11042026-ATR-01.qxd 4/10/2026 10:14 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune SPL LANGAR TO MARK KHALSA SAJNA DIVAS, BAISAKHI TRACING ROAD FROM PUNJAB’S VILLAGES TO WORLD WAR VALOUR Mapping military heritage across the state, INTACH aims to reclaim history of sacrifice & remembrance. P3 MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 29°C | MIN 14°C YESTERDAY MAX 27°C | MIN 14°C VICTORIA’S LATEST SECRET REVEALED… People from diverse backgrounds to perform sewa at Sri Guru Ramdas Jee Langar Hall, Golden Temple, on April 13 and 14.P2 FORECAST As Triptii Dimri joins Victoria’s Secret, here’s a look at the shifting ideals of the brand. P4 » » SUNSET SATURDAY 6.56 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 6:05 AM » SATURDAY | 11 APRIL 2026 | AMRITSAR GIS survey faces delay as executing agency seeks extension till Nov Awarded for Rs 4.05cr | Had to be completed in 21 weeks Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 10 The much-anticipated Geographic Information System (GIS) survey aimed at streamlining property data and boosting municipal revenue in Amritsar is facing significant delays, with the executing agency, Cyber Swift, seeking an extension until November to complete the project. The company was originally tasked with surveying around four lakh properties across the city by February. However, progress has remained far below target. While the agency claims to have covered nearly 80,000 properties across 23 wards through door-to-door visits, it has submitted verified data for only about 7,000 properties from just four wards to the municipal corporation so far. The survey, commissioned by Punjab Municipal Development and Infrastructure Corporation (PMIDC), was awarded at a cost of Rs 4.05 crore and was to be completed within 21 weeks. The project was envisioned as a major step toward digitisation and transparency in urban governance. Once completed, the GIS survey is expected to significantly enhance revenue generation for multiple civic departments. Each property was to be assigned a unique identification (UID) number, with owners receiving PVC cards embedded with QR codes. By scanning these codes, officials and property owners would be able to access real-time information on property tax, electricity and water bills, trade licences and conservancy charges. The system was also designed to help authorities identify defaulters and streamline recovery processes. In the long term, the UID was planned to be made mandatory for property registration and obtaining no-objection certificates (NOCs), further integrating civic services. In a communication to the PMIDC, the company cited several reasons for the delay. It pointed to a lack of public awareness, claiming that survey teams faced poor cooperation during door-todoor visits. Technical glitches in the survey application and the initial absence of Punjabi-speaking staff were also highlighted as key challenges affecting progress. The delay has raised concerns within municipal circles, as the project is directly linked to enhancing the financial capacity of the civic body and enabling data-driven urban planning. “The timely completion of the survey could unlock substantial revenue, which is crucial for infrastructure development and service delivery in the city. Now, the municipal corporation awaits a decision from the PMIDC on the revised timeline”, said a senior MC official. MC claims 100% door-to-door garbage collection Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 10 The Municipal Corporation, Amritsar, has claimed that it has achieved 100 per cent door-to-door garbage collection across all residential and commercial areas in the city as part of its intensified sanitation drive. According to Municipal Commissioner Bikramjit Singh Shergill, a robust system has been put in place, under which machines and manual rickshaws have been strategically deployed in all wards to ensure timely lifting of waste and preventing accumulation at public places. In a major technological innovation, the civic body has introduced a QR code- A JCB removes a garbage pile in Amritsar on Friday. based monitoring system, under which around 1.5 lakh households have been tagged. The system enables real-time tracking of garbage collection services, aimed at improving transparency and fixing accountability of sanitation staff. Officials said the initiative was part of a broader push to modernise the city’s waste management system. Under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode, an integrated solid waste management project is also being implemented to ensure scientific segregation, composting and disposal of waste in a green way. The MC is also focussing on eliminating garbage vulnerable points across the city. Mechanical cleaning has been introduced, particularly in high-footfall areas, where advanced litter-picking machines are being deployed. The civic authorities claim that these measures have significantly enhanced the daily waste collection capacity, strengthening the overall sanitation system in the city. The MC has also been pro- moting public participation by encouraging residents to adopt waste segregation at source and cooperate with sanitation workers. “The MC is committed to ensuring a clean and healthy environment for the people. With the use of technology, improved infrastructure and public participation, we are continuously strengthening our sanitation system. Any negligence will not be tolerated,” said the Municipal Commissioner. He further appealed to citizens to actively participate in maintaining cleanliness by segregating waste at household level. The municipal corporation stated that it would continue its efforts to make Amritsar one of the cleanest cities in the country. Drive to check helmet violations launched in city Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 10 Despite clear regulations making helmets compulsory for two-wheeler riders, a large number of commuters continue to flout the rule with little regard for their own safety. It is common to spot riders and pillion passengers travelling without helmets across the city roads, exposing themselves to serious life risks in case of accidents. The traffic authorities have c m y b Commuters drive two-wheelers sans helmets in Amritsar. VISHAL KUMAR repeatedly emphasized the life-saving importance of wearing helmets, but compliance remains poor. Keeping this in view, the traffic police have started taking stern action against the violators and launched an awareness drive in this connection. “Making ‘wearing a helmet is not just a rule, it’s a lifesaving habit’ the motto of the drive, the traffic police here have launched an awareness drive, urging the commuters, especially those driving two wheelers to wear safety headgear,” said Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, Amandeep Kaur. Many violators cite short travel distances and discomfort as reasons for not following the rule, she pointed out. Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar warned that strict enforcement drives would be undertaken to curb such violations. However, he pointed out that beyond fines, the primary goal was to ensure public safety. He further said that the Amritsar police was issuing around 700 challans daily.