Latest news with #SolutionBox
Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Built to last? Cracks, erosion appear near Ghaggar bridge within months of launch
1 2 Panchkula: Less than three months after its grand inauguration by Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini, a portion of the Rs 50 crore Ghaggar river bridge project is already showing alarming signs of structural failure, raising serious questions about construction quality and public safety. What was meant to be a long-term solution for easing traffic across sectors 20-21 and 24-26 has now become a symbol of premature decay. The side slopes, designed to protect the bridge from erosion and weather damage, are eroding themselves. A site visit revealed deep cracks in the concrete and visible damage from recent rainfall, prompting fears that the road leading to Maharana Pratap Chowk and the bridge itself could be compromised, especially during the ongoing monsoon season. Mohit Gupta, founder of Solution Box, a residents' help group, said, "It raises questions on the quality of material and the kind of work that was carried out. This concrete side slope was recently built. The soil is loose here. It seems compaction of soil was not done properly, which is why it got washed away. If you see this side slope at the old Ghaggar bridge at Majri chowk, there is a stark difference in the work as compaction of soil was done properly, and the work quality is much better. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dubai's Next Icon: Experience Binghatti Aquarise Luxury Binghatti Developers FZE Learn More Undo " N K Payal, executive engineer, Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP), that implemented the project here, said, "This side slope protection is built to protect the road and not the bridge. Though this entire road, the chowk, and bridge are part of the same project, the slope is built at a place which 3-4ft high. It will not impact the bridge at all." "The slope work is currently going on. The thrown concrete you see here was put on Tuesday only in view of rain so that soil does not wash away as there is no grass. However, the contractor is responsible for repairs under the 10-year defect liability period, and if any portion is damaged, it will be fixed by him," Payal assured. BOX: Long delayed project: The bridge was inaugurated by Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini amid much fanfare on April 20. The 360-metre-long and 16-metre-wide bridge connects Sectors 20-21 with 24-26. It also reduces travel to Zirakpur, Rajpura, Patiala, and Mohali airports. This bridge is a part of the PR-7 ring road connecting Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Chandigarh. Residents residing near Sectors 20-21 lament about traffic congestion in the absence of any traffic lights or traffic cops here. Delay reason: HSVP officials said the project started in 2020 with a two-year compeletion deadline but got delayed due to various reasons like environmental clearances, COVID-19, and monsoon disruptions. Earlier, the Punjab govt's in-principle approval for the work came late. The connecting road falls in its jurisdiction.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Panchkula admin does it again, fails to communicate mock drill cancellation
1 2 3 Panchkula: Once again, the Panchkula administration has come under fire for its lack of preparedness and poor communication. Despite earlier announcements about a mock drill and blackout scheduled for Wednesday night, the administration failed to inform residents about its cancellation, leaving many confused and uncertain. This stands in stark contrast to Chandigarh and Gurugram, where respective administrations not only announced the drill under Operation Shield in the evening but also promptly informed the public of its cancellation later that night. Although the Haryana government issued a general cancellation notice, Panchkula deputy commissioner had made a separate announcement earlier, leading to confusion among residents about whether the drill was still on in Panchkula. The district administration only issued a clarification the following morning via the director public relations WhatsApp group. Blackout Timings Changed Thrice Adding to the confusion, the administration changed the blackout timings three times. Initially, a press release announced the blackout from 8 pm to 8.15 pm. Minutes later, the message was deleted from the official WhatsApp group. Upon inquiry, officials stated the new timing was 10 pm to 10.15 pm. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Eventually, a final press release revised the timing again to 11 pm to 11.15 pm. "The Panchkula administration should be responsive and responsible during such times. Even during Covid, we faced similar issues with communication. Why does the administration remain inactive while others lead?" said Mohit Gupta, founder of the Solution Box forum. "Residents were left confused and uninformed last night." Weeklong Training Ends in a Day In another instance of poor planning, the administration had announced a weeklong civil defence training for volunteers in response to India-Pakistan tensions. However, due to a lack of awareness and last-minute communication, very few people turned up. The training, which was supposed to last a week, ended abruptly in a single day without any formal announcement. Inactive Social Media Presence Residents also pointed out the lack of digital communication. While the verified X (formerly Twitter) accounts of the Chandigarh and Mohali DCs are regularly updated with public announcements and initiatives, Panchkula DC's unverified X account has been inactive since Sep 29, 2024. Many residents said they feel left out and find the silence from the administration unusual. When contacted, DC Monika Gupta said, "Information was shared as soon as directions were received from higher authority."
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Banker resigns to fulfill dream, scales Everest
1 2 3 Panchkula : Such was his passion that a 58-year-old banker resigned from his job after not getting leave and spent Rs 40 lakh out of his provident fund to climb the world's highest peak, Mount Everest. Navdeep Sood , who returned to his Sector 25 house, was welcomed by residents and social organisations. "I am happy that I could climb the mountain. But at that point in time, there was a mixed bag of feelings as there were some who quit just 100 m away from the target or met with an accident. There were all sort of good and tough experiences," Sood told TOI. Before this, he climbed Mount Satopanth in Uttarakhand. Now, he plans to go on a cycling expedition on a world or India tour. He developed his interest in mountaineering when his father, who was in the Air Force, was posted in Meghalaya. The time spent in childhood in the mountains increased his interest. His wife, Sarita Sood, said he had full family support for Mount Everest. Mohit Gupta, founder of Solution Box, who welcomed him at his house, said, "If ever someone needs proof that age is just a number, then here is the proof. After retiring from a PSU bank, my friend achieved the unthinkable." MSID:: 121321681 413 |
