The new financial year (FY) 2024-25 has already begun, and It’s the time for every business, corporate sectors, government institutes, offices to update their rules, regulations and policies. This annual updating of policies is necessary to keep a check on revenues, liabilities, budgets, investments etc. Thus, the Government also came up with the new Excise Policy in Chandigarh for 2024-25. Not only this, the government also revised the policies and set up new budgets for Income Tax, Insurance, Banking, Water & Electricity, Transportation etc. To generate maximum revenue, overcome the losses and meet the required targets, change in policies is must.

Rundown to new Excise Policy in Chandigarh

The government has laid new Excise Policy in Chandigarh which came in effect from 1^st April 2024. The Excise and Taxation Department of Chandigarh has conducted a meeting under the chairmanship of Excise-Taxation Commissioner- Vinay Pratap Singh and Excise Collector cum Additional Excise and Taxation Commissioner- Harshuhinder Pal Singh. The instructions regarding the implementation of new Excise Policy in Chandigarh and sell the unsold liquor vends were discussed in the meeting.

With regards to the new Excise Policy in Chandigarh, there is no change in the rates of liquor in the shops and drinks will remain the same this year also. No increase in prices will be seen in Chandigarh under new financial year. The rates of hard drinks and beer will remain same this year also, which were previously there in the last financial year 2023-2024. A total of 97 contracts were to be opened for this financial year. But under new Excise Policy in Chandigarh only 60 liquor contracts will be opened, for the rest the auction process is yet to be done and financial bids will open after the clarification by the Election Commission.

For Restaurants, Clubs, Hotels and Bars

However, there may be an increase in prices at hotels, clubs and bars. A slight increase in the rates of liquor served to consumers in the city’s restaurants, clubs, and hotels instead of liquor vends can be seen. This is because the administration had increased some bar fees in this excise policy.

• The fee for A category i.e. with 100 rooms in the hotel was increased from Rs 18 lakh to Rs 20 lakh.
• The fee for B category, the bar license fee was increased from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 17 lakh.
• The fee for C category is increased from Rs 12 to 15 lakh.
• The fee for D category which includes restaurants, clubs and hotels and having 25 rooms, is increased from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 12 lakh.

Therefore, due to an increase in the fees, there will be a slight difference in the price of liquor in restaurants and bars in this new financial year.

Online Registration Portal

The Excise and Taxation Department has included a provision of registration through online portal in new Excise Policy in Chandigarh. Through online system, licensees can renew the liquor brands/labels that were already approved last year in a simpler process. The licensees can submit the documents and fees along with an undertaking that there is no change in bottle brand, label, colour, size, FSSAI licence number etc. The approval will be issued immediately through an auto-mode after the required payment of fees is done.

This will promote an ease in doing business by reducing paperwork and physical visits. This will make the process faster and more convenient.

Liquor Vends find No Takers

Chandigarh Administration is unable to find buyers for the liquor vends. Despite 2 rounds of auction in March, Excise and Taxation Department has been able to allot only 60 vends out of total 97 under new Excise Policy in Chandigarh. (51 vends sold in first auction and 9 vends sold in second auction). In the third auction, bids had come for 6 contracts but due to lack of clarification from the Election Department, their financial bids could not be opened, and allotment could not be done.

The reason behind the unsold vends is high VAT and Excise Duty. Chandigarh levies a 12.5% VAT on ex-distillery price (EDP) and pays ₹450 to ₹3,500 per liquor case as excise duty. Whereas in Punjab, only 1% of Excise Duty and VAT is imposed.

Under the new Excise Policy in Chandigarh 2024-25, Excise Act, 1914 & the rules framed by department and MCC guidelines of ECI, the stakeholders are given a clear and strict directions to adhere to these guidelines. In case of any violation, stakeholder must face consequences of the actions taken.

Wrapping Thoughts

As per the new Excise Policy in Chandigarh, it is a positive news for the city people that there is no increase in prices of liquor. Additionally, the process of registration has also became easy through online portal. But due to high VAT and Duty, the vends remain unsold till yet. The Administration is looking forward to sell the vends and achieve the target of 97 of financial year 2024-25.

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Toh aapki mushkilo ka solution ho skta hai yeh metro…”

Chandigarh, the union territory of India is known for beautiful architecture and well-planned roads. The only thing that needs a major change is the traffic system.

Is Chandigarh Metro Rail the answer to Tri-City’s traffic woes?

Five years after the Union Home Ministry rejected the proposed project in Chandigarh, RITES has come forward with a recommendation to move forward with the new project.RITES has been asked to suggest the best public transport option for Tricity in march for a comprehensive mobility plan UT Administration.

Proposed Plan for Chandigarh Metro Rail 2009

In 2009 first metro rail was proposed for Chandigarh and a detailed report was prepared in 2012 with a budget of 1.5 crores. The initial metro track was 37km for Chandigarh, 7.8km for Mohali, and 6.41 for Panchkula was proposed. In 2013, the first phase was to begin but was interrupted by Kiron Kher(MP). She stated that the project is viable for a small city like Chandigarh. In 2017 the project was finally rejected by the home ministry. In August 2021 plans were made by MRTS with the UT Administration to go for new mobility plans.

Chandigarh Metro Rail Project Revs Up

This is the second time RITES has been requested for the Chandigarh metro rail proposal, having been denied in 2009.

The proposal submitted to UT Administration by RITES suggested that a total of 64 km of Metro network will serve the demand of major directions of traveling in Tricity. According to Public Sector Undertakings, the Chandigarh metro rail project will be implemented in two phases.

In the first phase, there will be three passages in Chandigarh with a total length of 44.8 km. In this 16km of metro rail will be underground and the remaining km shall remain elevated.

Sarangpur and IT Park with places like Khuda Lahora, Panjab University, Sectors 7, 8, 26, and Housing Board Chowk will be covered during the first phase of passage. 7.3 km would be underground, the remaining 10.5 km would be elevated.

The second passage will be 10km in length which will cover sectors 1,17 and will stop at sector 51. 8.7km will be underground and the remaining will be elevated.

IT Park, Sector 26, and sector 38 of Dadu Majra will be covered during the third proposed passage. 17km of the track will be elevated.

During the second phase, 13 km of the metro rail to be extended to Mohali and 6.5 km to Panchkula. It is said that the metros of these two cities will be elevated.

In Mohali, sectors 52,62 will be covered. For Panchkula Dhillon Cinema Chowk and will stop at Sector 21.

PSU survey stated that attention should be paid towards secure, reliable connectivity for the people residing in Chandigarh for the year 2041. Additionally, the survey layed emphasis on the low-carbon mobility plan and the focus on the current transport system and upcoming demands for public transport.

A survey was conducted by RITES which stated that 88% of the people will still go in their private vehicles if Chandigarh metro rail was available.

Also read: Chandigarh Air Quality Poses for Health Problems

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According to this rule, parking will be allowed on one side of the street on the even calendar day and on the other side to the odd calendar days. The policy will be tabled before UT adviser Parimal Rai and then sent to the UT administrator for approval.

What Is Included In The Alternate Side Parking:

The number of vehicles is rising in Chandigarh and there is no sufficient parking space in the city for vehicles because of this residents are parking on both sides of internal roads and this is causing chaos. This is the reason the Administration has come up with the idea of Alternate Side Parking to improve the public Transport.  As per the proposal, odd-even parking restrictions will be imposed on wide roads within sectors. However, there will be a complete ban on narrow roads. There are some things about the Alternate Side Parking:

• On even calendar days, parking will be allowed on one side of the street, and on odd calendar days, on the other.
• After the enforcement residents will be able to park their cars only on the designated side of the street.
• Also, signage will be put on the streets informing about the restrictions.
• Police will also help in the proper implementation of the new plan.
• People who will try to violate the rule, they will have to pay Challan.

For the past few years, CTU has been making efforts to better public transportation and then came up with the idea of one-side parking. According to them, this will help to clear the other side of the road, thus enabling free movement of vehicles and pedestrians. CTU is also planning a fleet of e-rickshaws to drop commuters to their doorsteps. This is the right step but its effective enforcement should be there. Hope, Odd-even parking will help to control chaos on inner roads of sectors.

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But Mr. Prince believes in to keep the environment clean from any type of pollution he refused it. But Now he has an E-Bike with the help of this he will save birds in future.

What Motivated Him To Start This Service 

Mehra, a signboard painter, started the ambulance service to provide medical care to injured birds and also to dispose of carcasses of birds found dead on the roadside in 2011. He receives motivation to start this service from the incident that happened in Ferozpur. He says in 2011, during a visit to Ferozpur, he saw a sweeper throwing the carcasses of two pigeons, which had died due to a short circuit,  into the dustbin. He took out both carcasses and buried these in a nearby pit. After this incident, he decided to start this campaign in the City Beautiful to ask residents to be more sensitive to birds. To popularize his mission, he moves around the city on his modified bicycle, which has a hand-made medicine box and his contact number on it. Now he got e-bike and now he will provide his services in this.

How He Provide Treatment To Birds:

According to Prince till now he has disposed around carcasses of 552 birds in the city and also treated many birds. He said last year he got a job in animal husbandry department because of Chandigarh Administration and this is very helpful for him to serve birds. He added that if birds are not seriously injured then he treat them in his home otherwise he provide them treatment in Department hospital. He also distributes earthen pots to the residents and requests them to fill them with water every day for birds. Now residents also inform him about injured bird. However, this bird lover does not solely depend on these calls, but himself moves around the city on his bicycle to find out if any bird is lying injured on the road so that he can provide medication.

He Got Felicitated For His Good Work:

For his good work, he has got his name in Limca Book of Records, India Book Of Records, Unique Book Of Records, and also Chandigarh Administration has given him state award. We will give him all the best for his work in future and also salute him because he is helping those creatures who can not express their pain.

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First time ever, Municipal Corporation Chandigarh has planned to organise a helicopter ride at Rose Festival for the people of city beautiful.

Helicopter Ride at Rose Festival Chandigarh

People will get an opportunity of sitting in a Chopper/Helicopter for a ride, for sight-seeing of entire Chandigarh, an overview of Shivalik Hills and will also be able to see Shimla & Solan.

Ticket Price: The ride for sight-seeing in a chopper will cost 3000 per person. The Chopper Company will also provide a Lunch/Dinner in an elite hotel.

The Nagar Nigam has also taken Expression of interest call. Anil Raj the owner of a Bangalore-based firm Green Hawk Private Limited also met the Commissioner of Nagar Nigam. By 24 January the applications regarding the flying and everything will be done.

Seat booking: People can apply for availing this ride from 25^Th January onwards. Chandigarhians be ready to be on this ride. This is the first time ever that this kind of a facility is being provided at Rose Festival. Do not miss this chance and book your seats from 25^th January onwards.

Updates: Now you can also purchase tickets on the spot at the event.

#Rosefestival #Chopperride #Chandigarh #LavishLunch #HelicopterRide

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