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Hillary Victor

Hillary Victor is a Special Correspondent at Chandigarh. He covers Chandigarh administration, municipal corporation and all political parties.

Articles by Hillary Victor

Mohali: Now, wait till September for Greenfield project

A Maharashtra-based company, which was allotted the work in October 2022, had earlier been given time till June 2025

Chandigarh

Published on May 06, 2025 10:00 AM IST

ByHillary Victor, Mohali

Chandigarh’s last big slum, Janta Colony, to be razed today

The Janta Colony, which houses around 5,000 dwellers in approximately 2,500 shanties, has illegally occupied 10 acres of prime government land in Sector 25. This land, UT estate officials say, is valued at around ₹350 crore. Once cleared, a dispensary, primary school, community centre and a shopping area will come up here.

The demolition drive will begin at 5 am on Tuesday in the presence of 1,500 police personnel and 1,500 officials from the municipal corporation and UT estate office. (Keshav Singh/HT)

Chandigarh

Published on May 06, 2025 09:50 AM IST

ByHillary Victor, Chandigarh

Punjab clears path for development of Mohali’s Sector 90

The Punjab government has agreed to swap 23 acres of protected forest land falling under Sector 90 with land in Ludhiana’s Mattewara village, giving renewed hope to around 700 allottees awaiting land possession for a decade

To develop Sector 90, the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority had acquired 229 acres in 2015 near Lakhnaur village under Punjab government’s land pooling scheme. (HT)

Chandigarh

Published on May 05, 2025 08:54 AM IST

ByHillary Victor, Mohali

Chandigarh: 100 more electric buses to roll in by October

The Chandigarh transport department has submitted a proposal to the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) for the procurement of these environment-friendly buses under the central government’s PM e-Bus Sewa scheme

Chandigarh

Published on May 05, 2025 08:52 AM IST

ByHillary Victor, Chandigarh

‘Show of hands’ to pick Chandigarh mayor in 2026

Deputy commissioner Nishant Yadav said the proposal for amendment in Punjab Municipal Act was ready and now we will be sending it to the UT Administrator for final approval. We are hopeful; it will approved in next few days.

Chandigarh

Published on May 03, 2025 09:34 AM IST

ByHillary Victor, Chandigarh

Chandigarh: RLA’s threat drives repeat traffic violators to pay up

1.54 lakh traffic challans cleared in past three months, ₹9.66 crore collected in fine — an impressive 16-fold rise from same period last year

Chandigarh

Published on May 02, 2025 09:24 AM IST

ByHillary Victor, Chandigarh

Driving licence scam in Punjab: Expert suggests tech way out

Former vice-chairman of the Punjab transport department says Harnessing AutoMobiles for Safety (HAMS) system should be implemented immediately and private firm staff accused of tampering with video evidence must be taken to task.

Road safety expert Kamal Soi on Wednesday called for introducing the HAMS technology, an artificial intelligence (AI) based automated driver licence test system, in Punjab at the earliest. (HT file photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on May 01, 2025 02:34 PM IST

ByHillary Victor

Beant Singh Memorial Centre: 6 years on, Chandigarh admn to finally start construction of auditorium, convention centre

In 2019, the UT administration approved the development of the Centre along the lines of the India International Centre in New Delhi. As per the plan, the memorial was to have nine components but only four have so far been completed. These include a library, a memorial, an open-air theatre, and a cafeteria.

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 29, 2025 09:38 AM IST

ByHillary Victor, Chandigarh

Now, Chandigarh admn plans to raze Janata Colony before May 15

The Janata colony, spread over nearly 10 acres of government land and valued at ₹350 crore, is home to around 5,000 dwellers living in approximately 2,500 shanties, according to the UT estate office.

Residents of Janata Colony in Sector 25 staging a protest against the administration’s plan to demolish their shanties, on Sunday. (Keshav Singh/HT)

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 28, 2025 08:46 AM IST

ByHillary Victor, Chandigarh

Chandigarh’s startup policy to finally take off tomorrow

The policy will be a game changer for entrepreneurs and boost economic growth in Chandigarh, said deputy commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav, who is also the secretary, industries.

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 28, 2025 08:44 AM IST

ByHillary Victor, Chandigarh

Chandigarh admn issues guidelines for safety of runaway couples

As per the notification, the superintendent of police (City) in Chandigarh will serve as the state nodal officer and will be responsible for ensuring strict adherence to these guidelines

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 26, 2025 10:36 AM IST

ByHillary Victor, Chandigarh

Chandigarh: Shelved PGI-Sarangpur flyover back on the table after two years

The recommendation comes following a fresh survey conducted on the directions of Chandigarh deputy commissioner-cum-committee chairperson Nishant Kumar Yadav

The project was initially proposed in 2020 due to the escalating traffic chaos on the PGIMER-Sarangpur stretch. (HT)

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 25, 2025 09:46 AM IST

ByHillary Victor, Chandigarh

Punjab: Bishnoi interviews: Court allows polygraph tests of six Mohali cops

The six personnel were posted with the CIA, Mohali, at the time of the interview; the cops had consented to the polygraph tests

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 19, 2025 07:20 AM IST

ByHillary Victor, Mohali

Cocktail of hiccups leaves liquor vends in Chandigarh high and dru

Payment delays, court case around excise policy, faulty approval portal freeze liquor supply in Chandigarh; Bacchus lovers head to Mohali and Panchkula for their booze fix

Liquor companies have stalled supplies due to unpaid dues, contractors are also not sourcing stock amid court proceedings around the excise policy and the excise department’s sluggish online system has created an application bottleneck. (Ravi Kumar/HT)

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 18, 2025 09:30 AM IST

ByHillary Victor, Chandigarh

Sukhna sanctuary: Supreme Court directs green ministry to finalise Punjab’s ESZ draft in 3 months

The Punjab cabinet on April 11 had approved the ESZ limit ranging between 100 metres and 3 km around different parts of the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary sanctuary

During a hearing on Wednesday, the Punjab government informed the Supreme Court that the state cabinet had approved the ESZ limit ranging between 100 metres and 3 km around different parts of the sanctuary, as stated in the affidavit submitted during the previous hearing on March 19, 2025. (HT)

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 17, 2025 09:58 AM IST

ByHillary Victor, Mohali

Chandigarh: Stuck in slow lane, PGI-PU underpass project’s cost triples in five years

Due to heavy vehicular movement, especially CTU buses that pick and drop PU students and patients, visiting PGIMER, this is an accident-prone area; the underpass is expected to bring down accidents and facilitate smoother vehicular movement.

The PGI-PU underpass project, aimed at offering safe passage to pedestrians on the busy stretch, was approved in 2019 by the then UT administrator VP Singh Badnore. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 15, 2025 09:32 AM IST

ByHillary Victor, Chandigarh

Will hiked collector rates derail Chandigarh Housing Board’s general housing scheme?

With flat prices surging by up to 35% to 40%, uncertainty looms over the future of the General Housing Scheme in Chandigarh’s Sector 53

Under the new collector rates, a three-bedroom flat’s price will rise from <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>1.65 crore to <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>2.29 crore, a two-bedroom flat from <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>1.40 crore to <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>1.97 crore and an EWS (economically weaker section) flat from <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>55 lakh to <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>73 lakh. (HT Photo (for representation only))

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 14, 2025 08:12 AM IST

ByHillary Victor, Chandigarh

Adulteration of milk-based products on the rise in Chandigarh

The issue came up during the ongoing session of the Lok Sabha, where Prataprao Jadhav, minister of state in the ministry of health and family welfare, informed that the percentage of adulterated milk products in Chandigarh was 7.22% in 2021–22; 13.53% in 2022–23; 15.76% in 2023–24 and it has surged to 22% in 2024–25

Samples of nearly 22% of various milk based products were found be non-conforming in 2024-25. (File)

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 10, 2025 10:16 AM IST

ByHillary Victor, Chandigarh

Bank surety default: Chandigarh admn cancels allotment of 47 liquor vends, fresh auction to follow

A senior official of the Chandigarh excise and taxation department confirmed the cancellations, adding that the department will soon re-auction the 47 vends

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 10, 2025 10:06 AM IST

ByHillary Victor, Chandigarh

Chandigarh: UT’s startup policy ready to hit ground after 7 years

To boost entrepreneurship, the administration has set aside ₹90 lakh for an annual competition; in this the top 20 startups will receive a grant of ₹2 lakh, along with incubation support for a year, while the next 50 runners-up will receive ₹1 lakh each

The policy first began taking shape in 2018, two years after Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the Startup India Policy. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 09, 2025 09:46 AM IST

ByHillary Victor, Chandigarh

From ₹500 to ₹1 lakh, Centre clears 200-fold hike in building violation fine in Chandigarh

The proposal, submitted by the Chandigarh administration in 2022, has received the ministry’s nod and will now be tabled in the Parliament for final clearance; this will be the first major revision in penalties since 2007, when the fine was increased from ₹20 to ₹500 per square feet per month

As per the proposed amendment, if the violation continues, a further penalty of up to <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>4,000 per day may be imposed. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Apr 08, 2025 06:17 PM IST

ByHillary Victor, Chandigarh

Chandigarh picked for 2030 Solar Cities mission

The list was released during the Lok Sabha session last week, where minister of state for power Shripad Yesso Naik stated that all 34 cities will be developed as Solar Cities by the target year and Chandigarh was one of them

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 07, 2025 07:08 AM IST

ByHillary Victor, Chandigarh

Mohali: Charges framed against 4 in Kumbra double murder case

Two teenagers were stabbed to death amid a street brawl in Mohali’s Kumbra village November 2024; all accused are aged 18 to 21

Following 17-year-old Damanpreet’s murder on November 13, 2024, his family members and supporters had blocked Airport Road at the Sector 68/79 intersection in Mohali for over two days, seeking arrest of the accused. (HT File Photo)

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 05, 2025 09:40 AM IST

ByHillary Victor, Mohali

40 hectares of forest land diverted for development in Chandigarh

The matter was raised during the ongoing session of the Lok Sabha, where, in response to a question, Union minister for environment, forest and climate change Bhupender Yadav stated that 40 hectares (98 acres) of forest land in Chandigarh had been diverted for non-forestry purposes between April 1, 2014, and March 31, 2024

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 04, 2025 09:26 AM IST

ByHillary Victor, Chandigarh

Chandigarh: Sector 53 housing scheme caught in bureaucratic delays despite high demand

It has been a month since the demand survey concluded on March 3, during which as many as 7,468 applicants registered interest for the 372 flats on offer across three categories

Despite a promising response to the demand survey, the scheme remains entangled in unexplained administrative hurdles, with no clear timeline for its launch. (iStock)

Chandigarh

Published on Apr 04, 2025 09:24 AM IST

ByHillary Victor, Chandigarh

Chandigarh: Tricity Metro project still waiting to pick up speed

Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) has been directed to re-examine its Metro ridership estimate of 11.3 lakh passengers per year

The eight-member committee, constituted by UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria in November last year, was tasked with assessing the financial viability of the Tricity Metro project. Four months later, the committee, which is working in coordination with RITES, has met twice in January and February. But failed to come up with conclusive results. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Published on Mar 31, 2025 08:44 AM IST

ByHillary Victor, Chandigarh

Pastor Bajinder convicted in Zirakpur rape case, quantum on April 1

Bajinder has been convicted under Sections 376 (rape), 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code

On Friday, Bajinder, who runs the Church of Glory and Wisdom, was produced before the court amid heavy police security. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Published on Mar 29, 2025 09:14 AM IST

ByHillary Victor, Mohali

Chandigarh: Tribune Flyover project moving forward, fresh estimates underway

Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari confirmed that since the high court stay had now been lifted, and considering the substantial time gap of over five years since the project’s initial approval, a revised project report and cost estimate were being prepared

Chandigarh

Published on Mar 28, 2025 10:22 AM IST

ByHillary Victor, Chandigarh

It’s official: Deputations to Chandigarh to end after 7 years

The Chandigarh administration on Tuesday issued a notification on deputation policy, capping the tenure of employees deputed in Chandigarh at a maximum of seven years

Chandigarh

Published on Mar 26, 2025 10:28 AM IST

ByHillary Victor, Chandigarh

Come April 1, buying property in Chandigarh to cost more

Chandigarh administrations notifies hiked collector rates across residential and commercial categories in both urban and rural pockets

Chandigarh

Published on Mar 26, 2025 10:24 AM IST

ByHillary Victor, Chandigarh

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Hillary Victor

Hillary Victor is a Special Correspondent at Chandigarh. He covers Chandigarh administration, municipal corporation and all political parties.

A Maharashtra-based company, which was allotted the work in October 2022, had earlier been given time till June 2025

The Punjab government has agreed to swap 23 acres of protected forest land falling under Sector 90 with land in Ludhiana’s Mattewara village, giving renewed hope to around 700 allottees awaiting land possession for a decade

The Chandigarh transport department has submitted a proposal to the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) for the procurement of these environment-friendly buses under the central government’s PM e-Bus Sewa scheme

Deputy commissioner Nishant Yadav said the proposal for amendment in Punjab Municipal Act was ready and now we will be sending it to the UT Administrator for final approval. We are hopeful; it will approved in next few days.

1.54 lakh traffic challans cleared in past three months, ₹9.66 crore collected in fine — an impressive 16-fold rise from same period last year

Former vice-chairman of the Punjab transport department says Harnessing AutoMobiles for Safety (HAMS) system should be implemented immediately and private firm staff accused of tampering with video evidence must be taken to task.

The Janata colony, spread over nearly 10 acres of government land and valued at ₹350 crore, is home to around 5,000 dwellers living in approximately 2,500 shanties, according to the UT estate office.

The policy will be a game changer for entrepreneurs and boost economic growth in Chandigarh, said deputy commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav, who is also the secretary, industries.

As per the notification, the superintendent of police (City) in Chandigarh will serve as the state nodal officer and will be responsible for ensuring strict adherence to these guidelines

The recommendation comes following a fresh survey conducted on the directions of Chandigarh deputy commissioner-cum-committee chairperson Nishant Kumar Yadav

The six personnel were posted with the CIA, Mohali, at the time of the interview; the cops had consented to the polygraph tests

Payment delays, court case around excise policy, faulty approval portal freeze liquor supply in Chandigarh; Bacchus lovers head to Mohali and Panchkula for their booze fix

The Punjab cabinet on April 11 had approved the ESZ limit ranging between 100 metres and 3 km around different parts of the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary sanctuary

Due to heavy vehicular movement, especially CTU buses that pick and drop PU students and patients, visiting PGIMER, this is an accident-prone area; the underpass is expected to bring down accidents and facilitate smoother vehicular movement.

With flat prices surging by up to 35% to 40%, uncertainty looms over the future of the General Housing Scheme in Chandigarh’s Sector 53

A senior official of the Chandigarh excise and taxation department confirmed the cancellations, adding that the department will soon re-auction the 47 vends

To boost entrepreneurship, the administration has set aside ₹90 lakh for an annual competition; in this the top 20 startups will receive a grant of ₹2 lakh, along with incubation support for a year, while the next 50 runners-up will receive ₹1 lakh each

The proposal, submitted by the Chandigarh administration in 2022, has received the ministry’s nod and will now be tabled in the Parliament for final clearance; this will be the first major revision in penalties since 2007, when the fine was increased from ₹20 to ₹500 per square feet per month

The list was released during the Lok Sabha session last week, where minister of state for power Shripad Yesso Naik stated that all 34 cities will be developed as Solar Cities by the target year and Chandigarh was one of them

Two teenagers were stabbed to death amid a street brawl in Mohali’s Kumbra village November 2024; all accused are aged 18 to 21

It has been a month since the demand survey concluded on March 3, during which as many as 7,468 applicants registered interest for the 372 flats on offer across three categories

Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) has been directed to re-examine its Metro ridership estimate of 11.3 lakh passengers per year

Bajinder has been convicted under Sections 376 (rape), 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code

Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari confirmed that since the high court stay had now been lifted, and considering the substantial time gap of over five years since the project’s initial approval, a revised project report and cost estimate were being prepared

The Chandigarh administration on Tuesday issued a notification on deputation policy, capping the tenure of employees deputed in Chandigarh at a maximum of seven years

Chandigarh administrations notifies hiked collector rates across residential and commercial categories in both urban and rural pockets

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