Latest news with #Gadkari
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
OCW is supplying water at 2-metre pressure, required force 12–16 metres
1 2 Nagpur: Even as residents across Nagpur continue to suffer from dismal water supply — with pressure as low as 1 to 2 metres in several areas as against required 12–16 metres — Orange City Water Pvt Ltd (OCW) reportedly skipped a high-level review meeting chaired by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis recently. The firm's no-show, despite a formal invite from the Nagpur Municipal Corporation's (NMC) water works department, has further angered senior leadership and is being seen as an act of defiance. TOI earlier reported that Fadnavis directed NMC to begin the process to terminate OCW's contract. A senior civic official confirmed that the order is now being legally vetted to ensure it stands if challenge. "This time, the termination is being done formally and our legal team is involved to avoid any procedural flaws," the official said. Union minister Nitin Gadkari, present at Sunday's meeting, came down heavily on OCW's longstanding failures, particularly its refusal to increase water pressure. "OCW is supplying water at barely 1–2 metres pressure in many areas. The OCW claims pipelines will burst if pressure is raised to the required 12–16 metres. This only shows OCW's failure to upgrade infrastructure or maintain it," said an official quoting Gadkari. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cuối cùng, chơi miễn phí game chiến thuật hay nhất 2025! Sea of Conquest Phát ngay Undo Despite operating Nagpur's 24x7 water supply scheme for over a decade, the OCW failed to address the persistent problem of low pressure and uneven supply. Large parts of North and East Nagpur continue to suffer, with water being supplied for just 2–3 hours daily. Many localities remain dependent on water tankers. NMC had asked OCW to convert low-pressure "red zones" into "green zones" by fixing leakages, removing illegal connections, and deploying real-time pressure monitoring systems. However, there has been negligible progress. OCW's absence from the CM's review meet has only hardened the administration's stance. "The OCW was informed and expected to attend. Absence of anyone from the OCW at this crucial juncture is unacceptable and only justifies the need for its removal," said another senior official. Superintending engineer (water works) Shweta Banerjee confirmed that OCW officials were invited for the meeting, but none was present. OCW officials were not available for comments. Notably, Nagpur receives over 750 million litres per day (MLD) from Kanhan and Pench sources, yet non-revenue water — losses due to leakages and theft — remains at over 40%, exposing deep inefficiencies in OCW's operations. With Gadkari and Fadnavis aligned on the issue and the termination process already underway, OCW's days in Nagpur appear numbered unless it delivers a swift and verifiable turnaround.
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Maha focus on skill development, digital edu under NEP 2020 for future workforce
Nagpur: Union minister for road transport and highways emphasized the critical role of skill-based education in meeting the demands of a rapidly evolving global landscape at the Teachers' Conclave in Nagpur on National Education Policy (NEP) Implementation. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The event, organized by Manthan for Academia on Friday, also highlighted Maharashtra's efforts to align its education system with the NEP 2020's focus on creating a skilled and value-driven workforce. Gadkari while talking about NEP's emphasis on employment-oriented education, said, "In the new education policy, special priority has been given to employment-oriented skill development and vocational technical education. While infrastructure and facilities are essential, a trained workforce is vital for progress, and is achievable only through educational reforms." In Maharashtra, NEP 2020 is being implemented with a focus on integrating vocational and technical education to address both local and global market needs. Gadkari highlighted the importance of leveraging technology to deliver digital education, ensuring students are equipped with skills relevant to current and future job opportunities. "PM Narendra Modi envisioned a Viksit Bharat, where we become a $5 trillion economy, and for that we need skilled workforce. CM Devendra Fadnavis and I have planned a skill university in Vidarbha, to cater to the huge demand in workforce." He added education is not just a race for marks; it is about knowledge, skills, and values. "One of the most significant truths is that some individuals are innately intelligent. They acquire self-realized knowledge effortlessly. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now However, others gain understanding through practice, deep thinking, and dedicated study. That is why I strongly believe that we must now focus intensively on three fundamental aspects: curriculum conceptualization, awareness, training, and research," said Gadkari. Gadkari emphasized that preparing future generations requires a holistic approach, blending global learning with India's unique cultural identity. Gadkari said, "By prioritizing skill development and digital education, we can foster a generation of skilled professionals and responsible citizens, ready to contribute to a self-reliant and globally competitive India." (Inputs from Alice Azim)
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Medical research has huge role in patient care: Gadkari
Nagpur: "Integrated development is crucial in any sector, and for that, continuous research is crucial. In the medical field too, new research has significantly contributed to patient care," said Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari while inaugurating the National Paediatric Epilepsy Conclave jointly organised by Maharashtra Academy of Paediatric Neurology and Indian Epilepsy Society in Nagpur on Friday. The inaugural session saw the presence of leading doctors including IAP national president Dr Vasant Khalatkar, Dr Pramod Giri, Dr Lokendra Singh, Dr Amarjeet Wagh, Dr Wankhede, Dr Vinayan, and Dr Vilas Jadhav. Gadkari said, "Nagpur is at the heart of India, and I am truly pleased that a significant conclave on paediatric neurology is being held here. The use of advanced technology and science in the medical field is invaluable. New research in medical science, coupled with doctors' experience, is playing a crucial role in treating many previously incurable diseases." He noted that the city is moving steadily towards becoming a health hub. "Being centrally located, Nagpur is increasingly attracting patients from neighbouring states for medical treatment," he added. Gadkari emphasised that forward-looking research is essential in every field, including medicine, and proudly noted how Indian doctors have earned significant acclaim in the United States and Europe. Before the formal inaugural ceremony, the conference featured several scientific sessions on paediatric neurology. Topics covered included neonatal seizures, challenges in managing drug-resistant epilepsy, epilepsy surgery in children, genetic testing and its implications in paediatric epilepsy, and role of advanced neuroimaging in epilepsy diagnosis. Dr Wagh said that experts from across the world will be in Nagpur for the next two days to share practical insights and the latest updates aimed at improving diagnosis and treatment outcomes for children with epilepsy and neurological conditions. "This event has brought together paediatric neurologists, epilepsy specialists, and healthcare professionals from across the country, aiming to enhance knowledge sharing and collaboration in the management of childhood neurological disorders," said Dr Wagh. Discussions to be held on Saturday: - Status epilepticus management protocols - Ketogenic diet therapy in epilepsy - Neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with epilepsy - Psychological and social aspects of pediatric epilepsy - Workshops on EEG interpretation in children
Time of India
a day ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Shift to alternative fuel trucks: Nitin Gadkari
NEW DELHI: Road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday urged vehicle manufacturers and logistics companies to opt for trucks that run on alternative fuels rather than diesel-fuelled ones to cut down pollution, reduce logistics costs, and decrease India's dependence on imported fossil fuel. "My appeal to you all is - don't go for diesel trucks, think about alternative fuel and biofuel. It's economically viable," Gadkari said, while addressing industry leaders. He added that govt is encouraging the use of alternative fuels such as biodiesel, ethanol, hydrogen, and others. On the need to promote the use of alternative fuel, the minister said India spends around Rs 22 lakh crore on import of fossil fuel. "It's an economic challenge and impacts our environment as well... By building better roads and using alternative fuel, we can bring down the logistics cost to a single digit of 9%. We are confident of achieving this by year-end. That will create great opportunities for our industry, manufacturing activities, and exports," Gadkari said at Mahindra Logistics presents ET Edge Supply Chain Management Fest 2025. He said automobile majors are now manufacturing electric trucks and these will be launched soon, adding that his ministry is planning to have "flash charging" electric trucks on the Delhi-Jaipur and Delhi-Amritsar corridors. Flash-charging technology allows vehicles to be charged in just a few seconds at the stops with the overhead flash-chargers.
Economic Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
We aim to cut cost of logistics to 9% of GDP: Nitin Gadkari
New Delhi: A combination of expressways, economic corridors, digital tolling and green fuel adoption has helped significantly reduce logistics costs in the country, setting the stage for India's next growth phase, road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said on the ET Edge SCM Fest 2025, Gadkari emphasised the pivotal role of logistics in the country's economic trajectory and that logistics costs have already come down to 10% of GDP from 16%. "Our target is to bring logistics costs into single digits, around 9% by the end of this year," he said. According to Gadkari, logistics cost reductions aren't just macroeconomic indicators. They translate directly into on-the-ground benefits for exporters, small businesses, and job seekers. "Turnaround times at ports are down by 45%, and transport costs have dropped by 25%. This is especially transformative for our MSMEs, who now face fewer barriers to competing globally," he said. Highlighting the government's continued investments in modern infrastructure, Gadkari said his ministry has moved from manual toll booths to FASTag. "Now, we're building digital tolling systems that eliminate the need for physical stops altogether," he said. "This not only reduces fuel waste but also cuts travel time and improves efficiency across the board." Reiterating India's decisive shift towards clean energy in transportation and logistics, the minister reaffirmed the government's commitment to reducing dependence on fossil fuels. "India will become a net energy exporter within the next seven years, driven by ethanol, biofuels, green hydrogen, and electric mobility," he said. Elaborating on the multimodal connectivity, Gadkari said the government is actively working to align national highways with port infrastructure, ensuring seamless connectivity while also building multi-modal logistics hubs in places like Jogighopa in Assam, Nagpur in Maharashtra, and Katra in Jammu and Kashmir under the PM Gati Shakti Yojana. "This will drastically reduce cargo handling times and improve freight movement across rail, road, and sea," he added. Talking about the reduced travel time between important cities due to development of high-speed corridors and expressways, Gadkari said by December this year, the travel time from Delhi to major cities such as Dehradun, Jaipur, Chandigarh, and Katra will reduce significantly. "These are not just roads. They are economic arteries that will carry the lifeblood of trade and development across the nation," he said. Highlighting India's rise as a global automobile leader, Gadkari said the industry is now valued at ₹22 lakh crore, ranking third in the world, behind only the US and China. "Electric vehicles have vast potential for export. They're not just part of our Atmanirbhar Bharat vision, they are integral to our economic and environmental strategy," he said. "We are not just building infrastructure, we are building the future of India to help India become Atmanirbhar," the minister said.
