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Makeover of langar area outside PGI in Chandigarh: Work starts to lay new tiles

The PGI authorities had previously requested the MC to create some temporary sheds, dustbins, a system of regular cleaning and water supply, install benches, and deploy a sanitary inspector.

Written by: Parul

3 min readChandigarhJun 7, 2025 09:58 AM IST

PGI, Langar, Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh

Langar outside PGI’s boundary wall has been continuing for decades. (Express Photo by Kamleshwar Singh)

Come summer, and the heat and humidity take a toll on all those patients and attendants standing in line to get their daily meal from generous men and women who serve langar outside PGI’s boundary wall, a service that has been continuing for decades.

The area comes under the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh, and lacks basic amenities like dustbins and water.

A lot of dust gathers due to the uneven ground and lack of trees. As there is no proper supply of water, utensils are washed in the area, with stale water, leftover food, used plates, etc, also causing a foul smell.

The PGI authorities had previously requested the MC to create some temporary sheds, dustbins, a system of regular cleaning and water supply, install benches, and deploy a sanitary inspector.

Now the area where langar is served has been cleared and the process of putting new tiles has started.

Also Read | Free food service started by ‘Langar Baba’ decades ago at PGIMER continues to serve patients well

As per a worker here, they are levelling the ground and to make the area even and cleaner, new tiles will be put, and it will take a few weeks to complete the process.

“Langar has not stopped. It has been temporarily shifted to the gate near Sector 11. We hope that the area is made cleaner for our langar service. Many of us come from far-off places in Haryana, Punjab and Himachal in our trucks, tempos and vehicles, and serve all meals a day to patients from across the region, who have to be here sometimes for weeks with their family,” says Sukhpal Pal, from Kharar, with kadhi-chawal and besan ladoo to serve lunch to patients.

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The service was started by Jagdish Lal Ahuja, a Padma Shri awardee, who passed away in November 2021.

Known as ‘Langar Baba’ for serving free food to patients every day for more than two decades, he had begun distributing free food to people outside PGI and later Government Medical College & Hospital, Sector 32 (GMCH-32), since January 2000.

Many were inspired by his effort, and since then the langar service has grown, with many part of this initiative.

The tribe has grown ever since, with the langars beginning from 10 am and continuing till 10 pm.

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As PGIMER witnesses an outpatient department (OPD) of about 10,000 patients a day, with attendants accompanying them, the queues for food and tea have become longer.

“To ease the pressure on the area, the MC should create more amenities and probably serve packed food to maintain hygiene, and also create make-shift sheds for the comfort of patients and servers in the heat, and monsoons. This is a service that needs not just the support of people, but also of the Administration,” says Manjeek Kaur, who comes here with her son from a village near Ropar to serve langar daily, except Sunday.

Parul

Parul is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express in Chandigarh. She is a seasoned journalist with over 25 years of experience specializing in public health, higher education, and the architectural heritage of Northern India. Professional Profile Education: Graduate in Humanities with a specialized focus on Journalism and Mass Communication from Panjab University, Chandigarh. Career Path: She began her career covering local city beats and human interest stories before joining The Indian Express in 2009. Over the last decade and a half, she has risen to the rank of Principal Correspondent, becoming the publication’s primary voice on Chandigarh’s premier medical and academic institutions. Expertise: Her reporting is deeply rooted in the institutional dynamics of PGIMER (Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research) and Panjab University. She is highly regarded for her ability to navigate complex administrative bureaucracies to deliver student-centric and patient-centric news. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2024 - 2025) Her recent work highlights critical reporting on healthcare infrastructure, academic governance, and urban culture: 1. Public Health & PGIMER "PGIMER expands digital registry: Centralized patient records to reduce wait times by 40%" (Nov 20, 2025): A detailed look at the digital transformation of one of India's busiest medical institutes to tackle patient influx. "Robotic Surgery at PGI: Why the new urology wing is a game-changer for North India" (Oct 12, 2025): Reporting on the acquisition of state-of-the-art medical technology and its impact on affordable healthcare. "Shortage of life-saving drugs: Inside the supply chain crisis at government pharmacies" (Dec 5, 2025): An investigative piece on the logistical hurdles affecting chronic patients in the tri-city area. 2. Education & Institutional Governance "Panjab University Senate Election: The battle for institutional autonomy" (Dec 18, 2025): In-depth coverage of the high-stakes internal elections and the friction between traditional governance and central reforms. "Research funding dip: How PU’s science departments are navigating the 2025 budget cuts" (Nov 5, 2025): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing researchers and the impact on India's global academic ranking. 3. Art, Culture & Heritage "Le Corbusier’s legacy in peril: The struggle to preserve Chandigarh’s Capitol Complex" (Dec 22, 2025): A feature on the conservation efforts and the tension between urban modernization and UNESCO heritage status. "Chandigarh Art District: How street murals are reclaiming the city’s grey walls" (Oct 30, 2025): A cultural profile of the local artists transforming the aesthetic of the "City Beautiful." Signature Style Parul is known for her empathetic lens, often centering her stories on the individuals affected by policy—whether it is a student navigating university red tape or a patient seeking care. She possesses a unique ability to translate dense administrative notifications into actionable information for the public. Her long-standing beat experience makes her a trusted source for "inside-track" developments within Chandigarh’s most guarded institutions. X (Twitter): @parul_express ... Read More

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