26012024-LT-01.qxd 1/26/2024 1:02 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune CHIEF MINISTER BHAGWANT MANN VISITS MARTYR AGNIVEER'S FAMILY, GIVES ~1 CRORE COMPENSATION INSIDE » POLICE PERSONNEL CONDUCT CHECKS AT PUBLIC PLACES IN CITY ON REPUBLIC DAY EVE INSIDE » FRIDAY | 26 JANUARY 2024 | LUDHIANA Finally, elevated highway complete, inclement weather delays opening Nitin Jain Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 25 Finally, the construction of the much-awaited partiallyaccess controlled four-lane elevated highway corridor in Ludhiana has been completed but the bad weather continuing for the past almost a month now has further delayed the opening of the single remaining stretch, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has said. With all other three stretches already opened for traffic in phases last year, the only remaining portion of the much-delayed project has also been completed and the final layer of the bitumen premix will be laid once the Sun shows up, officials have claimed. Even as the NHAI has met the deadline to open the last leg of the elevated highway on Republic Day but the intense RS MP Sanjeev Arora and NHAI project director Ashok Rolaniya visit the elevated highway in Ludhiana on Thursday. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN PROJECT REPORT COST: ~756.27 crore LENGTH: 12.95-km START DATE: October 10, 2017 DEADLINES MISSED: April 7, 2020, June 30, July 31, cold conditions coupled with dense fog and mist in the absence of any sunny day for the past several days together Sept 30, Dec 31, 2023 COMPLETION: First span in Sept, second in Oct, third in Nov 2023 Fresh deadline for remaining stretch: Sunny day has delayed the laying of final bitumen premix layer on the remaining 1.5-km stretch. With the opening of a 2-km- GLADA’s U-Turn: Surprising turn of events in case filed against ex-minister Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 25 After former cabinet minister Jagdish Singh Garcha has been booked on a complaint filed by Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) for allegedly breaching the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation (PAPR) Act, 1995, and not paying external development charges (EDC) and other dues of approximately Rs 14.33 crore in connection with Crown Town Colony, a surprising turn of events has occurred in the matter now, raising eyebrows. GLADA had initially filed a complaint against GS Township, Lalton Kalan, and Jagdish Singh Garcha on SENT FOLLOW-UP LETTER, URGING NOT TO TAKE ACTION GLADA had initially filed a complaint against GS Township and Jagdish Singh Garcha on December 15, 2023, urging the police to register an FIR for violating rules. However, in a surprising manner, GLADA sent a follow-up letter to the police on January 19, 2024, requesting not to take any legal action in this regard till further orders as of now. This change in stance was attributed to the promoter’s commitment to settle the outstanding dues. But an FIR was eventually registered against him on January 23, 2024. December 15, 2023, urging the police to register an FIR for violating the rules. However, in a surprising manner, GLADA sent a follow-up letter to the police on January 19, 2024, requesting not to take any legal action in this regard till further orders as of now. This change in stance was attributed to the promoter’s commitment to settle the outstanding dues. But an FIR was eventually registered against Garcha on January 23, 2024. According to the FIR registered, Garcha had obtained a license under Section 5 of the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation Act, 1995, to develop a colony on 70.932 acres in Crown Town of Lalton in December 2010. The license expired on December 23, 2013, but he neither continued on page 2 long stretch from Verka Milk Plant to Jagraon Bridge (near Durga Mata Mandir) on November 12 last, three lanes of the Rs 756.27-crore elevated highway have already been put to use so far. While the 7.4-km first span of the big ticket project had been opened in October last, vehicular movement on the remaining 5.55-km stretch of the entire 12.95-km-long highway will be allowed by January 26, officials have revealed. The development assumes significance as the work on one of the busiest arteries of the Maximum City has missed five deadlines of completion in April 2020, June 30, July 31, September 30 and December 31, 2023. Started in October 2017, the construction of the elevated highway between the busy Samrala Chowk and Ludhiana municipal limits on the continued on page 2 Truck crushes girl to death Ludhiana, January 25 In a tragic incident reported in Machhiwara Sahib on Thursday afternoon, a Class V student died after she was crushed by a truck. The girl’s grandfather narrowly escaped the mishap. The elderly man, Vijay Kumar, was taking his granddaughter home from school on a scooter when they met with the tragedy. The truck driver escaped, leaving the vehicle at the scene. The deceased was identified as Zoya Bains, a resident of Krishnapuri mohalla. She was a Class V student of Sacred Heart Convent School, Kohara road. Machhiwara SHO Bhinder Singh said a case was registered against the truck driver and he would be arrested soon. — TNS 2 hotel managers booked for renting rooms sans ID proof Ludhiana, January 25 The Kotwali police yesterday registered a case against managers of two hotels for renting out rooms to guests without taking their ID proof. The action was taken by the police due to the strict checking being done by the Ludhiana police ahead of the Republic Day celebrations on January 26. The suspects have been identified as Kishori Lal, manager of Heritage Inn, and Vishal Swaran of Prem Parkash hotel. A case under Section 188 of the IPC was registered against the duo. Investigating officer Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Joginder Singh said on Wednesday, the police carried out strict checking of hotels and their registers were checked to verify guests. Even the ID proof of persons staying at the hotels were also verified. During the excercise, two rooms each in the hotels were found to be given to guests without taking their ID proof. Following which, the police registered a case against the hotel managers who violated the orders of the police. Meanwhile, the police continued checking on Thursday and visited hotels in the city. Hotel owners and managers were warned that if they would rent rooms to strangers without verifying their ID proof, it might help anti-social elements to take shelter easily in the city and fulfil their nefarious designs. — TNS c m y b DEGREE SCAM Court dismisses regular bail plea of Dr Gill Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 25 Additional District and Sessions Court, Ludhiana, on Wednesday dismissed the regular bail plea of a suspect, Dr Gurprit Gill, MD of Adesh Medical College, Bathinda, who was arrested by the Vigilance Bureau (VB), Ludhiana, for admitting ineligible candidates and issuing D-Pharmacy degrees in a fraudulent manner in connivance with former registrars and officials of the Punjab State Pharmacy Council (PSPC). Spokesperson for the Vigilance Bureau states the VB had already registered a criminal case under various sections of the IPC and Section 7, 7-A, 8, 13 (1)(a) read with 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act on December 8, 2023, at the Economic Offences Wing of the VB police station, Ludhiana range, against the former registrars and officials of the PSPC, including owners/principals of private pharmacy colleges and others for committing irregularities in facilitating admissions, registration and issuing licences of D-Pharmacy to ineligible students studying in private colleges. Dr Gurprit Gill was arrested on January 15, 2024, and produced in court on the next day but his advocate had produced his medical record of surgery. On his plea, the court ordered to get him examine from the Civil continued on page 2 FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 13°C | MIN 17°C YESTERDAY MAX 15°C | MIN 5°C SUNSET FRIDAY 5.56 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 7.21 AM RURAL HEALTH PHARMACY OFFICERS TO STAGE PROTEST AGAINST GOVERNMENT TODAY INSIDE »
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