Category: News

Sigh of relieve for Tipplers, No More Closure of Liquor Shops in Chandigarh
The Supreme Court had decided to close all the liquor shops at or 500 m from State Highways and National Highways. UT Administration has come up with an idea to change the name of the State Highways to District Highways in order to save those Liquor Shops in Chandigarh.

Now all the shops at State Highways shall remain as there is a change in the nomenclature to District Highways. There shall be no liquor ban in Chandigarh the only change that shall occur after the court orders are minimal change in a number of Liquors shops.

In 2005 UT Administration notified the main road connecting the two states to be called as State Highways which included V1 V2 V3 roads. Now, these roads are being denotified as State Highways and changing to District Highways.All the Liquor Shops in Chandigarh will stay except the shops at or 500m from National Highways and Madhya Marg.

Closure of Liquor Shops in Chandigarh

Madhya Marg
- 11 Liquor shops at State Highway Panchkula border to Mullanpur
- Sector 26 Transport Area-1, Sector 26 Market-1, Sector8-1, Sector9-1, Sector 17-1, Khuda Lahora-1, Manimajra-1, Sarangpur-1
National Highways
- 12 Liquor shops at Zirakpur road till Sector 39
- Raipur Khurd-1
- Sector20-1, Sector21-1, Sector35-1, Sector44-1, Sector41-1
- Kajehri-1, Bhadheri-2
Increase in Liquor Price

The Excise Department is preparing the Excise Policy to generate the revenue that was produced earlier. In order to have the same revenue as before the prices of the Liquor is meant to increase. The Excise Duty will increase and the prices of the Liquor shall increase by 50 or 100 rupees.

Harman Sidhu who had filed the case against these Liquor shops in Chandigarh expresses that it’s an ashame for Supreme Court. He is disappointed with the trick of UT Administrator and shall write about it to Prime Minister later.
Chandigarh to have Cultural Evening at Rock Garden every Sunday from now
After the Doll’s Museum at Rock Garden in Chandigarh, the Rock Garden Society has taken an initiative to have some events at Phase3 of Rock Garden. Chandigarh has always been a happening place as there are new innovative ideas from different people and they are implemented in a quick row.The authorities have decided to conduct a Cultural Evening at Rock Garden every Sunday at the stage of Phase3.

Timings and Day for the Cultural Evening at Rock Garden

On Every Sunday at 5:00 PM

Benefits of this Cultural Evening at Rock Garden
- It will help the local people to showcase their talent
- Innovative idea for socialising and entertainment.
Details of the First Cultural Evening

The First Cultural Evening at the Rock Garden was a huge success. Some of the Chandigarh artists had put up an art exhibition where the local artists did live painting at the Phase2 of Rock Garden. The exhibition also comprised of certain dance and musical performances, some children from slum areas also participated in the dance performances.

The Home Secretary appreciated the initiative taken by the Rock Garden Society of Chandigarh. These Cultural evening will act as a platform for the artists who are wandering to display their talent and earn fame in a way.

Who can perform at these Cultural Evening?

All the local artists are allowed to perform with any kind of talent. Artists from the varied background like music, dance, mimicry, plays, magic shows, comedy and anything are most welcome to perform and entertain people.

Apart from the Cultural Evenings the Rock Garden Society has another good news as they are introducing permanent lights in the Open Air Theatre in Phase2 and this plan shall be implemented by 2-3months. The Rock Garden Society has taken a good initiative to help all those talented people looking for an opportunity to display their talent.
Parking issues in the city like Delhi, Smart Parking in Chandigarh to vanish all the problems
The Smart Parking in Chandigarh to woe all the issues in the city. For past several years, the paid parking system has become a disputable issue as the civic body has failed to counter this problem which resulted in inconvenience to the residents. The Municipal Corporation with the Finance and Contract Committee has decided to give the approval to float tenders for paid parking in all 26 Parking lots including the multi-level Parking Lot at Sector 17. This shall be implemented by two months from now.

Once the tenders are floated the contractors will be fixed in another month. The Municipal Corporation determines to handover the Parking lots to one company with the reserve price kept Rs 4 Crore. But the decision of the Punjab and Haryana High Court comes against the decision of the civic body. The court disagrees to hand over the Parking Lots to single company than to a group of contractors.

Multi level Parking In Sector 17 Chandigarh

As of now, 23 out of the 26 Parking Lots have been left vacant for more than a year and the civic body has witnessed a loss of up to Rs 5 Crore.MC Commissioner Manoj assures to float the tenders within a week and the approval from the Finance and Contractor Committee is expected to reach by 16^th March 2017.

Highlights of Smart Parking in Chandigarh
- Modern and Full Automatic boom barrier Parking Lots
- Smart Cards for entering the Parking Lots
- Mobile App for providing the status of availability of parking.
Chandigarh is no less than other cities, the city beautiful is set to prove its beauty through its greenery and techno Smart activities as well. The Smart Parking in Chandigarh will vanish the problems of parking in the city in 2 months.
The Airport Authorities decides to shut Chandigarh International Airport for complete three days
The Chandigarh International Airport shall take three days off for repairment of the Airport facilities. The Airport will be closed for 1 Day in March and two in April that means that no aeroplanes will take off or land on these days. This decision has been taken for the further smooth running of the Airport.

Closing Dates

Day 1: 19^th March 2017

Day 2: 2^nd April 2017

Day3: 16^thApril 2017

Reason for Closing the Chandigarh International Airport

Prior to this also the Airport Authorities used to shut on first and third Sundays of every month after 1 pm for any take offs or landings in order to improvise the Airport and Airport Facilities. Now, the authorities have decided to close it for 3 days for better functioning of the Airport.

Highlights
- Chandigarh International Airport will remain closed on 19th March, 2nd April and 16th April 2017.
- All the flights will be cancelled on these days
- Instrument Landing System (ILS) will be utilised on the runway to ensure the smooth take-off and landing on the Airport.
- It shall also decrease the probability of delaying of the flight in Chandigarh Airport during foggy days.
The Airport Authorities are gearing towards upgrading CATII to CATIII instrument landing system at Chandigarh International Airport. After the successful up gradation, some new International may also be launched connecting City beautiful to other countries. The new system will prevent the delay in flights in bad weather conditions.

The City Beautiful is implementing every single technique to make a Smart City and provide better facilities to public and become a great city altogether in every aspect.
Distressing Moment for the Vendors in Chandigarh mainly at Sector 17 from 1st April
Sector 17 the heart of the city is set to eliminate all the roadside Vendors in Chandigarh from the Shopping Plaza from 1^st April 2017. The Municipal Corporation has asserted that there shall be no vendors from next month in Sector 17. No vendors shall be allowed to sell their stuff from 1^st April 2017.

Street Vendors at Sector 22 Chandigarh

Permitted Vendors in Chandigarh

Approximately 200 vendors run their stalls in Sector 17, only the mobile vendors, vendors sitting in front of the government offices or vendors at vacant spaces shall be allowed to operate their work. The cobblers sitting in front of the Neelam Cinema are allowed to utilise that space from their work. By March end all the vendors shall be issued temporary licenses for street vending at Sector 17, 35, 19, 22. The licenses to vendors for operating will be issued under The Street Vendors Act, 2014.

Vendors at Sector 17 Chandigarh

Cost to the Vendors

The Municipal Corporation has divided the vendors into two categories i.e. Service Providers and Non-Service Providers. Service Providers are the ones which are supplying some essential assistance such as tea stalls, barbers, Cycle repair and Non-Service Providers are those satisfying the desires of people or the non-essential materialistic things like fashion jewellery, toys.

Monthly Fee Charge
1. Service Providers- Rs1500
2. Non-Service Providers- Rs 2000
The Vendors in Chandigarh shall not be allowed to set off their vending stall from parking lots as well. Temporary licenses shall be issued by the end of the month. Temporary licenses will be issued till the Municipal Corporation’s town vending committee does not get a final approval of the proposal from the UT Chief Architect.
A New: Free Yoga Classes in Chandigarh for the Tricity Residents
People of Chandigarh love fitness. And Yoga, of late, is re-establishing itself as the prime path to a fit mind, soul and body. However, we still only search for the right guidance and coaching to embark on this journey of fitness. Due to the shortage of Yoga experts and lack of facility, prices of Yoga Classes have soured, driving it away from the budgets of many. Calm! Things are changing now and Yoga is set to become more accessible and widespread for the residents of the tricity. Thanks, to the Chandigarh Administration.

After Chandigarh played host to the 2nd International Day of Yoga celebrations last year, the administration is being pro-active in promoting and inculcating Yoga as an integral part of the fitness regime of the tricity.

In that direction, the U.T. administration has now launched “Free Yoga Classes in Chandigarh”.

Salient Features of the “Free Yoga Classes” in Chandigarh
- The classes will be organised in 38 different govt. schools of Chandigarh.
- Timings will be 6:00 to 7:30 in the morning, daily.
- Anyone from the tricity can join in the classes at any of the 38 locations.
- The classes will be absolutely free of cost for the residents.
- The plan is to expand the classes to 100 more locations in the second phase.
Launching the initiative, U.T. Administrator V P Badnore said that yoga is the epitome of Indian legacy, and it is the very essence of our culture. He also added that the administration is committed to the expansion and advancement of Yoga in the tricity, and many more plans are on cards. Free Yoga Classes in Chandigarh is just one of the many steps.

Well, this is indeed a great initiative and will benefit hundreds of tricity residents, while influencing the health and fitness regime of the city. All for the good! Kudos, U.T. Administration!

Visit the newly launched website of the Department of Ayush for more information.

Website of Department of Ayush: http://www.ayushchandigarh.org

Follow the link to view the complete list of “Free Yoga Classes in Chandigarh” (locations).

List of Free Yoga Classes: http://www.ayushchandigarh.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Yoga_Registration_Form.pdf

Download the Registration form for Free Yoga Classes.

Registration Form: http://www.ayushchandigarh.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Yoga_Registration_Form.pdf
Sector 17 Football Stadium to become ‘Multipurpose Sporting Arena’
At Chandigarh, we have a lot of beautiful parks, gardens, grounds and open spaces. But sans the PCA stadium at Mohali and the Sector 16 cricket Stadium, we still lack a state-of-art sporting arena for the city. Consequently, the Chandigarh fails to host even state and national level matches of sports like football and basketball, leave alone international matches. Sports lovers perish!

Better late than never, to finally fill the void and push the sporting culture of the city, the UT engineering department is gearing up to revamp the Sector 17 Football Stadium and make it into a state-of-art multipurpose arena. Built back in 1960 over an area of 4 acres, the plan is to expand the stadium to 5.4 acres and add a range of new facilities to take it to the international standards.

Sector 17 Football Stadium

What to expect at the new stadium?
- The new stadium, besides having a football field, will have a basketball court and a walking track.
- A skating ring and a badminton court will come up, for recreational activity only.
- The arena will also have state-of-art underground changing rooms.
- New, permanent stands and viewers’ galleries will be raised and two giant screens will be put up on two sides.
- The stadium will be night-lit and will have floodlights to meet the international standards.
- Mostly powered by green energy, extensive solar panels will also be installed at the arena.
- Apart from a modern, well-equipped commentary room, there will be a big hall and cafeteria for the players and officials.
- There will be three entry gates for the fans, besides having a separate players’ entry. Parking lots will also come up.
The plan to revamp the stadium is being mulled primarily to make a place for the local clubs to organize matches, which at present, have to fly to other places for their home matches. As of now, the stadium is in a state of decay, and ill-equipped to host matches of that stature.

The project was first conceived in 2013, but the work could not start back then. But now, the tenders are afloat and the work is expected to go underway from April. The current trainees at the Sector 17 stadium will be allowed to use the ground only till March 31, before the stadium being evacuated for the mega revamp.

Things look great! Let the future of sports in Chandigarh shimmer!!
Chandigarh gets its New Museum- Pierre Jeanneret Museum
We all know that Chandigarh the city beautiful was designed by Le Corbusier. But there was somebody else who had a high hand at designing Chandigarh. Pierre Jeanneret is a Swiss architect also helped in plotting the buildings in Chandigarh. He was the cousin of Le Corbusier.

On his 121 birthday, a Museum will be inaugurated on 22^nd March 2017. In the Museum people shall have look at the drawings of buildings designed by Jeanneret, Heritage furniture, and unique pictures.

About Jeanneret

Jeanneret was born on 22^nd March 1896 and lived up until 4^th December 1967. According to his will, the cremation ashes were run through Sukhna Lake, showing his love for Chandigarh.

Buildings Designed by Jeanneret
- Gandhi Bhawan at Panjab University
- University Library
He also assisted Le Corbusier in designing all the buildings in Chandigarh. Jeanneret’s House is converting into a Museum for the people to look at the ancient gubbins of his House. The House will open to the public on 22^nd March 2017. Jeanneret stayed in the House from 1954 to 1965 and after that, the House was allotted to different officers for staying there.

Gandhi Bhawan at Panjab University

The officers made certain changes in the House according to their requirements. That is the main reason the House is getting converted into a Museum. In 2016 the decision was taken to convert the House into a Museum and is being executed now in 2017.

Jeanneret House Details

Jeanneret House was a beautiful one comprising of:
- Coloured walls in the rooms
- an eye-shaped the window to have a view of the lawn as well as for the fresh air to enter on the first floor
- At the ground floor, a special window designed for the ventilation purpose called Cover shape wall.
- Ancient switchboards at the House.
Jeanneret’s House at Sector 5, where he stayed for years is now transforming into a Museum for the public on his 121 birthday.
Kiran Kher unfurled the Highest National Flag of Tri-City at Japanese Garden in Chandigarh

Japanese Garden is a park located in Sector 31 of Chandigarh witnessed the Tricity’s highest National flag hosting. Kiran Kher Member of parliament from Chandigarh unfurled the National Flag at Garden in Sector 31 on Sunday. The National Flag was tied at 101 feet long pole, and according to its height, it is 65^th highest flag in the country.

National Flag Hosting at Japanese Garden Sector 31 Chandigarh

Nagar Nigam approximately spent 20 lakhs to establish such flag hosting at Japanese Garden in the city. Kiran Kher after the flag hosting stipulated the tricolour of the flag, indicated the importance of all the colours in the flag. On this auspicious occasion in the Tricity, some major personalities were also present namely Asha Jaswal, Nagar Nigam Commissioner B Purusarth, and Air Force Officers.

Nagar Nigam Commissioner B Purusarth stated that on the Independence of the country the national flag on 22^nd July 1947 was adopted in the formed Assembly meeting. The National Flag of our country reminds us of our Independence of our country.

Kiran Kher MP of union territory Chandigarh unrolled the highest National Flag at Japanese Garden in Tricity.
Chandigarh Railway Station to go ‘world-class’ Soon.

Expect the Chandigarh Railway Station to bear a whole new look and feel when you visit the station next time. Well, not that soon, but the Chandigarh Railway Station is indeed set for a world-class revamp in the near future. RK Kulshrestha, General Manager(GM), Northern Railway, said so during his recent inspection of the city station. Kulshreshtha was on his first visit to the Chandigarh railway Station since taking charge as the GM, last January.

Development on the lines of International Airports

Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation Limited (IRSDC), the executing agency of the World-Class Station project, is planning to develop the station to the International Standards. The plan includes having segregated arrivals and departures point much like International Airports, separate waiting lounges, added security, entertainment & commercial facilities, and food courts.

Special focus on Disabled-friendly Rly Station

The new facilities coming up at the station will be constructed keeping in mind the special needs of the disabled commuters. Making the station disabled-friendly will include separately marked parking areas, special toilets, bathrooms, wheelchair and ramp for easy entry and exit, special low-level ticket counter and a dedicated helpline number. The project also includes installation of 2 lifts and 4 new escalators, to make it convenient for the disabled and elderly commuters to switch from one platform to another.

New Platform

The double-lining of the Dappar-Chandigarh track is expected to be completed by July this year, after several missed deadlines. Once the new line is commissioned, the all new platform number 6 of the Chandigarh Railway Station will be opened for use. Expect several new trains originating and halting at the station once the new line is opened.

New High-Speed Trains from Chandigarh Railway Station

Kulshreshtha also added that the project to run Semi-High speed and High-speed Tejas trains to and from Chandigarh is also in advanced stages. The Tejas train between Chandigarh and Delhi will run at 130 kmph fro Chandigarh to Ambala and at 110 kmph from Ambala till Delhi For Tejas train, the Ambala Division has sought approval from the Railway Secretary. Semi high-speed project feasibility report under consideration.

Digital Push for Chandigarh Railway Station

The authorities are also planning to make the station go completely cashless, by introducing digital payment modes at the parcel office, as well as the reserved and unreserved ticketing counters.

The revamping of the station has been planned in two phases. In the first phases, a number of passenger-centric amenities will come up at the station. This includes the construction of a 5-story building, which will host new facilities like a bank, a food court, cloak rooms and a VIP waiting lounge. The station will be commercially developed in the second phase of revamping. The project is expected to be completed by 2019, when the station will bear a whole new look, with a complete range of facilities and amenities, on the lines of an international airport.

The project is expected to be completed by 2019, when the station will bear a whole new look, with a complete range of facilities and amenities, on the lines of an international airport.