15092026-ATR-01.qxd 9/14/2026 10:51 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY CAMPAIGN TO REIN IN STUBBLE BURNING KICKS OFF GNDU PUSHES FOR STRONG ACADEMIA, INDUSTRY TIES HANUMAN ANSH CROSSES OVER ~200 CR ON BOX OFFICE The administration launches a special awareness campaign to educate farmers about the ills of paddy burning.. P2 The College Development Council of Guru Nanak Dev University calls for meaningful collaborations with local industries. P3 MAX 35°C | MIN 25°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 26°C Hanuman Ansh, which has crossed over ~200 crore, has become a case study for the Indian film industry. P4 » » SUNSET TUESDAY 6.35 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 6:11 AM » TUESDAY | 15 SEPTEMBER 2026 | AMRITSAR City’s greens almost gone, let landscape patches stay: Locals Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 14 As the journey of the ambitious Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) corridor comes to an end, discussions around green islands have taken centre stage. The landscape patches, created as part of the BRTS infrastructure, had in a way enhanced the green cover along BRTS stations on some of the busiest stretches of the city. But the funny part is that under the same project, trees were felled for road widening. The green pockets subsequently developed along the corridor not only enhanced the appearance of the stations, but also made up for green cover loss. Now, as the civic authorities dismantle the unused corridor, questions are being raised over whether these green spaces will be retained, redesigned or eventually sacrificed to reclaim road space. Residents and environmentalists say the green islands should not be viewed merely as an extension of the BRTS infrastructure. They want the civic author- WHAT RESIDENTS SAY ■ Locals and environmentalists A green pocket along the BRTS corridor; and (right) a landscape patch that was part of the project. ities to preserve mature trees and integrate green spaces into the redesigned road network, particularly when the city is already struggling to protect and expand its green cover. Environmentalist PS Bhatty expressed dismay over the dismantling of the BRTS infrastructure, saying the “short-sightedness” of politicians and bureaucrats had failed to save the project. “As for green pockets. Ideally, these should be saved and preserved. If any tree has to be removed because of the redesign, the authorities should explore the possibility of planting it elsewhere,” he said. Sarabjit Singh Sonu of the Akal Foundation said the trees had now grown substantially and should be protected at all costs. “The city is already strug- From clamour to chorus, farmers takeprotesttominister’sresidence Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 14 Launching the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha’s statewide agitation on Monday, farmers and workers protested outside the residence of Punjab Cabinet Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO here. The protesters reached the site with the provision for langar, milk, prasad and other essentials in place. Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee leaders Satnam Singh Manochahal and Baba Gurbachan Singh Chabba were among those protesters. They said they wanted the Punjab Government to ensure procurement of basmati, maize, moong, mustard and potatoes at the minimum support price (MSP) and make arrangements for government procurement of these crops. They also sought complete waiver of farmers’ debt, compensation for families of those gling to retain its green cover. The authorities should not allow these mature trees to become another casualty of the BRTS dismantling,” he said. The issue has gained significance as the Municipal Corporation proceeds with the dismantling of the infrastructure that has remained largely unused since the BRTS was shut down in July 2023. The project, launched in 2016 at an estimated cost of around say the green islands should not be viewed merely as an extension of the BRTS infrastructure. ■ They want the civic authorities to preserve mature trees and integrate green spaces into the redesigned road network. Rs 600 crore, has remained controversial over its utility and the failure to put its infrastructure to effective use. Superintending Engineer, Municipal Corporation, Sandeep Singh, however, said the green pockets would not be lost. “These green pockets will be realigned with the two-to-three-feet-wide median that will be constructed after the dismantling of the corridor,” he said. Direct flight to Abu Dhabi from Oct 29 Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 14 Those flying to Abu Dhabi will get a direct Air India Express flight from the city airport from October 29. With this, flyers have got a new connectivity option between Punjab and the United Arab Emirates. The flight will operate three times a week on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, according to booking details available on the airline’s website and travel portals. The flight will depart from Amritsar at 8.40 pm and arrive in Abu Dhabi at 11.50 pm the same day. The return flight will leave Abu Dhabi at 12.55 am on Fridays, Sundays and Mondays and reach Amritsar at 6.15 am. The scheduled flying time is about four hours and 40 minutes from Amritsar and three hours and 50 minutes on the return sector. Sameep Singh Gumtala, global convener of the FlyAmritsar Initiative, said the new service would particularly benefit workers, families and business travellers who frequently travelled between Punjab and Abu Dhabi. “Many passengers travelling to Abu Dhabi have to either fly from Delhi or travel from Amritsar to Dubai or Sharjah and continue their continued on page 2 Civic employees demolish accused Rani’s house in Gujjarpura. House of habitual drug offender razed Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 14 The civic body today demolished an illegal construction belonging to a habitual drug offender in Gujjarpura, making it the 28th such crackdown against properties linked to drug cases in the city. The Police Commissionerate provided security to civic officials during the operation to maintain law and order. Police Commissioner Harmanbir Singh Gill said the property belonged to Rani, wife of Veer Singh, of Gujjarpura, a locality infamous for drug abuse and peddling. He said Rani, who was released from jail on June 11 this year, faced six cases under the NDPS and Excise Acts. She was convicted in an NDPS case registered in 2011 after the police recovered 2,170 intoxicant capsules and 900 tablets from her possession; and was sentenced to a one-year impris- onment with a fine of Rs 5,000. Four of the six cases against her have ended in conviction, while two NDPS cases were registered in 2025 and 2026. The police said two of her sons also had cases related to drugs and excise offences. Raju, a resident of Varpal in Tarn Taran, faces five cases, including three under the NDPS Act registered between 2016 and 2026. Another son, Charanjeet Singh, alias Keepa, of Mulle Chakk village, faces an NDPS case registered in 2012. The latest action comes amid an intensified crackdown on the drug network in the district. The Police Commissioner said from January 1 to September 13, the police registered 1,409 cases under the NDPS Act and arrested 2,300 persons. They also seized 147.593 kg of heroin and 11.438 kg of methamphetamine (ICE), besides recovering Rs 76.61 lakh in suspected drug money and impounding 45 vehicles. Farmers voice anger as long power cuts damage paddy Gurbaxpuri Kisan Mazdoor Morcha members raise slogans in Amritsar. who died by suicide and a government job for one member of each grieving family. The protesters raised concerns over floods, declining groundwater and rising air and water pollution in Punjab. They also sought river water sharing based on the riparian principle. Among other demands included withdrawal of the Land Pooling Policy, withdrawal of cases registered against farmers and workers during various agitations, including cases related to stubble burning, was another demand, and compensation and government jobs for families of farmers and workers who died during protests. Tarn Taran, September 14 Angered over the damage caused to paddy due to long power cuts, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha today held a protest in front of the office of the Deputy Chief Engineer, PSPCL. Farm leaders Harjinder Singh Tanda, Tarsem Singh Luhar, Nachhattar Singh Pannu, Gurbachan Singh Gharka, Harjit Singh Nijjar, Gursahib Singh Dal, Mahavir Singh Gill and Manjit Singh Baggu said the state government had failed to strike a balance between demand and consumption. Farmers did not even have water for their crops. A farm leader said instead of depending on private firms for electricity generation, the government should start a hydel plant. continued on page 2 Fed up with every-day protests, residents want Bhandari overbridge out of bounds Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 14 Back-to-back protests on the Bhandari railway overbridge have left locals fuming. Going through inconvenience for no fault of theirs, residents want protesters to keep off the overbridge. A local, Ravinder Kumar, said striking organisations should not hold the public to ransom. Blockades on the overbridge choke city roads that too during peak hours. He added that in 2013, following the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the district administration had earmarked sites at the district and subdivisional levels for Residents say blockades on the overbridge choke roads. rallies and protests. The High Court had ruled that protests or rallies held elsewhere would be considered a serious offence. Years have passed since, but nothing changed. Sumit Singh, a retired railway employee, said frequent protests and demonstrations on the ovebridge paralysed the city as the bridge connected the old walled city with the civil lines. The residents said they had witnessed two protests on the bridge within a fortnight. A local recalled urging the administration to declare the bridge as a no protest zone. “Daily commuters and local bodies approached the authorities with the solution, but the latter did not do much in this direction,” another local added. People need to know that such blockades or protests only make commuters suffer. On the issue, former Cabinet minister Lakshmi Kanta Chawla said the locals’ demand for a permanent fix should be looked into. c m y b CBC (HB, PCV, ESR, TLC, DLC, Platelet Count, MCHC, MCV, MCH) Blood Sugar Fasting, Serum Creatinine, Serum Potassium, Serum Sodium Lipid Profile (Total Cholesterol, HDL, IDL, Triglycerides, HDL Radio) ECG ECHO / TMT (if advised), Doctor Consultation Discount on Angiography (CAG) Discount on CABG Offer valid from 9th Sept to 10th Oct 2026 ₹2000/₹10,000/-