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Bhubaneswar: In a decisive push towards safer and cleaner roads, the Government of Odisha has prohibited the entry and operation of commercial vehicles older than 10 years registered outside the state. The directive was finalised at a meeting of the State Transport Authority (STA) and rolled out under the supervision of Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena. Regional Transport Offices across Odisha have been tasked with enforcing the new norms on the ground. Under the revised framework, overaged commercial vehicles from other states will be denied permission to ply within Odisha. The transport department has also decided to withhold fresh permits for such vehicles, while placing curbs on their ownership transfer and associated tax processes. Authorities said the move targets long-standing concerns over road safety and environmental degradation. Older commercial vehicles, often lacking proper maintenance, have been linked to a higher risk of accidents, increased congestion on key routes, and elevated emission levels. Officials further noted that the influx of poorly maintained vehicles from outside the state has been particularly problematic in high-traffic corridors. The latest restrictions are expected to tighten regulatory oversight and promote adherence to safety and emission standards. "With this step, the state government aims to ease traffic pressure, cut down pollution, and ensure a safer commuting environment for the public," said the commerce and transport minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena.
Bhubaneswar: In a landmark step to strengthen early childhood education, the Odisha government has announced the introduction of 'Sishu Vatikas' across all government primary schools starting from the Academic Year (AY) 2025-26. The notification was issued by the Commissioner-cum-Secretary to the Government of Odisha, School & Mass Education Department on Monday and will be published in the Odisha Gazette. As part of this new initiative aligned with the National Education Policy 2020, children aged 5 to 6 years will be enrolled in pre-school education at these specially created centers. The ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: You can soon lend your bike to bike taxi operators and other app-based service providers and get paid for it. This follows the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways' (MoRTH) decision to revise the Motor Vehicles Aggregator Guidelines to allow the use of private (non-transport) motorcycles for passenger transport and hyperlocal deliveries through app-based aggregators. The move, announced on Tuesday, empowers state governments to permit private bike owners to operate as shared mobility service providers, essentially legalising the use of private bikes as bike taxis; a service tha ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Saturday withdrew its earlier decision to de-empanel three leading private sector banks -- Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank -- from handling the business and deposits of state government organisations and departments. A notification issued by the state finance department confirmed the reversal, allowing the three banks to continue as empanelled institutions authorised to manage government-related financial transactions. The government had, through a notification dated June 21, 2025, removed the banks from its empanelled list, citing their "poor perfo ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: Commuters, patients and examinees faced a tough time on Thursday as the Congress-led statewide bandh disrupted vehicular movement and train services. The dawn-to-dusk bandh, supported by Left parties, was called demanding justice for the 20-year-old Balasore student who died by suicide over alleged sexual harassment by a faculty member and the apparent inaction by college authorities to her complaint.Three-year-old Raju Munda, from Dhenkanal district's Kankadahad block, died after th ...Read More >
Lucknow, Aug 28 (PTI) The Uttar Pradesh Transport Department has introduced a new helpline were citizens can seek information regarding transport and vehicle-related matters, including driving licence and registration certificate, a statement said on Thursday. Transport Commissioner Brajesh Narayan Singh said that the state government had sought a short and easy-to-remember helpline, which has been approved and implemented by the Union Ministry of Telecommunications. Along with the existing toll-free number 1800-1800-151, the new helpline -- 149 -- aims to provide citizens with quick, reliab ...Read More >
HYDERABAD: After four days of relentless downpours, Telangana is expected to have a brief respite on Monday, with no rainfall alerts issued. However, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) placed the state under a yellow alert for thunderstorms. IMD data showed that Papannapet in Medak district received the heaviest 24-hour rainfall at 10.6 cm, followed by Manoor in Sangareddy with 9.28 cm and Nallabelly in Warangal at 9.15 cm. The statewide average rainfall for the day stood at 7.3 mm, notably higher than the normal 4.3 mm. Warangal's Sangem recorded the day's highest maximum temperature ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has been awarded the Platinum Rating by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) for the Anand Vihar Namo Bharat (Underground) Station.Platinum, the highest rating under the IGBC Green Certification -- recognises the station's strong commitment to sustainability. This achievement underscores NCRTC's dedication to green practices across the Namo Bharat project. All major project components, including stations, depots, and receiv ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought responses from the state government and the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the National Capital Region on a petition challenging fines and prosecution against fuel retailers for violating restrictions imposed on refuelling more than 10-year-old diesel and more than 15-year-old petrol cars. From Tuesday, petrol pumps in the NCR stopped refuelling these so-called end-of-life vehicles, following a notice from CAQM. Vehicular pollution is cited as one of the key contributors to pollution in NCR, among the world's most polluted u ...Read More >
Pune: The Indian Gig Workers' Front on Saturday evening suspended the ongoing strike of cabs and autorickshaws operating on applications till Tuesday, after leaving many commuters, including those arriving at the airport on Saturday morning, hassled. Keshav Kshirsagar, the president of the front, said, "We have a meeting on Tuesday with senior officials of the state transport department. If its decisions don't meet our expectations, the strike will resume." Several commuters had a harrowing experience on roads on Friday and in the early hours of Saturday. Cabs and autos were hard to come by. T ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Former head of Air India and chairman of the Railway Board Ashwani Lohani is the new Prime Ministers Museum and Library (PMML) director. The official order for his appointment was issued on Wednesday. A 1980-batch officer of the Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineering (IRSME), Lohani is known for turning around various organisations during his illustrious career. Following his retirement from IRSME service, he joined the GMR Group as the CEO. According to the order dated June 4, his appointment to the post of director, Prime Ministers Museum and Library in the rank and pa ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar, Jul 3 (PTI) The Odisha government on Thursday sought information from public regarding the stampede that took place near Shree Gundicha Temple in Puri during a ceremony related to ongoing Rath Yatra festivities in which three persons were killed and 50 others injured. The state government through a public notice urged the people to share information, video footage or any other materials related to the stampede which took place early on Sunday for a proper and transparent inquiry into the incident. The public notice issued by the Planning and Convergence department, also mentione ...Read More >
Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday announced to plant over 37 crore saplings on July 9 to bolster PM Modi's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' initiative, stressing that "a sapling we nurture today will sustain our lives tomorrow"."If we plant flowering trees on the roads' median and give the responsibility of protecting them to NGOs or other organisations, it will give out a good message. We have to do it on expressways, highways, interstate connectivity or municipality roads... I appeal to everyone to join the campaign on July 9 from 7 am to 7 pm, and take a selfie after planting a tree," t ...Read More >
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], August 4 (ANI): Actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan made strong remarks on the necessity of education while addressing a gathering at the Agaram Foundation event in Chennai. Education is the only weapon that can break the chains of dictatorship and Sanatan, the Rajya Sabha MP said on Sunday. Kamal Haasan added, Dont take anything else in your hands, only education. We cannot win without it, because the majority can make you lose. Majority Fools (Moodargal) will make u lose; knowledge alone will seem defeated. That why we must hold on to it (Educat ...Read More >
The restrictions will not apply to commercial vehicles registered in Delhi, BS-VI compliant diesel vehicles, or vehicles running on CNG, LNG, or electricity. Commercial goods vehicles (CGVs) registered outside Delhi that do not comply with BS-VI emission standards will be barred from entering the national capital starting November 1, 2025, authorities announced. The move follows directions from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to curb vehicular pollution in the city, according t ...Read More >
Assets worth Rs 79.93 crore belonging to a Punjab-based company has been seized by the Enforcement Directorate as part of a money laundering investigation linked to an environmental crime involving large-scale water pollution. The attached properties include land, buildings, and plant and machinery owned by Malbros International Pvt Ltd. The provisional attachment was carried out by the ED's Jalandhar Zonal Office under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The probe stems from a ...Read More >
Bengaluru: For millions of people, the sudden, sharp pain of tooth due to sensitivity can turn a sip of cold water into a jolt. Now, researchers at Indian Institute of Science (IISc), in collaboration with Bengaluru-based deep-tech startup Theranautilus, have engineered "CalBots" - magnetic nanobots that can seal the problem at its source.As per IISc, CalBots are 400-nanometre particles loaded with a calcium silicate-based bioceramic formula, designed to travel 500 micrometres deep inside dentinal tubules, the tiny tunnels in the tooth that lead to nerve endings. Guided by an external magnetic ...Read More >
A major portion of George Road in Thoothukudi has become a nightmare for drivers due to the presence of large potholes. This key stretch which has not undergone any restoration for several years has become a significant source of hardship for daily commuters. The road, which comes under the State Highways department, serves as one of the major connections between the Bypass and Beach Road. Bala, an autorickshaw driver, who has been driving on this stretch for over 15 years says, "The road has been in this poor condition for years as it is not frequently used by higher authorities." He added ...Read More >
Mumbai: Senior BJP leader Ravindra Chavan is all set to become the next Maharashtra BJP chief as he filed his nomination for the post of party's state president on Monday. Mr. Chavan presented the nomination forms to Union Minister Kiran Rijiju, who has been appointed as a central observer for the elections by the BJP. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and outgoing party chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule were present on this occasion. With no other nomination being filed for the post, Mr. Chavan is certain to become the next state president of Maharashtra BJP, said party leaders. The ...Read More >
Pune was thrown into chaos as cab and auto drivers using app-based services went on strike. Passengers encountered not only increased fares but also instances of violence, making their travel experience perilous. Arguments with passengers and overcharging marred the indefinite strike called by aggregator app-based cab and auto drivers from Friday in the city. Among the worst affected were flyers arriving at the airport and struggling to find further travel options. A woman on her way to a doctor ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: In the wake of FM Autonomous College tragedy, the Odisha government has directed all universities and colleges to prominently display the Women Helpline Number 181 across key locations on campus. The instruction issued by the Higher Education Department in this regard will be applicable to all universities and colleges under its jurisdiction, including government, aided, and private institutions. The educational institutions have also been instructed to organise awareness workshops on the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, ...Read More >
The southern bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Karnataka government to submit an action plan within a month to control the discharge of untreated sewage and industrial effluents into the Thenpennai river. This is pending the completion of new sewage treatment plants (STPs) scheduled for the end of December 2025. The directive came during a hearing on July 15, based on a suo motu case initiated by the bench based on news reports. The bench expressed serious concern over ...Read More >
Pune: Arguments with passengers and overcharging marred the indefinite strike called by aggregator app-based cab and auto drivers from Friday in the city. Among the worst affected were flyers arriving at the airport and struggling to find further travel options.A woman on her way to a doctor near Amanora Mall said she was mistreated by some autorickshaw drivers on strike. "I had hailed an auto and was on my way to the doctor when a group of other autorickshaw drivers stopped the driver. They snatched his cellphone and forcibly tried to pull me out of the vehicle, stating that a strike was on," ...Read More >
MUMBAI: The long-pending automated Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) at Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) -- popularly known as the pod taxi project -- has received clearance from the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA), the state body tasked with safeguarding the coastal environment. Estimated at ₹1,016.34 crore, the project is slated for completion within three years, and aims to enhance last-mile connectivity to the business hub, catering to an estimated 400,000 to 600,000 daily commuters. While the initiative promises to ease transportation challenges, it raises concerns about i ...Read More >
BHUBANESWAR: Emphasising the importance of cleaner and greener environment for a healthy society, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday announced the government's plan of planting 7.5 crore trees across the state within the next one year. Addressing a state-level function held at the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) to celebrate World Environment Day, the chief minister said the state has achieved a net increase of approximately 560 sq km in forest and tree cover, which is the fourth-highest among all states. The common people and institutions have planted nearly ...Read More >
Chennai, June 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Monday flagged off Chennai's first fleet of low-floor electric buses from the Metropolitan Transport Corporation's (MTC) Vyasarpadi depot, marking a significant step towards greener urban transport in the city. A total of 120 electric buses, worth Rs 207.90 crore, have been introduced under the Chennai City Partnership Programme and Chennai Sustainable Urban Services Programme, with support from the World Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Inaugurating the upgraded electric bus depot at Vyasarpadi, develop ...Read More >
Puri: The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has recently recommended Environmental Clearance (EC) for the proposed Puri International Airport, a flagship infrastructure project of Odisha government, an official statement said Friday. The EAC has recommended environmental clearance for the project during its meeting held on June 26, the statement said. The project, aimed at transforming the coastal town of Puri into an international gateway, has recorded major progress with a series of key clearances and regulatory mileston ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav on Saturday criticised the Rekha Gupta-led BJP government in the city over the worsening pollution levels in the Yamuna River, calling it a "grave concern". Referring to the July pollution report by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), Yadav said that pollution levels in the Yamuna have worsened since March. This, he said, clearly exposes the BJP's hollow promises on cleaning the river. He alleged that the government has only made tall claims about cleaning the Yamuna after assuming power in Delhi but has taken no concrete action. I ...Read More >
Jalandhar: In a money laundering probe related to an environmental crime, the Enforcement Directorate attached properties, including land, building and plant and machinery, worth Rs 79.93 crore belonging to a Punjab-based company involved in water pollution, an official said on Monday. The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Jalandhar Zonal Office, provisionally attached the immovable properties of Malbros International Pvt Ltd on Saturday in the money laundering investigation related to environmental crime, under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The ED initiat ...Read More >
Jalandhar, Dec 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Jalandhar Zonal Office, filed a Prosecution Complaint before the Special Court for PMLA at Jalandhar against Malbros International, Gautam Malhotra and others, in connection with a money laundering investigation related to an environmental crime. The charges were filed on Monday under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, said an official statement. The ED initiated an investigation on the basis of a criminal complaint filed by the Punjab Pollution Control Board against Malbros International and others for ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar, June 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) Amidst reports regarding a spike in Covid-19 cases across the country, the Odisha government has intensified its monitoring and containment measures to ensure public health safety across the state, said an official here on Friday. Referring to latest data released by the Health Department, a statement noted that a total of 755 samples have been tested in Odisha as of June 6, 2025. Of these, 38 samples have returned positive, with 9 individuals already recovered. The remaining 29 patients are in home isolation and reported to be stable. To align state-lev ...Read More >