27072026-ATR-01.qxd 27-07-2026 00:07 Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST MAINLY CLOUDY PRADHAN’S RESIGNATION A VICTORY FOR STUDENTS: CONG ACTRESS YAMI GAUTAM ROPED IN FOR KAHAANI 3 MASABA DEBUTS BRIDAL CREATIONS AT COUTURE WEEK Congress leaders have termed Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation a major victory for students. P2 The Kahaani franchise is set for a new instalment, with Yami Gautam stepping into the lead role in the film. P4 MAX 30°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 31°C | MIN 27°C Designers Masaba Gupta and JJ Valaya present their own, distinct visions of Indian couture. P4 » » SUNSET MONDAY 7.30 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 5.43 AM » MONDAY | 27 JULY 2026 | AMRITSAR ‘Easy Connect’ service set to take off in city 2nd airport to start facility under govt framework Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 26 After Varanasi, Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport is set to become the country’s second airport to be brought under the Government of India’s new huband-spoke international connectivity policy. From July 28, Air India will be launching its “Easy Connect” service in the city. Under the new arrangement, international flyers will be able to complete immigration formalities in Amritsar before boarding domestic flights to Delhi, enabling seamless onward connections to international destinations from the national capital. As part of the initiative, Air India will operate two daily flights from Amritsar to Delhi. Flight AI 1113 will depart from Amritsar at 9.10 am and arrive in Delhi at 10.40 am, replacing the existing AI 496 service, while retaining the same schedule. A second service, AI 1115, will leave Amritsar at 10 pm and reach Delhi at 11.20 pm, replacing AI 2574 with unchanged timings. The airline said the move SEAMLESS TRAVEL ■ Prior to the privatisation of Air India, immigration facilities were available in Amritsar and several other secondary airports for domestic-to-international transfer passengers. But the facility was abruptly discontinued after the airline’s takeover. ■ Activists of FlyAmritsar Initiative welcomed the hub-and-spoke connectivity. ■ “With this, Amritsar has significantly come closer to the global map,” said Yogesh Kamra of FlyAmritsar Initiative. ■ “Restoring the essential service will ensure seamless travel,” he added. ■ Airfares on international sectors originating from Amritsar have remained consistently higher, especially in Amritsar to Birmingham via London Gatwick direct flights. We urge the Ministry of Civil Aviation to engage with Air India and other carriers to establish competitive and fair pricing for Amritsar, bringing fares on a par with those available out of the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi,” Kamra stated. aligned with the Centre’s new international connectivity model aimed at improving access to global destinations from regional airports through a hub-and-spoke network. The initiative is expected to reduce transit hassles for international flyers from Punjab and neighbouring regions by integrating domestic and international travel under a single Air India network. The service will be formally inaugurated at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport on Tuesday morning by Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu. The launch marks a significant boost to international air connectivity from Amritsar, which serves a large catchment area across Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, HP and parts of neighbouring states, besides a sizeable overseas Punjabi diaspora. Broken roads, traffic snarls put residents’ patience to test Charanjit Singh Teja Commute becomes difficult; immediate repairs sought Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 26 Heavy rainfall over the past few days has worsened the condition of roads across Amritsar. Left to commute through waterlogged roads and damaged stretches, locals have urged the authorities to carry out repairs before the situation goes out of hand. Adding to the woes of residents are traffic snarls. “Roads that were already in a poor condition have developed potholes and rainwater accumulated on these stretches pose a serious risk to commuters,” a resident said. The bypass, where the construction of flyovers by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has been hanging fire, too is hit by heavy rain. “The ongoing construction has already narrowed carriageways and the recent rain has further compounded the problem,” another resident said. A major bottleneck has emerged on the GT Road near New Amritsar, where an overbridge is under construction. Traffic has been diverted to a service lane, which has suffered extensive damage due to the rains. The uneven and waterlogged stretch leads to frequent traffic jams, especially during Motorists make way through damaged roads along Banke Bihari Wali Gali in Amritsar. Most stretches are dotted with potholes. VISHAL KUMAR the rush hours, increasing the travel time. Locals said the authorities should at least carry out temporary repairs and improve the drainage system. Rajesh Kumar, a resident of New Amritsar, said, “Commute has become dif- Paddy fields submerged, farmers a worried lot Patti-Tarn Taran road in bad Tribune News Service DC VISITS VULNERABLE AREAS Amritsar, July26 Recent showers have left residents of Ajnala subdivision worried. With hundreds of acres of paddy along the Ravi submerged, fear of floods has now gripped farmers. Amid the growing anxiety, the district administration has assured residents that there won’t be any floods and that the overall situation was in control. To review flood preparedness, Deputy Commissioner Dalwinderjit Singh visited vulnerable areas along the Ravi and the Sakki Nullah. He, along with officials of the district administration, the drainage department and the Punjab Mandi Board, inspected the ongoing construction of flood protection spurs at the BSF Border Out Posts (BOPs) at Dharam ■ Amid the growing anxiety, the district administration has assured residents that there won't be any floods and that the overall situation was in control. ■ To review flood preparedness, Deputy Commissioner Dalwinderjit Singh visited vulnerable areas along the Ravi and the Sakki Nullah. Prakash and Shahpur. The Deputy Commissioner directed the officials to complete the work on a war-footing. Reviewing the water situation, he said the Ravi was flowing well within its banks and that there was no imme- diate threat of flooding in the district. He explained that heavy rainfall in the hilly regions of Jammu had increased the inflow into the Ravi through the Ujh river, causing a temporary rise in the water level. He, howev- er, said the water level had since stabilised. He also stated that the water levels in the Sakki Nullah and the Beas were well within the safe limits. The DC instructed the Punjab Mandi Board to ensure immediate cleaning of culverts along the rural link roads to facilitate smooth drainage of rainwater. Officials of the drainage department were directed to keep drains free of obstruction and maintain continuous monitoring. Reassuring residents, Dalwinderjit Singh said the district administration was closely monitoring the situation, adding that the officials were in touch with the authorities of the Ranjit Sagar Dam and the Ujh river barrage. He added that all departments were fully prepared to deal with any emergency. shape; permanent fix sought Gurbaxpuri Tarn Taran, July 26 For years, the Patti-Tarn Taran road has been facing the authorities’ neglect. Even road mishaps have failed to turn the latter’s attention towards the pathetic condition of the stretch. On Sunday, occupants of an i10 and a Swift Dzire had a narrow escape after the vehicles got stuck in potholes. The driver of Swift Dzire, Nishan Singh, said he was on his way to Patti when the car got stuck in a pothole near Shahabpur and he lost control of the vehicle. Manjit Singh, the driver of the other car, said, he was going from Amritsar to Kandiala (Patti) when he failed to navigate a road pit and met On Sunday, occupants of an i10 and a Swift Dzire had a narrow escape after the vehicles got stuck in potholes. PHOTO BY WRITER with an accident. Kirti Kisan Union leader Nachhattar Singh Pannu said officials were well aware of the poor condition of the road. “Despite accidents, the road has not been repaired. Two- wheeler riders avoid taking the stretch. We have no idea when the authorities will get into action and carry out the work,” he added. SDM Karanvir Singh said a survey of the road was done and the work started. Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service MP WRITES TO GOVT, SUPPORTS DEMAND Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 26 The demand for a daily Vande Bharat sleeper train between Amritsar and Takhat Sachkhand Sri Hazur Sahib, Nanded, has gained momentum. Over the past few days, the idea has been pitched by a number of people. Listing the features of the new train, GS Bedi, associated with Sri Guru Nanak Gurpurab Committee, said: “The Vande Bharat sleeper train has ergonomically designed sleeping berths, automated doors, and advanced safety features.” He said the train was faster and aimed at making the long journey (35 hours) from Amritsar to Nanded in Maharashtra comfortable. Director, Akal Purakh Ki Fauj Amritsar MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla wrote to the government, stating that getting a seat on the Sachkhand express that connected the two holy places was an uphill task. “Precisely why we need a new train,” he added. (APKF), Jaswinder Singh said the Vande Bharat train, which was equipped with modern technology and offered premium comfort at affordable fares, was suitable for long journeys. In a communique to the government, Amritsar MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla stated that getting a seat on the Sachkhand express that connected the two holy places was an uphill task. “This is why, we need a new train,” he added. Over the past several months, the MP has received several representations from the Sikh Jathas, Gurdwara Management Committees, religious organisations and devotees, requesting the introduction of a daily Vande Bharat Seeper train between Sri Amritsar Sahib and Takhat Sachkhand Sri Hazur Sahib, Nanded. The ministry has also acknowledged the demand. Amritsar, July 26 The All India Anti-Terrorist Victims’ Association has urged the Central Government to immediately release the pending relief package meant for families affected by terrorism in Punjab, alleging that thousands of eligible beneficiaries had been awaiting justice for nearly two decades. At a meeting held at Company Bagh here today, the association said the package, first announced after the submission of the Nanavati Commission report, was yet to reach a large number of victims despite repeated assurances from successive governments. Association president Dr Bodh Raj Hastir said after the Centre announced compensation for the victims following the Nanavati Commission report, the Punjab Govern- c m y b ■ Association president Dr Bodh Members of All India Anti-Terrorist Victims’ Association in Amritsar. ment released funds worth Rs 715 crore in 2006. For those left out, the state government prepared another proposal and forwarded it to the Centre. But the proposal failed to see any execution, the association said. He claimed that thousands of families, who suffered due to terrorism between 1982 and Dubai-based man dupes 2 of ~25 lakh, booked Tribune News Service Clamour for daily city-Nanded Release relief package for terror victims: Assn FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Vande Bharat sleeper train grows NOT IN SIGHT Neeraj Bagga ficult on city roads. Motorists often fail to spot water-filled pits, increasing the risk of mishaps.” Another resident, Harpreet Singh said, “The service lane near the flyover construction site has become almost unusable. Every spell of rain leads to massive traffic jams, wasting time and causing inconvenience to thousands of daily commuters.” The residents appealed to the Public Works Department, the Municipal Corporation and the NHAI to start repair work and ensure safer roads during the rainy season. 1995, were either displaced or lost their livelihood. Many, he said, continued to struggle financially and had not received adequate compensation. He added that widows and other dependents of the terror victims deserved financial assistance on the lines of relief granted in similar cases Raj Hastir said after the Centre announced compensation for the victims following the Nanavati Commission report, the Punjab Government released funds worth ~715 crore in 2006. ■ For those left out, the state government prepared another proposal and forwarded it to the Centre. ■ But the proposal failed to see any execution, the association said. elsewhere in the country. Referring to the Prime Minister’s visit to Punjab in 2022, Hastir said the victims were given assurance regarding the constitution of a Truth Commission and additional financial assistance for terror victims. He urged the Centre to fulfil continued on page 2 Amritsar, July 26 The B-Division police have registered a cheating case against the owner of a Dubaibased investment platform for allegedly duping two Amritsar residents and their relatives of around Rs 24-25 lakh on the pretext of lucrative investment returns. TThe police said complainants Tanvir Singh and Karmbir Singh, both residents of Ganda Singh Colony located on Tarn Taran Road, alleged that they, along with their family members and friends, were persuaded to invest money in Bot Bro Company, a Dubaibased investment platform. They claimed that the accused allegedly cheated them of around Rs 24-25 lakh as part of a wellplanned conspiracy. An FIR under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) was registered following an inquiry conducted on a complaint submitted to the Amritsar Police Commissionerate. Fraud accused remanded in police custody Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, July 26 A local court today sent conman Karandeep Singh, to a one-day remand. The accused posed as a policeman and cheated gullible people. ASI Gurmeet Singh, said that accused, a resident of ward number 9, Muradpur Mohalla, Tarn Taran, would stop people at secluded places and ask for money. A case was registered against him.