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Time of India
3 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
PGI-Sarangpur flyover hits heritage hurdle
Chandigarh: Where the flyover project from the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) to Sarangpur is concerned, it is back to the drawing board for the Chandigarh administration. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Appreciating the need for traffic decongestion measures, including a flyover, the sub-committee of the Chandigarh Heritage Conservation Committee (CHCC) insisted that the current UT engineering department plan be significantly modified to be acceptable. "As per existing plans submitted to the sub-committee, the 1.75km flyover with a 1.3km elevated stretch will begin near PGIMER and terminate near the Botanical Garden in Sarangpur, passing over Khudda Jassu and Khudda Lahora villages. The committee has asked the engineering department to keep the flyover out of the Chandigarh grid plan (out of Sector 12/14) and shift the flyover plan further toward the village area, away from PGIMER," said a senior UT official. The committee has also considered the route of the proposed metro, which is planned to pass through the area where the flyover is proposed. "The engineering department was asked to coordinate with the Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) for the flyover plans. There must be no overlapping of the two routes; the department must get a clearer picture about it from RITES," said the official. The committee also questioned the double-decker design of the flyover. "It asked the engineering department to re-examine the double-decker design, which may look horrendous for the city. The Metro can go underground here, but the double-decker design will have to go," said the official. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now As per the existing double-decker plan, the Rs 90 crore proposed flyover, with a width of 19.1 m and carriageway width of 17.5 m, would feature a lower level for regular traffic and an upper level for the proposed Metro line. "The engineering department has been directed to revise the project as per these concerns, particularly to shift the project away from the city sectoral grid, in alignment with the proposed Metro project and designed structure of the flyover. The department will submit a revised design and structure of the project to the committee," said the official. For a smooth ride to New Chandigarh, bypassing congested villages, the administration started work on the proposal of an elevated highway connecting Madhya Marg to New Chandigarh in 2020. After more than two years, UT resumed work on the project in 2023. The stretch frequently witnesses traffic snarls. Many temporary and permanent commercial establishments and residential areas have come up on both sides of the road stretch. A UT engineering department official said, "We are waiting for minutes of the meeting, after which further course of action will be decided." The CHCC sub-committee gave in-principle nod to the Bapu Dham bridge over Sukhna Choe. The committee, however, asked for a detailed submission of the design of the bridge. The proposed bridge will be 1.4 km in length and is planned to be 4-laned. MSID:: 122980658 413 |
Indian Express
6 hours ago
- Indian Express
Chandigarh: Heritage committee clears PGIMER-Sarangpur flyover proposal
The Chandigarh Heritage Conservation Committee (CHCC) has granted clearance for the proposed flyover on the stretch between the PGIMER and Sarangpur. The proposed four-lane structure will have a carriageway width of 17.5 metres and an overall width of 19.1 metres. The estimated cost of the project is around Rs 90 crore. An official confirmed that the committee recently approved the plan during a meeting. The next phase of the project will begin after the formal minutes are received. The flyover aims to ease regular traffic snarls, especially during peak hours, on the busy route connecting the PGIMER with the Botanical Garden in Sarangpur. The UT Road Safety Committee had earlier flagged this stretch as a major congestion zone and recommended urgent intervention. It identified five major traffic choke points in Chandigarh, with the road leading to Khuda Lahora and Khuda Jassu being the most problematic. These areas face regular traffic jams due to a lack of footpaths, encroachments, school-related vehicle parking, poor drainage, and erratic stopping of auto-rickshaws. Unregulated U-turns further worsen the situation. To address these issues, the committee suggested multiple corrective measures. These include constructing a flyover from near Khuda Jassu bridge to the Botanical Garden, shifting the school boundary wall to create footpaths, removing illegal encroachments, and widening the road to 200 feet towards Mullanpur. The flyover project, initially conceived in 2020, had been put on hold due to the pandemic. Once complete, the flyover will provide signal-free movement for commuters travelling towards New Chandigarh and Baddi in Himachal Pradesh and will also benefit the upcoming institutional and residential developments in Sarangpur, including the planned PGIMER extension campus. Before construction begins, necessary environmental and design approvals will be obtained, an official said.
Hindustan Times
19 hours ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
World Hepatitis Day: Half of acute liver failure patients admitted in ICU had Hepatitis A, say PGI doctors
On the occasion of world hepatitis day, the department of hepatology of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) on Monday organised a viral hepatitis screening and information camp at the liver clinic in the OPD. Accompanying attendants of the patients were encouraged to participate in the screening and were provided information about viral hepatitis and its importance, the routes of spread and methods of prevention. Officials said that the activity will continue throughout the week. Hepatitis B and C are silent killers that surreptitiously damage the liver over many years, leading to serious conditions like cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), end-stage liver disease and even liver cancer. (Shutterstock) World Hepatitis Day is observed every year on July 28 to raise awareness about viral hepatitis, a group of diseases that can severely damage our liver. This year's theme, 'Hepatitis: Let's break it down' is to understand the silent threat, remove barriers to care including misinformation, and work together towards a hepatitis-free future. Dr Madhumita Premkumar of hepatology department at PGIMER highlighted that according to an observation, the last few years saw an increase in numbers and severity of hepatitis A virus infection. 'Almost half of the acute liver failure patients, admitted in the Liver ICU in the last two years, have been due to Hepatitis A, a serious cause for concern,' she added. Dr Nipun Verma, of the department of hepatology, said, 'Hepatitis A has also been presenting typically with prolonged jaundice and itching which may require steroids and even plasma exchange (a form of blood filtration).' Ajay Duseja, head of hepatology department said that around 800-1000 patients with chronic viral hepatitis (HBV and HCV) are seen each year at the outpatient liver clinic at PGIMER. 'All of these patients are referred from various parts of the country,' he added. While highlighting how neighbouring states, particularly Punjab, is a high burden state for Hepatitis C possibly due to intravenous drug abuse, Dr Sunil Taneja of hepatology department, said, 'Punjab has been at the forefront of the fight against Hepatitis C and its approach of decentralising diagnosis and treatment using a hub and spoke ECHO model has been replicated not only nationally but has garnered much international attention.' Dr Duseja explained hepatitis refers to an inflammation of the liver. 'Liver is a vital organ, performing hundreds of essential functions, including filtering toxins, producing proteins, and aiding digestion. When the liver is damaged by hepatitis, these functions are compromised, affecting our overall health and well-being. Viral hepatitis is caused by viruses predominantly Hepatitis A, B, C, and E. Hepatitis A and E are spread through contaminated food and water (feco-oral route). Infection with these viruses causes acute onset jaundice which is usually self-limiting but can sometimes progress to acute liver failure which is potentially life threatening,' Dr Duseja said. Hepatitis B and C are silent killers that surreptitiously damage the liver over many years, leading to serious conditions like cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), end-stage liver disease and even liver cancer. Prevention: The first line of defence Hepatitis A and B vaccines are safe and highly effective Newborns should receive the Hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth to prevent transmission from mother to child Consult your doctor to see if you need to be vaccinated against Hepatitis A or B Safe practices Wash your hands thoroughly Ensure safe drinking water and food Practice safe injections Safe piercings and tattoos Practice safe sex Free treatment is available A significant step forward in our fight against viral hepatitis is the availability of free testing and treatment. The government of India, through the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme (NVHCP), offers free services for diagnosis and treatment of viral hepatitis patients, informed Dr Naveen Bhagat.
Time of India
a day ago
- General
- Time of India
Visited by thousands, 20 key govt buildings in Chandigarh play with fire
1 2 Chandigarh: Despite housing some of the region's most powerful offices and receiving thousands of daily visitors, nearly 20 major government buildings in Chandigarh are operating without mandatory fire safety certificates (FSC), a glaring lapse that puts lives at risk. These buildings belong to the central government, Chandigarh administration, Punjab and Haryana governments, and include the Punjab and Haryana high court, Vidhan Sabhas, civil secretariats, and even premier medical and educational institutions like PGIMER, Panjab University, and GMCH in Sectors 32. Shockingly, even the municipal corporation's own building is on the list. These are not obscure structures tucked away in corners of the city. They are high-footfall, high-importance institutions where ministers, judges, bureaucrats, and the public converge daily. Yet, fire safety norms, meant to be non-negotiable, have been treated with alarming casualness. Recent fire incidents at the Punjab and Haryana High Court, PGIMER, and Panjab University should have served as wake-up calls. Fortunately, no casualties occurred. But all three buildings are among those operating without valid FSCs. Sources in the municipal corporation (MC) revealed a pattern of negligence: in some cases, FSC applications are pending due to unresolved discrepancies; in others, certificates have expired and were never renewed. Worse still, many authorities haven't even applied for certification. The MC has issued notices, but compliance remains sluggish.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Health
- Indian Express
‘Punjab high-burden state for hepatitis C, possibly due to intravenous drug abuse'
Hepatitis refers to an inflammation of the liver, a vital organ that performs hundreds of essential functions, including filtering toxins, producing proteins, and aiding digestion. When the liver is damaged by hepatitis, these functions are compromised. Viral hepatitis is caused by various viruses, predominantly hepatitis A, B, C, and E. July 28 is being marked as World Hepatitis Day in a bid to call for action to end this entirely preventable disease. Hepatitis A and E are spread through contaminated food and water and infection with these viruses causes acute onset jaundice, which is usually self-limiting but can sometimes progress to acute liver failure, which is potentially life-threatening. On the other hand, hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV and HBC) are spread through infected blood or body fluid exposure, including unsafe sexual and injection practices. They usually cause chronic long-term infections. Hepatitis B and C are silent killers that damage the liver over many years, leading to serious conditions like cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), end-stage liver disease, and even cancer. At the outpatient liver clinic at the PGIMER, around 800-1,000 patients with chronic viral hepatitis (HBV and HCV) are seen each year, Ajay Duseja, head, Department of Hepatology. PGIMER, said. The expert added that Punjab is a high burden state for hepatitis C, possibly due to intravenous drug abuse. Punjab has been at the forefront of the fight against hepatitis C, and its approach of decentralising diagnosis and treatment using a hub and spoke ECHO model has been replicated not only nationally but has garnered much international attention, Dr Sunil Taneja, additional professor, PGIMER, said. A new observation over the last few years is the increase in numbers and severity of hepatitis A virus infection. Almost half of the acute liver failure patients admitted to the Liver ICU in the last 2 years have been due to Hepatitis A, which is a cause for concern, Dr Madhumita Premkumar, additional professor, Department of Hepatology, PGIMER, said. Hepatitis A has also been presenting atypically, particularly with prolonged jaundice and itching, which may require steroids and even plasma exchange, Dr Nipun Verma, additional professor, Department of Hepatology, PGIMER, said. Dr Arka De, associate professor, PGIMER, said viral hepatitis is largely preventable, with hepatitis A and B vaccines safe and effective, and newborns should receive the hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth to prevent transmission from mother to child. Safety First Wash your hands after using the restroom and before preparing food. Hepatitis A and E are often spread through contaminated water and food. Ensure that food is properly cooked. Drinking water should be filtered or adequately boiled. Eatables should be kept covered and away from flies. Avoid intravenous drug abuse, use sterile needles and do not share them. Safe piercings and tattoos are vital, ensure new, sterilised needles, razors and equipment during tattoos, shaving and piercings. Practice safe sex The crucial need for testing — Dr Arka stressed that testing is the only way to know if you are infected since chronic hepatitis often has no early symptoms in the initial stages. Early diagnosis is key because it allows for timely treatment, which can prevent severe liver damage and save lives. If you have a history of blood transfusions, injecting drug use, or a family history of hepatitis, or if you are pregnant, it is highly recommended to get tested, according to the expert. The National Viral Hepatitis Control Program (NVHCP), offers free services for diagnosis and treatment of viral hepatitis patients informed Dr Naveen Bhagat, assistant professor, PGIMER. He added that in Chandigarh and Punjab, free testing and treatment for hepatitis B and C are available at government health facilities, including the PGIMER, and excellent cure rates have been seen with these treatments.
