
City takes to streets for ‘Wheels of Freedom'
Under the banner of "Wheels of Freedom", a spectacular parade of bicycles, motorcycles, and vintage vehicles rolled through the heart of Bhopal, symbolizing the journey of India's independence and the resilient spirit of its people. The event began with a flag-hoisting ceremony attended by local dignitaries and community leaders, followed by stirring patriotic performances and cultural displays.
Participants donned Tricolor attire, waving flags as they rode through designated city routes, inspiring onlookers and spreading messages of harmony, health, and environmental sustainability.
The event not only commemorated the Independence Day but also encouraged eco-friendly mobility and community engagement.
"The success of Wheels of Freedom reflects Bhopal's dedication to fostering a progressive and inclusive society," said Maj Gen SK Shrivastava, Chief of Staff, HQ Sudarshan Corps. "As we remember the sacrifices of our founding leaders, let us continue to pedal towards growth, diversity, and collective pride."
Stay updated with the latest local news from your
city
on
Times of India
(TOI). Check upcoming
bank holidays
,
public holidays
, and current
gold rates
and
silver prices
in your area.
Hashtags

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


Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Vehicles abandoned on road: BMC plans to trace owners, send notice via text msg
Mumbai: While the BMC has so far pasted notices on over 3,000 vehicles asking owners to remove abandoned, defunct, or scrapped vehicles which have been illegally left on public roads, the civic body now plans to obtain details of the ownership of these vehicles from the RTO or traffic police and send notices by way of text messages to the owners to remove the vehicle from the road. "The vehicles are towed to the yards of contractors 72 hours after the issuance of the notice. It is expected that owners of the vehicles take cognisance of the notice pasted on the vehicle. However, now we are also planning to seek data on ownership of these vehicles. Thereafter, we plan to send them the notices in the form of an SMS on their mobile phones, said a civic official. The BMC said they have initiated action to dispose of abandoned and defunct or scrapped vehicles illegally left on public roads. Till Aug 12, a total of 4,325 abandoned vehicles have been found across Mumbai, it claimed. Of these, 3,153 vehicle owners have been issued notices, while a total of 1,927 abandoned and defunct/scrap vehicles have been taken to the yard. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai | Gold Rates Today in Mumbai | Silver Rates Today in Mumbai If a vehicle owner does not remove the vehicle from public roads within 72 hours of notice being issued, then the vehicle is towed to the contractor's yard. After 30 days of the vehicle being towed, it is disposed of and the owner cannot make any claims over it. However, if vehicle owners want their vehicles back, they need to pay the penalty amount within 30 days. The maximum penalty amount that the BMC can charge for light motor vehicles is Rs 15,100, while for two wheelers the maximum penalty it can levy is Rs 8,300, which includes per day delay charges. The BMC has framed a policy for disposal of abandoned and defunct or scrapped vehicles on roadsides as part of its effort to clear roads of obstacles. Accordingly, the civic body has appointed agencies to identify abandoned vehicles. The WhatsApp numbers of the contractors, for complaints regarding vehicles abandoned on public roads for long periods, are 7505123456 for island city area, 9819543092 for Eastern suburbs and 8828896903 for Western suburbs. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.


Mint
4 hours ago
- Mint
GST rate cut hopes drive nearly ₹1 lakh crore rally in Nifty auto stocks
Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai Motor, TVS Motor Company, and other auto stocks saw a massive rally in Monday's session after the government announced plans for sweeping changes to the goods and services tax (GST) regime. Analysts believe the reforms could revive demand in the auto sector, which has remained muted in recent quarters. Fourteen out of the 15 constituents of the Nifty Auto index closed with sharp gains, led by Maruti Suzuki, which surged 8.8% to ₹ 14,068 apiece, its biggest intraday jump in the last five years. Other major gainers included Ashok Leyland, TVS Motor Company, Hero MotoCorp, MRF, Mahindra & Mahindra, and Eicher Motors, all rising between 2.6% and 8%. The rally boosted the combined market capitalization of the 14 auto stocks by nearly ₹ 1 lakh crore, taking the sector's total m-cap to ₹ 22.56 lakh crore. In his Independence Day address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced significant GST reforms, the most comprehensive since the rollout in 2017, announcing the ushering in of a two-tier GST structure—a reform billed as the 'next generation of GST,' expected to take shape by Diwali, as per sources. The current GST tax structure has four main categories of rates, at 5%, 12%, 18%, and 28%. The proposed changes will see the number of categories reduced to two, with most goods that were taxed at 12% and 28% now taxed at the lower rate of 5% and 18%, respectively. Even though changes to the GST had been discussed for years, the timing of the announcement in Modi's Independence Day speech was a surprise to many. The move comes against the backdrop of President Donald Trump's threat to double tariffs on Indian exports to the US to 50% by August 27 to penalize the country for buying oil from Russia. Automobiles, currently under the 28% slab, would move to 18% if the proposal is approved, which analysts believe could lead to price cuts and potentially revive sales. Auto manufacturers have been struggling in recent quarters amid weak urban demand, with many shifting focus to exports to sustain growth. Hero MotoCorp and Bajaj Auto both reported muted sales growth in the June quarter, while Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai Motor also posted flat passenger vehicle sales. If implemented, the GST cut would offer much-needed relief for the Indian automobile sector. 'Autos fall under the 28% GST bracket. If autos move to 18% and we see sharp price drops, this could drive the next auto upcycle, similar to 2008,' said Morgan Stanley. 'Currently, GST on passenger vehicles ranges from 29% to 50%, as a cess is imposed on top of GST based on the vehicle's size and engine capacity. In the new regime, the government may reduce the tax on smaller cars to 18% (from 28%) and move bigger cars to a 'special rate' of 40% while scrapping the cess. This could lower prices of smaller cars by around 8% and larger cars by 3–5%,' HSBC noted. GST reduction would negatively impact government revenues in the near term but drive-up Auto demand and hence job creation in India. PVs generate USD14-15 billion in GST collection, and 2Ws USD 5 billion, said the brokerage. Domestic brokerage Motilal Oswal added that passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles, currently taxed at 28%, will benefit most from the cut. Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, and Ashok Leyland are well positioned to gain from lower effective prices and higher volumes.


Mint
7 hours ago
- Mint
GST rate cut hopes drive nearly ₹1 lakh crore rally in Nifty auto stocks
Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai Motor, TVS Motor Company, and other auto stocks saw a massive rally in Monday's session after the government announced plans for sweeping changes to the goods and services tax (GST) regime. Analysts believe the reforms could revive demand in the auto sector, which has remained muted in recent quarters. Fourteen out of the 15 constituents of the Nifty Auto index closed with sharp gains, led by Maruti Suzuki, which surged 8.8% to ₹ 14,068 apiece, its biggest intraday jump in the last five years. Other major gainers included Ashok Leyland, TVS Motor Company, Hero MotoCorp, MRF, Mahindra & Mahindra, and Eicher Motors, all rising between 2.6% and 8%. The rally boosted the combined market capitalization of the 14 auto stocks by nearly ₹ 1 lakh crore, taking the sector's total m-cap to ₹ 22.56 lakh crore. In his Independence Day address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced significant GST reforms, the most comprehensive since the rollout in 2017, announcing the ushering in of a two-tier GST structure—a reform billed as the 'next generation of GST,' expected to take shape by Diwali, as per sources. The current GST tax structure has four main categories of rates, at 5%, 12%, 18%, and 28%. The proposed changes will see the number of categories reduced to two, with most goods that were taxed at 12% and 28% now taxed at the lower rate of 5% and 18%, respectively. Even though changes to the GST had been discussed for years, the timing of the announcement in Modi's Independence Day speech was a surprise to many. The move comes against the backdrop of President Donald Trump's threat to double tariffs on Indian exports to the US to 50% by August 27 to penalize the country for buying oil from Russia. Automobiles, currently under the 28% slab, would move to 18% if the proposal is approved, which analysts believe could lead to price cuts and potentially revive sales. Auto manufacturers have been struggling in recent quarters amid weak urban demand, with many shifting focus to exports to sustain growth. Hero MotoCorp and Bajaj Auto both reported muted sales growth in the June quarter, while Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai Motor also posted flat passenger vehicle sales. If implemented, the GST cut would offer much-needed relief for the Indian automobile sector. 'Autos fall under the 28% GST bracket. If autos move to 18% and we see sharp price drops, this could drive the next auto upcycle, similar to 2008,' said Morgan Stanley. 'Currently, GST on passenger vehicles ranges from 29% to 50%, as a cess is imposed on top of GST based on the vehicle's size and engine capacity. In the new regime, the government may reduce the tax on smaller cars to 18% (from 28%) and move bigger cars to a 'special rate' of 40% while scrapping the cess. This could lower prices of smaller cars by around 8% and larger cars by 3–5%,' HSBC noted. GST reduction would negatively impact government revenues in the near term but drive-up Auto demand and hence job creation in India. PVs generate USD14-15 billion in GST collection, and 2Ws USD 5 billion, said the brokerage. Domestic brokerage Motilal Oswal added that passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles, currently taxed at 28%, will benefit most from the cut. Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, and Ashok Leyland are well positioned to gain from lower effective prices and higher volumes. Disclaimer: This story is for educational purposes only. The views and recommendations made above are those of individual analysts or broking companies, and not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.