Chandigarh Diaries - 3D Zebra crossing, crackdown on illegal paying guests and cancellation of JW Marriot Hotel's lease
3-D zebra crossing
The city got its first 3-D zebra crossing at the Sector 7-26 traffic signal to make vehicles slow down. If the plan goes well, more such zebra crossings may be painted across the city at traffic signals.
Parking rates
From November 25, rates in the 26 paid parking lots in the city will be doubled from Rs 5 to Rs 10 for cars and from Rs 2 to Rs 5 for two-wheelers per hour. However, the rates will only be doubled if there is a positive feedback on the Mumbai-based firm that is managing the parking lots. A superintending engineer will inspect all the lots on November 20.
Crackdown on PGs
The Chandigarh administration has started taking action against illegal paying guest (PG) accommodations in the city. As per official records, there are only 20 PGs in the city. Most of the illegal PGs are in Sectors 15, 16, 18, 22, 27, 28, 31, 32, 34 and 38. The administration has given notices to 124 PG owners for illegally running such accommodations and hosting four to five people in each room. Most of the tenants are from lower income groups.
Point by point
Chandigarh Traffic Police has a plan to curb traffic violations with a point system. If a driver accumulates 12 points in a year for violations, his/her driving licence will be suspended for a year. If he/she accumulates another 12 points the following year, the licence will be suspended for two years. A learner’s licence will be cancelled after five points.
Marriot’s lease
The Chandigarh administration is set to cancel the lease of JW Marriot Hotel in Sector 35 as it has not paid Rs 7.80 crore ground rent to Chandigarh Municipal Cooptation since 2012. The annual rent is Rs 2.50 crore. SDM (South) has served an eviction notice to the hotel management.
Metro mayhem
After 11 years, the 37-km Rs 10,900 crore Metro Project for Chandigarh has been scrapped by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Rs 1.50 crore was spent on the survey and detailed project report by the government. It is being said that the metro is not feasible for the city. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation prepared the project report and the work began in 2006. Of the 37 km, 7.8 km was to be in Punjab, 6.41 in Haryana, and the rest in Chandigarh.
Digging deep
For next six months, the dividing road of Sector 16 and 17 (Janmarg) will remain closed as digging to construct an underpass and to shift sewerage and storm drainage lines will begin shortly. The company which will begin work has asked the Engineering Wing of the Chandigarh Administration to give permission to start work from Monday. Around 40 feet has to be dug for the underpass, for which trees have been felled.