13022025-LT-01.qxd 2/13/2025 12:51 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune MUNISH FROM CITY SECURES SILVER IN INT’L TENNIS C’SHIP ART TAKES TIME, SAYS SITAR EXPONENT USTAD SHAHID MANDY TAKHAR TALKS ABOUT HER UPCOMING TALK SHOW Munish Marwaha secured runner-up trophy in International Masters Tennis Championship held in UP recently. P2 Ustad Shahid said everything that is of any value takes time and youth must be ready to put in effort. P4 The Punjabi actress was in Chandigarh for the launch of her upcoming talk show, Spotlight with Mandy. P4 » » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 23°C | MIN 11°C YESTERDAY MAX 24°C | MIN 12°C SUNSET THURSDAY 6.08 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 7:05 AM THURSDAY | 13 FEBRUARY 2025 | LUDHIANA Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 12 In a first-of-its-kind initiative, a special survey has been launched to check real-time vehicle emission in Ludhiana, which being the biggest and largest district, in terms of area and population, has the highest vehicular population in the state. The Punjab Traffic and Road Safety wing of the Punjab Police have launched an innovative pilot project to monitor vehicle exhaust emissions using advanced remote sensing technology. The project, in collaboration with the Raahgiri Foundation and the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), is part of the globally recognised The Real Urban Emissions (TRUE) initiative, which helps cities develop data-driven air quality policies. Cutting-edge remote sensing devices measure realtime vehicle emissions at key road locations, providing crucial data to identify highemission vehicles, and inform targeted policy interventions. Similar studies in London, Paris, Beijing, Mexico City and Delhi have led to effective policy changes to reduce emissions in the past. The project was kicked off in a joint session, chaired by Additional Director General of Police (Traffic and Road Safety), AS Rai. Dr Navdeep Asija, Traffic Adviser to the Punjab Government, representatives from the Raahgiri Foundation, including Sarika Pandha Bhatt, and Lavnish Goyal and Anirudh Narla from the ICCT, INBRIEF TWO HELD ON THEFT CHARGES Ludhiana: The Dakha police claimed to have arrested two persons, who used to steal farm produce and other belongings of residents. The police arrested two persons, Harpinder Singh, alias Happy, and Amanjit Singh, and a case was registered against them under Sections 303 (2), 305, 331 (4) and 112 of the BNS at the Dakha police station. The police have recovered a vehicle from their custody, which the suspects used to transport stolen farm produce after stealing. A resident of Majri village, Gurmit Singh, had complained that his huge quantity of potatoes were stolen, which were also recovered. The police are yet to arrest two other suspects in theft cases. They used to steal the farm produce and sold the same at other places. TNS TWO ARRESTED WITH OPIUM Ludhiana: The Jagatpuri police chowki, Haibowal, have booked two persons for smuggling opium. The suspects, Lovpreet Singh and Karan Kumar, were arrested for allegedly carrying 500 gm of opium on February 9. A case has been registered against them under Sections 18, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act. They were remanded in police custody. The police recovered opium, a scooter, an electronic weighing scale and 15 plastic bags from their possession. The police are investigating the matter. TNS OVER 13L REGISTRATIONS IN 14 YRS Year 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Remote Sensing Devices being used to measure vehicle emissions in Ludhiana. were among others who attended the session. After detailed deliberations, it was decided to initiate the pilot project in Ludhiana with the active cooperation of the Commissionerate Police. The study will be coordinated by ADCP Gurpreet Kaur Purewal, who will oversee its implementation at multiple strategic locations across the city. The study began at Ladhowal toll plaza and will continue for a month, expanding to additional high-traffic areas across the Ludhiana Commissionerate Police limits. “The study will play a vital role in data collection, enforcement and advocacy for sustainable policies based on its findings,” Dr Asija, who is also Director of Punjab Road Safety and Traffic Research Centre (PRSTRC), told The Tribune on Wednesday. He said the Punjab Police would prepare an action plan to implement the findings effectively through better advocacy and inter-departmental coordination, ensuring a sustainable approach to reduce vehicular pollution in the city. Traffic congestion, impact on health Traffic congestion in Ludhiana significantly impacts air quality and public health. High-vehicle density leads to prolonged exposure to pollutants, increasing respiratory diseases, cardiovascular conditions and stress-related disorders. The lack of smooth traffic flow exacerbates fuel consumption, leading to higher emissions and economic losses. Way forward To address these issues, the Punjab Traffic and Road Safety wing implements strategies such as improving traffic management systems, promoting non-motorised transport, enhancing public transport infrastructure and enforcing emission norms. Deploying intelligent traffic systems and expanding pedestrian-friendly zones further contribute to reducing congestion and improving air quality in the district. How will it work The Remote Sensing Devices (RSDs), which are advanced tools, will be used to measure Vehicles 85,936 1,31,816 1,15,038 1,23,512 1,30,370 1,22,559 1,32,546 73,093 Year Vehicles 2019 76,721 2020 47,901 2021 47,930 2022 70,390 2023 79,084 2024 1,15,154 2025 12,778 Total: 13,64,828 (Source: Transport Dept, 2025 figures till Feb 11) vehicle emissions in real-world driving conditions without requiring vehicles to stop or undergo direct testing. Unlike traditional pollution under control (PUC) tests, which involve stationary inspections, RSDs assess exhaust emissions as vehicles pass by on roads and highways. The method enables rapid, large-scale monitoring of emissions from the on-road fleet, helping regulators identify high-emitting vehicles and evaluate compliance with vehicle emission standards. RSDs operate using principle of absorption spectroscopy, where infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) beams are projected through a vehicle’s exhaust plume. Detectors measure how much light is absorbed at specific wavelengths corresponding to pollutants like carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), nitrogen oxides (NO, NO2). The device also measures opacity, which is a proxy for particulate matter (PM). These measurements are taken in real time as vehicles drive past, providing an instantaneous snapshot of their emissions performance under actu- al driving conditions. In addition to emissions data, RSDs capture vehicle speed, acceleration, road slope and weather conditions, ensuring a more comprehensive assessment. A video camera records the vehicle’s license plate, allowing authorities to link emissions data to specific vehicles for enforcement or research purposes. The data will be instantly processed and stored in a database for further analysis, helping policymakers track fleet emissions trends, enforce regulations and design more effective vehicular emission control strategies. Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 12 Going the extra mile and taking an unique initiative to streamline traffic movement in the city, Municipal Corporation (MC) Commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal organised a bus ride for officials for taking stock of the situation at the ground level on Wednesday. Traffic Adviser, Punjab, Navdeep Asija, and member, Punjab Road Safety Council, Rahul Verma, also accompanied the officials and made recommendations for junction improvement and reducing congestion in different parts of the city. The officials remained in the field for around two-and-a-half hours. MC Additional Commissioner Paramdeep Singh, Joint Commissioner Abhishek Sharma, ACP (Traffic) Jatin Bansal, MC Assistant Commissioner Gurpal Singh, Superintending Engineers Ranjit Singh, Sham Lal Gupta, Sanjay Kanwar and Parveen Singla, MTP Vijay Kumar and ATPs, tehbazaari officials were among others present. After holding a meeting with the officials at the MC’s Zone D office here, Dachalwal and other officials took a bus ride to around 18 sites across the city. These points included Jagraon bridge, junctions near Kapoor Hospital and Durga Mata Mandir, Mata Rani Chowk, old sabzi mandi, Partap Chowk, Hambran Road, near Arya College, Lakkar Bridge, Deep Hospital road. Some of the recommendations included increasing the road width near Kapoor Hospital by including the government land outside the PSPCL sub-station, redesigning of the Jagraon bridge junction, widening of the Jagraon bridge road leading to Vishwakarma Chowk, increasing the width of Durga Mata Mandir junction and junction near Deep Hospital, construction of slip road near Gulzar motors on old GT road, removal of encroachments from the old GT road and construction of a slip road near the old sabzi mandi. The MC Commissioner said the aim of the visit was to check the situation at the ground level. Traffic police officials and civic body officials of different branches, including B&R Department, building branch and tehbazaari, were taken along so that all aspects could be checked. Traffic experts have submitted their recommendations and they would also be submitting designs for junction improvement, etc, in coming days. The civic body will work parallelly to reduce congestion and streamline the movement of traffic in the city. Meanwhile, traffic experts and officials also appealed residents to follow traffic rules and support the authorities in improving the situation at the ground level. 26 lakh vehicles for 20 lakh population With roads and lanes network spreading over 4,000 km, Ludhiana, spread over 169 sq km area with an estimated population of 20 lakh, has over 26 lakh registered vehicles and the vehicular population is fast exploding with almost 1 lakh new vehicles registered here every year at an average of 280 new vehicles daily and 8,333 vehicles hitting the roads every month. The MC Commissioner and officials take a ride in a bus in Ludhiana on Wednesday. 3 snatchers land in police net Minister pays surprise visit to Civil Hospital Ludhiana, February 12 The Sadar police have arrested three persons, Harpreet Singh Happy (32), Balbir Singh (36) and Gurbhej Singh (48) in snatching incidents during a raid on Tuesday. The police have recovered four motorcycles, a Honda Activa, eight mobile phones and an iron rod from the suspects. A case has been registered. They have been remanded in police custody. The suspects in police custody in Ludhiana on Wednesday. The police said cases were already registered against Harpreet and Balbir at different police stations of the district. The police are further investigating the matter. — TNS Ludhiana, February 12 Health Minister Balbir Sidhu on Wednesday paid a surprise visit to the Civil Hospital, Ludhiana. The Health Minister repeated his old promises such as starting the critical care, ICU, giving world class facilities at the hospital. Besides, another new announcement that he made on Wednesday was to set up a hospital administrative wing. Health Minister Balbir Sidhu at Ludhiana Civil Hospital. INDERJEET VERMA “On many occasions, it is observed that patients do not get required medicines, issues related to light, genset, wash- 17 students staying in miserable conditions at govt hostel Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 12 The Government Residential Hostel for Students at Jamalpur Awana, Sector 32 A, near Vardhman Chowk, here, is in a poor state. Its pitiable building is crying for attention. When you visit the place, washrooms without doors, taps without water, staircase without railings and beds in bad shape will greet you. It seems that the government authorities have left its inmates to god’s mercy. The 17 students staying at the hostel had been adjusting to the poor facilities. The reason for the same is that their parents are daily wagers and most of them are homeless. They have left their wards in the residential hostel so that INDERJEET VERMA Nitin Jain ASHWANI DHIMAN A first: Special survey launched to check real-time vehicle emission Punjab Police innovative pilot project to combat vehicular pollution MC chief holds bus ride for officials to streamline traffic movement in city A washroom in a poor state; and (right) a staircase without railings at government hostel in Jamalpur Awana. they can continue their studies at Government High School, Jamalpur. There is only one auto-rickshaw for the students staying at the hostel. A student said: “Our school is about 3 km away from the hostel. We commute through a auto-rickshaw to the school. But almost all of us have to c m y b pay charges of the auto and the driver has already given us warning either to pay the dues or he will not come to ferry them. But our parents have no money to pay to the driver.” The students are using washrooms which are in a pathetic condition, without doors and taps. They rued many times, they face embarrassment due to the miserable conditions. Sewers generally remain choked. Walls and pillars of the building have developed cracks, which the authorities need to check if it is safe for students’ stay as they spend all their time in the hostel once the school gets over. The building is huge but hardly any efforts are made to renovate or paint it or at least give a facelift. Each student is given Rs 1,500 per month for food expenses. They get their clothes washed, the expense for which is adjusted in the salary of the caretaker. The latter is reportedly paid about Rs 30,000, of which Rs 5,500 is given for washing clothes of students and around Rs 4,000 to the sweeper for cleaning the premises. School building encroached upon There is a school building too in the residential hostel and the government has been requested to renovate the structure, which is slowly turning into a dilapidated state but to no avail. In the vacant building, a few migrants have started residing. DEO (Primary) Ravinder Kaur, under whose supervision the school comes, said in this hostel, students of Classes VI-VIII were residing but it was in a miserable condition. She said an estimate was sent to the head office and approval for works was awaited. rooms or any other matter will be taken care by the wing. Doctors will only treat patients while the rest of the things related to the administration of the hospital will be looked after by the wing,” the minister said. He said new equipment would be given to the hospital and more staff will be added. The hospital would not only look like a corporate hospital but also work like one, he said. — TNS Man held for violating minor Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 12 The Daresi police have arrested Pawan Kumar, a resident of Bahadur Ke Road, for allegedly raping a minor girl. A case under various sections of the BNS and the POCSO Act has been registered against the suspect. The mother of the girl complained to the police that her 14-yearold daughter went somewhere without telling anyone in the family on January 26. She said the suspect took her daughter with him on the pretext of marriage. The victim’s mother said he used to come to their house and raped her daughter multiple times during their absence in the past four months. The man has been arrested by the police.