logo
PM launches projects worth Rs 7,200 cr, flags off 4 Amrit Bharat trains

PM launches projects worth Rs 7,200 cr, flags off 4 Amrit Bharat trains

Time of India4 days ago
1
2
Patna: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday laid the foundation stone, inaugurated and dedicated to the nation multiple development projects worth over Rs 7,200 crore before addressing a public meeting during his Motihari programme.
He also dedicated to the nation multiple rail projects, including the automatic signalling between Samastipur-Bachhwara rail line and the doubling of Darbhanga-Thalwara and Samastipur-Rambhadrapur rail line, which are part of Darbhanga-Samastipur doubling project worth over Rs 580 crore.
Modi also laid the foundation stone for multiple rail projects including the development of infrastructure for maintenance of Vande Bharat trains at Patliputra, automatic signalling on Bhatni-Chhapra Gramin rail line (114 km) to enable streamlined train operations, upgrade of traction system in Bhatni-Chhapra Gramin section to enable higher train speeds by strengthening the traction system infrastructure and optimising energy efficiency and the Darbhanga-Narkatiaganj rail line doubling project worth around Rs 4,080 crore to increase sectional capacity and enable operation of more passenger and freight trains.
To improve road infrastructure, Modi laid the foundation stone for four-laning of Ara bypass of NH-319 that connects Ara-Mohania NH-319 and Patna-Buxar NH-922 providing seamless connectivity and reducing travel time.
He also inaugurated the four-lane Parariya to Mohania section of NH-319, worth over Rs 820 crore, part of NH-319 which connects Ara town to NH-02 (Golden Quadrilateral). Among others, a two-lane with paved shoulder from Sarwan to Chakai of NH-333C which will facilitate the movement of goods and people and act as a key link between Bihar and Jharkhand.
Modi also inaugurated New Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) facility at Darbhanga and State of the art Incubation Facility of STPI at Patna for promoting IT/ITES/ESDM Industry and Startups.
He also handed over keys to some beneficiaries as a part of griha pravesh of 12,000 beneficiaries and released over Rs 160 crore to 40,000 beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin.
He further inaugurated a series of fisheries development projects sanctioned under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
This will mark the launch of modern fisheries infrastructure including new fish hatcheries, ornamental fish farming, integrated aquaculture units, and fish feed mills across various districts in Bihar.
The PM further flagged off four new Amrit Bharat trains between Rajendra Nagar terminal (Patna) and New Delhi, Bapudham Motihari and Delhi (Anand Vihar terminal), Darbhanga to Lucknow (Gomti Nagar) and Malda Town and Lucknow (Gomti Nagar) via Bhagalpur.
Modi also released Rs 400 crore to around 61,500 self-help groups (SHG) in Bihar under Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM). With a special focus on women-led development, over 10 crore women have been connected to SHGs.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

PM Modi to gift Rs 2,258 crore projects to Kashi on Aug 2
PM Modi to gift Rs 2,258 crore projects to Kashi on Aug 2

Time of India

time40 minutes ago

  • Time of India

PM Modi to gift Rs 2,258 crore projects to Kashi on Aug 2

1 2 Varanasi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate projects worth over Rs 600 crore in Varanasi during his proposed visit to his parliamentary constituency on Aug 2. He will also lay the foundation for many projects worth over Rs 1,650 crore. The projects to be inaugurated include the Sowa Rigpa Medical College located in the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies campus in Sarnath and the Varanasi-Bhadohi 4-lane road. Modi's public meeting venue, from where he would inaugurate the projects, has been selected at Kalikadham in Sevapuri assembly constituency. Busy finalising the list of the projects for inauguration and for the launch, divisional commissioner S Rajalingam, informed TOI on Tuesday, "The list of the ready projects is long. Major big-budget projects include the Varanasi-Bhadohi four-lane road of over Rs 270 crore, the Sowa Rigpa Medical College of about Rs 93 crore, a blue astroturf hockey field at BR Ambedkar Stadium in Lalpur area, and the Khadi and Village Industries Commission's office building at Teliabagh. So far, the list comprises projects of almost Rs 600 crore."Among the projects for which PM Modi will lay the foundation, he said the major one is the project for restructuring and reforming the power infrastructure of the city with a budget of approximately Rs 800 crore. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo This will include revamping hanging wires, bamboo poles, and many more works. Apart from others, a project for establishing a museum at Munshi Premchand's house and road construction works are also being included. The total cost of projects in both the is approximately Rs 2,258 crore, he said. The district administration has also increased monitoring of the preparations being made for the PM Modi's public meeting at Kalikadham in Sevapuri area. On Monday evening, district magistrate Satyendra took stock of the progress in the work, including levelling of fields, stage construction, parking, and the helipad area. He asked that all link roads leading to the public meeting venue must be repaired. The officials started work after seeking no-objection from the owners of fields selected for the public meeting venue. Bharatiya Janata Party functionaries, who took stock of the area on Sunday evening, started holding meetings to assign the responsibilities for different works, including mobilising people for their participation and other arrangements, said BJP Kashi regional unit president Dilip Patel.

So Near Yet 'Sofa': DRI Cracks Down On Rs 30 Crore Luxury Furniture Import Scam
So Near Yet 'Sofa': DRI Cracks Down On Rs 30 Crore Luxury Furniture Import Scam

News18

timean hour ago

  • News18

So Near Yet 'Sofa': DRI Cracks Down On Rs 30 Crore Luxury Furniture Import Scam

Last Updated: The investigation revealed a meticulously planned operation to evade customs duties by undervaluing premium furniture sourced from top European brands In a significant recent crackdown on customs fraud, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has uncovered a massive scheme involving the import of luxury furniture using fake invoices and dummy companies. Acting on specific intelligence, DRI Mumbai officers raided several locations linked to a well-known luxury furniture brand operating across India. The investigation revealed a meticulously planned operation to evade customs duties by undervaluing premium furniture sourced from top European brands. Instead of declaring the real price, the accused routed payments through shell companies based in Dubai and Singapore. Goods were shipped directly from Europe to India but were declared as unbranded furniture at a fraction of their actual value. This clever paper trail using dummy importers and fake invoices allowed the masterminds to dodge customs duty worth Rs 30 crore. Searches were conducted at offices, warehouses, freight forwarders, and customs brokers connected to the racket. DRI officials stated that the scam involved multiple layers: shell companies abroad, local intermediaries, dummy Importer Exporter Code (IEC) holders, and fabricated paperwork. Once the furniture cleared customs, it was transferred on paper to the luxury brand's name through a proxy intermediary, but in reality, it went directly to the brand's warehouse or high-end clients. In a swift move, DRI arrested the beneficial owner of the brand, the dummy importer, and the local intermediary on July 21 and 22 under the Customs Act, 1962. Officials noted that this is not an isolated case. Just two months ago, in May, DRI uncovered a similar scam worth over Rs 20 crore, again involving luxury furniture brands using front companies to misdeclare imported goods. Such frauds significantly impact government revenue and harm honest businesses that pay their dues. A senior DRI official said, 'These operations create an unfair market for genuine importers and domestic manufacturers. We are determined to expose these networks and plug the leaks." The DRI is now investigating other shell companies, dummy IEC holders, and financial channels linked to the scam. More arrests and wider revelations are expected as the probe continues. view comments First Published: July 23, 2025, 03:24 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

India-UK free trade deal approved: which luxury and labor-heavy industries will cash in big?
India-UK free trade deal approved: which luxury and labor-heavy industries will cash in big?

Time of India

time2 hours ago

  • Time of India

India-UK free trade deal approved: which luxury and labor-heavy industries will cash in big?

India's Union Cabinet finally approved the country's free trade agreement with the United Kingdom on Tuesday, July 22. This agreement, formally called the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, will be formally signed by India's Commerce and Industry minister Piyush Goyal, along with Britain's counterpart Jonathan Reynolds on July 24. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will be there to witness the proceedings. The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement aims to smoothen out trade hurdles between India and the United Kingdom by imposing a zero-duty regime on Indian exports such as textiles, leather goods and footwear. The United Kingdom will also face reduced tariffs on luxury exports such as Scotch whiskey and premium cars. The India-UK free trade agreement benefits India's labor-intensive industries The free trade agreement that was just approved by India's Union Cabinet is focused on bolstering India's most labor-intensive industries. Textiles, leather goods and footwear continue to have high production costs due to the labor-intensive process required to ensure product quality. If the United Kingdom imposes zero import duties on these industries, a whole new market will open up. #WATCH | London, UK | Speaking on the UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) at the India Global Forum, Union Minister Piyush Goyal says, "It is unfair to call it a giveaway. Indian people add value to the UK economy when they come here...""This is not something we raised after… This trade agreement is part of a wider effort by Narendra Modi's government to maximize export opportunities for Indian industries, as well as attract foreign investment. As Indian exports become more profitable and sough-after, Indian enterprises may garner additional funding and investment from foreign parties. Likewise, the reduced tariffs on the UK's luxury goods ensure that the markets of that country open up to a new customer base of wealthy Indians. From 2024 to 2025, the value of India's exports to the United Kingdom has risen by 12.6% to $14.5 billion. The value of imports India received from the UK grew by 2.3% to $8.6 billion. The India-UK agreement is yet to be ratified by the UK parliament While India's cabinet has approved of the bilateral free trade agreement, the United Kingdom has its own process of ratification, which will occur after the signing ceremony on July 24. Due to the Labor party's majority in the parliament, this process seems unlikely to face any hiccups. India, UK concludes FTA; An elated UK PM releases video of his telephonic talks with PM Modi. Calls FTA historic Aside from the trade agreement on goods and services, India and the United Kingdom have also inked out an agreement on Social Security, known as the Double Contribution Convention. This will allow Indians who have short-term work contracts in the United Kingdom to avoid double contributions to their social security funds, ensuring they keep more of their earnings. The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement has been a long time in the making, with negotiations on the pact concluding on May 6. This agreement is projected to double the value of bilateral trade between the two nations to $120 billion by 2030.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store