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Time of India
22-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Speed limit likely to rise for heavy vehicles on Mumbai-Pune Expressway's ghat stretch
Heavy vehicles descending the Bhor Ghat section of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway might soon move down the slope a bit faster, with authorities considering an increase in the existing speed limits, officials and transporters have said. Deliberations are underway to raise the speed limit for heavy vehicles like trucks and buses from the current 40 kmph to 45-50 kmph on the downward incline of the Pune-Mumbai arm, also known as the Khandala Ghat. A decision is likely to be taken soon, they said. The current speed limit of 60 kmph for cars in the 10-km ghat section is unlikely to be changed. On other stretches of the country's first access-controlled expressway, the speed limit is 100 kmph for smaller vehicles and 80 kmph for heavy vehicles. The current limit on the ghat section, located between Lonavala in Pune district and Khalapur in Raigad district, results in frequent e-challans as it is challenging for heavy vehicles to move slowly on a sharp downward incline, slows down traffic and causes accidents, they claimed. After follow-ups and discussions, the authorities have given a positive signal for an upward revision of the speed limit, transporters said. According to transporters, particularly bus owners, e-challans have increased on the ghat section following the introduction of the Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS), which comprises several speed-monitoring cameras and other equipment, on the 95-km carriageway. A vehicle is fined Rs 2,000 for the first speed violation, and the amount increases for subsequent infractions. Teams from the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), highway police, the state transport department and transporters conducted a joint survey of the ghat section last month to assess the ground reality. The transporters and a few officials called the current speed limit of 40 kmph for heavy vehicles on Bhor Ghat "unscientific", "unrealistic" and "unfair". Allowing these vehicles to move a bit faster would save time, fuel, maintenance costs and help avoid "unnecessary" e-challans, they said. Harsh Kotak, a bus operator and leader of the Mumbai Bus Malak Sangh, explained the practical aspect of the challenges faced by drivers. "In special gear, vehicles can only reach speeds of 7-10 kmph, while it's 25-28 kmph in first gear and 45-47 kmph in the second gear. But if you stay in first gear for too long, the vehicle crawls and disrupts traffic. In the second gear, you either overshoot the speed limit or end up overheating the brake drum due to excessive braking," he said. Kotak said they have requested the authorities to "scientifically" set the speed limit at 50 kmph. "Around 30 per cent of the e-challans are issued to heavy vehicles on this 10-km ghat stretch, often for speeds between 43 and 50 kmph," he added. KV Shetty, another bus operator, claimed there are no proper warning signs to alert drivers in advance to slow down. "Sudden braking often leads to accidents. The government calls it an expressway, but expects vehicles to run at 40 kmph," said the bus operator. Maharashtra Transport Commissioner Vivek Bhimanwar told PTI that they have received several complaints from transporters concerning the speed limits. He called the concerns valid as it is "practically difficult" for heavy vehicles to maintain such low speeds on the sharp downward slope. "MSRDC is the agency responsible for decisions regarding the ghat section, while the highway police will finalise the speed limit," Bhimanwar said, adding that his department has already written multiple letters to the highway police. Additional Director General of Police (Highway) Pravin Salunkhe could not be reached for comment despite repeated attempts. However, an MSRDC official said the highway police were expected to convene a meeting to discuss the upward revision in the speed limit. Named after former chief minister Yashwantrao Chavan, the expressway was opened to traffic in 2002. It saw 191 accidents in 2024, according to official figures.
The Hindu
22-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Speed limit likely to rise for heavy vehicles on Mumbai-Pune Expressway's ghat stretch
Heavy vehicles descending the Bhor Ghat section of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway might soon move down the slope a bit faster, with authorities considering an increase in the existing speed limits, officials and transporters have said. Deliberations are underway to raise the speed limit for heavy vehicles like trucks and buses from the current 40 kmph to 45-50 kmph on the downward incline of the Pune-Mumbai arm, also known as the Khandala Ghat. A decision is likely to be taken soon, they said. The current speed limit of 60 kmph for cars in the 10-km ghat section is unlikely to be changed. On other stretches of the country's first access-controlled expressway, the speed limit is 100 kmph for smaller vehicles and 80 kmph for heavy vehicles. The current limit on the ghat section, located between Lonavala in Pune district and Khalapur in Raigad district, results in frequent e-challans as it is challenging for heavy vehicles to move slowly on a sharp downward incline, slows down traffic and causes accidents, they claimed. After follow-ups and discussions, the authorities have given a positive signal for an upward revision of the speed limit, transporters said. According to transporters, particularly bus owners, e-challans have increased on the ghat section following the introduction of the Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS), which comprises several speed-monitoring cameras and other equipment, on the 95-km carriageway. A vehicle is fined ₹2,000 for the first speed violation, and the amount increases for subsequent infractions. Teams from the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), highway police, the state transport department and transporters conducted a joint survey of the ghat section last month to assess the ground reality. The transporters and a few officials called the current speed limit of 40 kmph for heavy vehicles on Bhor Ghat 'unscientific', 'unrealistic' and 'unfair'. Allowing these vehicles to move a bit faster would save time, fuel, maintenance costs and help avoid 'unnecessary' e-challans, they said. Harsh Kotak, a bus operator and leader of the Mumbai Bus Malak Sangh, explained the practical aspect of the challenges faced by drivers. 'In special gear, vehicles can only reach speeds of 7-10 kmph, while it's 25-28 kmph in first gear and 45-47 kmph in the second gear. But if you stay in first gear for too long, the vehicle crawls and disrupts traffic. In the second gear, you either overshoot the speed limit or end up overheating the brake drum due to excessive braking,' he said. Kotak said they have requested the authorities to 'scientifically' set the speed limit at 50 kmph. 'Around 30 per cent of the e-challans are issued to heavy vehicles on this 10-km ghat stretch, often for speeds between 43 and 50 kmph,' he added. K.V. Shetty, another bus operator, claimed there are no proper warning signs to alert drivers in advance to slow down. 'Sudden braking often leads to accidents. The government calls it an expressway, but expects vehicles to run at 40 kmph,' said the bus operator. Maharashtra Transport Commissioner Vivek Bhimanwar told PTI that they have received several complaints from transporters concerning the speed limits. He called the concerns valid as it is 'practically difficult' for heavy vehicles to maintain such low speeds on the sharp downward slope. 'MSRDC is the agency responsible for decisions regarding the ghat section, while the highway police will finalise the speed limit,' Bhimanwar said, adding that his department has already written multiple letters to the highway police. Additional Director General of Police (Highway) Pravin Salunkhe could not be reached for comment despite repeated attempts. However, an MSRDC official said the highway police were expected to convene a meeting to discuss the upward revision in the speed limit. Named after former Chief Minister Yashwantrao Chavan, the expressway was opened to traffic in 2002. It saw 191 accidents in 2024, according to official figures.
Indian Express
03-06-2025
- Indian Express
‘Main naukri mein hoon': IRS officer initially denies, then agrees to Rs 45 lakh bribe
A transcript of the recorded conversation between accused IRS officer Amit Kumar Singhal and complainant Sanam Kapoor reveals that when the complainant sought help from Singhal in the income tax notice matter by promising to pay Rs 45 lakh 'bribe', the accused initially showed some resistance by saying that he is in a job ('main hai na nokri mein hu'), but later relented. The transcript of the conversation between complainant Sanam Kapoor, co-accused Harsh Kotak and accused IRS officer Amit Kumar Singhal has been attached by the CBI in the FIR copy. The conversation was recorded in a voice recorder's memory card, which was taken by the complainant, on being told by CBI officials, to the residence of an advocate in Chandigarh, where co-accused Harsh Kotak was sitting. The conversation between Harsh Kotak and Sanam Kapoor was recorded over a discussion on Rs 45 lakh bribe. Also, Harsh Kotak let the complainant talk to Amit Kumar Singhal from his mobile phone on speaker. During the conversation, the bribe of Rs 45 lakh came up and the complainant requested Singhal to sort out the matter of income tax notice. As per the transcript of the conversation, initially, Singhal is heard denying the bribe demand, attempting to maintain a façade of integrity. However, as the conversation progresses, he appears to soften his stance and ultimately 'agrees' to the bribe proposal. The CBI had laid a trap and caught Singhal, Additional Director General at the Directorate of Taxpayer Services, New Delhi, and his associate Kotak while they were allegedly demanding the bribe. They had reportedly been harassing Kapoor, the owner of La Pino's Pizza, by sending him repeated income tax notices and then demanding Rs 45 lakh to have them withdrawn. Kapoor alerted the CBI, leading to a trap and arrest of the accused. As per CBI's remand paper submitted at Chandigarh Court on Sunday, '…role of accused Amit Kumar Singhal, is complicit as during the conversations held with complainant over telephone at the time of verification on May 30, 2025 and trap proceedings on May 31, 2025, the accused Amit kumar Singhal acknowledged the demand of bribe amount of Rs 45 lakh raised by him in exchange for extending favourable treatment from the Revenue/lncome Tax Department and subsequently accepted bribe amount of Rs 25 Lakhs from complainant through co- accused Harsh Kotak'.
New Indian Express
02-06-2025
- New Indian Express
CBI arrests IRS officer for accepting Rs 25L bribe on tax relief promise
NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested a 2007-batch Indian Revenue Service Officer Amit Kumar Singal, who was presently posted as the Additional Director General in the Directorate of Taxpayer Services, New Delhi. Along with him, another individual identified as Harsh Kotak, was charged with demanding and accepting Rs 25 lakh as a bribe. This Rs 25 lakh, according to the CBI, was a part of the payment of the total Rs 45 lakh in bribe demanded from the complainant. A case was registered against the accused earlier on Saturday. It was alleged in the FIR that the accused, as a public servant, had demanded illegal gratification of Rs 45 lakh from the complainant. This was in exchange for providing favourable treatment from the Revenue/Income Tax Department. Further, according to the CBI, the demand was accompanied by threats of legal action, heavy penalties and harassment in case the complainant refused to comply. The CBI laid a trap and caught Harsh Kotak, associate of Singal, while accepting a bribe from the complainant on behalf of the IRS officer at Singal's Mohali residence. Later that day, Singal was also arrested at his residence in Vasant Kunj, the CBI said. According to the officials, the IRS officer had assured the complainant a relief in tax matters in exchange for the bribe and had warned of 'legal action, heavy penalties, and harassment' if the demand was not met. Both Singhal and Kotak were arrested and will be produced before the competent court, the CBI said. The arrest was followed by a thorough search by CBI at multiple locations in Delhi, Punjab, and Mumbai, as part of the probe into the case. Officials also confirmed that the documents and digital evidence related to the bribery case were being seized and examined. Investigations by CBI into the matter are still underway, the officials said.
Time of India
01-06-2025
- Time of India
CBI arrests IRS officer, middleman for taking Rs 25L in bribe
1 2 3 Chandigarh: The CBI arrested a senior Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer from Delhi and a middleman from Mohali for allegedly accepting a first instalment of a bribe of Rs 25 lakhs from the owner of a famous food chain for favouring him in taxation late on Saturday night. CBI sleuths conducted raids at the residences of the IRS officer in Mumbai, Mohali, and Delhi and claimed to have recovered cash and gold worth crores. The CBI produced both accused before the special CBI court, which sent them to judicial custody for 14 days. The accused are a 2007 batch IRS officer, Amit Kumar Singhal, a resident of Delhi, and Harsh Kotak, a resident of Mumbai. Amit Singhal is presently posted as additional director general, Directorate of Taxpayer Services, New Delhi. The complainant, Sanam Kapoor, owner of a food chain, alleged that the accused officer demanded Rs 45 lakhs for extending favourable treatment from the revenue/income tax department. The accused also allegedly threatened the complainant with legal action, the imposition of heavy penalties, and harassment in case of non-payment of bribe. The complainant filed a complaint with the CBI against the accused IRS officer and his associate, Harsh Kotak. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Zumbido e perda de audição? Médico revela técnica caseira de 1 real para aliviar! Zumbido no ouvido Undo Upon receiving the information, the CBI set a trap and caught Harsh Kotak red-handed while accepting the bribe in Mohali. Following his interrogation, IRS officer Amit Kumar was also taken into custody from Delhi. Major revelations emerged as the CBI laid a trap in Mohali and caught Harsh Kotak red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 25 lakhs on behalf of IRS officer Amit Singhal. Later, the CBI team arrested Amit Singhal in Delhi. Subsequently, the CBI conducted raids at the residences of the accused IRS officer and middleman in Delhi, Mumbai, and Mohali, recovering Rs 1 crore cash, 3kg gold jewellery worth Rs 3.5 crore, over 2kg silver and other important documents. A case was registered by the CBI against the accused on allegations that the public servant demanded illegal gratification of Rs 45 lakh from the complainant under the sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act. This is the CBI's second high-profile arrest in five months. Previously, in December 2023, Shimla ED's Assistant Director, Vishaldeep, was arrested for demanding a bribe of Rs 2.5 crores. MSID:: 121550356 413 |
