What tricity is talking about
UT inspector general Tejinder Luthra has a warning for those who drink and drive. “The drive against drunken driving is going to get stricter,” he says. But soon motorists won’t have to worry about being challaned.
Soon, zip past drunken driving nakas!
UT inspector general Tejinder Luthra has a warning for those who drink and drive. “The drive against drunken driving is going to get stricter,” he says. But soon motorists won’t have to worry about being challaned. The problem most face today is they don’t know if their liquor consumption is within limits. This is set to change. An app-based cab company is tying up with clubs and watering holes in town to install alcometers. The pilot project will start from Chandigarh Golf Club. So before taking to the steering, you can get the alcohol level checked with the firm’s alcometers. If the liquor is within limits, drive down without worrying about police nakas. But if the alcohol consumption is on the higher side, the firm’s cab will be at hand to drive you safely to your destination.
So, no more challaning and unsafe driving. Hic hic hurray!
Badnore’s tweet talk
It’s a strange scenario in Chandigarh. The top boss, governor VP Singh Badnore is active on social media, while most officials don’t even have a presence there. Surprisingly, even the few active ones are not following their boss. Regardless of that, Badnore tweets regularly about events he takes part in. He follows the leader and even tweeted birthday wishes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 17.
Anuradha Gupta moves on but memories linger
It’s been nearly two decades since she served as Chandigarh home secretary but Anuradha Gupta’s decision to quit the Indian Administrative Service still became a talking point. She is reckoned as among the most powerful bureaucrats Chandigarh has ever seen. Incidentally, all other UT home secretaries have been men. Old timers recall how hers was the final word and how even administrator Lt Gen BKN Chhibber wouldn’t question her stand.
Gupta is also remembered for her run-in with then inspector general Kiran Bedi. The unsavoury row in 1999 led to the transfer of both. While Gupta is in Geneva these days with GAVI Alliance, a global body promoting vaccination, Bedi is the Puducherry lieutenant governor.
Leaders come knocking as MC poll nears
The bugle for the Chandigarh municipal corporation elections has been sounded. With no time to waste, contenders are out on a door-to-door campaign for the December elections. Pradeep Chhabra of the Congress and the BJP’s Prince Bhandula have begun knocking doors in Sector 22, seeking the vote and support of residents. But some women leaders are wary. With their reserved wards still undecided, they were heard asking party bosses how and where they should campaign in this uncertainty.
Chickening out with chikungunya
With mosquitoes making headlines, residents are particularly curious about chikungunya this time. There’s a joke about Punjabis doing the rounds on WhatsApp. It says many in Punjab mistake chikungunya for a mouth-watering chicken preparation only to be told that it’s the name of a disease caused by a mosquito bite!
arvind.chhabra@hindustantimes.com