The Union Territory (UT) of Chandigarh better known as country's first smoke-free city is all geared up to authorize tobacco vendors  with licenses in order to promote the  so that the provisions of the Control of Tobacco Products Act (COTPA).

As the UT Home-cum-health Secretary Ram Niwas states, 'This proposal has already been approved in the meeting of Chandigarh Tobacco Control Cell (CTCC) and very soon, we will start working in the direction of implementing it'.

Further, the minister ordered to install hoardings and display the smoke- free status of Chandigarh at all the strategic points in the city making it public and available to citizens.

This move will provide residents a right to register complaints through e-mails with evidence regarding violations of COTPA. Also aiding the support every police station’s station house has been designated as nodal officer for COTPA which keeps a tab on the sale of tobacco which is forbidden in vicinity of educational institutions.

In regard of this step identity card shall be given to CTCC members, who are given the authority to impose fines.

This move aims to restrict users in cutting down levels of tobacco usage.