose a big threat than rain. “Rain is not harmful but strong winds can flatten the standing crop, leading to reduced yield. Moreover, due to wet soil, the sowing of maize may also get delayed,” he said. Tribune News Service Women walk along a street amid rain in Ludhiana on Sunday morning. TRIBUNE PHOTO: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN c m y b Ludhiana, March 29 In a hit-and-run case in the city, a speeding vehicle hit an elderly couple riding a scooter and sped away from the scene. The incident occurred on Mall Road in the afternoon on Sunday. Amit Behal, the elderly couple’s son, said his parents had been rushed to a hospital. His mother suffered an arm fracture. He said a speeding Toyota Innova jumped the red light near HDFC Bank on Mall Road and hit his elderly parents who were rid- Person driving MPV escapes from scene ing a scooter, and fled the scene. Commuters came to their rescue and rushed them to the Dayanand Medical College & Hospital (DMCH). While his father sustained injuries, mother sustained an arm fracture. The police is investigating the matter.