
Motorists can soon pick low-toll routes with new NHAI app feature
Live Events
(You can now subscribe to our
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel
The National Highways Authority of India NHAI ) will introduce a new feature on its Rajmargyatra app next month that will allow motorists to choose routes with the least toll between two destinations, PTI reported citing a senior government official.The Rajmargyatra app, developed to offer detailed information on national highways, already provides features such as live traffic updates and a grievance redressal mechanism. The upcoming update will help users make informed decisions based on toll costs.Amrit Singha, Chief Product Officer for Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) at Indian Highways Management Company Ltd (IHMCL), said the new feature would prove especially helpful in cities with multiple route options.'You can travel to Lucknow from Delhi via Yamuna Expressway, or travel by crossing Ghaziabad-Aligarh-Kanpur-Lucknow or Moradabad-Bareilly-Sitapur-Lucknow... The app will inform motorists about the route which will attract least amount of toll between Delhi and Lucknow,' Singha explained.Singha also flagged safety concerns related to the misuse of access-controlled expressways by unauthorised vehicles. Citing data from NHAI's Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS), he said a large number of violations were being recorded, particularly on the Delhi-Gurgaon and Dwarka expressways.'Between June 21 and June 23 alone, 1.73 lakh violations were recorded. More than one lakh of these were related to banned vehicles, including two and three-wheelers,' he said.In another development, NHAI is set to open a key stretch connecting Bandikui to Jaipur via the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway . The 67-km four-lane access-controlled spur is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Delhi and Jaipur.NHAI Rajasthan Regional Officer Pradeep Atri said the Bandikui-Jaipur stretch, built at a cost of ₹1,368 crore, will likely open for traffic trials by mid-July.Pushpendra Singh, Manager at NHAI, said the road was constructed in about two and a half years and is designed to divert a large share of traffic from the existing Delhi-Jaipur highway.At present, it takes around four hours to drive from Delhi to Jaipur, about 2.5 hours to reach Bandikui via the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway and another 1.5 hours to cover the remaining 67 km. With the new spur operational, the total travel time could be reduced to roughly three hours.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
India has set $1 billion turmeric export target by 2030: Union Minister Amit Shah
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said the Centre has set a target of achieving USD one billion in turmeric exports by a gathering after the inauguration of the National Headquarters of Turmeric Board in Nizamabad, he said the board would focus on packing, branding, marketing and export of the turmeric board would work towards ensuring remunerative prices for farmers, export of their produce, besides research and development, he said."You will be surprised to know that the Indian government has set the goal of exporting USD one billion worth of turmeric by 2030. And, we have also made full preparations to achieve the goal of exporting USD one billion to international markets. The (Turmeric) board that will be formed will work to ensure that the highest price of turmeric reaches the farmers," he further said, during the 2023 assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised to establish a Turmeric board in Telangana, and orders in this regard were issued Union Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy and other leaders received Amit Shah when he arrived at Hyderabad's Begumpet to X, BJP's Telangana unit earlier on Sunday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had earlier announced the establishment of the turmeric board has now fulfilled the dream of farmers as per the word given to Modi has allocated Rs 200 crores to improve the quality of turmeric crop, carry out research and to improve farmers' income, it establishment of the Turmeric Board has been a major demand of the turmeric farmers in Nizamabad and it was also a key election Lok Sabha member from Nizamabad D Arvind, who had promised to set up the turmeric board, had defeated BRS MLC and then Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's daughter K Kavitha in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. He was re-elected in 2024.


Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
NHAI to blacklist FASTags not on windscreen of vehicles
New Delhi: Drivers who don't fix their FASTags on the windshield of their vehicles will face permanent blacklisting of tags, a measure taken in view of the malpractice of people handing out "loose or unfixed tags" for payment of highway-user fee, which leads to congestion at toll plaza lanes. The NHAI company dealing with toll collection and management of highways, IHMCL, has asked federations of toll collectors, highway builders and operators to report such cases for quick action. "Tags-in-hand" have been categorised as "loose tags". Despite repeated advisories against the practice there have been several cases of people handing out FASTag at toll gates for deduction of user fee.


Economic Times
3 hours ago
- Economic Times
NATO's 5% pledge: Rearming the West or rebalancing the world
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel In an era where geopolitical boundaries are blurred and warfare has morphed from trenches to tech, NATO 's recent commitment to invest 5% of GDP annually in defence by 2035 sends a thunderous signal—not just to adversaries, but to allies questioning the alliance's strategic relevance. The Hague Summit Declaration, adopted by 32 member states, marked a pivotal moment in transatlantic security thinking. The question now is whether this is a forward-looking strategy or a reactionary bulwark clinging to the past the core of the declaration lies an emphatic reaffirmation of Article 5—the principle that an attack on one NATO member is an attack on all NATO members. However, the real headline is the proposed ramp-up in defence and security-related spending: 3.5% of GDP earmarked for traditional defence infrastructure and capabilities, and an additional 1.5% for resilience, critical infrastructure protection, and innovation. This is a fundamental reset of NATO's budgetary posture, reflective of a world no longer anchored to the certainties of post-Cold War strategic rationale behind this move is evident in the literature. From Russia's protracted war in Ukraine to hybrid warfare tactics deployed through cyberattacks, misinformation campaigns, and economic coercion, the threats facing the Euro-Atlantic region are no longer just physical; they are systemic. However, the implications of NATO's new doctrine stretch far beyond including Ukraine's security under the umbrella of NATO's own, the alliance is signalling that Kyiv's stability is no longer peripheral—it is central to the European defence architecture. Although the declaration stops short of directly naming Russia as an aggressor, it unequivocally categorises it as a long-term threat. The political calculus here is clear: to maintain unity among diverse member states while advancing a credible deterrent pledging 5% of GDP—especially in times of economic uncertainty, rising public debt, and shrinking fiscal room—will not be without domestic blowback. For many European countries, where defence budgets have long played second fiddle to social spending, the pivot will require not only financial reallocation but also political will. The path to 2035 will be fraught with parliamentary debates, economic trade-offs, and inevitable scrutiny from taxpayers questioning the utility of militarisation during said, NATO's blueprint smartly distinguishes between "hard power" and 'soft shield' spending. By allocating up to 1.5% for cyber defense , critical infrastructure, industrial innovation, and civil preparedness, the alliance acknowledges the multidimensional nature of modern warfare. Drones, AI, satellite technologies, and quantum encryption will define future battles. This is NATO's attempt to future-proof compelling aspect of the declaration is its call to dismantle internal defence trade barriers and catalyse transatlantic industrial cooperation. The subtext? Europe's dependence on American defence systems must evolve into a mutual technological collaboration. With U.S. domestic politics becoming increasingly isolationist and polarised, especially in light of looming electoral uncertainties, Europe has no choice but to shoulder more of the strategic burden of timing of this declaration cannot be ignored. This occurs at a time when questions are being raised about the longevity of American leadership and the cohesion of Western alliances. Populist politics, migration crises, climate-induced conflicts, and digital disruptions are redrawing the map of security concerns. In this light, NATO's 5% commitment is as much about deterrence as it is about staying for all its ambition, the declaration raises a philosophical question: can militarised investment alone secure peace in a world where most battles are fought in cyberspace, legislatures, and courtrooms? While NATO shores up its arsenal, adversaries weaponize currency systems, manipulate public opinion through AI-generated propaganda, and infiltrate supply chains. In such a scenario, defence must be defined not only by missiles and manpower but also by legal resilience, technological agility, and economic its closing remarks, the summit's declaration looks ahead—to Türkiye in 2026 and Albania thereafter. Symbolically, this eastward shift in NATO meeting venues reflects a changing strategic frontier. The frontlines are no longer confined to the Fulda Gap but extend into the Black Sea, Indo-Pacific, and digital cloud networks connecting us NATO's 5% pledge is more than just a budgetary item. It is a test of collective resolve in a fractured global order. If implemented wisely—with strategic clarity, equitable burden-sharing, and an eye on emerging threats—it could become a blueprint for securing liberal democracies in a multipolar, volatile world. But if the focus remains confined to tanks and treaties while ignoring the algorithmic and institutional battlefields of the 21st century, NATO risks building a fortress for yesterday's warThe author is Department of Commerce, Assistant Professor and Research Supervisor, St. Thomas College (Autonomous), Thrissur, Kerala