Chandigarh, The Governor of Punjab and Administrator, Chandigarh Sh. VP Singh Badnore pedaled from Raj Bhawan to UT Secretariat Building today with Sh. Manoj Parida, Adviser to the Administrator and all the senior officials of Chandigarh Administration to promote cycling as an environment-friendly mode of transportation and healthy lifestyle .
The Administrator took this initiative to encourage residents of City Beautiful to adopt cycling and help the Administration in reducing environmental pollution. Riding bicycle is safer and greener alternative that would reduce traffic congestion in the city. The move will usher in an era where green transportation like cycles will become fashionable and will be widely used. With the expanse of cycle tracks in the city, the bicyclists can easily divert themselves from other vehicular traffic.
The Administrator further held a meeting with the officials and deliberated upon significant issues. In a meeting with Secretary Transport, A K Singla, it has been decided that there will be a 5% increase in the fares of AC and Non AC buses of both local and long routes buses to neutralize GST.
The Chandigarh Administration has opposed the proposal of Punjab Government that was sent to Government of India wherein the width of Eco Sensitive Zone from the boundary of Sukhna Lake is recommended only 100 Meters. The Eco Sensitive Zone around Wildlife Sanctuary is essential to act as a shock absorber. In 2017, Chandigarh declared Eco Sensitive Zone around Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary in the area that falls within the boundary of UT, Chandigarh. The width of this Eco Sensitive Zone in Chandigarh ranges from 2 - 2.75 Kms. The area that falls under Punjab has not yet been decided as the Eco sensitive zone, which is why the Government of Punjab has sent a proposal to Government of India by recommending 100 meters width from Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary. The Chandigarh Administration is of the view that this would immensely damage the wildlife and have adverse impact of the health of Sukhna Lake.
Further, the Administrator met the Director PGIMER, Prof. Dr. Jagat Ram to discuss upon various issues pertaining to the institution wherein the support of Administration is required. The Director PGIMER highlighted the increase in number of patients in the OPD, on which the Administrator decided to give extra land to PGIMER to decongest the OPD. In addition to this the director has also shown his keen interest in buying two towers from Chandigarh Housing Board for Doctors accommodation. On raising the concern of dirt while conducting Langar outside PGIMER, the Administrator has ensured that the officials will deliberate upon shifting of Langar to some other place.