Maharashtra
Govt Formulating Uniform Toll Policy To Ease National Highway Commuters’ Burden: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari

New Delhi, Feb 3: The road transport ministry is working on a uniform toll policy to benefit national highway users, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Monday.
Gadkari also asserted that now India’s highway infrastructure matches that of the US. “We are working on a uniform toll policy. It will address the problem faced by the commuters,” he told media in an interview, without elaborating further.
Gadkari was responding to a question on simmering discontent among users of National Highways on account of high toll charges and sub-par road-user experience.
The longest-serving road transport and highways minister said that the ministry has decided to initially implement a barrier-less global navigation satellite system (GNSS)-based toll collection system on national highways.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Gadkari said, has been taking the complaints made by commuters on social media very seriously and is taking strong action against contractors involved.
At present, while private cars constitute about 60 per cent of the traffic on national highways, the share of toll revenue from these vehicles is barely 20-26 per cent.
Toll charges have increased on highways even as more and more stretches have come under the tolling system over the past 10 years, often leading to rising user discontent.
Total toll collection in India touched Rs 64,809.86 crore in 2023-24, a 35 per cent rise over the previous year. The collection was Rs 27,503 crore in 2019-20.
All user fee plazas on National Highways are established as per the provision of National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008 and the respective Concession Agreement.
Gadkari expressed confidence that in the current financial year, the highways ministry will surpass the previous record of 37 km per day highways construction in 2020-21 financial year.
Around 7,000 km highways been constructed so far in the current financial year. Traditionally, the pace of highways construction is higher in the February-March period.
The pace of highways construction in the country has touched a record 37 km per day in financial year 2020-21. The highways ministry had constructed 13,435.4 kilometres in 2020-21; 10,457.2 km in 2021-22; 10,331 km in 2022-23, and 12,349 km in 2023-24.
Gadkari also said this financial year, the ministry will award highways projects of 13,000 km. The ministry had awarded highways project of 8,580.5 km in 2023-24. The pace of highway project awards has slowed down considerably in the absence of a new scheme to replace the Bharatmala Pariyojana.
According to Gadkari, under the Bharatmala Pariyojana, the ministry had the power to award highway projects of up to Rs 3,000 crore, now the ministry cannot approve any fresh projects under the Bharatmala Pariyojana.
“For any project worth above Rs 1,000 crore, now we need to take the approval of the Cabinet. So, we have sent projects worth Rs 50,000-Rs 60,000 crore to the Cabinet for approval,” he said. “Once we get clearance, we will start working on those projects,” the minister added.
With an aim to reduce delay cost overrun and disputes, an inter-ministerial panel that appraises major highway projects has told the ministry to accept bids only after acquiring 90 per cent of the land required for the projects and getting all statutory projects such as forest and environment.
“This condition has affected the pace of award of highway projects,” Gadkari said. The government approved Bharatmala Pariyojana in 2017, covering a length of 34,800 km to improve connectivity and reduce logistic costs in the country.
As of October 31, 2024, projects covering a total length of 26,425 km have been awarded and 18,714 km has been constructed. India has the second largest road network and its National Highways span a total length of 1,46,195 km, forming the primary arterial network of the country.
Maharashtra
Why is there a ceasefire at the behest of the US? asks SP leader and MLA Abu Asim Azmi

Mumbai: Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader and MLA Abu Asim Azmi said that America’s arrogance is unbearable. A ceasefire at the behest of America and a war at its behest are not right. He said that Pakistan had carried out terrorist and destructive acts in the country before, why did the Modi government not respond to it at that time? He said that after the Pahalgam terrorist attack, the country stood with the government like a lead wall, but a ceasefire was declared at the behest of America. He said that our country will decide whether to have relations with Pakistan or not. Who gave America the authority to do so? He said that they were brought to their knees at the behest of America.
Abu Asim Azmi said that when there were terrorist attacks earlier, where was America? Why didn’t it mediate? Once, it happened that Narendra Modi suddenly went on a visit to Pakistan for no reason. There is anger against Pakistan in the country and the people are adamant about continuing the war until the end of Pakistan. Narendra Modi says that negotiations and terrorism cannot go together, blood and water will not flow together, so why has no concrete step been taken against terrorism so far? Relations with Pakistan have been maintained repeatedly, now why was a ceasefire declared at the behest of America and the US President is also announcing it? Azmi said that if a war is fought across the border, then why was the war left incomplete?
Modi’s statement that blood and terrorism and water and blood will not flow together is just a dialogue. If there was to be a ceasefire, then there should have been mediation and intervention in this matter already. Why was it done now? He said that terrorism has not ended even after the abrogation of Article 370 and demonetization. Modi ji had said that if terrorism is not ended in 50 days, then the punishment given to me will be acceptable. Abu Asim Azmi said that India is the biggest power but America will teach us a lesson that when to go to war and when not, India will decide. He said that communalism is on the rise in the country and a burqa-clad woman was forced to chant the slogan of Jai Shri Ram and was mistreated. Muslims are being targeted. This is completely wrong. This kind of communalism should also end. The government also needs to put a stop to this.
Maharashtra
Maharashtra: Conspiracy to spread religious hatred foiled, one arrested

Mumbai: Uncovering a conspiracy to spread religious hatred in Mumbai, Maharashtra, the cyber department has claimed to have arrested a chartered accountant who tried to disturb law and order by circulating derogatory images of Hindu deities on social media. After this, the police took the matter seriously and solved the case. Maharashtra Cyber has claimed to have arrested a person for insulting Hindu deities and making obscene images viral on social media. The arrest has been made in the case of spreading religious hatred and trying to create unrest on social media. Maharashtra Cyber has registered a case under sections 1963, 294, 299 of the BNS and the IT Act. The accused has also shared obscene and nude images and videos of Hindu deities on social media and websites, which created a problem of order and discipline.
After the arrest of the accused, his mobile phone has been sent for forensic examination. Along with this, 6 X-accounts have also been identified on which Hindu deities were insulted and obscene images were made viral. In this case, 7 Twitter X-accounts have also been identified, which are fake accounts. This action was taken to spread religious hatred and unrest in Maharashtra, along with disturbing law and order. Maharashtra Cyber has taken action in this case where pictures and videos of deities were made viral to deify them. The accused has been identified as a 39-year-old chartered accountant and further investigation has been initiated, informed Additional DG of Maharashtra Cyber Cell, Yashasvi Yadav.
Maharashtra
BJP leader Navneet Rana in a state of shock after receiving death threats from Pakistan

Mumbai: BJP leader and former MP Navneet Rana has received a death threat from a Pakistani number, after which the Mumbai Police has started investigating the matter. The threatening message states that the Hindu lioness who recites Hanuman Chalisa is a short-term guest and will be flying soon. Navneet Rana has informed the Mumbai Police about this and the police have taken steps in its investigation. All the phone calls have been received from a Pakistani number. Navneet Rana has reported this to the Khar Police Station.
Last year, Navneet Rana had also received a threat. This threatening message was sent on WhatsApp in the form of a video clip and this threat was received from Afghanistan, Pakistan. Now Navneet Rana has received a threat again from Pakistan. Two days ago, Navneet Rana had issued a statement against Pakistan praising Operation Sindoor and said that they have entered the house and killed you, they have dug your grave, After this, Navneet Rana has now received threatening calls from a Pakistani number. The police have started investigating and are trying to find out from which number the call was made and whose number the call was received from. After receiving the threatening message, the Mumbai police has now increased Navneet’s security and security has also been tightened at her house in Mumbai.
-
Crime3 years ago
Class 10 student jumps to death in Jaipur
-
Maharashtra7 months ago
Mumbai Local Train Update: Central Railway’s New Timetable Comes Into Effect; Check Full List Of Revised Timings & Stations
-
Maharashtra7 months ago
Mumbai To Go Toll-Free Tonight! Maharashtra Govt Announces Complete Toll Waiver For Light Motor Vehicles At All 5 Entry Points Of City
-
Maharashtra8 months ago
False photo of Imtiaz Jaleel’s rally, exposing the fooling conspiracy
-
National News7 months ago
Ministry of Railways rolls out Special Drive 4.0 with focus on digitisation, cleanliness, inclusiveness and grievance redressal
-
Crime7 months ago
Baba Siddique Murder: Mumbai Police Unable To Get Lawrence Bishnoi Custody Due To Home Ministry Order, Says Report
-
Maharashtra6 months ago
Maharashtra Elections 2024: Mumbai Metro & BEST Services Extended Till Midnight On Voting Day
-
National News8 months ago
J&K: 4 Jawans Killed, 28 Injured After Bus Carrying BSF Personnel For Poll Duty Falls Into Gorge In Budgam; Terrifying Visuals Surface