The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Historic city awaits bus stand
Passengers sweat it out to catch bus
Gurdeep Singh Mann
Tribune News Service

ALL HUFFED A view of dilapidated stop at Bassi Pathana. Photo by writer

Fatehgarh Sahib, May 21
Though Punjab government claims to construct bus stands across the state with all basic facilities for passengers, historic city Sirhind is still to get a proper bus stand. Passengers waiting for buses could be seen standing in open areas amidst scorching heat, biting cold or rainy season in Bassi Pathana, Khamano, Amloh and Sanghol.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal recently held several sangat darshan programmes in the city wherein he announced to distribute grants worth crores, but it seems that not even a single penny is being spent on bus stands or to improve the condition of bus shelters.

Though steel town Mandi Gobindgarh has a “Modern Bus Stand”, but most passengers rued that they had to wait for their respective buses at the G T road, as not all buses enter the bus stand.

A bus stand on the Ludhiana-Chandigarh road, though fetches around Rs 15 lakh every year as bus parking fee contract, passengers still have to wait under temporary sheds without having any provision of drinking water. More than 10 lakh persons visit Fatehgarh Sahib during the Jor Mela, wherein they pay obeisance to younger Sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh and several devotees have to wait for their buses at the roadside.

Situation of Sirhind bus stand, too, portrays a neglected picture, wherein there is no facility of drinking water and toilets. Women and children remain at the receiving end at the bus stand due to liquor vends and open drinking places adjoining the bus stand.

General secretary of the Hindu Organisation Manoj Kumar Banda said neither the SAD-BJP nor the Congress had ever initiated any steps to provide bus stands.

38-year-old woman, kids missing since May 15
Our Correspondent

Dera Bassi, May 21
A 38-year-old woman has been missing from a nearby Daffarpur village for the past one week. The police has started investigating the matter after registering a case on the statement of missing woman’s husband.

Veer Singh (70), husband of the missing woman, who runs his clinic at Dhakouli village near Zirakpur, said his wife Roopa Devi, who hails from Calcutta, was found missing on May 15. He said he was busy in his clinic on the day of the incident and returned home to see his wife missing, two sons and one daughter were also not at home. He further told the police that his two wives died earlier. The police suspects age difference could be the reason behind the incident. However, investigations are on.

SEEN THEM? Missing woman, including her children, who went missing from Dera Bassi on May 15.
A Tribune photograph

SPORTS

Patiala pocket ML Markan Trophy

Mohali, May 21
Fine batting performance by Mandeep Inder Singh (109) and Sanbir Singh (88) helped Patiala to once again upstage Chandigarh and retained the U-16 ML Markan Trophy by virtue of first innings lead of 75 runs.

In view of the overnight heavy rain that lashed the region, the match started 1 hour and 40 minutes late. Patiala with overnight total of 218 runs for two lost Karan Pathak for six with the team’s total reading 230 for three. Then Sahil Gupta and Tanish Gill put on 45 runs for the fourth wicket before Sahil was caught by Arvind Chauhan of Shubham Chand for 31. Tanish was then joined by Sagar Kumar and the duo took the total to 335 adding 60 runs for the fifth wicket before Tanish was stumped by wicketkeeper Arjit Pannu off the bowling of Shubham Chand for 28.

In the process, Patiala got past Chandigarh first innings total off 329, including five runs penalty imposed on Patiala batsman for running on the wicket. Sagar Kumar and Anmol Malhotra put on 42 runs for the seventh wicket before Anmol Malhotra was caught by Bhambri of the bowling of Bhagminder Singh for 34. Sagar remained unbeaten on 74. — TNS