30122022-CT-01.qxd 12/30/2022 12:19 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune HEALTH DEPT PROPOSES 24X7 TELECONSULTATION HUB IN UT ONLY 56% IN 12-17 AGE GROUP VACCINATED IN P’KULA DIST PUNJAB DSP AMONG 4 HELD IN YEAR-OLD GRAFT CASE Proposal sent to Adviser for sanctioning of 15 specialists for creation of 24x7 teleconsultation hub at GMSH. P2 Only 56 per cent persons in the 12-17 years age group have been vaccinated against Covid. P2 CBI arrests a DSP of the Punjab Police, his reader and two others in a corruption case of 2021. P3 » » TRICITY COVID REPORT CHD P’KULA MOHALI POSITIVE 99,348 48,433 1,01,155 RECOVERED 98,162 48,012 99,983 NEW CASES 0 0 0 ACTIVE 5 0 4 CHANGE 1 1 0 DEATHS 1,181 421 1,168 NEW 0 0 0 AIR QUALITY INDEX CHANDIGARH 276 PANCHKULA 191 MOHALI 209 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD INBRIEF 18 CHALLANED FOR DRUNKEN DRIVING Chandigarh:The UT traffic police set up special checkpoints on the intervening night of December 28 and 29 and challaned 18 motorists for drunken driving. Four vehicles were impounded. TNS TWO NABBED WITH 14K BANNED PILLS Dera Bassi:Two persons have been held with 14,000 banned pills near Handesra. Hans Raj of Kangra, HP, and Anil Kumar of Hamirpur have been booked. TNS FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE Parking goes for toss as fee collection staff’s lone concern 4-hour traffic restrictions on New Year’s Eve Tribune News Service Chaos prevails in paid lots due to contractors’ mismanagement DISCREPANCIES GALORE Tribune News Service Chandigarh, December 29 Even as the Municipal Corporation is planning to introduce smart parking system (FASTag) at all 89 facilities in the city, users are being made to pay for mismanagement and chaos at most such lots. Visitors have to grapple with haphazard parking and lack of space in the absence of enough attendants for proper management on a regular basis. Vehicles are often parked haphazardly in lots, including the Kiran Cinema market and mobile phone market in Sector 22; Bank Square, office of the Medical Officer Health and Empire Store lane in Sector 17; and spaces at Sectors 26, 34 and 35. In the absence of staff inside to guide the vehicles, disorderly parking is rampant, leaving little room for movement in lanes. Even when the parking is full, most of the times, vehicles are allowed in, leading to chaos. Most of the parking lots do not have working boom barriers. Besides, at some lots such as the Sector 22 mobile mar- ■ Haphazard parking by visitors ■ Not enough attendants to guide vehicles, streamline flow ■ 2 & 4-wheeler zones violated ■ No working boom barriers CHOKE ZONES IN CITY ■ Kiran Cinema market and mobile phone market in Sector 22 ■ Bank Square, office of Medical Haphazard parking triggers a jam-like situation at an MC’s car parking in Sector 22, Chandigarh, on Thursday. PHOTO: RAVI KUMAR NO EXTENSION ❝ The MC House has decided not to extend the three-year contract and is going in for a fresh tender. — An MC official ❞ ket, two-wheelers and fourwheelers do not follow dedicated parking zones and end up clogging up space meant for the other category. At the mobile phone market parking, barely enough space is left for cars to manoeuvre through the lane narrowed down due to haphazard park- Officer Health, Empire Store lane in Sector 17 ■ Parking lots in market places of Sectors 26, 34 and 35 CONTRACTOR OWES MC ~6.76 CRORE ■ Contract firm Pashchatya Entertainment Pvt Ltd, which operates 57 lots in city, owes ~6.76 cr to MC ■ 89 (32+57) paid lots in zones I and II allotted on a licence fee basis through ing. In the absence of one-way norm, the lanes are choked as vehicles approach from opposed sides. Further, there are no parking attendants to monitor the movement of vehicles, leading to unruly scenes. “Parking attendants are least bothered about managing chaos. As one enters the c m y b two e-tenders in 2020 ■ There was provision for extension of contract up to 5 years based on performance ■ Three-year period of the two zones will expire on Jan 31 and 23, 2023, respectively lot, they are only concerned about getting Rs 14 in change. There is no one to guide the driver. People often fight over it,” says RK Garg, president, Second Innings Association, a senior citizens’ body. “Each time a tender is allotted, tall promises of improving the Continued on page 2 MAX 18°C | MIN 9°C YESTERDAY MAX 14.6°C | MIN 8.2°C SUNRISE SATURDAY 7.18 AM TWITTER/THETRIBUNECHD Sandeep Rana PARTLY CLOUDY SUNSET FRIDAY 5.32 PM » FRIDAY | 30 DECEMBER 2022 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST A visitor enjoys tea during a drizzle at the Sector 17 Plaza in Chandigarh on Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: RAVI KUMAR Winter’s first drizzle in city, more likely today Chandigarh, December 29 The city witnessed its first light rain of the ongoing winter season, bringing the mercury down by a couple of notches. According to the Chandigarh Meteorological Department, partly cloudy skies with shallow to moderate fog are likely over the next four days i.e. till January 2. Clear skies are expected thereafter. The city’s maximum temperature dropped to 14.6 °C, which is six degrees below normal. It was 19.4 °C yesterday. While the minimum temperature stood at 8.2 °C, which is two degrees above normal. The city had recorded minimum temperature of 5.1 °C Foggy conditions expected till Jan 2 yesterday. The weather department recorded a slight rain (0.3 mm) between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm today. However, it was enough to make people shiver. Weather department’s director Manmohan Singh said: “There was light rain today and is the first of this season. There is also some probability of light rain tomorrow morning. In the coming days, foggy conditions are expected to stay. Also, minimum and maximum temperatures will drop.” — TNS Chandigarh, December 29 Several road stretches have been marked vehicle-free zones on New Year’s Eve to prevent traffic jams and hooliganism, and ensure peaceful celebrations. The restrictions will be imposed for four hours between 10 pm and 2 am. Those residing in restricted areas will have to carry a valid ID as proof of residence in order to access these roads. Anticipating a heavy rush near Elante Mall, a one-way traffic system will be in place on the road around the mall. VEHICLE-FREE ZONES ■ Inner market roads of Sectors 7, 8, 9 & 10 ■ Inner roads of Sector 17 ■ Road in front of Govt Museum and Art Gallery, Sec 10 ■ Road from Aroma lights to Sec 22 dispensary (FROM 10 PM-2 AM) The traffic police will be conducting a special drive against traffic violators on December 31. The police said special checkpoints to curb drunken driving will be set up at various places, especially near hotels and clubs. Those drinking liquor at public places and creating noise pollution using loud exhausts in vehicles will be dealt with sternly, said a cop.