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Time of India
12 hours ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Chandigarh's vehicle scrapping policy stuck in 1st gear
Despite a full tank of incentives, Chandigarh's vehicle scrapping policy is sputtering. Launched over 18 months ago with the promise of cleaner roads and greener air, the city's Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility (RVSF) has managed to scrap just 3,159 private vehicles—a drop in the ocean compared to the 50,000 new vehicles registered last year. By October last year, only 1,065 private vehicles were scrapped. "There is a marginal increase in the rate of vehicles getting scrapped, but it is still very low. There was an expectation that the policy with monetary incentives built-in would attract more vehicle owners," said a UT official. Vehicles registered with the 'Certificate of Deposit' receive a rebate on the registration of new vehicles. Transport vehicles get a 15% rebate, and non-transport vehicles get a 25% rebate on registration. The Certificate of Deposit is issued by the RVSF after the old vehicle is scrapped. Additionally, the scrap value of the vehicle is paid by the authorised scrapping agency. As per the information shared by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in the Lok Sabha during the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament, 5,068 govt vehicles were scrapped at the RVSF. By October last year, 2,500 govt vehicles were scrapped at the RVSF. "While it is mandatory for govt vehicles to be scrapped at the RVSF after 15 years in service, for private vehicles in the city, it is still a voluntary exercise. Around 50,000 vehicles were registered last year, but in one and a half years, only about 3,000 vehicles were scrapped. Most vehicle owners get the life of their vehicles extended by repeatedly getting them passed," said a UT official. The passing of a vehicle after 15 years is done manually in the city. "In-depth testing of the vehicle is not possible manually, so most vehicles get passed. Automated and mechanical testing is required to filter out the road-unworthy vehicles, which can then be scrapped," said the official. AICC start to push up scrapping of pvt vehicles The UT officials contend that the start of Chandigarh's first automated inspection and certification centre , likely to be in the next financial year, will bring in scientific testing of old vehicles. The centre, coming up at a cost of around Rs 14 crore on a 3.5-acre plot in Raipur Kalan, will check the technical quality of the vehicle, whether it meets the environmental stipulations, and its roadworthiness. "Currently, the process of checking the roadworthiness of a vehicle involves a lot of human discretion. Sometimes it results in even vehicles in poor condition getting roadworthiness certificates. But after the centre starts operations, the entire process will be automatic. In total, a vehicle will be tested against 23 parameters," said the official. The registration of vehicles beyond 15 years depends on their roadworthiness. If the vehicles are not roadworthy, they have to be scrapped at the registered RVSF. "Vehicles that continue to be operated for two years even without mandatory passing after they complete the 15-year service period can be impounded and sent for scrapping," said the official.
Hindustan Times
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh colleges: MP Tewari voices concern over UT's move to remove key subjects
Member of Parliament Manish Tewari has expressed serious concern over the removal of several important academic subjects from various city colleges— a move that, he warned, could lead to the complete discontinuation of these disciplines in the future. MP Manish Tewari (HT File) MP Tewari also raised an alarm over what he suspects is a deliberate attempt by the administration to benefit private interests in academia. He stated that a large number of students in Chandigarh pursue diverse academic courses that play a vital role in shaping their careers. 'However, recent reports suggest that the administration is gradually phasing out several crucial subjects from the curriculum,' he added. He highlighted the discontinuation of several programmes, including MSc in chemistry and IT, MA in sociology and public administration, BCA, PGDCA (which, he noted, the Prime Minister himself had termed vital for the country's future), MPEd, and BA in mathematics. 'What makes the situation even more serious is that the administration is taking such steps without consulting experts or scholars in the concerned fields,' MP Tewari said. He further stated that he will raise this issue in Parliament, as it appears to be a strategy to promote private interests at the cost of public institutions in Chandigarh. This move, he warned, will not only adversely impact thousands of students but also result in mass job losses among faculty members who teach these subjects. Responding to the concerns, officials of the UT directorate of higher education claimed that the subjects removal is a part of their rationalisation process. They said that courses in some of the UT colleges have been removed, but overall courses are still available in the colleges, except in the case of self-financed courses. Officials of the Panjab University who were present in a committee formed by the UT administration for the rationalisation have also confirmed this.
Hindustan Times
12 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
PGI-Sarangpur flyover headed to Chandigarh heritage panel for green light
Nearly five years after it was first proposed, the much-anticipated flyover project from the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) to Sarangpur is set to be sent to the Chandigarh Heritage Committee for final approval before execution. The Chandigarh administration's move follows strong recommendations from the road safety committee in April this year, which flagged the stretch as a major traffic bottleneck and urged immediate revival of the flyover project. (HT file photo) The UT administration's move follows strong recommendations from the road safety committee in April this year, which flagged the stretch as a major traffic bottleneck and urged immediate revival of the flyover project. According to the detailed plans prepared by the UT engineering department, the project is estimated to cost around ₹90 crore. The flyover will be 1.75 km in length, with a 1.3-km elevated stretch. It will begin near PGIMER and terminate near the Botanical Garden in Sarangpur, passing over Khudda Jassu and Khudda Lahora villages. The planned total width of the flyover is around 19.1 metres and the carriageway width will be 17.5 metres. UT chief engineer CB Ojha said, 'Following the recommendations of the road safety committee, we are sending the project to the Chandigarh Heritage Committee for final approval. Once we receive the green light, we will begin execution.' Any projects requiring architectural changes to the city's original plan and heritage require the committee's clearance. The committee's next meeting is scheduled in August. The project was initially proposed in 2020 and a geotechnical study was also conducted. The UT-appointed technical consultant, General Highways and Infracon Pvt Ltd, had submitted a detailed report on the feasibility of the project. However, in February 2023, the proposal was shelved after a Metro corridor was planned along the same route. Stretch a critical chokepoint, says road safety committee The proposal was revived after a fresh survey was conducted under the direction of deputy commissioner and road safety committee chairperson Nishant Kumar Yadav. In its latest report, shared in April, the committee highlighted that traffic jams, lack of footpaths (forcing pedestrians onto roads), roadside parking, encroachments by shops, waterlogging during monsoon, U-turns at junctions and autos halting mid-road to pick up passengers had collectively turned the stretch into a critical chokepoint. As a solution to the clash between the proposed Metro corridor and a flyover plan on the PGIMER-Sarangpur stretch, the UT engineering department in June suggested a double-decker structure — with one level for the Metro track and another for vehicular traffic. The committee also suggested the construction of a grade-separated flyover, relocation of a nearby school's boundary wall to create a walkable footpath, removal of roadside encroachments, installation of five to six sets of rumble strips (15 mm thick at 50-metre intervals), the creation of a designated school zone and widening the road to 200 feet for Mullanpur-bound traffic.
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Chandigarh's vehicle scrapping policy stuck in 1st gear
Chandigarh: Despite a full tank of incentives, Chandigarh's vehicle scrapping policy is sputtering. Launched over 18 months ago with the promise of cleaner roads and greener air, the city's Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility (RVSF) has managed to scrap just 3,159 private vehicles—a drop in the ocean compared to the 50,000 new vehicles registered last year. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now By October last year, only 1,065 private vehicles were scrapped. "There is a marginal increase in the rate of vehicles getting scrapped, but it is still very low. There was an expectation that the policy with monetary incentives built-in would attract more vehicle owners," said a UT official. Vehicles registered with the 'Certificate of Deposit' receive a rebate on the registration of new vehicles. Transport vehicles get a 15% rebate, and non-transport vehicles get a 25% rebate on registration. The Certificate of Deposit is issued by the RVSF after the old vehicle is scrapped. Additionally, the scrap value of the vehicle is paid by the authorised scrapping agency. As per the information shared by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in the Lok Sabha during the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament, 5,068 govt vehicles were scrapped at the RVSF. By October last year, 2,500 govt vehicles were scrapped at the RVSF. "While it is mandatory for govt vehicles to be scrapped at the RVSF after 15 years in service, for private vehicles in the city, it is still a voluntary exercise. Around 50,000 vehicles were registered last year, but in one and a half years, only about 3,000 vehicles were scrapped. Most vehicle owners get the life of their vehicles extended by repeatedly getting them passed," said a UT official. The passing of a vehicle after 15 years is done manually in the city. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "In-depth testing of the vehicle is not possible manually, so most vehicles get passed. Automated and mechanical testing is required to filter out the road-unworthy vehicles, which can then be scrapped," said the official. AICC start to push up scrapping of pvt vehicles The UT officials contend that the start of Chandigarh's first automated inspection and certification centre, likely to be in the next financial year, will bring in scientific testing of old vehicles. The centre, coming up at a cost of around Rs 14 crore on a 3.5-acre plot in Raipur Kalan, will check the technical quality of the vehicle, whether it meets the environmental stipulations, and its roadworthiness. "Currently, the process of checking the roadworthiness of a vehicle involves a lot of human discretion. Sometimes it results in even vehicles in poor condition getting roadworthiness certificates. But after the centre starts operations, the entire process will be automatic. In total, a vehicle will be tested against 23 parameters," said the official. The registration of vehicles beyond 15 years depends on their roadworthiness. If the vehicles are not roadworthy, they have to be scrapped at the registered RVSF. "Vehicles that continue to be operated for two years even without mandatory passing after they complete the 15-year service period can be impounded and sent for scrapping," said the official.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Pay property tax by July 31 to avail benefits: MC chief
Ludhiana: With just a week to go for residents to pay the pending property tax without any interest and penalty, MC commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal has appealed to them to avail themselves of the benefits of the one-time settlement (OTS) scheme by submitting their dues by July 31. The MC chief has asked zonal commissioners and superintendents, and other officials to expedite the recovery of dues from residents and crack the whip on defaulters. He held a meeting with them at the zone 'D' office of the civic body in Sarabha Nagar Thursday. MC additional commissioner Paramdeep Singh, assistant commissioner (UT) Pragati Rani, zonal commissioners Abhishek Sharma (zone A), Neeraj Jain (zone B), Gurpal Singh (zone C), and Jasdev Singh Sekhon (zone D), among other officials, were in attendance at the meeting. Similar directions have also been issued to officials of the operations and maintenance (O&M) cell for the recovery of water/sewer bills from the residents. Civic officials said property tax must be paid after self-assessment every year. If the property owner fails to pay the tax, the civic body levies a 20% penalty and 18% annual interest on the pending amount. Under the newly launched OTS scheme, residents can now submit the pending tax by July 31, without any penalty or interest. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Indonesia: New Container Houses (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search Ads Search Now Undo They can pay do so at the suvidha kendras situated in the zonal offices of the civic body. MC Suvidha Kendras to remain open this weekend To help the residents submit the pending property tax on time, MC commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal has ordered that the zonal suvidha kendras of the civic body will remain open on Saturday (July 26) and Sunday (July 27).
