Chandigarh: April 29:

Punjab Public Works Minister S. Harbhajan Singh ETO, today inspected the construction of the four-lane Railway Over Bridge (RoB) on the A-25 railway line (Kakka Kandiala railway line) in Tarn Taran and the bridge being built on the route from Sultanwind village in Sri Amritsar Sahib to Tarn Taran Sahib. These two bridges will facilitate smooth traffic flow between Sri Amritsar Sahib and Tarn Taran, freeing residents from traffic congestion issues.

The Cabinet Minister directed the companies involved in both construction projects to ensure completion by December 2025 under all circumstances.

He inspected the ongoing construction at the A-25 Kakka Kandiala railway line in Tarn Taran. He was accompanied by MLA Dr. Kashmir Singh Sohal during the inspection.

The Cabinet Minister informed that 31 percent of the overbridge construction work has been completed. He said that while the bridge was initially scheduled for completion by June 2026, prioritizing public convenience will allow completion approximately six months earlier, by December 2025, when it will be dedicated to the public. The four-lane ROB was estimated to cost approximately Rs.82.88 crore but will be completed for around Rs.70 crore, saving the government approximately Rs.13 crore.

He said that traffic congestion in the historic city of Tarn Taran has been steadily increasing and thousands of devotees visiting Sri Darbar Sahib Tarn Taran and Sri Darbar Sahib Amritsar face significant travel difficulties due to traffic problems. The four-lane ROB will provide substantial relief to commuters.

Notably, PWD Minister S. Harbhajan Singh ETO laid the foundation stone for the four-lane overbridge on the A-25 railway line (Kakka Kandiala railway line) in September 2024 to address the growing traffic issues in Tarn Taran city.

Later, the Cabinet Minister also inspected the construction of the bridge being built by the Punjab Government from Sultanwind village’s wire bridge in Sri Amritsar Sahib toward Tarn Taran Sahib to eliminate long traffic jams. Construction of this bridge was initiated in October 2024 with a completion deadline of June 2026. After reviewing the progress, he announced that this bridge construction would also be completed by December 2025 to accommodate local residents and travelers. MLA Dr. Inderbir Singh Nijjar was also present on this occasion.

The Cabinet Minister said that on Dr. Nijjar’s recommendation, the state government had approved Rs.34.20 crore for this bridge, but the department will complete it for around Rs.22.68 crore, resulting in government savings of Rs.11.52 crore. This 725-meter-long and 14-meter-wide bridge will have 5.5-meter-wide service lanes constructed on both sides and drains for water drainage and rainwater harvesting systems will be installed on both sides of the flyover, he added.

The Cabinet Minister said that the completion of this bridge will ease travel for devotees visiting Sri Darbar Sahib Amritsar, Tarn Taran Sahib, Gurdwara Baba Deep Singh Ji Shaheedan, Tahla Sahib and Baba Buddha Ji religious sites, making traffic jams a thing of the past. He said that residents of colonies along the Amritsar bypass and the historic Sultanwind will also experience significant relief from this bridge construction.

CHANDIGARH/FARIDKOT/MOGA, April 22:

          In order to develop robust police infrastructure as per the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav on Tuesday inaugurated slew of developments projects in Faridkot and Moga during his visit to both the districts to review the ongoing ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ anti-drugs campaign.

          The DGP has inaugurated three projects in Faridkot including state-of-the-art Cyber Crime Police Station, a Conference Hall equipped with hi-tech gadgets and a Briefing hall with seating capacity of 250 persons, while, a futuristic Smart Police Control Room has been inaugurated in Moga district. The DGP was accompanied by Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Faridkot Range Ashwani Kapur.

          DGP Gaurav Yadav, while interacting with the media in Faridkot, said that the Cyber Crime Police Station— equipped with advanced digital forensic tools, has been established to address online financial fraud, identity theft, and cyberbullying. The Faridkot Police has already returned 260 lost mobile phones to owners and reimbursed Rs 90 lakhs to cyber fraud victims, he added.

          Appreciating the extra ordinary efforts of the Faridkot Police in making Yudh Nashian Virudh campaign a huge success, the DGP said that Faridkot Police with the support and cooperation of the public has developed a meticulous follow-up system and have arrested over 300 drug peddlers since the launch of the special drive on March 1, 2025. Faridkot is the top district which has registered maximum first information reports (FIRs) following the tips on the Punjab Government’s Safe Punjab Anti-Drug Helpline ‘9779100200’.

          He also joined the ‘Bada Khana’ lunch organised by the Faridkot Police, which provided an opportunity to officers of all ranks to interact with the Head of the Police Force and exchange ideas, thereby strengthening the bond that is essential for effective teamwork in the field.

          Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Farikot Dr Pragya Jain apprised the DGP that under the ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ campaign, Faridkot Police has arrested over 300 drug peddlers after registration of 150 FIRs and recovered 4.7 kg heroin, 3Kg opium, 130 kg poppy husk, Rs 3.83 lakh drug money. Property worth more than Rs 5 crores have been freezed under 68F NDPS giving a considerable blow to drug network in District Faridkot, she added.

          The DGP has also engaged with citizens of Faridkot during a public outreach under “Yudh Nashian Virudh” and solicited their support in fight against drugs.

          In Moga, DGP Gaurav Yadav, while inaugurating the Smart Police Control Room, said that this facility is equipped with cutting edge surveillance systems and advanced monitoring technologies which will enhance crime prevention, monitor suspicious activities, and aid in tracing criminal elements effectively.

          He said that Moga Police has installed 140 surveillance cameras— including 107 Bullet cameras and 33 Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras—in Moga City, Baghapurana, and Dharamkot. These are AI-enabled cameras, which will also monitor inter-district checkpoints, he said.

          He also announced to install additional 100 CCTV cameras across Nihal Singh Wala, Baghapurana, and Dharamkot sub-divisions.

          The DGP has also interacted with the police officers posted as SHOs and DSPs/SPs in district Moga and reviewed the progress on the Punjab Government’s ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ by taking their suggestions for improvements in enforcement and prevention strategies.

          SSP Moga Ajay Gandhi, while thanking the DGP for announcing the installation of 100 more CCTV cameras in the district, said that these cameras will be installed with focus on drug hotspots and inter-district roads to prevent the street crime and keep vigil around drug smugglers.

          Sharing outcomes of Yudh Nashian Virudh campaign, the SSP said that Moga police has arrested 282 drug peddlers after registering 171 FIRs and recovered 6.2 kg heroin, 148 kg poppy husk, 12 lakh intoxicant pills and Rs 3.11 lakh drug money from their possession.

          Meanwhile, the DGP also honoured high-performing officials and personnel of Faridkot and Moga Police with DGP Commendation Discs and appreciation letters to encourage and motivate them to perform their duties more effectively.

Chandigarh, April 15 :

In a significant move to bolster Punjab’s power transmission infrastructure, Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO announced the successful execution of extensive upgrades to the 66KV substation transmission network by Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) during the fourth quarter of FY 2024-25.

Reaffirming the state government’s commitment to delivering reliable electricity to every household and industry, the Minister highlighted that PSPCL has undertaken substantial infrastructure enhancements, including the augmentation and addition of Power Transformers, new 66KV substations, and expansion of high-voltage lines.

“Punjab is on a mission to provide uninterrupted and quality power supply to its people, and these upgrades are a major step in that direction,” said Harbhajan Singh ETO. “Our government under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann is dedicated to strengthening the power backbone of the state to support development and economic growth.”

During FY 2024-25, PSPCL commissioned 5 new 66KV grid substations and augmented 101 Power Transformers at an approximate cost of Rs.250 crore. Additionally, around 200 circuit kilometers of 66KV transmission lines were erected or upgraded with an investment of Rs.160 crore.

Specifically, in the fourth quarter (January to March 2025), 37 Power Transformers with a total capacity of 354 MVA were  newly installed or augmented across various districts, with a project cost of approximately Rs.82 crore. These works have improved electricity infrastructure in key areas such as Ludhiana, Bathinda, Jalandhar, Gurdaspur, Barnala, and Sangrur, ensuring better load management and power reliability.

Ludhiana, being a vital industrial hub  of Punjab, received a major boost through the augmentation of power transformers at several key substations including Rajguru Nagar, Alamgir, Dugri, Kanganwal, and Chandigarh Road. These upgrades, totaling over Rs.14 crore in investment, are expected to significantly enhance electricity supply in urban estates, industrial zones, and high-demand residential sectors such as BRS Nagar, Pakhowal Road, and Ferozepur Road. The strengthened infrastructure will support Ludhiana’s economic growth and uninterrupted power supply in peak seasons.

Power Minister Singh emphasize that such proactive developments not only further improve day-to-day power supply but also create a robust system capable of handling future demand surge .

“PSPCL’s efforts reflect our vision of a ‘Power Surplus Punjab,’ where industries thrive, and citizens are empowered with uninterrupted electricity,” he added.

Power Minister said the government plans to continue investing in infrastructure to modernize the state’s power systems, reduce transmission losses, and provide world-class service to its consumers.

Chandigarh April 13:

Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan extended millions of greetings to the people of Punjab on the holy festival of Khalsa Panth Sajna Diwas and Baisakhi. He  prayed to God to shower His choicest blessings on the people of Punjab and also wished for their happiness, prosperity, peace and spirit of service. He added that nature be kind to the farmers during the harvesting of Rabi crop.

Chandigarh/Lehragaga, April 13:

Punjab Cabinet Minister Sh. Brindar Kumar Goyal today honoured outstanding students who excelled in speech and writing competitions organized to commemorate the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution.

Presiding as the chief guest at the commemorative event held in village Rajalehri of Lehragaga constituency, Sh. Goyal exhorted the students to draw inspiration from Dr. Ambedkar’s remarkable life journey and achievements. The competitions, organized by the Sri Guru Ravidas Committee in collaboration with the Gram Panchayat, saw enthusiastic participation from local school students.

While addressing the gathering, the Cabinet Minister stressed on the continuous self-improvement in today’s competitive environment. “To excel in the contemporary competitive era, one must constantly refine and enhance one’s talents,” the Minister Goyal exhorted students, adding that The foundation for future accomplishments is laid during childhood through dedicated effort. Participating in such competitions helps identify areas for improvement and fosters commitment to personal growth, he added.

The Cabinet Minister urged students to emulate Dr. Ambedkar, who rose from poverty to establish his distinct identity worldwide through his hard work, dedication and honesty.

He also vehemently condemned Gurpatwant Pannu for his derogatory remarks against Dr. Ambedkar, terming such behaviour as cowardly and reprehensible.

He commended the Sri Guru Ravidas Committee and the Gram Panchayat for organizing such event and presented commemorative mementos to the top three performers in the competitions. Following the ceremony, the Minister also inspected the ongoing construction of a new stadium in the village.

Prominent amongst others who were present on this occasion included Sri Guru Ravidas Committee President Manjit Singh, PA Rakesh Kumar Gupta, members Lakhbir Singh, Lakhwinder Singh, Jaswinder Singh, Birwal Singh, Rajveer Singh, Manpreet Singh, Block Presidents Karmjit Singh and Chamkaur Singh, Manga Singh.

Chandigarh/Gurdaspur, April 13:

          Taking immediate action in a violence took place at District Hospital Babbri (Gurdaspur) last night, a first information reports (FIR) has been registered against both the parties. Deputy Commissioner Gurdaspur Mr. Dalwinderjit Singh, IAS, SSP Gurdaspur Mr. Aditya, IPS and Civil Surgeon Dr. Prabhjot Kaur Kalsi visited the District Hospital today and took stock of the entire situation.

Taking strict notice of this incident, Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh said that the hospital is a peaceful place and any kind of violence, clashes, quarrels or vandalism will not be tolerated in the premises of the hospital under any circumstances. He said that violence against any medical personnel and damage to hospital property is a non-bailable offence and any violation of hospital protocol will not be tolerated at any cost. He has directed the district administration to take strict legal action against the culprits.

Meanwhile, talking to reporters at District Hospital Gurdaspur, Deputy Commissioner Mr. Dalwinderjit Singh said that the persons who clashed at District Hospital Gurdaspur will not be spared and a case has been registered against all the culprits. He said that the administration will make the culprits pay 10 times for all the damage caused to the hospital. On this occasion, he took all the information about the incident from the doctors and health staff of the hospital and assured to ensure the security of the hospital.

On this occasion, SSP Gurdaspur Mr. Aditya said that all the accused involved in clash at the hospital have been identified and a case has been registered against the accused persons under the relevant sections of Punjab Protection Of Medicare Service Persons And Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention Of Violence And Damage To Property) Act. He said that this dispute took place between two parties and no doctor or staff was harmed during the clash. He said that provisions were also made regarding the damage caused to the hospital during the dispute. He said that all the accused will be arrested soon. He said that no one will be allowed to create ruckus in the hospitals.

Civil Surgeon Dr. Prabhjot Kaur Kalsi said that this incident happened last night when one party in the dispute had reached the District Hospital Babbri (Gurdaspur) for treatment when in the meantime, people from the other party came to the hospital and started an arguing, which resulted in a clash between both the parties.

Chandigarh, April 13:

Giving a big relief to the Punjabis, Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led government has approved a One-Time Relaxation (OTR) policy regarding non-construction fees and outstanding allotment amounts for allottees of the state’s Improvement Trusts. This decision will provide substantial relief to allottees and waive the interest charged.

Divulging further, Punjab Local Government Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh said that keeping the public interest in mind, the Mann government has approved the OTR policy for outstanding amounts from allottees of residential and commercial properties under Improvement Trusts, which will give people an opportunity to deposit their outstanding property payments.

The Cabinet Minister said, as per certain conditions of One-Time Relaxation, which must be followed, allottees who have received allotment letters less than 15 years ago or more than 15 years ago will receive a 50 percent discount on the total non-construction fee (principal amount plus interest). Similarly, for those whose allotment period exceeds 15 years, the non-construction fee will be fixed at 5 percent of the reserve rate.

Dr. Ravjot Singh informed that this policy will provide an additional 25 percent discount on non-construction fees for senior citizens, women and legal heirs of armed or paramilitary forces personnel killed in any action, over and above the existing exemptions.

The Local Government Minister said that the OTR policy will also apply to regularize properties allotted by Improvement Trusts, after depositing outstanding amounts as per the allotment letter. He clarified that this exemption will only apply to cases where the allottee has deposited one-fourth of the bid amount after allotment of the respective property.

The Cabinet Minister further said that under this policy, allottees can regularize their property by paying the applicable simple interest rate on the outstanding amount as per rules issued from time to time and restoration charges at 2.5% of the reserve rate for 2025-26. He mentioned that this policy provides complete exemption from penal interest.

Dr. Ravjot Singh informed that to avail benefits under this policy, allottees must ensure they send their request to the concerned Improvement Trust manually or via email by July 31, 2025 and are obligated to deposit the outstanding amount at the concerned Improvement Trust by December 31, 2025.

The Local Government Minister further said that implementation of this policy will not only improve the financial condition of Improvement Trusts through collection of outstanding amounts but will also eliminate public complaints and unwanted litigation.

Chandigarh, April 9:

 Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday called upon the newly promoted officers of Punjab Police Service (PPS) to work diligently and with full honesty for wiping out the curse of drugs from the state.

Welcoming the 17 newly promoted Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) from Technical cadre, the Chief Minister said that Punjab is fighting nation’s war against drugs and Police is playing an important role in it. He said that in wake of this the Police officers have a huge role to play in making Punjab a drug free state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is the need of hour to save our coming generations from the scourge of drugs.

The Chief Minister said that state government is equipping the Punjab Police with best infrastructural facilities and modernizing it on scientific lines to enable it for tackling the law and order situation effectively. He said that being a border state a number of forces inimical to state have been chalking out nefarious designs to disturb hard earned peace of state and to overcome major challenges faced by the state it is imperative that the Police force is updated as per advanced requirements in the field of investigation, science and technology. Bhagwant Singh Mann expressed hope that the newly promoted officers Punjab Police will uphold the glorious legacy of serving the people with utmost professional commitment.

The Chief Minister also exhorted them to put in their best efforts in work while asking them to understand the problems being faced by people at grassroots level and work devotedly to resolve them. He expressed hoped that the newly promoted officers will use their post for helping the needy and underprivileged sections of society. Bhagwant Singh Mann exhorted the officers ensure maximum welfare of the public so that every section of society is benefited from it.

Chandigarh/Dirba/Sangrur, April 9

As a significant step in the Punjab Sikhya Kranti, Punjab Finance, Taxation, Excise, and Planning Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Wednesday inaugurated development projects totaling approximately Rs. 1 crore 9 lakh in three government schools within the Vidhan Sabha constituency of Dirba. The inauguration ceremony marked the commencement of infrastructure enhancements amounting to Rs. 31 lakh at Government High School Rogla, Rs. 28.50 lakh at Government Senior Secondary School Lad Banjara Kalan, and Rs. 50 lakh at Government Senior Secondary School Kauhrian.

Speaking at the events, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the Punjab Government under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, continues to demonstrate its unwavering commitment to modernizing education and elevating the standards of government schools. He said that the Aam Aadmi Party government since its formation in 2022 undertaken a number of transformative efforts to uplift the level of education in the state, and the state is advancing towards becoming frontrunner in education through these transformative initiatives.

Lashing at the SAD-BJP and Congress led previous state governments for neglecting the education sector, Finance Minister said that it leads to the proliferation of private schools and making quality education unaffordable for many. “In contrast, the current government has prioritized grassroots reforms resulting in significant improvements in school infrastructure and teacher training”, said Cabinet Minister Harpal Singh Cheema while adding that the teachers from state government schools have received advanced training at prestigious institutions such as IIT Ahmedabad, as well as in Singapore and Finland, to enhance their teaching methodologies.

The Finance Minister proudly shared that approximately 200 students from government schools have successfully cleared the prestigious JEE Mains examination, a testament to the constructive environment fostered by the Government. He further added that over the past three years, services of 20,000 teachers have been regularised, with their salaries increased from a modest Rs. 6,000 to Rs. 28,000, reflecting the government’s commitment to improving the welfare of educators.

Finance Minister Cheema encouraged students to pursue higher education with determination and hard work, emphasizing that education is the key to achieving great heights in life. He also urged parents and teachers to nurture children’s skills continuously, assuring them that consistent efforts and encouragement would lead to success.

Meanwhile, mentioning the efforts being made under ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ campaign, the Finance Minister appealed to the public to support efforts to eradicate drug trafficking and ensure a drug-free state. He also highlighted the wave of development sweeping across Punjab, with enhanced facilities being provided in villages and cities, including the Dirba constituency.