Kolkata, Oct 16: A Japanese delegation visited the Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system in Mundka-Bakkarwala on Friday on the sidelines of the 12th India–Japan Joint Working Group Meeting on Roads and Road Transportation.

The MLFF system provided insights into India’s technology-driven initiatives for seamless and efficient highway travel.

At the MLFFs, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) uses a combination of RFID-based FASTag electronic toll collection, automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) and AI analytics to allow vehicles to pass through charging points without stopping, slowing down or remaining in a designated lane.

MLFFs have already been installed at Choryasi in Gujarat, Mundka in Delhi, Gharaunda in Haryana and Daulatpura and Manoharpura in Rajasthan.

While 12 further locations have been awarded for conversion, tenders have also been launched covering an additional 104 toll plazas around the country.

The MLFF at Choryasi on the Surat–Bharuch section of NH-48 was the first to become operational.

The one at Mundka on Delhi’s Urban Extension Road-II was the second.

The expansion plan represents a significant shift from India’s traditional barrier-based toll plazas.

Rather than moving immediately to satellite-based toll collection, the Indian government has opted to build on the country’s established FASTag system and combine it with ANPR and AI.

Expert committees had recommended further consideration of GPS-based barrier-free tolling because of security, privacy and operational control issues, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has indicated.

FASTag and ANPR/AI was thus selected as the technology for the current MLFF programme.

The session of the India–Japan Joint Working Group on Roads and Road Transportation Sector was successfully held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.

Discussions focused on advanced construction technologies, bridge and tunnel engineering, sustainable infrastructure and digital innovations, fostering the exchange of technical expertise and best practices.

“The meeting reaffirmed both nations’ commitment to safe, sustainable and technology-driven road infrastructure, aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047,” the Ministry said in a statement.

Mumbai, Oct 16: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday launched a scathing attack on the opposition and the CJP, declaring that “the hidden truth is finally out” following the controversial “regime change” statement by senior advocate Prashant Bhushan.

Taking to social media platform X, CM Fadnavis shared a video clip of Bhushan’s remarks, captioning it: “It’s done, bro, everything is exposed!! After all, it was all about ‘Regime Change’.. the hidden thoughts have finally slipped onto the lips.”

CM Fadnavis accused the opposition of using protests as a smokescreen to fuel anarchy and seize power. He alleged that various demonstrations — whether involving students or farmers — alongside campaigns spreading caste and linguistic discord or attempting to tarnish India’s constitutional institutions, are all part of a calculated political game aimed at capturing the seat of power.

The row erupted after Prashant Bhushan, during a press conference alongside CJP representatives and figures like Neha Bora (who previously surfaced during NEET-related protests), openly discussed objectives tied to a “regime change”.

The remarks sparked immediate political fallout. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also weighed in heavily on the issue, accusing the opposition of exploiting the youth for political mileage and attempting to engineer a Bangladesh-style upheaval in India by undermining key democratic and constitutional institutions.

Following intense backlash and accusations of plotting systemic chaos under the guise of peaceful activism, CJP representatives, including Abhijeet Dipke, scrambled to issue clarifications. In a late-night press conference, Dipke backpedalled on the remarks, asserting that their protests were not aimed at regime change, but rather confined to demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. However, ruling coalition leaders maintain that the slip of the tongue has exposed the opposition’s core agenda, providing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with fresh ammunition to question the motives behind ongoing anti-establishment protests.

Earlier, CM Fadnavis criticised opposition and activist groups while defending Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant’s decision to decline a meeting with protesters.

Speaking during a media interaction, he accused opposition parties and outfits of running a systematic design to undermine India’s core constitutional institutions and usher in an “ultra-Leftist” brand of anarchy.

Defending the CJI’s refusal to meet demonstrators, CM Fadnavis asked, “Which Constitution states that the Chief Justice of India should meet protesters and marchers?” He emphasised that the CJI acted well within his constitutional rights and praised the judiciary’s stance that grievances must be legally addressed inside courtrooms rather than through street pressure.

CM Fadnavis alleged that a well-crafted conspiracy is underway to systematically devalue independent pillars of democracy, such as the Supreme Court, the Election Commission, and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). He noted that the ultimate goal of these groups is to convince citizens that constitutional frameworks cannot deliver justice.

Commenting on recent demonstrations — including those by Congress and civil groups — CM Fadnavis distinguished between lawful democratic protest and chaos. Pointing to instances where crowds allegedly crossed the line with provocative sloganeering, he asserted that when thousands with criminal records mobilise to disrupt public order, it amounts to outright anarchy rather than peaceful dissent.

Kanpur, Oct 16: Two wanted accused who were absconding in connection with a cow slaughter incident in the Nawabganj police station area were injured in a police encounter in the Fazalganj police station area in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur on Friday.

Police arrested both accused and admitted them to a hospital for treatment. They are being interrogated in connection with the case.

According to police, the cow slaughter incident occurred during the intervening night of October 7 and 8, in the Nawabganj police station area. After cow remains were recovered from the spot, police registered a case under relevant sections of the law.

Teams comprising the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit, surveillance, cyber and Nawabganj police were formed to investigate the case. Police arrested one accused on Thursday, while the search for the remaining suspects continued.

On October 16, police received information about the presence of two wanted accused in the Fazalganj police station area. Acting on the tip-off, teams from Fazalganj police station, SWAT, surveillance and the cyber unit jointly launched a search operation and cordoned off the area.

Police claimed that the accused opened fire at the police team with the intention of killing the personnel. In retaliatory firing, both accused sustained gunshot injuries.

The injured accused were subsequently taken to a hospital for treatment. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Atul Srivastava said the accused were being interrogated and that further legal action would be taken based on the facts and evidence gathered during the investigation.

Separately, on October 15, two veterinary officers were suspended over alleged serious negligence in connection with the recent deaths of cattle during heavy rainfall in Badaun.

Departmental action was ordered against the Chief Veterinary Officer, while the Divisional Additional Director was directed to submit a response within 15 days. Suspension and disciplinary action were also recommended against the Block Development Officers of the two blocks concerned.