01042026-ATR-01.qxd 4/1/2026 12:29 AM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY/RAIN MAX 28°C | MIN 16°C YESTERDAY MAX 29°C | MIN 15°C ‘SHODDY’ REPAIR WORK LEADS TO RISE IN ROAD ACCIDENTS SINGER CELINE DION ANNOUNCES CONCERT ENJOY AUTHENTIC PAHADI CUISINE AT SIYARAM SIDDU Loose gravel has created slippery conditions, causing drivers to lose control of their vehicles. P2 Celine Dion is back in action. The My Heart Will Go On hitmaker is all set to make a return to the stage this fall. P4 Siyaram Siddu offers mouth-watering siddus at its outlets at Panthaghati, Theog, Fagu and The Mall, Shimla. P4 » » SUNSET WEDNESDAY 6.49 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 6.17 AM » WEDNESDAY | 1 APRIL 2026 | AMRITSAR Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 31 The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has announced a temporary change in flight operations at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International (SGRDJI) Airport for the upcoming summer schedule, citing extensive runway and airfield infrastructure works. According to a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) issued by AAI, the airport runway will remain non-operational from 13.45 hours to 21.45 hours between April 1 and September 27. During this daily closure window, no flight operations will take place and all airlines have revised their schedules accordingly. Flights will operate outside the notified hours in compliance with the NOTAM. Airport officials said the move is aimed at facilitating critical upgrades, including runway recarpeting, development of Runway End Safety Areas (RESA), replacement of Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL), and installation of an Integrated Lighting Control and Monitoring System (ILCMS). At present, the airport handles 62 flights in the summer schedule, including 40 A view of the runway at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar. domestic and 22 international services. Domestically, Amritsar is connected to cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Kulu, Srinagar and Pune, while international routes include Doha, Dubai, Singapore, Birmingham, London Gatwick, Kuala Lumpur, Sharjah and Bangkok. Airport Director Bhupinder Singh said the 3,658-metrelong runway, capable of han- dling wide-bodied Category E aircraft such as Boeing 747800, requires mandatory recarpeting to ensure safe and smooth operations. The work will be carried out in two layers of 50 mm thickness across the full 60-metre width of the runway. The runway will be restored for operations daily after 21.45 hours with all visual aids in place. In addition, the overrun areas will also be recarpeted Actor Priyanka Chopra pays obeisance at Golden Temple Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 31 Priyanka Chopra on Tuesday paid obeisance at the Golden Temple and also performed seva by cleaning utensils at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee Langar Hall. She listened to Gurbani while paying her respects to the Guru Sahib in the sanctum sanctorum. Subsequently, she carried out various chores at the langar hall, where meals are served free of cost to the sangat who come from across the country and around the world. Wearing a rose-gold coloured suit, she kept her head covered with a dupatta while she remained at the holiest Sikh shrine. She stayed at the shrine like a common devotee. to enhance safety during emergency situations such as overshoot or undershoot of aircraft. The RESA on both ends of the runway (16 and 34) will be upgraded in line with guidelines of the International Civil Aviation Organisation. The AAI also plans to replace over 2,000 conventional AGL lights with energy-efficient LED lighting systems, which offer higher During her visit to the Golden Temple in the evening, she did not speak to the media. OF THE WEEK Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 31 Late on March 25, just as nursing staff across Punjab’s key medical colleges were preparing to launch an indefinite strike, a sudden government order invoking the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) sent shockwaves through the workforce. Fear and uncertainty gripped employees in Amritsar, Patiala, and Mohali. The message was clear: the protest could invite strict action. For many, it was enough to reconsider. But at that crucial moment, Ramanjit Singh, president of the Punjab Nursing Union, chose confrontation over retreat. In a last-ditch effort, Ramanjit Singh circulated a voice message urging nurses to stand united and report for protest the next morning. The gamble paid off. By sunrise, hundreds of nurses across all three medical colleges had gathered, defying pressure and setting the stage for what has now become one of the most closely watched employee agitations in the state. Six days into the protest, the resolve remains unshaken. At the core of the agitation is a long-standing demand: restoration of the original grade Nursing union president Ramanjit Singh addressing the protesting employees at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital in Amritsar on Tuesday. pay of Rs 4,600, which nurses say was reduced to Rs 2,800 just months after their recruitment. “We had already delayed our strike once by six months. Even this time, we gave a one-month notice. But we were left with no choice,” Ramanjit Singh said, portraying the protest as a last resort rather than a sudden outburst. However, his criticism goes beyond pay scales. He alleges a broader pattern of suppressing dissent, claiming that employee unions and other sections of society are increasingly facing police action and intimidation for raising their voices. More significantly, he questions the credibility of those in power. “Earlier, if the Chief Minister or a minister made a statement, it carried weight. Tarn Taran, March 31 A young man from Dhotian village in Tarn Taran was allegedly beaten up by village sarpanch Harjinder Singh late on Tuesday night. The man, Roshan, who belongs to a Dalit family, is stated to be in a critical condition. His family had alleged that he was beaten up by the sarpanch who belongs to the ruling Aam Aadmi Party. Binder Singh, SHO of the Sarhali police station, said that the sarpanch had called two families to his residence to resolve a dispute between them. Both groups reportedly lost their tempers, leading to a fight. In the process, OLD FAMILY DISPUTE ■ The Dhotian village sarpanch had called two families to his residence to resolve a dispute between them. Both groups reportedly lost their tempers, leading to a fight between them. The dispute between the two sides was an old one, said the SHO of the Sarhali police station. Rishab sustained serious injuries and was rushed to a hospital. The dispute between the two sides was an old one, he added. SHO Binder Singh denied the role of the sarpanch in the incidents and said he was still at the crime spot. Till the filing of this report, no case had been registered, confirmed the cop. Amritsar, March 31 Even as government procurement of wheat in Punjab is set to begin on April 1, officials in the district do not expect any significant arrival of the crop in the coming days, as harvesting has not yet started. According to mandi officials, the wheat crop is still standing in the fields and has not reached the stage of harvesting. In the district, farmers typically begin harvesting after Baisakhi, when the crop is fully mature. At present, the grain has high moisture content, making it unsuitable for procurement. Officials said that all necessary arrangements for procurement have been completed across grain markets in the district, including cleaning, storage, and logistics. “We are fully prepared for the procurement season, but A farm labourer inspects his wheat fields as harvesting is expected to start within a fortnight near Amritsar. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR no arrivals are expected at this stage,” a mandi official said. Farmers also confirmed that harvesting will take more time. “The crop is not ready yet. If we harvest now, the moisture content will be high and it will not Manufacturing sector hit by cost surge amid rupee fall, West Asia conflict Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 31 The city-based manufacturing sector has recorded a sharp escalation in costs and a decline in output as the rupee weakened to an alltime low against the US dollar, a fallout of the escalating West Asia conflict. Industries in the city producing textiles, yarn, pharmaceuticals, petroleumbased packaging and plastic have reported a considerable dip in factory output. With the rupee breaching the 95 mark against the US dollar for the first time, manufacturers — dependent on imported raw materials, energy and components — are grappling with rising import costs and higher input A textile worker operates a machine in Amritsar. FILE expenses. Woollen industry hit by rising import costs The woollen industry, which relies heavily on imported apparel wool from Australia, is under severe pressure. A sharp rise in the price of Merino wool has impacted shawl manufacturers, knitwear units and producers of suiting, shirting and woollen garments. The price of raw Merino wool has surged from around Rs 1,400 per kg a month ago to nearly Rs 1,900 per kg following the outbreak of con- Today, positions change within hours,” Ramanjit Singh remarked, echoing a growing sense of distrust. For the union, the issue is as much about dignity as it is about money. “If peaceful protest is denied even when people are wronged, what option is left? When a private contractor exploits workers, it is wrong but expected. But when a government does the same, it raises serious questions,” he added. As the standoff continues with no immediate resolution in sight, Ramanjit Singh has emerged as more than just a union leader. He is now the face of a broader battle over workers’ rights, state authority, and the shrinking space for protest in Punjab. Tarn Taran man No wheat arrival expected despite start of procurement season critical after alleged assault by sarpanch Tribune News Service Actress Priyanka Chopra offers prayers at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Tuesday. ANI illumination and longer operational life of over 50,000 hours. The lighting upgrade will support the airport’s Category III status, enabling aircraft operations in low visibility and dense fog conditions. Further, the installation of ILCMS will allow real-time monitoring of the entire airfield lighting system from the control room and Air Traffic Control (ATC). At present, physical inspection of lighting systems before each landing in low visibility takes up to 30 minutes. With ILCMS, faults can be detected and rectified instantly, significantly improving operational efficiency and reducing delays. AAI officials stated that the planned works are essential for maintaining high safety standards and enhancing long-term operational efficiency at the airport. Passengers have been advised to check updated flight schedules with their respective airlines before travel and allow extra time to accommodate any changes. The authority has expressed regret over the inconvenience caused and sought cooperation from passengers and stakeholders during the maintenance period. NEWSMAKER PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR City airport alters flight schedule for runway, airfield infra upgrade Nurses vs govt: Ramanjit Singh emerges as face of Punjab protest flict in West Asia. Piara Lal Seth, a shawl manufacturer, said he had never witnessed such a steep increase in apparel wool prices within such a short span. Similarly, polyester yarn prices have risen by nearly 40 per cent. The rising cost of raw materials has cast a shadow over Punjab’s Rs 3,000-crore shawl industry, largely concentrated in Ludhiana and Amritsar. Punjab accounts for about 35 per cent of India’s exports of wool and wool-blended products, followed by Maharashtra and Rajasthan. The ongoing conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran has also slowed global demand, affecting mediumsized manufacturers. Key export markets, including the US, the European Union c m y b and the UAE, have been impacted due to disruptions and closure of major sea routes. Processing and dyeing industry under strain The processing and dyeing sector has also been hit, with prices of dyes and chemicals rising by 30 to 40 per cent. This has disrupted production planning and increased operational costs. Once a flourishing industry in the city, the processing and dyeing sector has seen a steady decline over the past three decades. The number of units has dropped from over 100 to around 30. Though the industry expanded after the 1950s, its golden period was between 1970 and 1990. Most units were located along Batala and Majitha roads, employing thousands of workers. Industry representatives have urged the government to take measures to revive the sector. Coal-dependent industries face rising fuel costs Coal-based industries, including brick kilns, steel and casting units, are also facing a surge in fuel costs. The price of coal has risen from Rs 16 per kg about a month ago to Rs 24 per kg. Mukesh Nanda, a brickkiln owner, said that the delivered cost of coal across the Majha region, including Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran and Amritsar, has reached Rs 26 per kg, inclusive of 18 per cent GST. As a result, the cost of 1,000 bricks has increased from Rs 7,000 to Rs 9,000, pushing up construction costs. Pharmaceutical sector grapples with API price surge Pharmaceutical manufacturers in the city have also been hit by a sharp rise in the cost of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), largely imported from China and other countries. Industry sources said the price of paracetamol has jumped from Rs 250 per kg to Rs 600 per kg, while that of nemocide has risen from Rs 320 to Rs 850 per kg. Diclofenac potassium prices have increased from Rs 650 to Rs 1,050 per kg, and diclofenac sodium from Rs 600 to Rs 1,200 per kg within a month. The city has around 30 pharmaceutical units with a combined annual turnover of Rs 700-800 crore. Amit Kapur of the Pharmaceutical continued on page 2 fetch the right price. We will begin after Baisakhi,” said Gurpreet Singh, a farmer from a nearby village. Authorities expect arrivals to pick up in mid-April once harvesting begins. — TNS Woman found dead in city guest house Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 31 A woman was found dead under mysterious circumstances in a guest house near Post Office Chowk, close to the Golden Temple, on Tuesday. According to preliminary information, the body was recovered from Room No. 301 of the guest house. The deceased has been identified as Monika, a resident of Guru Nanak Pura. She was reportedly staying alone at the hotel. Police teams reached the spot and initiated an investigation. SHO Baljinder Singh Aulakh of the B Division police station said the exact continued on page 2