The proposal to have a Mass Rapid Transport System (MRTS) for Chandigarh and its adjoining areas moved a step closure to execution with the Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) presenting the draft Comprehensive Mobility Report (CMP) to the Chandigarh administration today.

The CMP highlights that the MRTS project, including Metro,  Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) and Commuters Rail Service (CRS) has been estimated to be Rs 15,000 crore and will take four years to materialise, said RITES officials at a meeting held under the chairmanship of Finance Secretary Sanjay Kumar.

At the meeting, RITES presented the CMP for Chandigarh Urban Complex keeping in mind the architectural and environmental considerations of the city. The plan covers aspects relating to Metro routes, BRT corridors, grade separators, railway overbridges, railway underbridge, integrated freight complex, parking facilities and cost revenue modes for the entire project. In order to provide seamless transportation connectivity to the commuters in the region, the Chandigarh administration and the states of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab have jointly initiated the process to have a MRTS.

RITES has proposed that Metro will cover a distance of 52.4 km, out of which 40.4 km will be in Chandigarh and rest 12 km in Mohali. 15.8 km on Madhya Marg (Khuda Lahora-Housing Board-Manimajra-IT Park), 10 kms on Himalaya Marg(Sector 1-Sector 17 - Sector 43-Sector 51) and 14.6 km from Sector 26 - Industrial Area - Vikas Marg - Maloya - Dadumajra will be covered by the Metro system. The alignment from Transport Nagar to Manimajra and the alignment of Sector 26 to Dadumajra have been proposed on surface whereas rests of alignments have been proposed underground.

The underground system is likely to cost around Rs 320 crores per km whereas surface alignment is likely to cost Rs 140 crore per km. There will be around 50 stations, each after approximately 1 km. To begin with, frequency for Metro has been proposed at every 10 minutes, which could be reduced to three minutes with passage of time. The BRTS and the CRS will be covering 190.5 km and 190 km, respectively. A total of 11 corridors for BRTS system were mooted by RITES.

Sanjay Kumar suggested to RITES to create a catchment area for every station of Metro so that mini AC bus services could be planned for commuters using Metro system. He also asked RITES to submit a report on locations of bus queue shelters on V-3 roads along with the pedestrian under passes. A metro system will take care of the transport needs of the tricity and go a long way to help maintain Chandigarh’s orderly appearance. Once the MRTS project comes into existence, the pressure on the roads will decrease drastically, added the finance secretary.

Integrated ticketing system would be set up for the MRTS by which people would be able to use any mode of transport under MRTS.

When asked on the financial model, Sanjay Kumar said the administration looked at the Metro project more as a social commitment to provide reasonable, good quality transport system and reducing vehicular movement on the roads.

The renovated Multi-purpose Hall, Open Air Theatre and International Doll Museum was inaugurated at Bal Bhavan, Sector 23, by UT administrator SF Rodrigues here today.

The multi-purpose hall, having a seating capacity of 300 persons, has been renovated at the cost of Rs 25 lakh, the Open theatre with a capacity of 500 persons, at the cost of Rs 20.5 lakh and the museum at an estimated expenditure of Rs 43.73 lakh.

These projects have been given a new look by adding state-of-the-art facilities to meet the requirements of the theatrical world and the changing pattern of our society.

The International Doll Museum has on display about 250 dolls from 30 countries of the world. A special corner for souvenirs of the Indian and international dolls has been created for the visitors. These souvenirs are in the form of white and black mugs, T-shirts, cushion covers, table mats, mouse pads, coasters, photo frames, key chains, badges, piggy banks, crystal pieces and miscellaneous items.

A colourful cultural programme of fusion dance, pooja dance, Rajasthani dance etc. was presented on the occasion. Home Secretary Ram Niwas welcomed the guests. Other senior officers who were present on the occasion included MP Singh, secretary to the Governor and finance secretary Sanjay Kumar.

To streamline the public transport service between Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali, the Chandigarh administration has drafted a plan to run around 1,200 AC and non-AC radio taxis and 1,500 LPG autorickshaws soon.

It has been agreed upon with Haryana and Punjab transport departments to introduce 200 AC taxis and equal number of non-AC taxis. The taxis would be white with the insignia of the open hand. The AC cab service at Rs 15 per km is already on schedule, while the non-AC service at Rs 8 per km is going to start soon.

Secretary, State Transport Authority, Vandana Disodia, said everything had been finalised and the service would be started in a day or two. As soon as they got the draft policy, permission would be given to non-AC cabs.

A decision in this regard has also been taken at a meeting attended by the State Transport Commissioner, Haryana, the Director Transport, Chandigarh, and the GM of Haryana Roadways to countersign the permits of autorickshaws.

The number of autorickshaws to be countersigned by the respective states and the UT has been fixed at 500 each. The administration also plans to introduce radio autorickshaw service, wherein dialling a four-digit number would bring eco-friendly autorickshaws, fitted with the GPS system, on your doorstep for Rs 5 per km. The Centre has given its nod for 100 AC Volvo buses and 60 non-AC buses for Chandigarh.

Meanwhile, the Chandigarh Government Transport Workers Union yesterday protested against the administration’s move of entering into an agreement with neighbouring states. Raj Kumar, general secretary of the union, said the administration had shown discrepancies while signing the agreement with the Haryana government.

“As per the agreement with Punjab, no state-owned bus would ply on the Chandigarh route beyond the ISBT-17 or ISBT-43. But Haryana buses have been allowed to ply on city routes,” he said.

Finding autos will be just a call away. The Chandigarh administration has mooted a proposal to introduce 24×7 radio auto service in the city, the first in the country. What is more - the refurbished autos will be equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) connected with GSM/CDMA/landline network and other facilities for the comfort and safety of passengers.

The eco-friendly LPG/CNG-run green colour autos with yellow topping will have an electronic display unit showing “hired” or “vacant”.

Though the fare has not been fixed as yet, sources in the transport department said it would be somewhere near Rs 5 per km. This implies that it will be the cheapest public transport available in Chandigarh after the CTU buses.

Private firms having transport background will operate these autos. The officials said that expression of interest from interested parties would be invited after the Model Code of Conduct is over. The operators will have their own control rooms, which will be in constant touch with the auto drivers.

This service will be available in three convenient ways - on call by dialling the four-digit number, by hiring them from their designated locations or by stopping them on road.

Confirming this, Home Secretary-cum-Secretary Transport Ram Niwas said the proposal would be materialised soon after the elections are over in Chandigarh.

“It will be beneficial and safe for the general public, especially women and children, as the vehicle will be driven by the designated person only. Since plans are there to have a GPS system in the vehicle, this will enable us to know the location of the vehicle. Secondly, it will help in ending the monopoly of the existing auto drivers who ask for undue fares. Thirdly, these vehicles will be available all day and night. Besides, this scheme will help us generate employment and help us switching over to LPG autos soon,” he said.

Vandana Disodia, Secretary, State Transport Authority, said that under the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, auto-rickshaws come under the category of contract carriage and their registration numbers could be reserved for these vehicles. “An operator interested to be a part of the scheme will have a minimum fleet of 10 brand new LPG/CNG auto-rickshaws. The registration will be done by the STA as per the Chandigarh motor vehicle norms,” she said.

The STA will monitor that the auto-rickshaw should comply with the stipulated conditions like the vehicle must have electronic fare meter on its front panel, besides the first-aid box and fire extinguishers. “It will be the liability of the operating firm to ensure that the drivers have valid driving licence, good behaviour and proper uniform,” she added.

Chandigarh has been adjudged among the top five performing states and union territories in the country by TB India-2008 RNTCP (Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme) status report, brought out by the Union Health Ministry. The treatment success rate of tuberculosis for the year in Chandigarh was 86 per cent. The City Beautiful was able to achieve it for the seventh consecutive year. In controlling TB, Chandigarh is now at par with Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Arunachal Pradesh.

Dr Manjit Singh Bains, director, Health and Family Welfare-cum-Mission Director, National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), UT, said the city had been achieving this distinction since January 25, 2002, the day when the tuberculosis control programme was launched here.

Dr PK Shridhar, nodal officer, National Rural Health Mission, said in 2008, 13,937 patients were examined for sputum diagnosis, out of which 1,793 were found positive and 837 new smear positive patients were put on treatment.

The other smear positive patients were either referred to other states or were treated under other categories of treatment. The new sputum positive detection rate is 84 per lakh of population in Chandigarh.

Up to December, 2008, 15,123 patients were put on treatment. In calendar year 2008, the total annual detection rate was 243 per lakh. There were only two per cent death among 2400-odd patients put on treatment in one year, two per cent failure rate and three per cent defaulter rate, the lowest in the country, said Dr Shridhar.

“The target is to reduce the death rate and the prevalence of TB patients to half by 2015 as a Millennium Development Goal (MDG),” he added.

Due to increased demand of drinking water in summers, the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation authorities prohibited watering of lawns, washing of courtyards and vehicles in the morning water supply hours from tomorrow.

According to a spokesperson of the corporation, wastage or misuse of water is also considered illegal if anybody found overflow from overhead and underground water tanks, leakage from water metre chambers, wastage of water due to non-installation of bib taps, leakage in pipeline from ferrule to water metre, leakage and overflow from desert coolers and installation and use of booster pumps direct on the water supply line authorities.

The action would be taken against consumers, if found indulging in any of these acts.

On first violation, a notice would be served to the defaulting consumers for getting the defects and faults rectified within a period of 24 hours of the issue of notice.

On detecting the violation for the second time, a fine and penalty of Rs 500 would be imposed, which would be recovered through regular water supply charges bills. Any material like booster pumps being used by the defaulter would be confiscated.

On finding the violation for the third time, the water connection would be disconnected immediately without any further notice.

Devotees throng Mata Mansa Devi temple on the first day of Navratras at Panchkula on Friday.

At least 60,000 devotees had visited the Mata Mansa Devi temple on the first day of Navaratra fair that began here today. The fair is to continue till April 3.

Though the turnout of devotees remained low till the afternoon, the number started rising sharply by the evening which surpassed the figure of the last year on same day when 55,000 pilgrims paid their obeisance.

The offerings collected at the temple, in addition to cash of Rs 5,50,000, consisted of a piece of gold and 29 pieces of silver. Last year, Rs 5,25,000 were collected as offerings on the first day of Navratras. The number of devotees is expected to rise during the coming days, said Deputy Commissioner Rajender Kataria.

However, as far as the security was concerned, the district administration had left no stone unturned. There were sufficient security personnel keeping in view the number of devotees and the administration had also made good arrangements of parking. However, lack of coordination between security agencies and the Mansa Devi board led to harassment for many.

The employees of Central Soil and Water Conservation Research Farm had to return home without attending their duties when they were not allowed to take their vehicles to their office. The farm manager, Dr RS Nain, said the staff was provided with passes by the temple management last year. However, this time they were not issued any pass despite repeated requests. On the other hand thousands of people could be seen visiting temple through special gate carrying passes bearing markings of VIP and VVIP.

According to sources, the management has distributed more than 12,000 passes to politicians, bureaucrats and mediapersons to facilitate them and their acquaintances to have ‘easy darshans’.

The pass system, despite an eyesore for many, has continued for several years. It was only a way to oblige the who’s who by the board, said Devinder Mahajan, president of the MDC Sector 4 Association. “In fact we requested the Haryana Chief Minister during his visit here to stop this practice and he promised for the same. However, nothing was done to remove the partiality among the pilgrims in the name of passes,” he said.

India Travel Mart will organise a three-day travel exhibition at Hotel Shivalik View from February 21-23. The exhibition will focus on outbound, inbound and domestic tourism.

Chandigarh Tourism (CITCO) is the state host while there will be about 55 participants from all over the world. Malaysia is the partner country and Uttarakhand is the partner state. Singapore and Jammu and Kashmir will be feature countries and states respectively.

The mart will come up with variety of special and affordable hotel, travel and tour holiday, honeymoon/beach packages and destinations. The main highlight, however, would be pilgrimage, adventure and health tourism across the world.

The Canara Bank and the State Bank of India (SBI) installed coin-dispensing machines at Sector 34 Canara Bank branch and ISBT-43, respectively, here today.

Union Minister of State for Finance Pawan Kumar Bansal, regional director, Reserve Bank of India, J. Sadakkadulla and Director, Canara Bank, Sushil Gupta were present on the occasion.

While inaugurating the machine at ISBT-43, Regional Director, RBI, Sadakkadulla said, “Basically, the machine will help the conductors and the passengers, as earlier there was a big problem to get the change.”

An official of the bank said that machine would accept currency notes of denomination of Rs 10, 50 and 100 and will deliver the coins of Re 1 and Rs 2. Sadakkadulla said that a machine was already working at ISBT-17.

The police is going to purchase a disaster management vehicle equipped with special instruments to deal with any disaster in the city. The UT administration has sanctioned a sum of Rs 17 lakh for this purpose.

It is for the first time in the region that the police is purchasing a disaster management vehicle. These vehicles are being used by the Delhi police successfully.

Giving the information, a senior police officer said within a month, the vehicle would be put in service to deal with disasters like earthquake, flood, fire, terrorist attacks and accidents.

“The money has been sanctioned by the administration and soon we will purchase the chassis of a truck. It will be added to our fleet next month,” DSP (traffic) JS Cheema, who visited Delhi to inspect the vehicle, said.

The idea was to prevent the loss of lives and minimise loss to property as it was the fastest way to undertake rescue and rehabilitation operation, the DSP said.

A traffic police official said: “The use of old methods is not practical as it is very difficult to control a situation arising out of a disaster, but the new vehicle will be of immense help.” Cheema said the vehicle would work as a crane and would be equipped with a cutter, flood lights, electric power inverter, air compressor, generator set with power extension board and a wireless public address system with loud speakers.

It would have all instruments required to deal with major disasters and would also be equipped with portable traffic signals to avoid traffic jams and variable message signs to show the sign of diversion.