Latest news with #LaljitSinghBhullar
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Mohali to get ‘Jail Bhawan' soon
1 2 3 Mohali: In a major step toward modernising Punjab's prison administration, the state government will construct a state-of-the-art head office for the jail department, named Jail Bhawan, in Mohali. Jail minister Laljit Singh Bhullar laid the foundation stone of the project on Friday. Speaking at the ceremony, Bhullar said the new headquarters would streamline administrative operations and centralise policymaking. "This is part of a broader reform agenda. While we continue to upgrade jails across Punjab with modern technology and infrastructure, a dedicated head office will significantly boost operational efficiency and coordination," he said. The Jail Bhawan will be in Sector 68, Mohali, on a one-acre plot, with a covered area of approximately 83,947 square feet. The project is estimated to cost Rs 35 crore. Although the scheduled completion date is April 2027, the minister has directed the contractor, ASC Builder, to complete the project by Dec 2026. The five-storey building, including a basement, will feature ultra-modern amenities such as escalators, lifts, firefighting and alarm systems, a local area network (LAN), central air conditioning, solar power generation units, and a sewage treatment plant (STP). It will also include parking space for up to 115 vehicles. Highlighting the financial prudence of the initiative, Bhullar noted that the new facility will save the department Rs 7 lakh per month, or Rs 84 lakh annually, currently spent on office rentals. "Beyond cost savings, this initiative represents a qualitative leap in how the jail department will operate going forward," he said. The minister reiterated that this would provide a modern and efficient working environment for jail officers and staff, reflecting the government's commitment to upgrading infrastructure for law enforcement and administrative departments.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Punjab: RC, DL backlog to be cleared, says minister Bhullar
The Punjab government on Monday announced that it will delegate the authority for the registration and renewal of registration certificates (RC) and driving licences (DL) to regional authorities. This decision aims to address the growing backlog of RC and DL registrations and renewals, which has been pending for some time. Transport minister Laljit Singh Bhullar said that the move will offer significant relief to citizens across the state. 'As per the new guidelines, applicants will now be able to get their old vehicles and driving licenses digitized online and renew the related documents with ease,' Bhullar said, adding that the lack of proper approvals for renewal documents and the non-digitisation of records had become a major obstacle in clearing the backlog. The minister said that to streamline processing of these documents, instructions have been issued to all registering and licensing authorities in Punjab to prioritise and complete the pending work. Documents that do not comply with the requirements for the ministry of road transport and highways will be processed according to the guidelines laid out by the state transport commissioner's office, in a letter dated May 24 of the previous year. As part of the process, a verified affidavit from an executive magistrate will be required for RC and DL backlogs. This affidavit must include important details such as the online digitisation status, validity period, category, manual issuing authority, tax payment status, no objection certificate (NOC) for any dues and the accuracy of all related information. To further streamline the process, it has been made mandatory for applicants to upload a physical inspection report, which includes detailed verification of chassis and engine numbers by a motor vehicle inspector, when submitting their RC details online. Additionally, when processing RC backlogs, authorities will ensure that vehicle transfer records, including those of previous owners, are preserved. For DL backlogs, applications must be made through the original issuing authority. The licensing authority will approve the requests after the staff uploads authenticated copies of previously issued licences in the sarathi software, ensuring proper record-keeping. As part of the process, applicants will be required to submit the original copy of their licence along with proof of birth and address. To ensure transparency and accountability in the completion of backlog work, Bhullar clarified that a permanent departmental employee will be responsible for registering and verifying the backlog entries on behalf of the applicant. The employee will also verify the details through the transport portal and get them approved by the concerned authority. 'The department will take full responsibility for any incorrect entries and regional authorities will be required to send daily progress reports of RC and DL backlog approvals to the headquarters,' he said.
Hindustan Times
29-04-2025
- Hindustan Times
Punjab: Will introduce AI-based tech for driving tests, says transport minister
The Punjab government would introduce HAMS technology, an artificial intelligence (AI) based automated driver licence test system, to bring more transparency at driving test tracks, state transport minister Laljit Singh Bhullar said on Monday. The Harnessing Automobile for Safety (HAMS) technology includes iris scanning, which will ensure that no one is substituting for actual driving test applicants, and this technology is very effective in assessing the driving skills of applicants, he said at the regional transport office in Rupnagar. Bhullar conducted surprise raids at driving test centres in Phagwara and Jalandhar as well. He said the state government had decided that two additional officers/employees would be deployed at every driving test track across the state in order to keep tabs on the 'nexus' between private agents, middlemen and employees. 'An order has already been issued to the state transport commissioner and soon 64 more staff members will be stationed at Punjab's 32 driving test tracks,' Bhullar said. On April 7, the vigilance bureau had conducted raids at RTA offices and driving test centres across the state, leading to the arrest of 24 individuals allegedly involved in bribery and malpractices. A total of 16 FIRs were registered and ₹40,900 was seized from middlemen who were 'extorting money' from applicants. Bhullar said stringent directions were issued to all RTOs and RTAs to ensure that such malpractices must be stopped. On April 25, the state government suspended state vigilance bureau (VB) chief SPS Parmar, VB assistant inspector general, SAS Nagar, Swarandeep Singh, and senior superintendent of police, VB, Jalandhar, Harpreet Singh for allegedly not taking action against those involved in the 'scam'. Over the increasing pendency related to issuance of registration of driving licences and vehicle registration certificates, Bhullar said the government has already initiated the process to blacklist the private vendor — Smart Chip Private Limited — for leaving the printing process midway last year. (With PTI inputs)
