Gadkari urged to suspend toll collection at Takoli due to hazardous road condition
Nitin Gadkari
, requesting the suspension of toll tax collection at Takoli toll plaza in Mandi district due to the hazardous condition of the Mandi-Kullu stretch of the Kiratpur-Manali highway.
In his letter, Thakur mentioned that continuous landslides, flash floods, and traffic jams, often lasting several hours, had rendered the Mandi-Kullu highway section unsafe for travel for over a month.
"These conditions have caused immense hardship to the commuters, farmers, traders, and the general public with significant economic losses. Under such circumstances, the continued collection of toll at Takoli toll plaza has caused considerable resentment among the public.
Many view it as both morally and legally untenable when the highway is in such a severely disrupted state and normal traffic flow is impossible," read the letter.
Thakur further stated that the minister should order the shutting down of the toll plaza until the highway situation improved. In the meantime, the Mandi deputy commissioner should order the suspension of the toll tax collection at Takoli by invoking Section 34 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, he emphasised.
Meanwhile, the Kiratpur-Manali highway was open for traffic at the landslide-prone zones in Mandi district, even as 359 roads remained blocked throughout the state Sunday morning.
According to the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC), 214 roads remained blocked in Mandi district, 91 in Kullu, 22 in Kangra, 13 in Shimla, seven in Una, six in Sirmaur, and four in Solan district.
A total of 520 water supply schemes also remained affected in the state, with the highest 367 in Kullu district, followed by 78 in Mandi, and 72 in Kangra district.
Many areas also faced power outages as 145 transformers remained non-functional, with the highest 85 in Mandi district and 50 in Kullu district.
Body of West Bengal pilgrim recovered (BOX)
The Kinnaur police on Sunday claimed to have found the body of Dukhi Ram Sarkar near Gauri Kund. He was a part of the Kinner Kailash Yatra and went missing on Aug 7. The 38-year-old was a native of South Dumdum, North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal.
After the police got the information that Sarkar was last seen at the Kinner Kailash peak, a quick reaction team was constituted, but the body of the pilgrim was found near the Gauri Kund on Friday, Aug 8.
The Kinner Kailash Yatra started on July 15, and is scheduled to end on August 30. Till now, three pilgrims have lost their lives, and over 1,100 stranded pilgrims have been rescued by the teams from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the district police. Each day, 350 pilgrims are allowed to undertake the pilgrimage.
MSID:: 123217314 413 |
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
Indian Express
25 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Speculations fuel over fracture in Mahayuti as Shinde, Gogawale skip cabinet meeting
The Maharashtra government's decision to have NCP minister Aditi Tatkare and BJP minister Girish Mahajan hoist the national flag in Raigad and Nashik on Independence Day, bypassing Shiv Sena hopefuls has triggered a fresh controversy. A day after, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and senior Sena MLA minister Bharat Gogawale, who has been lobbying for the Raigad guardian minister's post, skipped the state cabinet meeting on Tuesday, fuelling speculation of discontent within the ruling Mahayuti alliance. The move comes against the backdrop of long-pending appointments of guardian ministers in two districts- Raigad and Nashik. Sena ministers Gogawale and Dada Bhuse both have been lobbying for these posts. On Monday, the state's General Administration Department issued a circular naming Tatkare for Raigad and Mahajan for Nashik for the flag hoisting for Independence day. Sena leaders say this was perceived as a political snub to their claimants. Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders seized the opportunity, with Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut alleging that Shinde had been 'shown his place' by the local BJP leaders and Shinde had even complained to Union Home Minister Amit Shah about being sidelined. Shinde-led Sena leaders however denied having any fissures in the alliance and said that Shinde could not attend the meeting since he is currently in Srinagar after attending a blood donation camp in Jammu, and Gogawale is in Delhi and hence both were absent from the cabinet meeting. Sena functionaries insisted both had informed the CM's office in advance and had officially taken leave. Gogawale reiterated his ambitions for the Raigad post but denied any personal animosity. 'I am 100 percent committed to the guardian ministership. There is a difference between hoisting the flag and the guardian ministership. Just because someone hoists the flag doesn't make them the guardian minister. Whatever decision the seniors take, we will accept. I have no objection to Aditi Tatkare hoisting the flag,' he said, adding that he hoped the decision on guardian ministerships would come 'after the flag-hoisting.' The discontent within the Shinde camp is not limited to the guardian minister row. In recent weeks, Sena MLAs — including Sanjay Gaikwad — have openly complained of not receiving development funds for their constituencies for over 10 months. Gaikwad, considered a close aide of Shinde, said that while Dy CM Shinde, CM Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar had assured that the situation would improve, the lack of funds had created frustration among legislators. Minister Pratap Sarnaik, however, dismissed these claims, saying funds were being allocated for departmental works such as transport infrastructure. In Nashik, the decision to assign Mahajan the flag-hoisting duty over Sena's Dada Bhuse has sparked similar murmurs. Sena minister Uday Samant attempted to calm the waters, saying the Independence Day list was 'only about flag-hoisting' and not a declaration of guardian ministers. He also stressed that in his personal view, 'Dada Bhuse should be Nashik's guardian minister and Bharat Gogawale for Raigad,' but that the final decision rests with Shinde, who will consult the alliance leaders.
Indian Express
25 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Respect food habit, diversity, says Ajit Pawar after 3 civic bodies ban meat sale on Aug 15
Hours after the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) on Tuesday announced that all slaughterhouses and meat shops within city limits would remain closed on August 15 on the occasion of Independence Day and Janmashtami, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Tuesday admonished the decision taken by some civic bodies that also invited severe criticism from the Opposition. The civic bodies of Kalyan Dombivli, Nagpur and Malegaon have issued an order for closure of all slaughterhouses and meat shops in their jurisdictions for 24 hours on August 15. The Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) had issued the order on Monday. Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, also the president of ruling ally Nationalist Congress Party, disapproved the decision and said, 'It is an individual's choice what one should eat or not eat. Nobody has the right to impose the decision. There are some people who are vegetarians and others who are non-vegetarians. It is part of an individual's habit, culture and inheritance and geographical conditions.' 'While it is important to keep public sentiments and faith in mind on certain religious occasions such as Ashadi Ekadhasi or Mahavir Jayanti…, there is no reason why there should be a ban on meat and non-vegetarian food on Maharashtra Day, Independence Day or Republic Day,' Pawar said. Pointing out that in rural Maharashtra, people indulge in non-vegetarian delicacies during celebrations, Pawar said, 'If we look at the coastal Konkan region, people mostly eat seafood. The tribals are used to non-vegetarian food. The food habit and diversity has to be respected.' He also assured that he would take up the matter within the government. Later in the day, following hue and cry from Opposition and alliance partners, the ruling BJP issued a statement saying the decision was not new and has been a part of the administration since 1988. 'Some municipal corporations across Maharashtra have ordered the closure of slaughterhouses and meat shops in its jurisdiction for 24 hours on August 15, Independence Day. This is not a new decision. It was taken way back on May 12, 1988. It has been in practice since then. Every year an individual civic body takes a call,' said the BJP in its statement. While a senior BJP leader said it was a 'foolish decision' and wondered 'whose idea was it', Maharashtra BJP Media cell incharge Navnath Ban said, ' The decision to keep slaughterhouses and meat shops closed on some important days such as Independence Day, Gandhi Jayanti, Mahavir Jayanti, Ram Navmi, etc. was taken by the then government in 1988. Since then some civic bodies follow it.' According to the BJP spokesperson, 'Even during the rule of Maha Vikas Aghadi when Uddhav Thackeray was the CM, such a decision was implemented. The Nagpur Municipal Corporation, which was under state administrator, had enforced the ban on slaughterhouses and meat shops in 2021 and 2022.' Criticising the move, Opposition NCP (SP)'s Jitendra Awhad questioned why residents were being told what to eat on Independence Day, while Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray demanded the suspension of KDMC commissioner. 'Who is the commissioner to tell us what to eat and what not to? Bridges are collapsing, roads are in terrible shape, and instead of fixing them, the administration is busy banning food,' Thackeray said.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Popular govt can wait, restoring peace in Manipur more important: BJP MLA
Imphal: As the extension of President's Rule in Manipur takes effect from Wednesday, BJP MLA Khongbantabam Ibomcha from Lamlai constituency said restoring peace in the strife-torn state is currently more important than reinstating a popular govt. Speaking to the media during the Har Ghar Tiranga march organised by BJP Lamlai Mandal in Imphal East ahead of Independence Day, Ibomcha — who also serves as a spokesperson for BJP Manipur Pradesh — said a govt loses legitimacy if it fails to uphold constitutional norms and maintain law and order. He cited past instances where President's Rule was imposed due to constitutional breakdowns and pointed to ongoing challenges in Manipur, including restricted movement along highways and the continued displacement of internally displaced persons (IDPs). "These issues cannot be resolved merely by forming a popular government. Reconciliation between warring groups is essential," he said. Ibomcha added that the central govt is making earnest efforts to restore peace, including engaging in dialogue with stakeholders. "The violence is internal, not with another country, which makes it more complex. But everything will be brought under the ambit of law," he said. He also said BJP Manipur and its MLAs prioritise national unity above all, but will not accept any solution that compromises the territorial integrity of Manipur. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Indonesia: New Container Houses (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search Ads Search Now Undo Meanwhile, Naga People's Front (NPF) MLA Khashim Vashum, speaking at a separate event in Imphal, echoed similar sentiments. Vashum, who served as a minister in the Biren Singh cabinet, said the delay in restoring a popular government is due to the prevailing law and order situation, not leadership issues. "The situation is improving. With the extension of President's Rule for another six months, let's hope for the best. I believe the Centre understands the sentiments of the people," Vashum said. 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.
