Chandigarh, Dec 31 (IANS) The Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh has worked out a new year gift for the city’s gallantry award winners — free car parking.

The Municipal Corporation, in recognition of the gallantry displayed by defence personnel and other brave people in various operations, Friday announced that it would issue free passes for parking cars in the city to the winners of the gallantry awards of ‘Chakra’ series.

The number of passes to be issued will be the same as are being issued to the councillors of the Municipal Corporation, a corporation spokesman said.

The awards covered include war-time and peace-time gallantry awards like the Param Vir Chakra, Ashok Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Vir Chakra and Shaurya Chakra.

In case of posthumous or deceased awardees, the next of kin shall be eligible for issue of the passes, the spokesman said.

‘The applicant has to be a resident of the union territory of Chandigarh and shall be required to produce proof of residence along with a copy of citation of award or gazette notification, published by the Government of India,’ the spokesman added.