14062026-LT-01.qxd 6/13/2026 10:35 PM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune SHIRSE BREAKS 110M HURDLES NAT’L RECORD, MAKES CWG CUT CYCLE SECTOR HAS IMMENSE POTENTIAL: KATARIA VICKY KAUSHAL CELEBRATES HIS ADMIRATION FOR GURDAS MAAN Tejas Shirse broke own record in 110m hurdles by clocking 13.27 seconds at the Indian Athletics Series 9. P2 Governor Gulab Chand Kataria said the bicycle industry had immense potential and urged locals to rally behind it. P2 Actor Vicky Kaushal paid a heartfelt tribute to Punjabi singer Gurdas Maan, describing him as the “GOAT”. P4 » » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 35°C | MIN 21°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 20°C SUNSET SUNDAY 7.30 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 5:22 AM SUNDAY | 14 JUNE 2026 | LUDHIANA ‘Yatri Suvidha Diwas’ to mark 30 days of Halwara airport City industry shares concerns with Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri Shivani Bhakoo Ludhiana, June 13 The local industry voiced their concern with Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, during the latter’s visit to the city today. A delegation of the Federation of Industrial & Commercial Organisation (FICO) under the leadership of KK Seth, chairman, FICO, and Gurmeet Singh Kular, president of the organisation, met Puri and submitted a memorandum expressing concern over the recently notified Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel (Temporary Regulation of Supply through Retail Outlets) Order, 2026. Kular said that the industry was perturbed over the recent restrictions on industrial and commercial consumers from procuring diesel through retail outlets and the limit of 200 litres per vehicle per day. It will severely impact industrial operations, particularly MSMEs, he said. Most industries rely on retail fuel stations for their daily diesel requirements as they do not possess their own consumer pumps or fuel storage infrastructure. The industrialists maintained that while industries are willing to adopt cleaner fuels and support environmental initiatives, major industrial areas and focal points of Ludhi- Tribune News Service Ludhiana, June 13 As Halwara International Airport completes its first month of operations on June 15, residents, airport authorities and government officials will be celebrating the successful start of air travel services from this part of the region. To commemorate the occasion, the airport authorities will organise “Yatri Suvidha Diwas” on June 15, featuring a series of passenger-centric activities aimed at enhancing customer experience and recognising the contributions of airport stakeholders. Jagir Singh, Director of Halwara airport, said the completion of the airport’s first 30 days marked another historic moment for the region. “The hard work that went into establishing this airport is now bearing fruit. We have planned a series of activities involving passengers, staff and all those who have contributed to the airport’s successful operations in one way or another,” he said. Passengers arriving at the airport on June 15 will be welcomed with a traditional ‘tilak’ ceremony. The celebrations will also include a collective rendition of Vande Mataram by airport stake- Police personnel check passengers’ tickets before boarding the historic first commercial Air India flight from Halwara airport in Ludhiana. FILE PHOTO holders. In addition, housekeeping staff will be recognised and honoured for their invaluable contributions to the airport’s functioning. “A significant number of women have played a crucial role in making Halwara airport a reality. The authorities will acknowledge their efforts and honour their contribution,” Jagir added. A selfie booth will also be set up to allow passengers and visitors to capture memorable moments from the celebrations. The airport authorities will further conduct a feedback session with passengers to gather suggestions and identify areas where services and facilities can be improved. “All stakeholders, including airport security personnel, passengers and other airport users, are encouraged to participate in the celebrations, and there is considerable excitement surrounding the event. Feedback from passengers will help us better understand their expectations and further improve amenities and Head-on collision between two vehicles leaves 1 dead Our Correspondent Raikot, June 13 The driver of a Canter going from Barnala to Raikot was killed on the spot, while that of a trailer was injured following a head-on collision between the two vehicles early on Saturday. The deceased has been identified as Sandeep Singh of Nathowal village in Ludhiana, while the injured, Prem Singh, hails from Mansa district. Investigating officer Gurpreet Singh said that due to the collision, the top body of the Canter almost got separated from the chassis and the wreckage of the vehicles was scattered over a long distance. It took over two hours for cops from Raikot city police and Sadak Suraksha Force to get The mangled remains of the Canter after the collision on the Raikot-Barnala road on Saturday. the damaged vehicles removed from the road. Though the exact reason behind the mishap is yet to be ascertained, preliminary investigations suggest that one of the drivers possibly fell asleep and lost control over the vehicle. The investigating officer said the body of the deceased had been kept at the mortuary and further proceedings would be initiated after the statement of next of the kin of the deceased. services at the airport,” said the Director. For many residents, the airport’s successful launch has significantly improved connectivity and convenience. “It is truly a time for celebration. Travelling to Delhi and other destinations has become much more convenient. Over the past month, my family and friends have frequently flown from Halwara, which reflects how eagerly people had been waiting for air connectivity from Ludhiana,” said local designer Niman Dhawan. Ojasvi new MC Commissioner Ludhiana, June 13 Ojasvi Alankar is the new Commissioner of the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation. He was currently serving as Additional Chief Administrator of the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA). He will be replacing Neeru Katyal Gupta (2016 batch) in a recent administrative reshuffle across Punjab. Gupta has been appointed as Special Secretary, General Administration and Coordination. Alankar is a 2020batch Punjab-cadre officer. In the orders issued by Punjab Government’s Chief Secretary KAP Sinha, it has been directed that all officials concerned must join their new postings with immediate effect. Residents will be curious to see on how much speed the stalled development works gain with the arrival of the new Commissioner. — TNS Tribune News Service Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri makes a point during a press conference held in Ludhiana on Saturday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN ana continue to remain deprived of piped natural gas (PNG) connectivity despite gas pipelines till Doraha. “We have urged the minister to reconsider the notification, or else industry will be in trouble”, said Kular. One of the petrol dealers in Ludhiana said that with the 200-litre cap, the government had also mentioned that fuel would be provided in PESO-approved containers. “When these are not available here, how can the entire industry go and start purchasing these containers, which actually are costly too as compared to other regular plastic tanks,” said the dealer. No more 'chhota bhai' role for BJP: Puri on alliance Amid speculation about the revival of the BJP-SAD alliance ahead for the upcoming Assembly elections in Punjab, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Puri said on Saturday that the BJP would no longer play "chhota bhai" to any party. In Ludhiana, to mark 12 years of the BJP-led government at the Centre, Puri applauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for becoming the longest-serving PM. "If any party wants an alliance, come and talk, but the question of playing the 'chhota bhai' role will not arise. I know some leaders in Punjab are making such statements; I will not comment on them from a politi- cal perspective," Puri said while addressing a press conference. Replying to a query on possible talks with the SAD for an alliance, Puri said he had been hearing a lot about such a tie-up. "Even during the last Lok Sabha elections that party (without naming SAD) asked the BJP to contest three of the 13 seats in Punjab," he said. Asked if the BJP would be able to make inroads in rural areas, Puri said, "Yes, I believe the BJP needs to work hard to win Punjab and it's cadre has already been working hard to ensure the party regains power in the state." IG reviews anti-drug operations in city Tribune News Service Ludhiana, June 13 In a high-level strategic move to strengthen the security infrastructure and intensify the ongoing crackdown on drug trafficking networks in the industrial hub, Inspector General of Police (IG), Provisioning, S Bhoopati went on a special operational visit to the Ludhiana Police commissionerate. A comprehensive review meeting was jointly chaired alongside Commissioner of Police, Ludhiana, Swapan Sharma and attended by all gazetted officers of the commissionerate. The high-profile briefing focussed on deploying advanced law and order strategies and executing relentless enforcement actions under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. During the interactive ses- IG S Bhoopati with police officers during a meeting in Ludhiana. sion, senior leadership outlined a citizen-centric, highly proactive policing model. The critical security directives and public safety metrics emphasized during the briefing include: Minimizing emergency response time (dial 112) The commissionerate has prioritised reducing the response window to the absolute minimum following any distress call made on the 112 emergency line. To execute this, emergency response vehicles (ERVs) are being scientifically repositioned across the city’s key hubs to ensure rapid on-spot arrival within minutes. To instill a profound sense of public confidence, a complete audit of the active force deployment has been completed. Residents will notice a starkly increased and strategic presence of uniform personnel across crowded public spaces, commercial centres and residential neighborhoods. Operational guidelines were reviewed regarding the placement and structural setup of nakas (security checkpoints). On-ground forces have been strictly briefed to execute rigorous, methodical checking of suspicious vehicles using digital tracking while preventing unnecessary delays for law-abiding citizens. To secure the city against any potential anti-social activities, extensive datadriven vulnerability mapping of vital infrastructure, government buildings and sensitive locations has been finalised. Security personnel and patrols are being dynamically deployed according to these real-time threats. Rains to make matters worse for Bhadaur House road commuters One arrested with Despite main markets on this road, recarpeting yet to start 15 cases of liquor Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, June 13 Monsoon is approaching and the road opposite Bhadaur House is still badly damaged. This will only deteriorate the condition of the road as the rains approach. Bhadaur House is considered as one of the major business hubs of Ludhiana with AC Market and wholesale cloth market located here. Traders from the entire north India come here for business. In addition to this, post office, many banks, hotels and offices are located on this road. Amanjeet Singh, a wholesale cloth merchant from AC Market, said that traders coming from other parts often complain of broken roads and traffic chaos in the area. Besides, uneven roads add to the problem of those coming here for business. Ludhiana is a business hub and the infrastructure in the city should be up to date, but it is just the opposite,” he said. “Rainy season is around the corner and even before the start of the season, the road is in real bad condition. Once the rains start, the condition will only worsen and commuters will have a really tough time driving on this road,” added Bharat, a daily commuter. Shikha, a bank customer who lives in Sarabha Nagar, said that it took a lot of time in reaching here as it was located far from the main areas and the bad shape of the roads further added to their woes. The authorities concerned should have recarpeted it before the rainy season,” added she. Ravinder Kumar, hotel manager near Bhadaur House, while speaking about his woes said, “Guests often complain about the approach road. For a business hub that attracts traders from across north India, the first impression should not be of potholes and traffic snarls.” Rajesh Mehta, a transporter supplying goods to the AC Market, said, “Broken roads mean damaged vehicles and delayed deliveries. Traders lose money and transporters bear extra repair costs. This is not how a leading business hub should function.” Tribune News Service The badly damaged Bhadaur House road. PHOTO: INDERJEET VERMA c m y b Ludhiana, June 13 A joint operation by the Excise Department and the police in Ludhiana has busted a major liquor smuggling network and arrested a smuggler who was carrying a consignment from Ajitwal village in Jagraon. Fifteen cases of liquor were seized from his car. The excise team and local police received a tip-off late on Friday that some persons were about to arrive in Fatehganj Mohalla with a consignment of illicit liquor in a car. Based on the information, the police laid a trap and, upon their arrival at the spot, impounded the car. During the raid, the police arrested the accused, Sunil, on the spot, while the others accompanying him fled. Police immediately seized the car and began searching it. The police and excise team tried to open the car’s lock, but were unsuccessful. When the car’s lock could not be opened, Sunil was asked to break the car’s windowpane, leading to seizure of 15 cases of liquor. Excise inspector Navdeep Singh said the operation was carried out in collaboration with local police. ASI Ramamurthy, the IO in the case, said that the accused was being interrogated. Raids were being conducted to identify and arrest his absconding accomplices.