India's political landscape is ablaze with activity! From the ongoing debates surrounding the new farm bills and their impact on rural India, to the upcoming state elections shaping the national narrative, the stakes couldn't be higher. Key political figures are maneuvering strategically, with alliances shifting and power dynamics constantly in flux. The opposition's challenge to the ruling party is intensifying, sparking vigorous debates on crucial policy matters including economic reforms and social justice initiatives. Parliamentary proceedings are filled with heated exchanges, reflecting the deep divisions within the nation. This evolving political climate directly impacts the lives of every Indian citizen, influencing everything from economic opportunities to social welfare programs. Stay informed about the latest developments in Indian politics, from crucial legislative decisions to grassroots movements, by exploring Abtak.com for in-depth analysis and breaking news updates. Understanding the intricacies of our political system is crucial; stay engaged, stay informed, and stay ahead.
NEW DELHI: The road transport ministry on Thursday notified that no cash transactions for toll payments will be allowed from April 10, aiming to reduce queuing of vehicles at toll gates, often a major irritant for commuters.In a move to eliminate the practice of commuters flashing identity cards at toll booths seeking user fee exemptions on NHs and expressways, the road transport ministry has reached out to government entities and offices to either get "Exempted FASTags" for those who fall under the exemption category or buy a FASTag annual pass. Annual pass for private cars costs Rs 3,075 and allows crossing of 200 toll plazas.This move is expected to put an end to altercations at toll plazas. Additionally, on Thursday evening, the ministry notified that no cash transactions for toll payments will be allowed from April 10. This aims to reduce queuing of vehicles at toll gates, which is often a major irritant for commuters.As per the notification, in case a vehicle doesn't have a valid FASTag, the driver or vehicle owner can pay the toll charge through UPI, which will be 1.25 times the normal user fee. If they don't opt to pay the fee through UPI, such a vehicle will be dealt with as per Rule 14 of NH Fee Rules, which provides for denying entry or removing the vehicle from the NH section. The highway authority can also issue an e-notice for a pending toll charge, and failure to make the payment within three days will attract double the charge.On the push to pursue authorities and exempted category vehicles to go for designated FASTag or annual pass, an official said, "The exemption from paying toll is linked to an authority or an office and not to an individual. But people often show their identity cards to avoid paying toll even when they are in their personal vehicles. This results in arguments at toll booths." He added that people should adopt this quickly, considering that NHAI will fast-track the rollout of multi-lane free flow or signal-free tolling across the NH network. Vehicles without valid FASTags will get an e-notice of unpaid toll.
Chennai: Hours before Union home minister Amit Shah was to arrive in Madurai, Thuglak editor and an associate of Shah, S Gurumurthy on Saturday met PMK founder S Ramadoss. The PMK leader, however, ruled out the possibility of meeting Amit Shah during his two-day visit to Tamil Nadu.Gurumurthy met Ramadoss for the second time amid reported tension within PMK regarding alliance strategies and insistence by Anbumani Ramadoss to remain party president. The hour-long meeting took place at the T Nagar residence of A K Vijay Mahesh, son of former Union minister and PMK leader A K Moorthy, sources sai ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday urged vehicle manufacturers and logistics companies to opt for trucks that run on alternative fuels rather than diesel-fuelled ones to cut down pollution, reduce logistics costs, and decrease India's dependence on imported fossil fuel."My appeal to you all is - don't go for diesel trucks, think about alternative fuel and biofuel. It's economically viable," Gadkari said, while addressing industry leaders. He added that govt is encouraging the use of alternative fuels such as biodiesel, ethanol, hydrogen, and others.On the ...Read More >
Ranchi: City is gearing up for the inauguration of the 4.18 km, four-lane Ratu Road flyover on Thursday by Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari. The minister will also address a gathering at the OTC ground in Piska More on the same day.Earlier, the flyover was scheduled for inauguration on June 19.As a final touch-up to the construction continued on Tuesday, city residents expressed satisfaction over the timely completion of the project. Once it is opened to the public, the flyover will ensure hassle-free movement along the Kutchery-Ratu Road stretch, providing respite to t ...Read More >
New Delhi: Vehicle owners may soon get a new and easier way to pay tolls in India. The government is planning to introduce a FASTag Annual Pass that will allow unlimited travel on national highways and expressways. This was reported by the Times of India on May 24. The new system is being considered by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). If introduced, the FASTag Annual Pass will cost Rs 3,000 per year. With this one-time payment, users can travel freely across highways without paying toll charges each time. This move is expected to make road travel smoother and more afforda ...Read More >
Igatpuri (Maharashtra): Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who was accompanied by Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, on Thursday inaugurated the last phase of 76 km of Igatpuri to Aamne, Thane of the 701 km Hinduhrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg that connects Nagpur with Mumbai. With the inauguration of the last phase of Samruddhi Highway, the entire 701 km-long road has been put into service. Now, the Nagpur-Mumbai journey can be completed in eight hours instead of 16 hours. The distance from Igatpuri to Kasara will be covered in just 8 minutes ...Read More >
Mumbai, June 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Thursday that the state government will go ahead with the development of 802-km Shaktipeeth Mahamarg costing Rs 86,300 crore, saying that the state Finance department has not raised objection regarding the infrastructure project. The statement by CM Fadnavis comes after the state Finance department said the Rs 20,878-crore loan guarantee extended by the Maharashtra Cabinet will put financial burden on the state and the off-budget loan will impact the state's capability of seeking the loan. The Finance depar ...Read More >
The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway's Wayside Amenity Stations, initiated by NHAI, are revolutionizing the travel experience for long-distance truck drivers. These driver-centric stations offer essential facilities such as rest areas, dining, and refueling, significantly enhancing comfort, safety, and convenience for India's highway heroes. The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, is setting new standards in eco-sensit ...Read More >
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], June 29 (ANI): Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav ordered strict action after taking cognisance of serious negligence in the construction of the Aishbagh Railway Overbridge (ROB) in Bhopal. Following his directions, eight engineers of the Public Works Department (PWD) were held accountable based on the findings of an investigation. In a post on X, CM Yadav said, "I took cognisance of the serious negligence in the construction of the Aishbagh ROB and ordered an investigation. Based on the investigation report, action has been taken against 8 engineers of ...Read More >
Jaipur: Police in Didwana have stepped up their probe into a cross-border smuggling case in which they arrested two arms and drug smugglers on June 27 for supplying Austrian Glock and Chinese Norinco pistols. It has emerged that the case has links to a massive Rs 300-crore heroin consignment seized by Punjab's Amritsar police near the India-Pakistan border in Barmer on June 30. Canada-based Joben Kaler was identified as the main overseas handler of the heroin consignment. Didwana-Kuchaman police had arrested Mohammad Ilyas from Khunkhuna and Amarjeet Singh Takhar, alias Prince, from Jalandhar ...Read More >
New Delhi: The road transport ministry has allowed cab aggregators to charge up to two times the base fare during peak hours, as against 1.5 times earlier, while for non-peak hours, the fare has to be a minimum of 50 per cent of the base fare. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in its 'Motor Vehicles Aggregator Guidelines 2025' said "the aggregator shall be permitted to charge a minimum of 50 per cent lower than the base fare and a maximum dynamic pricing of two times the base fare specified under sub-clause (17.1)." Moreover, the base fare chargeable shall be for a minimum of three ...Read More >
Shimla, July 3 (SocialNews.XYZ) Slamming Himachal minister Anirudh Singh, who was booked for wrongful restraint and assaulting NHAI officers, the state BJP unit on Thursday took offence at the accused's assertions against Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, who reacted strongly over the incident. "Nitin Gadkari knows Himachal Pradesh completely and he's the same Union Minister who visited Himachal Pradesh post-disaster (in 2024) and gave road construction works of Rs 1 lakh crore, laid a network of roads in the state and also took forward the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana," BJP state media in-ch ...Read More >
Bagdogra (West Bengal) [India], May 29 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said improving connectivity remains one of the main achievements of his government, which has, over the past decade, ushered in a slew of rail and road projects, including in the Northeastern state of Sikkim. In his address delivered via videoconferencing at the Sikkim@50 event held at Gangtok's Palzor Stadium, the Prime Minister recalled a time when travel for education, healthcare, and employment was a major challenge for the region. However, he noted that the situation has changed significantly over the ...Read More >
Srinagar: Before towering cranes and cutting-edge engineering transformed the Himalayan landscape, the monumental dream of connecting "Kashmir to Kanyakumari" by rail began with the plodding footsteps of humble mules. This extraordinary backstory underpins the official realization of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6, 2025, a project crowned by the awe-inspiring Chenab Bridge. According to Afcons Infrastructure Limited, the company behind the Chenab Bridge, the earliest and most formidable hurdle wasn't just the design of ...Read More >
Katra: Mixing humour with political resolve, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday used the flagging-off ceremony of the first train to Kashmir by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Katra to subtly but clearly articulate his government's demand for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. Recalling the opening of the Katra Railway Station -- the last programme of his first government in 2014 -- Abdullah pointed to a "coincidence" that four people present at the event on Friday were also on stage that day. Humorously pointing out the differing career trajectories of the persons involve ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 8 (PTI) Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday said the Centre has approved several projects worth Rs 24,000 crore to streamline traffic and reduce pollution in Delhi and its adjoining areas, including a five-km tunnel between Shiv Murti-Mahipalpur (Dwarka Expressway) and Nelson Mandela Road (Vasant Kunj). The tunnel will be constructed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) at an estimated cost of Rs 3,500 crore, she said, adding that the projects were approved during a recent meeting with Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari. ...Read More >
Shimla: Heavy rains lashed Himachal Pradesh on Sunday, triggering landslides and flash floods and blocking more than 100 roads, even as the weather department issued a red alert.A landslide at Chakki Mod near Parwanoo blocked the Chandigarh-Shimla highway for hours, resulting in a massive traffic jam Sunday morning. The local administration had to divert traffic through the Jangeshu link road until the landslide debris was cleared at Chakki Mod.The traffic was first restored one-way and later two-way, but the traffic jam continued on both sides of the highway throughout the day due to slow veh ...Read More >
Himachal Pradesh News: An NHAI engineer posted in Shimla has alleged that he and another officer were assaulted by Himachal Pradesh rural development and panchayati raj minister Anirudh Singh during a site inspection on Monday. Both the officers have been admitted to Indira Gandhi Medical College & Hospital (IGMC) in Shimla. The Central Engineering Services Officers' Association has urged Union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari "to take up this matter with the highest authorities in the country" to ensure that justice is delivered. The NHAI Engineers' Association has also demanded "immedia ...Read More >
Stocktwits - Indian markets opened firm on Wednesday, tracking mixed global cues, as optimism builds around a potential U.S.-India trade deal ahead of the critical July 9 deadline. The retail sentiment on Stocktwits for Nifty remained 'bullish'. Sectorally, it's a mixed bag with technology and metals leading the gains, while PSU banks and media stocks witnessed some selling pressure. IndusInd Bank (NSE:INBK) is the top Nifty loser, falling 3% as Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) downgraded it to 'Sell' with a target price of ₹722 per share. They expect subdued returns even after a recovery in H2 FY26 ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jun 5 (PTI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday inaugurated the final 76-km-long stretch of the Samruddhi Mahamarg, making the entire 701-km Mumbai-Nagpur corridor fully functional and bringing down the travel time between the two cities to 8 hours from around 18 hours. Fadnavis described the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Mahamarg as an "engineering marvel" and said this "economic corridor" would play a vital role in the state's development. Fadnavis said by connecting the expressway with the proposed Vadhvan port, they are planning to develop it as an "economic corrid ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: The government has approved shifting of Gurgaon's Kherki Daula toll plaza on the Delhi-Jaipur National Highway (NH-48) to Pachgaon, a place beyond Manesar, paving the way for easy commute for lakhs of office goers.When the plaza is moved to Pachgaon, over 15 kilometres from Gurgaon, commuters travelling between Delhi and Manesar also won't have to pay toll. Locals have been demanding its removal since 2014.TOI has learnt that Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari has approved the plan, and to ensure the new spot doesn't see any congestion, the National Highways Au ...Read More >
The tunnel will connect Shiv Murti-Mahipalpur near Dwarka Expressway to Nelson Mandela Road in Vasant Kunj. A new 5-km-long tunnel aimed at easing traffic congestion across South Delhi and major routes into the NCR was announced by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday. The tunnel will connect Shiv Murti-Mahipalpur near Dwarka Expressway to Nelson Mandela Road in Vasant Kunj. The Rs 3,500-crore project will be executed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and is part of six major ...Read More >
New Delhi: Alleging "blatant misuse" of agencies to defame its leaders, AAP on Thursday questioned why the first information report filed against former Delhi ministers Saurabh Bharadwaj and Satyendar Jain was being kept under wraps and "selective" press notes were being leaked to the media.Bharadwaj, who is Delhi AAP convener, alleged that only two former ministers were named in the case without any reasonable cause while all the officers of the health and public works departments, who were actually responsible for executing the hospital projects, were spared. "Is the FIR so baseless that BJP ...Read More >
Imphal, June 29 (UNI) A series of successful operations carried out by Manipur Police and security forces during the last 24 hours led to the arrest of several individuals involved in vehicle theft, insurgent activity, and the recovery of a significant cache of arms and ammunition. Police arrested a vehicle lifter identified as Syed Riyaj from his residence at Lilong Chaobok in Thoubal District. The arrest was made under Lilong Police Station. Authorities seized a blue two wheeler without registration number, along with a key and an Aadhaar card believed to be linked to the suspect. In a s ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 1 (PTI) Air freight forwarding and logistics company Skyways Air Services Ltd has filed preliminary papers with markets regulator Sebi to raise funds through an initial public offering (IPO). The city-based company's IPO is a mix of fresh issue of 32.92 million equity shares and an offer for sale (OFS) of 13.33 million equity shares by promoters and other selling shareholders, according to the draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) filed on Monday. Proceeds from fresh issuance to the extent of Rs 216.79 crore for payment of debt, Rs 130 crore for funding incremental working capit ...Read More >
NEW DELHI/SHIMLA: Shimla police registered an FIR against rural development and Himachal Pradesh minister Anirudh Singh Rana late Monday night for allegedly assaulting two NHAI engineers officials who were visiting the site of a collapsed five-storey building.The FIR was registered on the basis of NHAI manager Achal Jindal's complaint at Dhali police station under five sections of BNS dealing with assaulting a public servant, voluntarily causing hurt, intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace, wrongful restraint and common intention. Jindal in his complaint, which TOI reported ...Read More >
Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), considered the richest civic body in the country, tabled its budget of Rs 74,427 crore for 2025-26 at its headquarters in Mumbai on Tuesday. The additional municipal commissioners presented the budget to BMC commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, the state-appointed administrator. BMC is currently run by an administrator since the term of the corporators ended on March 7, 2022. This is the third year of the budget being presented to the administrator, in deviation from the norm where the municipal commissioner presents the budget to the standing co ...Read More >
New Delhi: In a joint operation, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israel Security Agency (ISA) have eliminated As'ad Abu Sharaiya, a senior leader of the Mujahideen terrorist organization in Gaza, and another terrorist, Mahmoud Muhammad Hamid Kuhail. According to the IDF, Abu Sharaiya was directly involved in the October 7, 2023, massacre, infiltrating Kibbutz Nir Oz, and was responsible for the abduction and murder of several Israeli citizens, including Shiri, Ariel, Kfir Bibas, and Nattapong Pinta. He also played a role in recruiting operatives for terror attacks against Israel and I ...Read More >
Gurgaon: Barely a month old, the Dwarka Expressway tunnel has made travel to and from NH-8 a seamless ride.Still, the tunnel - 3.6km of the main section and spurs to IGI Airport and Gurgaon - is a digital dead zone for thousands of daily commuters. There's no signal. No calls. And No GPS, seconds after one drives into the tunnel. "It's a smooth ride, but the moment you enter, your phone goes dead. Many of us attend office calls during our commute or make calls home. But there is just no mobile signal. In this day and age, a new tunnel without mobile connectivity feels like a basic oversight," ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 2 (ANI): Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday announced the completion of the four-lane Greenfield Bandikui Spur and said that it is expected to reduce travel time between Delhi and Jaipur to three hours. The 66.916-kilometre-long spur has been constructed at the cost of Rs 2,016 crore. Gadkari stated that the four-lane Greenfield Bandikui Spur resolves the issue of a 'lack of direct route' between the Delhi-Vadodara Expressway and Jaipur, which previously forced commuters to undertake longer journeys. 'We have successfully completed t ...Read More >
12 Jaipur: Around 3,800 vehicles travelled through the Jaipur-Bandikui linkway in the first 12 hours of the inaugural day of the trial run Wednesday, reducing the travel time between Jaipur and Delhi by at least 30 to 45 minutes. Officials of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said the number of vehicles would increase in the coming days.Confirming the figures of vehicle movements on the first day, Bharat Singh Joiya, project director of NHAI (Dausa PIU), said now that the trial run had started, NHAI won't close this linkway unless they find any major safety concerns. "We cannot comme ...Read More >