09122025-LT-01.qxd 12/9/2025 12:22 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune BJP WOOING RESIDENTS WITH WELFARE SCHEMES OJAS SUND SHINES AT NAT’L SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIP City’s promising swimmer delivered outstanding performance at the competition’s 69th edition. P2 MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 23°C | MIN 8°C YESTERDAY MAX 23°C | MIN 8°C HELEN PAYS OBEISANCE AT THE GOLDEN TEMPLE Workers of the party have not faced any protest or resistance from residents till now. P2 FORECAST Helen, OG siren of the Hindi films, has gracefully transitioned into living and loving a slow life. P4 » » SUNSET TUESDAY 5.23 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 7:08 AM » TUESDAY | 9 DECEMBER 2025 | LUDHIANA Cops trace toll firing suspects 300 km away, nab in 24 hours Commuters bear the brunt as anganwadi workers block traffic Nehru Rose Garden set for facelift as MC floats ~8.46 crore tender Nikhil Bhardwaj Call off protest after assurance from Minister Ravneet Bittu over phone Ludhiana, December 8 The Nehru Rose Garden situated in the heart of the city is all set to get a major facelift with the Municipal Corporation (MC) floating a tender for the refurbishment of the garden. It is the third time that a tender is being issued. On earlier two occasions, tenders were cancelled after irregularities were found in the tendering process. Witnessing heavy footfall from all walks of life on a daily basis, the Rose Garden would be upgraded with Rs 8.46 crore (estimated cost) project covering all aspects to facilitate the residents. Various components of the project include the civil cost, including construction of footpaths, etc (approx Rs 1.32 crore), lighting and electrical (around Rs 2.15 crore), horticulture cost, including ornamental plants/rose beds, grass, etc (approx Rs 3.29 crore), water tank (approx over Rs 21.40 lakh), irrigation cost (approx Rs 85.62 lakh), kids playing area (approx Rs 19.82 lakh), open gym (approx Rs 5.67 lakh), toilet block (approx Rs 32.06 lakh) and testing charges (Rs 4.21 lakh - 0.5 Ludhiana, December 8 After car-borne miscreants fired gunshots at employees working at the Ladhowal toll plaza on Saturday night for being stopped from using the VIP lane to cross without paying toll tax, the Ludhiana police launched a hunt by following their (suspects’) trail and finally caught them from Batala within 24 hours. They were identified as Amitpal Singh of Ghoha village, Fatehgarh Churian, Aditya Mohan of Dhariwal and Satnam Singh of Batala. All suspects are farmers. Deputy Commissioner of Police Rupinder Singh said the suspects had gone to attend a marriage in Patiala and while returning to Batala, they had heated arguments with Ladhowal toll barrier employees as they were stopped from passing through the VIP lane without paying the fee. In no time, arguments turned into a scuffle as workers too gathered at scene with sticks. Afterwards, the suspects opened fire. Fortunately, no one suffered any bullet injury. Continued on page 2 Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, December 8 Hundreds of members of the Anganwadi Mulazim Workers Union on Monday held a statewide protest outside the BJP office in Dugri here. The workers raised slogans against the Central Government for not meeting their long-pending demands. Later, the protesters decided to march towards Arora Palace. At the traffic light point, they squatted on road, blocking the traffic around noon on Arora Palace Road. The protest caused inconvenience to the public and commuters. As the blockade was unscheduled, commuters did not get any chance to take some other route to reach their destinations. Several vehicles were stranded as the protesters blocked the traffic for around one hour. The commuters pleaded to the workers to clear the road but they were not allowed to move. Instead, the latter started raising slogans. Serpentine queues were witnessed all over. Sarbarinder Singh, a commuter, said he had to reach a HIMANSHU MAHAJAN Tribune News Service Anganwadi workers take out a protest march in support of their demands in Ludhiana on Monday. hospital to meet his ailing relative but he was stuck on the road for about an hour. “It is criminal negligence. If protesters feel that their demands are not being met, they start such pressure tactics, without bothering that such acts hits the common man hard, who had nothing to do with the agitation,” he said. Subhash Rani, the state president of the union, said the government did not bother if it was a simple protest. “When the authorities saw that traffic was blocked, they sent officials who made us talk to Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu over phone. On his assurance, we decided to call off the protest. They could have done this before,” she said. The workers submitted a memorandum to Ravneet Singh Bittu, Minister of c m y b State, Railways and Food Processing Industries, through the local authorities, requesting him to raise demands of increased allocation for the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) in the annual Budget 2026-27 for institutionalisation of the ICDS and regularisation and gratuity to the anganwari workers/helpers with the Finance Minister. Continued on page 2 Tribune News Service Project includes green work, lighting, kids playzone, open gym TENDER ISSUED THIRD TIME It is the third time that a tender is being issued. On earlier two occasions, tenders were cancelled after irregularities were found in the tendering process. per cent of the total estimate). The total cost of the project is over Rs 8.46 crore. MC Commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal said the Nehru Rose Garden was among the major green spaces in the city. Not only morning/evening walkers but a large number of residents also visit the garden to spend leisure time with their families. Besides planting ornamental plants, new rose beds would also be planted in the garden. Irrigation system, including sprinklers, would be installed and footpaths would also be redeveloped across the garden. Municipal Corporation officials said the tender for taking up the project had been floated and bids had been invited to finalise the contractor. The MC Commissioner said the officials concerned had been directed to complete the tender process and ensure that the project was completed at the earliest. It would be ensured that there should be no compromise with the quality of the works. Past controversies The project has been marred by a controversy twice and became embroiled in a corruption scandal earlier this year when an alleged audio clip of the then superintending engineer Sanjay Kanwar, demanding a 10 per cent commission from a contractor in exchange for awarding the work, surfaced. The leak prompted the Vigilance Bureau to arrest Kanwar, intensifying scrutiny on the municipal administration. The first tender, issued in December 2024, also drew criticism when officials allegedly manipulated dates during the enforcement of the model code of conduct. The matter was escalated to the Election Commission and an internal committee later recommended scrapping and reissuing of the tender.