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On the occasion of Independence Day celebrations, UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria Friday gifted major development works to the people of the city. He announced that a four-lane flyover from PGIMER to Sarangpur would be constructed at a cost of nearly Rs 90 crore. He also outlined a plan to develop Chandigarh as a National Service Industry Centre on the lines of GIFT City in Gujarat.
The construction of the 1.3-km-long flyover from PGIMER to Sarangpur will eliminate frequent traffic jams. He said the construction of the proposed flyover, rotaries and underpasses at the Tribune Chowk would start soon to get rid of long queues of vehicles.
Kataria, who was the chief guest during the 79th Independence Day celebrations at Parade Ground, Sector 17, highlighted the key achievements of Chandigarh’s development, law enforcement, education, governance, environment, and health infrastructure. He spoke about the successful rollout of the new criminal justice system, power sector reforms, and initiatives such as free uniforms, recruitment of teachers, and the enhancement of school facilities. Kataria praised Chandigarh’s environmental efforts, including rooftop solar expansion and a floating solar plant in Sector 39, while also noting progress in e-governance, public safety, sanitation, and digital services.
The Administrator said that an ambitious plan is being prepared to develop Chandigarh as a National Service Industry Centre on the lines of GIFT City of Gujarat, which will make this city a great example of good economic rules, right order and modern development. Recently, the administration has taken action on many colonies and illegal markets. He said that the UT Estate Office had reclaimed nearly 55 acres of government land worth Rs 2,500 crore from encroachers. This land will be used to create facilities related to public welfare.
He said that a major regional medical hub would be set up in Sector 53 to make its medical facilities world-class. This centre will have modern arrangements of 400 beds for mother and child care and emergencies. This hub will be built in collaboration with AIIMS and NITI Aayog and will also work on health research and rehabilitation.
The day began with the Administrator paying floral tributes at the War Memorial, Bougainvillea Garden, to honour the brave soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice for the nation. He later unfurled the national flag, inspected the guard of honour, and reviewed the Independence Day parade, where contingents of Chandigarh Police and NCC cadets showcased their discipline and spirit.
Addressing the gathering, Kataria extended greetings to citizens and recalled the sacrifices of India’s freedom fighters, with a special mention of Punjab’s immense contribution to the freedom struggle. He paid homage to Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru, Lala Lajpat Rai, Udham Singh, Kartar Singh Sarabha, Madan Lal Dhingra, and other martyrs who inspired generations with their courage and commitment.
He also highlighted India’s unwavering stand against terrorism, lauding the swift military responses in Operation Sindoor and Operation Mahadev, carried out after the Pahalgam attack.
On Punjab, Kataria commended welfare schemes such as free healthcare, electricity benefits, educational investments, and sports promotion, stressing the importance of transparency and accountability in governance.
A special feature of this year’s celebration was the participation of 50 hearing- and speech-impaired individuals, who viewed the parade with real-time sign language interpretation, ensuring inclusivity in the festivities.
On the occasion, Kataria honoured 34 Chandigarh Administration employees and civilians with commendation certificates for excellence in public service, arts and culture, social work, and sports. The Administrator’s Police Medal was awarded to 24 Chandigarh Police personnel, while three officers received the President’s Police Medal for their distinguished services.
To mark the occasion, the Administrator declared Monday, August 18, as a holiday for all government, government-aided, and private schools in Chandigarh. The event was attended by Rajeev Verma, Chief Secretary of Chandigarh; Sagar Preet Hooda, Director General of Police; and other senior officials of the administration and police.
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