31122024-CT-01.qxd 12/31/2024 12:49 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune FATEHGARH SAHIB MARKETS WEAR DESERTED LOOK CITY TO GET 500 NEW SMART BIKES THIS WEEK DITCH THE CHILL WITH COZY NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS Movement of devotees to important gurdwaras remains unaffected. P2 Despite facing challenges, company decides to increase the fleet in order to promote the venture. P3 Presenting some innovative recipes which can elevate your dining experience at home. P4 » » MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 14°C | MIN 10°C YESTERDAY MAX 11.3°C | MIN 10°C SUNSET TUESDAY 5.33 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 7:18 AM » TUESDAY | 31 DECEMBER 2024 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST /THETRIBUNECHD FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE Chd-Delhi airfares soar to ~19K amid bandh INBRIEF MOTORCYCLIST DIES IN ROAD ACCIDENT Chandigarh: A motorcyclist died after being hit by a Punjab Roadways bus. Complainant Sher Singh, a Sector 37 resident, reported that his bother Sanjeev’s motorcycle was hit by a bus near Kajheri Chowk. An injured Sanjeev was rushed to Government Multi-Specialty Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead. Accused driver was arrested and later released on bail. A case has been registered. TNS MOBILE PHONE SNATCHED Chandigarh:Two motorcycleborne miscreants snatched a mobile phone from a Kaimbwala resident. A case has been registered. TNS APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sectors 29, 56 and Dhanas Mohali: Sector 71 Panchkula: Sector 15 Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com Commuters suffer; shops, filling stations remain shut in Mohali | Farmers stop ambulances ferrying passengers 15 trains cancelled as passengers brave cold Gaurav Kanthwal Tribune News Service Mohali, December 30 With rail operations suspended and vehicles remaining off the road from 7am to 4pm due to Punjab Bandh today, airfares on the ChandigarhDelhi route soared several times due to surge-pricing at the daytime. A ticket for the ChandigarhDelhi flight at 3.30pm that normally costs Rs 3,000 was priced at Rs 19,230. The oneway fare for the 8.45 pm flight to Delhi was priced at Rs 15,288. For the rest of the day, the airfare hovered around Rs 9,000, three times the normal price. “Depending on the timing of the day, tickets are available at a premium. The daytime tickets are expensive, but are relatively cheaper in the evening,” said a ticketing firm owner in Phase 7, Mohali. Road users and commuters in Mohali were inconvenienced as farmer unions blocked roads and railway tracks. Shops and filling stations were also shut in support of the statewide protest call. Protesters squatted on roads after parking their tractor trolleys in the middle and spent time around little bonfires in the foggy weather even as loudspeakers blared seeking sup- Tribune News Service Vehicles stuck in a jam as traffic is diverted to Panchkula during the Punjab bandh on Monday. TRIBUNE PHOTO POWERMEN, TRADE UNIONS SUPPORT BANDH CALL Powermen, arhtiya and trader unions supported the bandh. While all big markets remained closed, liquor vends were open at some places. A ninehour ‘bandh’ was called by farmer unions in support of their demands, including legal guarantee for MSP. The call for the shutdown was given by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha over the Centre failure in acting on the farmers’ demand for a legal guarantee of MSP. Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal (70) has been on a fast-unto-death at Khanauri border protest site over the non-fulfilment of the demands. port for their cause. To compensate for the inconvenience caused to the commuters, the protesters served tea-biscuit langar at some places. Visitors and patients travelling to the PGI from far-off places were stuck a few kms Airport Road was also blocked at the railway overbridge near the IISER light point. The protesters, with loudspeakers fitted atop vehicles, accompanied by tractor trolleys thanked shopkeepers for keeping the market from their destination at the Baroudi toll plaza near New Chandigarh. Members of the farmer unions allowed passage to patients and ambulances only after seeing their OPD cards or hearing a back call from the PGI departments. The High-end hotels, restaurants log 70% bookings for New Year’s Eve Over 1.4K cops to keep vigil during celebrations Sheetal Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Chandigarh, December 30 Chandigarh is all set to usher in New Year with unparalleled extravagance. From couple entries to group of five or an extended family dinner with up to 20 people, the packages range from Rs 30,000 to as high as Rs 1.25 lakh. With bookings pouring in thick and fast, the city’s highend fine-dining restaurants and clubs are witnessing a frenzy of reservations, as party enthusiasts vie for a spot at the most coveted venues. JW Marriott is hosting singer Gurnam Bhullar in their Grand Ballroom with two types of passes available — general and VIP costing , Rs 22,999 and Rs 33,999 plus taxes, respectively, for couple entry. For the same, premium customers have booked cabanas with Ballroom access which cost Rs 79,999, Rs 94,999 and Rs 1,24,999 for three, four and five couples, respectively. It’s basically for family and friends who wish to have private dining area for themselves while enjoying the performance. The hotel’s restaurants, The The packages range from ~30,000 to ~1.25 lakh. FILE Cafe@JW, Saffron, XO and Brewhouse, would be offering their services from Rs 12,999 onwards for a couple on the New Year Eve. Paramveer Singh, Cluster General Manager (Operations & General Manager) Taj Chandigarh, shared, “We are delighted with the overwhelming response to our NYE celebrations across our dining outlets. At Café 17 and Dera, our dinner buffet starts at Rs 6,999 per person and Rs 13,999 per couple, along with 3-piece live band, while at Black Lotus we have lavish TDH menu price at Rs 7,999 per person and Rs 15,999 per couple along with 2-piece live band.” A newly opened restaurant on 19th floor of Omaxe building, Ciel – A Sky High Experience, is completely booked because it’s offering something new to people. In the restaurant with aesthetics of a cave, the premium seating area, a private dining room cost Rs1 lakh plus taxes (full cover) for with capacity up to 10 couples. Even the outdoor standing table area costs Rs 30,000, which can accommodate five people at the most. Hyatt Centric, Sector 17, is keeping Koyo Koyo, one of the top favourite experiences for city residents, open to all with no booking charges. The à la carte menu will be served, but customers have to prebook slots, which were almost Continued on P2 full Chandigarh, December 30 Around 1,450 police personnel will be deployed across the city to ensure peaceful New Year Eve celebrations on Tueday. According to a police official, comprehensive security arrangements have been made, with a significant deployment of officers, including 13 DSPs, 16 SHOs and 19 Inspectors, who will be on the ground maintaining law and order. Senior officers will oversee and monitor the security arrangements throughout the evening. Besides, 44 internal nakas and 18 outer border nakas will be set up. Six ambulances, five fire tenders and three QRTs will be deployed at different places in the city to curb hooliganism. Special checkpoints will also be established to check drunken driving. Continued on P2 WOMEN SQUAD A dedicated women’s squad has been formed to assist women. Eight PCR Vehicles with lady staff will be deployed at different places to assist those needing a safe ride home. Another year gone, Dadu Majra garbage dump, Metro issues remain unresolved Dushyant Singh Pundir Tribune News Service The dumping ground at Dadu Majra Chandigarh, December 30 Thousands of passengers were inconvenienced as 15 trains originating from Chandigarh, including three Shatabdi trains to and from Delhi and two Vande Bharat Express trains, were cancelled due to the Punjab bandh call given by farmer unions today. Several trains were running late with the Mumbai-Amritsar Paschim Express reaching the city after a delay of nine hours. Many passengers whose trains were delayed had to wait on the platforms and near the ticket counter in extreme cold weather. The farmers had blocked the railway track at Sarsani near Lalru town due to which the trains could not reach the Chandigarh Railway Station. Apart from Kalka-Delhi Shatabdi and ChandigarhDelhi Shatabdi trains, Chandigarh-Ajmer Vande Bharat Express, Amb Andaura-New Delhi Vande Bharat Express, Ramnagar-Chandigarh, Kalka-Delhi, KalkaBhiwani, Chandigarh-Amritsar and Kalka-Ambala Passenger trains were also cancelled by the Ambala Railway Division. While the passengers with bookings for the cancelled Continued on P2 Chandigarh, December 30 With their long-standing issues, which they had hoped the Central Government would address, remaining unresolved, the year 2024 brought little relief to the residents of Chandigarh. Congress candidate Manish Tewari reclaimed the Chandigarh Lok Sahba seat for the party after a decade by defeating BJP candidate Sanjay Tandon by a narrow margin. Soon after the election, Tewari raised 14 pertinent questions in the Lok Sabha. However, the Central Government admitted to having “no plans” to address these issues. Continued on P2 c m y b closed in Mohali’s Phase 3B2. The claimed that all hotels have been closed too. In Kharar, vehicles mostly remained off roads as members of the protesting unions patrolled the roads. Continued on P2 A deserted Chandigarh Railway Station. TRIBUNE PHOTO: VICKY