15032023-CT-01.qxd 15-03-2023 00:23 Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune MP KIRRON KHER FLAGS OFF HYDRAULIC BUS AT GRIID 65-QUINTAL BIG, OLD FISH REMOVED FROM SUKHNA SANDHU, PANGING TAKE OVERALL LEAD ON DAY 1 City MP flags off hydraulic bus for kids of Govt Rehabilitation Institute for Intellectual Disabilities. P2 To maintain ecological balance in the Sukhna, UT removes nearly 65 qtl of large, old fish from the lake. P2 City’s Sandeep Sandhu, Hemanta Panging of Chandimandir Golf Club take overall lead at golf meet. P2 » » AIR QUALITY INDEX CHANDIGARH 130 PANCHKULA 104 MOHALI 105 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD INBRIEF THREE HELD FOR SNATCHING PHONE Chandigarh: Three persons, including a woman, have been arrested for molesting a UT resident and snatching her mobile phone near the Sukhna Lake beat box on March 12. Lakhan, 18, a Khuda Lahora resident; Vaseem Khan, 22, of Khuda Ali Sher; and a 29year-old Khuda Lahora woman have been booked under Sections 379A, 354 and 34 of the IPC at the Sector 3 police station. TNS TWO BIKERS HURT IN ACCIDENT Chandigarh: A Mani Majra resident, Gobinda, 27, has claimed an unidentified bike rider hit another motorcycle on March 12. Both motorcyclists got injured and admitted to the GMCH-32. A case under Sections 279, 336 and 337 of the IPC has been registered. TNS Smart City offers idle OFC duct on lease~25crrevenueinupcomingfiscal;floatstender for telcos to lay cables Looks to generate Sandeep Rana MOST WIRES ALREADY SHIFTED UNDERGROUND Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 14 The Chandigarh Smart City Limited (CSCL) has set the ball rolling to monetise its optical fibre cable (OFC) duct network on revenue-sharing model by leasing out its infrastructure to various telecom companies. Besides earning revenue, the move is aimed at reducing damage to government utilities and inconvenience caused to general public due to repeated digging up of roads. The CSCL looks to earn Rs 25 crore under the project in the coming fiscal. According to the Municipal Corporation, it had laid 240 km of OFC for CCTV cameras, which are connected to the Integrated Command Control Centre (ICCC), referred to as “city’s brain”. At the time, two ducts were laid. While one was used for laying CCTV cables, the second had been lying unused. To monetise its vacant duct, the CSCL got approval from its Board of Directors to lease it out to various companies. An etender has now been invited from agencies/firms. “The firms willing to lay ■ Duct infra is available only on main city roads; to connect inner parts of sectors, firms will have to lay cables by conventional means ■ Most firms have shifted almost their entire network underground; MC had collected ~12.64 crore as digging fee in just three months ■ While Airtel and Jio had very few violations, Fastway had maximum Cables being laid underground on Sector 29-31 road. PRADEEP TEWARI overhead cables and is in process INFRASTRUCTURE MEANT FOR CCTV PROJECT ■ of laying these underground Duct can be utilised by such firms as ■ 240 km-long optical fiber cables for CCTV cameras were laid and linked also new players looking to provide to Integrated Command Control Centre as part of Smart City project services in the city, says an MC official ■ At the time, two ducts were laid; one used for laying CCTV cables, DIGGING FEE PAID TO MC while the other remained unutilised, which is now being monetised Jio Fibre Airtel Fastway ■ An e-tender has now been invited; firms can use the duct to lay own cables or sublet it. Highest bidder will pay on a per-km-cost basis ~3.65 cr ~2 cr ~6.99 cr cables had to pay for permission to dig up roads. We already have the duct and there will be no need to dig up holes or trenches in these sections and cause inconvenience to public. It is optional for companies,” CSCL CEO Anindita Mitra told Chandigarh Tribune. Telecom operators can use the duct to lay their cables or sublet it to another party. The CSCL will be paid on a per- km-cost basis by the highest bidder. The project has been divided into three zones. The ducts have been laid along city’s main roads, while the internal roads lack these. To connect the inner areas of sectors, the companies will have to lay cables through conventional means, which most have already done. However, there are a few that are in the process of laying their cables underground, says a c m y b senior MC official. Interestingly, the corporation had collected Rs 12.64 crore as permission fee from various operators for laying underground cables in just three months. This came after Chandigarh Tribune highlighted the threat of mishaps and electricity sparking due to the low-lying web of overhead cables. Following this, the Continued on page 2 Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 14 Decorative lights are set to welcome visitors at the Sector 46 market soon. The Municipal Corporation is going to put up 46 poles for decorative lights. These will cover the entire market. Besides, two high-mast lights will be installed. One of these will light up the Dasehra Ground adjacent to the Sector 46 market. Dasehra Ground will have high-mast light “This is the first market in the city where decorative lights are going to be put up. It will enhance the shopping experience of visitors,” said area councillor Gurpreet Singh Gabi. MC Commissioner Anindita Mitra earlier today laid the foundation stone for providing and fixing fancy decorative lights in the market. Along with the councillor, representatives of the Market Welfare Association and other prominent persons of area were also present. “To provide aesthetic look to the market, a high-mast electric pole with LED lights and decorative lights will be installed in the next one month or 45 days at a cost of Rs 14.92 lakh,” said an MC official. MAX 31°C | MIN 16°C YESTERDAY MAX 31.3°C | MIN 15.1°C SUNRISE THURSDAY 6:32 AM TWITTER/THETRIBUNECHD Soon, decorative lights to jazz up Sec 46 market GENERALLY CLOUDY SUNSET WEDNESDAY 6:30 PM » WEDNESDAY | 15 MARCH 2023 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE Amid shortage, UT to empanel radiologists, anaesthetists for year Naina Mishra Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 14 In an effort to address the shortage of medical professionals in government hospitals in the city, the UT Administration has approved a proposal to empanel qualified radiologists and anaesthetists on a case-to-case payment basis for a period of one year. Under the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), pregnant women are entitled to two free ultrasounds, with the second one being a level-2 scan to detect any structural abnormalities or chromosomal disorders in the foetus. However, shortage of radiologists in government hospitals in the UT has made it difficult to provide this service to pregnant women, as the ultrasound machines lie unused in the absence of trained professionals to operate these. Similarly, shortage of anaesthetists in government hospitals has led to delays in performing surgeries, with some general surgeries being deferred due to lack of available professionals. The empanelment of qualified anaesthetists on a case-tocase payment basis will help address this shortage, and ensure emergency surgeries Will be paid on case-to-case basis PROBLEMS AILING GOVT HOSPITALS ■ No regular radiologists in Civil Hospitals at Mani Majra, Sec 45 & 22 ■ Ultrasound machines lying idle at three Civil Hospitals ■ GMSH-16 has four ultrasound machines, only 3 regular radiologists ■ General surgeries hit at GMSH-16 due to shortage of anaesthetists ■ No anaesthetists for three Civil Hospitals in the city PROPOSED HONORARIUM Radiologist Anaesthetist ~250-300 ~1.5K per ultrasound scan (major surgery) ~700 (minor) and C-sections can be performed in a timely manner. This move is expected to reduce the wait time for surgeries and ensure patients receive timely and appropriate medical care. The empanelment of qualified professionals is a common practice in many states, where the government hires doctors and medical professionals for a specific number Continued on page 2