Latest news with #EngineeringDepartment
Daily Express
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Express
City Hall acts on Tanjung Aru road lighting
Published on: Thursday, August 07, 2025 Published on: Thu, Aug 07, 2025 By: Sidney Skinner Text Size: Senior City Hall officers met with the developer's staff at the construction site on Jalan Aru. City Hall will step up efforts to ensure that the road in front of some Tanjung Aru condominiums is properly lit after dark, for the benefit of the many members of the public, including international visitiors, who gather on the First and Second Beach to enjoy the view and watch the sunset. This action follows feedback from a Luyang motorist about the lack of maintenance carried out on the streetlights along the stretch. Advertisement He noticed that many of these amenities were inoperative and was of the opinion that the lack of illumination was hazardous to pedestrians using the pavement on the road shoulder at night. The driver claimed to have witnessed a woman falling into the drain beside the verge while using the stretch on a recent evening. Thankfully, some men, who were going on foot, came to her rescue, according to him. The individual provided Hotline with the pertinent details regarding his grievance, which were forwarded to the agency. A spokesman for City Hall's Engineering Department said an inspection was made of Jalan Aru on the same day that it learned about the breakdown of the lights. Advertisement 'A problem with one of our cables on the side of the road was found to have caused the outage,' he said. 'A third party contractor clearing some land here had inadvertently damaged this power line.' Between nine to 10 of the agency's lights, between the Waikiki Condominium and the Kinabalu Yacht Club, were rendered out of order, according to him. He said the contractor was involved with a development coming up along the stretch. 'A discussion was held at the site between the Department's senior officers and the developer's staff at the site later that same morning. 'Our officers even had a look at the architectural plan for the building which was due to be constructed.' He said the company's personnel were asked to be more mindful of the presence of the streetlight fixtures along Jalan Aru to prevent more cables and connections from being impacted by the construction work. 'The contractor's workers immediately set about repairing the damaged cable. 'A second check was carried out later that evening, during which time it was confirmed that the affected streetlights were back in order.' The spokesman urged contractors carrying out major development projects within City Hall's rating area to give the agency advance notice of their activities. 'This will go a long way to minimise any problems related to our assets, including the streetlights, which may inadvertently be caused by such work.' * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Time of India
20-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
City's iconic furniture market demolished
1 2 3 4 Chandigarh: Despite earnest but futile efforts by shopkeepers in the furniture market, bulldozers rolled in early on Sunday morning, flattening the four decade old market. As a few shopkeepers frantically tried to remove the remaining stock and others cried, a large police force stood guard at the market on the road dividing sectors 53 and 54. The Chandigarh administration has pegged the market value of the land, which spans around 10 to 12 acres, at Rs 400 crore. This time, the administration made a determined push to free the prime land from the traders they have repeatedly described as encroachers. A total of 116 shops were demolished during the drive, which lasted about four hours. No untoward incidents were reported as the market, which was established in 1986, was razed. To prevent protests, the Chandigarh administration deployed around 1,000 police officers and sealed roads leading to the demolition area. Personnel from the MC, civil defence, fire and emergency services, and enforcement department were also present. The demolition drive was scheduled to start at 7am but the staff involved turned up earlier. In the wake of fervent appeals by shopkeepers struggling to remove heavy furniture from their shops, they were given two more hours to do so. In the absence of resources like godowns or alternative sites, desperate shopkeepers resorted to distress sale of furniture at throwaway prices, offering 50% to 60% discounts. Deputy commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav, SSP Kanwardeep Kaur, along with other administrative and police officials, also visited the furniture market to assess the demolition drive and the situation on the ground. When the dust settled towards the evening, the Chandigarh administration said that it was committed to planned and sustainable urban development, with public interest as its guiding priority. "The administration has successfully reclaimed approximately 10 to 12 acres of land in Sectors 53–54, previously under illegal occupation by the furniture market. The reclaimed land, acquired for the third phase of Chandigarh's urban expansion, has now been handed over to the Engineering Department for its planned development. Valued at approximately Rs 400 crore, the land holds significant importance for the city's growth and future infrastructure projects," an official release from the Chandigarh administration reads. Referring to the compensation given to original landowners at the time of land acquisition years ago, the administration stated, "The original landowners have been duly compensated in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, ensuring a fair and transparent acquisition process. It is the Chandigarh administration's firm stance against illegal encroachments. All unauthorized occupations of public land will be dealt with strictly, and appropriate measures will continue to be taken to prevent such violations in the future. " Meanwhile, shopkeepers at the furniture market maintain that they never encroached on the land. According to them, they had been paying rent to the original landowners much before the administration acquired the land. They had agreed to be relocated and were trying to buy time so that they could gather resources for auction and to pay off loans. **Box: Greater good: DC Chandigarh deputy commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav said, "I urge all the citizens of the city to uphold the city's planned character and to refrain from unauthorized occupation of public land. Such initiatives are essential for Chandigarh's holistic development and to ensure that public resources are utilised for the greater good of all residents." Box: Betrayed, lied to: Traders assn Talking to TOI, Sanjiv Bhandari, president, Furniture Market Association, said, "Chandigarh administration has acted atrociously by removing us before rehabilitating us. We are not encroachers and have been here since 1986. The Chandigarh administration itself conducted surveys six times. We were ready to make payment, but the administration did not listen to us." Maintaining that the furniture market was the oldest in the city and the shopkeepers had been paying taxes diligently, he said that the market provided employment and income to over 5,000 people. Accusing the administration of reneging on its promise and organising the drive in a way that they would not been able to get a court reprieve, Bhandari said, "Our matter is still pending with the High Court, and the date is scheduled for Tuesday, and they demolished the market today (Sunday). We supported the administration each and every time, but they did not listen to us. They promised us to first give the land and then remove us from here, which they did not do. " Highlights of the drive —116 shops demolished in a 4-hour operation on Sunday morning. —Market was located between Sectors 53 and 54, established in 1986. —10–12 acres of prime land reclaimed, valued at Rs 400 crore Security & Execution —1,000 police personnel deployed to prevent protests —Roads leading to the market were sealed —Officials from MC, civil defence, fire services, and enforcement were present —Shopkeepers were given 2 extra hours to remove furniture. Impact on Traders —Traders resorted to distress sales with 50–60% discounts —No alternative sites or godowns provided. —Market supported over 5,000 livelihoods. —Traders claim they were paying rent and were willing to relocate, but were denied time and support. Administration's Stand —Land handed over to Engineering Department for urban development. —Original landowners were compensated as per law —Administration reiterated its stance against illegal encroachments (Photos by Pritam Thakur) MSID:: 122798777 413 |
Indian Express
15-07-2025
- Indian Express
Chandigarh has 1,131 road stretches — 637 don't match with their signboards: Report
Of the 1,131 road stretches in Chandigarh, 637 have not matched with their dedicated signboards, a survey report said during the District Road Safety Committee meeting on Tuesday. According to the report, apart from the 637 road stretches having mismatched signboards, 178 had no signage at all and 175 lacked boards specifically for two-wheelers. The meeting of the District Road Safety Committee held under the chairmanship of Chandigarh Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav, and was attended by the SSP (Traffic & Security), SDMs, representatives from the Department of Health Services (DHS), Engineering Department, Office of the Chief Architect, the Excise Department, and officers of the Municipal Corporation. In the meeting, it was apprised that a review was conducted regarding the Speed Limit Mapping Project by Lepton Software in partnership with Google Maps, aimed at displaying accurate official speed limits across Chandigarh roads on digital navigation platforms. During the data verification exercise conducted as part of the project, it was observed that several discrepancies exist between the officially notified speed limits and the speed signages currently displayed on various roads. Taking serious note of the discrepancies, the Deputy Commissioner directed all concerned departments, including the Engineering Department, Police (Traffic Wing), and other relevant civic agencies, to initiate immediate action in a time-bound manner for rectification of wrongly displayed speed signages. He emphasised that accurate speed limit signage is crucial not only for commuter safety but also for the effective implementation of speed regulations by enforcement agencies. The meeting also discussed that the encroachments at Sector 29/30 light point will be addressed through a joint survey by SDM (East) and stakeholder departments, with enforcement measures including boundary walls and iron railings. The Chief Engineer, Chandigarh, was also asked to implement speed calming measures on the high-traffic Jan Marg stretch between Sectors 9 and 10 using 15 mm raised strips, post-monsoon. Regarding illegal taxi operations near Novotel Hotel, Tribune Chowk, officials reported the installation of crash guard grills to prevent unauthorised entry, with completion expected by early July. The traffic police have been asked to submit an action taken report. Expressing concern over a liquor vend at Dhanas Light Point — citing lack of parking and its location near a congested junction—the Deputy Commissioner instructed the Excise Department not to allot the spot in future auctions and to look for a more suitable site.
Daily Express
11-07-2025
- Daily Express
Tanjung Aru, Luyang and Kolombong streetlights under scrutiny
Published on: Friday, July 11, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jul 11, 2025 By: Sidney Skinner Text Size: Bad hats have been taking advantage of the lack of illumination on Jalan Rumah Pangsa 1 to carry out misdeeds in this part of Tanjung Aru. ACTION to improve the public lighting on eight housing roads in Tanjung Aru has yet to get underway as City Hall is still waiting to receive the requisite funds for this endeavour. The agency, however, has been keeping tabs on the condition of the streetlights on the stretch servicing a Luyang commercial centre and at the junction to a Kolombong village. This follows feedback about trespassers using the cover of darkness to enter two homes on Jalan Rumah Pangsa 1 in Tanjung Aru, as well as the traffic hazards posed by the unlit sections of the road around Damai Plaza Phase 4 and junction to Kg Cenderakasih. The individuals, who spoke out about these irregularities, provided Hotline with the pertinent details regarding these problems. This information was forwarded to City Hall. A spokesman for its Engineering Department said the agency had secured an allocation from the government, with the help of a 'YB', to have solar lights installed in some parts of Tanjung Aru. 'This politician wrote to us in April about preparing a Bill of Quantity to implement this urgent project,' he said. 'We submitted all the necessary documentation to the Ministry a month later.' The roads where the new lights would be erected included Jalan Murni, Jalan Murai, Jalan Rumah Pangsa 1, Jalan Rumah Pangsa 2, Jalan Sir Ralph Hone, Jalan Datuk Willie, Jalan Kg Tanjung Aru and Jalan Balai, according to him. The spokesman said City Hall was presently waiting for 'the warrant' to be released so that the funds could be credited to the agency. SAMPSON, who lives on Jalan Rumah Pangsa 1 Tanjung Aru said he was the victim of a home invasion in February 'The intruder drove up in an unregistered vehicle around 4am and entered my compound,' he said. 'He switched off the lights in my car porch and behind my house. The individual also covered the spotlight in my front yard with a piece of clothing, before trying to pry open the front grill to my house.' Fortunately, he did not succeed and left without further incident, according to him. 'All this was captured on one of my neighbour's CCTV [Closed Circuit Televisions] cameras.' When he reported what transpired to the Police, Sampson appealed to the officer, who took down these details, to consider having his colleagues patrol Jalan Rumah Pangsa 1 more often. 'This may discourage others from encroaching into our compounds.' Another Tanjung Aru resident, VIEOLA, echoed Sam's concerns, saying that her residence was burglarised a month earlier. 'The thieves made away with a laptop, handphone, sling bag, piggy bank, crystal bracelet and several pieces of gold jewellery which were presented to me on my wedding day,' she said. 'The bad hats entered through my kitchen window in the wee hours while me and my family were sleeping. Thankfully, none of us were harmed while they were looting the place.' Vieola feared that unscrupulous parties might be taking advantage of the almost pitch black darkness on the housing road to carry out these misdeeds. 'Mine's is not the only home which has been targeted by thieves. Several of my neighbours have also experienced break-ins.' The spokesman said, a check of City Hall's records, showed that there were only two streetlights each on Jalan Rumah Pangsa 1, Jalan Rumah Pangsa 2 and Jalan Datuk Willie. 'We will try and look at our finances to see if we have a streetlight put up outside Sampson's and Vieola's houses,' he said. 'This is the most we can do while waiting to move forward with the improvements we want to make in Tanjung Aru.' In the case of the streetlights at Damai Plaza Phase 4 and the Kg Cenderakasih junction, the spokesman said its electrical contractor was alerted to the breakdown of the amenities at these locations. He said a check of Lorong Kayu Manis 2, which circled the commercial centre, and Jalan Cenderakasih revealed that some of the lighting fixtures were damaged. Repairs were made shortly thereafter, according to him, with the contractor's workers changing four 'neutral links' for the lights along the former road. 'They also replaced a 60 metre length of aluminium cable with a 16milimetre diameter as the existing line had been incinerated,' he said. Where the junction to the village was concerned, the spokesman said the contractor attended to the copper bar for a Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB) in the control panel for the lights. 'The connection to the MCB was found to have been burnt out.' He elaborated that a MCB prevented electrical hazards by detecting and interrupting abnormal currents and short circuits. When asked how often maintenance was carried on the streetlights within City Hall's rating area, the spokesman said there was no fixed schedule for this work. 'The lights are attended as and when it becomes necessary to do so.' * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hagerstown's Caribbean Carnival means a street closure July 5
A Caribbean Carnival will take place on South Potomac Street in Hagerstown on Saturday, July 5. According to a community announcement, the street will close to traffic at 8 a.m. between Washington Street and Antietam Street. A detour route will be posted for motorists. Traffic control devices will be in place. The street is expected to reopen by 9 p.m. Emergency vehicles will not have access to this section during the closure, but can respond to calls in the area. For more information, contact the City of Hagerstown's Engineering Department at 301-739-8577 extension 125. This story was created by Janis Reeser, jreeser@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at The Herald-Mail is growing its local news: Send your news to us This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Caribbean Carnival to close South Potomac Street all day July 5
