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PM Modi inaugurates J&K’s Sonamarg tunnel, dedicates it to nation

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Gagangir (Sonamarg), Jan 13: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday dedicated the Sonamarg tunnel in Kashmir to the nation after inaugurating and inspecting it.

The inauguration event was also attended by Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Surface Transport and Highways, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

PM Modi interacted with the engineers and workers, whose hard work made the all-weather connectivity possible. He encouraged and patiently listened to the labourers in addition to gathering technical details about the Rs 2,700 crore tunnel.

The Prime Minister appreciated the hard work put in by everyone engaged in the construction of the tunnel under the most challenging weather and topography of the area.

PM Modi earlier landed in a special aircraft at the technical area of Srinagar International Airport from where he took an Air Force helicopter for Neelgrad in the Sonamarg.

The PM landed at the Neelgrad helipad and drove in a cavalcade to the Gagangir area, where he inaugurated the Sonamarg tunnel.

PM Modi will also address a public rally at the truck yard in Sonamarg. Hundreds of people, braving extreme cold, have already gathered at the Sonamarg public rally venue to listen to the PM. This is PM Modi’s first visit to the union territory after an elected government took office here.

Sonamarg tunnel will bypass the stretch of the Srinagar-Sonamarg highway that is prone to avalanches and heavy snowfall during the winter months.

The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) oversaw the Z-Morh tunnel constructed by APCO Infratech Private Limited for Rs 2,700 crore. The construction of the tunnel was started in 2018. This tunnel will make Sonamarg an all-weather tourist destination, thereby helping employment for local youth, and boosting trade, tourism, and traffic to the Ladakh region, Amarnath Yatra and businesses.

The tunnel is a 6.5 km long 2-lane road tunnel between Gagangair and Sonamarg in Ganderbal of Jammu and Kashmir. It was earlier called the Z-Morh tunnel because of the Z-shaped stretch of road that the tunnel has replaced (Z-Morh translates to “Z-turn” in English). It takes only 15 minutes to travel the 6.5 km long tunnel compared to hours over the zig-zag road up and down the hills.

The Zojila Tunnel being constructed across the Zojila Pass together with the Z-Morh tunnel will make the journey to the Ladakh region safer and possibly throughout the year.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited the Gagangir area of Ganderbal district on Saturday. “Visited Sonmarg today to review preparations for PM @narendramodi ji’s visit on Monday. The inauguration of the Z-morh tunnel will open Sonmarg to tourism all year round, Sonmarg will now be developed as a great ski resort. The local population will not have to leave in winter & the travel time to Kargil/Leh from Srinagar will also reduce,” he wrote on X on January 11.

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Axis Trustee warns contempt proceeding against Yes Bank over AT1 bonds

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Axis Trustee Services Limited, the trustee for the Additional Tier 1 (AT1) bonds issued by Yes Bank, called upon the private sector lender to reinstate the bonds and take necessary corporate actions within three days, failing which the former would initiate contempt proceedings in Supreme Court against the bank.

The trustee said in a filing that non-compliance will constitute “wilful disobedience by the lender of the Supreme Court’s October 15 judgment”.

Yes Bank said it had responded to the trustee, acknowledging the Supreme Court judgment and reiterating that it was fully committed to acting in accordance with the ruling and applicable law, according to an exchange filing.

The Bank replied to the Trustee that it is cognisant of the matters and is examining the SC Judgment and its implications in detail.

“The Bank will take all such steps and measures as are necessary and permissible under applicable law,” Yes Bank said.

“Should the Bank fail to comply with the said judgment as called upon above within the stipulated period, we shall be constrained to initiate proceedings for contempt before the SC, against the Bank and its directors and officers responsible for compliance with the said judgment, without any further notice, entirely at the Bank’s risk as to costs and consequences,” Axis Trustee said in its letter to Yes Bank.

Bank has merely stated that it is “examining the judgment in detail, including evaluating all available options and suitable actions or steps going forward,” the trustee said, adding that under the guise of evaluating its options, the bank should not withhold compliance with the said judgment.

Yes Bank rejected the allegation in its response letter, clarifying that it had not wilfully disobeyed the court.

“The Bank does not accept the characterisation in your Letter of its conduct as wilful disobedience and the assertions in your Letter are baseless and without merit,” it said.

The Supreme Court had, on October 15, upheld the Bombay High Court’s decision to set aside Yes Bank’s Rs 8,415 crore AT1 bond write-off carried out in March 2020. It ruled that the bank’s administrator had acted outside its authority and the applicable regulatory framework.

Axis Trustee challenged the decision of the then administrator of Yes Bank to write down the AT1 bonds in March 2020 before the Bombay High Court.

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Tesla rolls out Halloween Mode for ‘Model Y’ in India

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Tesla India on Friday said it launched a new software update for Model Y and Model Y L vehicles that adds a range of Halloween-themed features, highlighting the company’s over-the-air (OTA) software update capabilities.

According to the Elon Musk-backed firm, the update allows Tesla vehicles to receive new features and improvements remotely without requiring a visit to a service centre.

Halloween Mode includes a ghost-themed vehicle avatar, Halloween sound effects, special lighting sequences, seasonal vehicle wraps and a themed lock sound, it said.

The update also introduces a ‘Trick or Treat Mode’ which activates sound and lighting effects when visitors approach the vehicle.

Other features include a photobooth function and a voice messaging feature that allows users to speak through the Tesla app and have the vehicle relay messages, the company said.

Tesla said customers can experience the new features at its Experience Centres across India.

The company currently operates those centres in Noida, Delhi, Gurugram, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Mumbai and has approved collision centres in Pune and Ahmedabad.

Earlier in October, Tesla CEO Elon Musk showcased a new version of the Roadster sports car with a prototype briefly lifting off the ground during a demonstration at a SpaceX facility in Texas.

A post on X shared by Musk showed the vehicle navigating an elevated curved track before becoming airborne for a short distance and landing safely, drawing comparisons to a flying car.

The showcase highlighted a specialised propulsion system that combines the electric vehicle platform with high-pressure air tanks and thruster technology.

According to Tesla, the system can generate lift and improve vehicle dynamics through strategically placed thrusters that help control movement while off the ground.

The test prompted enthusiastic reactions from company executives, who described it as evidence that flying-car technology is moving closer to reality. Tesla, however, did not provide a timeline for commercial deployment.

Musk said the vehicle would remain practical for everyday use, although he acknowledged that road legality could depend on local regulations.

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Maha CM directs development of state-of-the-art digital platforms for aggregator companies

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Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday directed the transport department to build a state-of-the-art digital platform to provide real-time information on aggregator companies’ vehicles, drivers, and working hours, aiming to make app-based passenger transport services in the state safer, more transparent, and well-organised.

He instructed that this platform should integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based analytics to maintain effective control over vehicle operations, driver dispatch, parking management, and passenger services.

CM Fadnavis gave these instructions during a meeting concerning the Maharashtra Aggregator Rules-2026. The review covered the growing number of vehicles in the aggregator sector, the challenges faced by independent taxi drivers, passenger safety, and transparency in ride allocation on digital platforms. Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, Additional Chief Secretary (Transport) Sanjay Sethi, Transport Commissioner Rajesh Narvekar, and other transport department officials were present.

The Chief Minister directed that complete digital details must be available for every vehicle operated by aggregator companies. This includes registration, assigned parking locations, driver profile, driving license, police verification, and other required documents.

Additionally, the system must maintain real-time logs indicating which driver is operating which vehicle across various shifts throughout the day. In the event of an incident, a robust mechanism should ensure that details regarding the vehicle and driver are immediately accessible.

By leveraging artificial intelligence on this platform, the system will analyse vehicle operations, driver shifts, and other critical parameters. This will allow regulatory authorities to monitor compliance with rules and enable prompt action whenever necessary, he said.

CM Fadnavis highlighted the need to verify whether independent taxi drivers and large fleet management companies receive equal opportunities when rides are allocated on app-based transport platforms.

He noted that it is essential to audit the criteria and reasons based on which specific vehicles are assigned rides on digital platforms. He directed officials to utilise technology to detect any bias or unfair discrimination in ride allocation algorithms.

The Chief Minister stressed that while passengers must receive safe and reliable service, local drivers must also get equal employment opportunities.

To achieve this, priority must be given to effective enforcement of rules, transparent ride allocation, and technical oversight of aggregator operations.

In light of the expansion of the state’s aggregator sector and growing passenger needs, he directed the Transport Department to develop an efficient, technology-driven regulatory framework that balances the interests of independent taxi drivers, passenger safety, and overall traffic discipline.

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