Latest news with #NHAI
Time of India
40 minutes ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
NHAI to close five toll plazas on L&T bypass road from August 1
Coimbatore: Much to the relief of commuters on the 28km-long Neelambur-Madukkarai stretch, there will be just one toll plaza, instead of the current six, from August 1. The bypass road was maintained by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Limited until May 31, although L&T had handed over the stretch to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on March 31. The NHAI started collecting tolls from June 1. A Senthil Kumar, project director, NHAI, Coimbatore, said the number of toll plazas on the stretch will be reduced to one from August 1. "Only the last toll plaza near Madukkarai will remain operational, while the remaining five will be closed. Tolls will be collected as per the NH Fee Rule 2008. We will provide various services like ambulance, medical, transport, patrolling, crane, restrooms and drinking water facilities round the clock. Vehicles bearing Coimbatore registration will be given concessions." He said the removal of five toll plazas will greatly benefit the local people. "Motorists traveling from Karpagam University signal to Neelambur and vice versa need not pay the toll like earlier." Senthil Kumar said the tolls collected will be used for the maintenance and development purposes. "The NHAI has appointed a firm to prepare a detailed project report to enhance the quality of the road. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Unveiling Alcor Tower at Vaswani Starlight Vaswani Starlight Learn More Undo Once the project report is ready, work to expand the road into four lanes will begin. Until then, the contractor will implement short-term measures to prevent accidents." In an official press release, district collector Pavankumar G Giriyappanavar said a contractor will be appointed to carry out maintenance work. "All necessary steps will be taken to make this bypass a safe road for motorists. Toll collected from the plaza will be used for developing and maintaining the road."
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
High court glare on property deals
Cuttack: Orissa high court has struck down multiple land transactions involving portions of 4.40 acres of undivided ancestral property in Baniapat Khuntapada and Keonjhar, citing deliberate exclusion of heirs, as well as procedural manipulation. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Accordingly, the court directed Keonjhar district collector to conduct an inquiry into the irregularities and initiate disciplinary action against erring officers. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has also been directed not to release any compensation for the land that was acquired for a highway project and recover any disbursed funds. In the order on July 18, Justice S K Panigrahi declared the sale deeds and all subsequent transfers "vitiated" and legally invalid, observing that the transactions appeared to be a "carefully engineered arrangement" to deprive lawful coparceners (equal shareholders) of their rights. Portions of the land — jointly inherited by three brothers and three sisters — were sold between 2011 and 2014 by two of the brothers without the consent of their sisters. Things became complicated after the land was notified for acquisition in 2015 for a national highway project. An initial compensation of Rs 6.96 crore was awarded, but on appeal, it was enhanced to Rs 21.08 crore. The three sisters then approached the court. The court took note of the fact that the land was routed through Balaram Patra, a daily wage labourer and BPL cardholder, to Dillip Kumar Pati, a buyer from the general caste. "It is difficult to reconcile how a person of limited means could execute crores-worth transactions in months," Justice Panigrahi observed. Justice Panigrahi also came down heavily on the revenue authorities for granting sale permissions and processing mutations without proper scrutiny. "The role of revenue officials reflects not just negligence, but raises a reasonable apprehension of institutional complicity," the court said.
Hindustan Times
14 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway to get ₹711 crore safety upgrade amid accidents: Report
The central government has approved a fund of ₹711.72 crore for significant safety and infrastructure enhancements on the Bengaluru–Mysuru Expressway. This 118-km, six-lane highway, which cost nearly ₹9,000 crore to build, has experienced frequent accidents since its inauguration three years ago, mainly due to poorly designed access points, lack of service roads, and inadequate pedestrian facilities, the Bangalore Mirror reported. The Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway, spanning 118 km, was constructed at a cost of nearly ₹ 9,000 crore. (ANI image) Despite being an important route connecting Bengaluru and Mysuru, several segments of the expressway, particularly around Bidadi and Mandya, have faced criticism for incomplete or missing service roads and poorly planned entry and exit ramps. These flaws have contributed to many accidents, leading to widespread calls for better infrastructure, including pedestrian underpasses, bus bays, and toll systems based on actual travel distance, the report stated. READ | Heavy rain alert in Karnataka: Schools, colleges shut in Dakshina Kannada today The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will be responsible for executing a comprehensive upgrade over the next two years. Plans include constructing 14 new access ramps with toll plazas on both sides to allow toll collection based on distance travelled, thereby benefiting local commuters who currently pay flat fees. Additionally, 22.5 km of service roads will be added, improving connectivity along the expressway, it added. Other key additions in the project include seven pedestrian underpasses, three railway overbridges, a flyover near Mysuru's Manipal Hospital junction, 35 bus shelters, and two truck bays. The contract for this extensive work has been awarded, although the formal start date has not yet been announced. READ | Karnataka minister calls for strict action against PoP idols ahead of Ganesh Chathurthi: Report A representative from NHAI spoke to reporters and said that the revamped tolling system is a major advantage, as it will charge commuters fairly according to the stretch they use instead of a uniform fee. The new service roads and bus shelters are also expected to reduce traffic congestion, enhancing overall commuter safety and convenience, the report further stated.
New Indian Express
14 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Streetlights installed on Container Road: Minister Nitin Gadkari
KOCHI: Installation of streetlights on NH 966A had been completed at a cost of Rs 7.78 crore, Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said in Parliament recently. He was responding to the question raised by Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden on the progress and assessment of the street lighting project on NH 966A/Container Terminal Road. 'The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said in its reply that it is awaiting connection from the KSEB and expects to receive it by the end of July. Streetlights have been installed in accordance with the board's standards, the standards of the Indian Roads Congress, a leading technical guideline body, and best practices,' Gadkari said. Hibi said the new initiative would significantly reduce the number of accidents in the area. 'When I started as the MP in 2019, road accidents and deaths, and antisocial activities were rampant in the area at night due to the absence of street lights. We had been meeting Minister Gadkari and NHAI authorities regularly to raise the issue. I also raised it twice in the Lok Sabha,' Hibi added.
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Business Standard
a day ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Govt to finalise 27% ethanol blending norms by August: Nitin Gadkari
The Indian government will introduce guidelines for 27 per cent ethanol blending in petrol by the end of August, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced on Thursday. In 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched petrol blended with 20 per cent ethanol. Speaking at an event, Gadkari said, 'India has already achieved its target of 20 per cent ethanol blending. In Brazil, the ethanol blend in gasoline is 27 per cent.' Currently, Indian vehicles can run on E20 petrol with minor changes to the engine to prevent corrosion and other issues. Finalising standards for E27 India relies on imports to meet 85 per cent of its oil requirements. 'We import fossil fuels worth ₹22 lakh crore, which is also causing pollution... so diversifying agriculture towards the energy and power sector is the need of the hour,' he added. Flex-fuel vehicle push Gadkari noted that 11 automobile manufacturers have already developed vehicles with flex-fuel engines. 'India is food surplus and there is a need to protect the interests of farmers,' he said. Ethanol, which can be produced from sugarcane, broken rice and other agricultural products, is expected to help reduce India's dependence on foreign oil. India is currently the world's third-largest oil consumer and imports about 88 per cent of its crude oil requirements, making it vulnerable to geopolitical vagaries that can impact crude prices. India achieved its earlier goal of 10 per cent ethanol blending in June 2022, well ahead of the original deadline of November 2022. Reducing pollution a shared duty: Gadkari Earlier this month, Gadkari said that reducing pollution from fossil fuel-powered vehicles is a key responsibility shared by all stakeholders. At an event hosted by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Gadkari highlighted the importance of switching to cleaner alternatives. He stated that promoting fuels such as ethanol and carrying out widespread tree plantation campaigns are among the most effective ways to tackle pollution. According to him, the government is actively working on both these fronts. To support environmental sustainability, the minister said the government is also making productive use of waste materials in infrastructure projects. He noted that around 8 million tonnes of waste have been used so far in the construction of roads.
