A new identity on global air map

Akash Ghai

Tribune News Service

Mohali, December 29

Getting connected internationally through air was the biggest achievement of Mohali this year. The people of the region had to wait for exactly one year after the inauguration of the Mohali airport by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September 2015 for the start of first international flight from the new terminus. The maiden international flight to Sharjah had taken off on September 15 this year from here. After 10 days, the air connectivity between Mohali-Dubai was established. Now, the authorities are all set to connect it with Middle-East countries in the coming year.

The international airport at the ‘Gateway of Punjab’ would not only benefit the people of the region but also the economic scenario is all set to get a boost with the development.

After witnessing delay of nearly five years, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister’s dream project, ‘Busopolis’, fully air-conditioned bus stand having facilities of escalators, lifts, top-class shops, digitalised time table of buses, at Phase VI here, finally took off on December 16. The project is being termed as the first-of-its-kind in the country. If one goes by the claims of the authorities, the premises would have multiplexes, shopping malls, five star hotel, business centres, top class office space and a helipad soon. So far, the authorities are struggling hard to streamline the things at the most advanced Baba Banda Singh Bahadur ISBT, here.

Apart from these two major developments, India’s first Punjab Kisan Vikas Chamber has started functioning here. Just six months after laying its foundation stone on April 30 this year, the construction work of the chamber was completed in a record time and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal inaugurated it on December 15. The chamber is said to be the first-of-its-kind in the country, which would help agrarian economy to stage a comeback.

Besides, other major developments in Mohali included laying of the foundation stone of full-fledged Advance Autism and Research Care Centre at Sector 79, coming up of a new District Administrative Complex at Sector 76, Automated Driving Test Track, Medical Education and Research Bhawan at Sector 69, Diagnostic and Pharmacy Centre at Kharar and beginning of flyover at Dera Bassi.

Major court cases

Amritsar Improvement Trust scam: Eight years after the registration of the Amritsar Improvement Trust land scam case against Punjab Congress Committee president Cap Amarinder Singh and 17 others, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau had filed a cancellation report before the Mohali court and sought discharge of all accused in the case. The court has set January 9 as the next date of hearing.

PSEB recruitment case: The Mohali special court again rejected the application, filed under Section 321 of the CrPC, of the prosecution, seeking withdrawal of a criminal and corruption case against Punjab Agriculture Minister Tota Singh. Tota Singh, who was the then Education Minister, and other officials in their different positions in the PSEB were accused of using illegal means in the selection of 134 clerks of the PSEB. An FIR in this regard was registered against Tota Singh and four other accused on June 14, 2002.

Pathankot terror attack case: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had filed a chargesheet in the Pathankot terror attack case against Pakistani-based terrorists at the special NIA court at the Mohali District Courts Complex. The next date of hearing has been slated as January 9.

High-profile visits: President Pranab Mukherjee visited Mohali on November 20 during the 15th convocation of Indian School of Business here.  The Mohali Airport also welcomed France President Francois Hollande and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their visit to Chandigarh in January.

New district heads

While the fag-end of the first month of this year saw replacement of Mohali Deputy Commissioner Tejinder Pal Singh Sidhu with DS Mangat, the last month saw transfer of Senior Superintendent of Police Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, who served the district as the top brass of the Mohali Police for two terms, spanning about six years in total. Kuldip Singh Chahal joined as the Mohali SSP now.  After remaining vacant for around one year, the Mohali District Planning Committee got Krishan Pal Sharma, a close associate of senior Akali leader and Dera Bassi MLA NK Sharma, as its new chairman in the last week of September. The Mohali Municipal Corporation got first full-fledged Commissioner Uma Shankar Gupta, who remained in news for his laudable works and certain controversies, involving his staff and Mohali Deputy Mayor Manjit Singh Sethi was replaced by Rajesh Dhiman on August 30.

Award

Much to the pride of local residents and officials of the Mohali Municipal Corporation, Mohali town won the Skoch Gold Swachh Bharat Award for its hi-tech mobile tracking and monitoring solution app. The GIS-based Mohali City Sweeping Monitoring System is built to track attendance, uniforms, proper equipment, safety gear and performance of field personnel in the town.