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Indian Express
15 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Inside Track: Wheeling in Circles
At the start of 2025 we were led to believe that we were Donald Trump's special friend and that India would probably be the first to conclude a trade tariff agreement with the US. Now we are not just back of the queue, but could be blackballed! A close observer of Trump-India relations has a different take from others for the mysterious fallout. It was not initially about Russian oil, Pakistani perfidy or thwarting Trump's Nobel Peace Prize ambitions. Trump was infuriated with India's dilatory tactics in signing a deal, which goes back to his first presidency. His joint appearance with Modi in Texas in 2019 was meant to help seal an agreement, but talks fell through a day later in New York. Time and again, as in Gujarat February 2020, like the traditional smooth-talking Indian trader, our officials assured that a deal was almost through, without confessing candidly that some portions of the deal concerning agriculture and dairy products were non-negotiable. Unfortunately, Trump is focused on just this sector, since his Republican supporters come from the farm belt. As US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick remarked angrily, 'You claim to be such a big country and you can't accept a bushel of American corn.' After being re-elected, President Trump was even willing to overlook past slights. (PM Modi did not call or even telephone Trump during his three visits to the US during the Biden presidency.) But in 2025, once again, despite the head-start in negotiations, the deal has not materialised! Retired IAS officer Subhash Chandra Garg's new book is titled No Minister. The former Finance Secretary does not hold back in recalling riveting encounters with his ministerial bosses, some of whom, in fact, refused to take no for an answer, despite bureaucrats citing the rules and the wishes of the incumbent PM. Garg names P Chidambaram among the naysayers who, as finance minister, threatened then PM Manmohan Singh with his resignation unless his proposal that 60-70 secretary level-posts were allotted to the Indian Revenue Service cadre. In Garg's view, this unbalanced the bureaucratic structure without improving tax collection. Similarly, Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu, on whom the Vajpayee government was dependent for survival, cornered more than 40 % of the portfolios of Indian projects approved by the World Bank in 1999 and 2000. Despite objections from the government, Naidu forced them to agree to his audacious demand, in disregard of fair Central resource distribution. Similarly, Kamal Nath bullied his way so that 5% of the total pool of government houses in Delhi was part of his discretionary quota, which largely included newly constructed category type VII and VIII bungalows in Moti Bagh. Considering it is an intra-party contest to elect the fairly modest position of secretary (administration) of the Constitution Club, it is surprising that the poll has attracted intense national interest and media scrutiny. In contrast, Rajeev Shukla (Congress) has been elected unopposed as secretary (sports) and Tiruchi Siva (DMK) as secretary (culture) without any rancour. There seems more than meets the eye in the fierce tussle between the two ill-matched adversaries for the post of administrative secretary. The jocular, down-to-earth ex-MP and UP Jat leader Sanjeev Balyan, who only joined the club eight years ago, appears to have been pitch forked into the contest, while Rajiv Pratap Rudy, the suave Bihar MP who has been the guiding spirit behind the club for the last 25 years, is credited with upgrading its facilities, including gyms, saunas, lounges and sports facilities. Balyan's most vocal campaigner is controversial Bihar MP Nishikant Dubey, who is fighting with all the vehemence and caste calculations of a panchayat election and throwing names of powerful central politicians. Pratap, more discreet, is believed to be backed by an influential regional satrap, who has not shown his hand openly. Amidst constant reports of Air India's slipping standards, I am pleased to report my recent personal experience of the airlines, which demonstrates that the staff's spirit of service beyond the call of duty, the hallmark of JRD Tata's original Air India, has not vanished. While flying back from Kenya on an AI flight, the senior air hostess noticed my distress as I rummaged through my carry bag and under the seat for my missing iPad, which had obviously been left behind in Nairobi. I presumed resignedly that recovering my iPad was like looking for a needle in a haystack, but I had not reckoned with the resourcefulness of the very helpful air hostess and the AI Nairobi manager. The latter, with the assistance of his counterpart at the Nairobi airport lounge, located the missing iPad, got it identified through WhatsApp photos and arranged to have it returned to Delhi within a week.
Indian Express
15 minutes ago
- Indian Express
What is the operational length of metro rail networks in Uttar Pradesh?
Metro Rail Network: India ranks third globally in operational metro rail network length and is on track to become the second largest Metro network in the world. The operational metro network has soared from 248 km across 5 cities (in 2014) to 1,013 km across 23 cities by May 2025, adding 763 km in just 11 years. The annual metro budget for the financial year 2025-26 is Rs 34,807 crore. During the ongoing Monsoon session of Parliament, Lok Sabha MP Dimple Yadav asked Minister of State (MoS) for Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) Tokhan Sahu about the current operational length of metro networks in Uttar Pradesh and their average daily ridership, city-wise. She also sought details on the progress and expected completion timelines for ongoing projects such as Lucknow Metro Phase-2, Kanpur Metro corridors, and Agra Metro Phase-2, along with details of any cost overruns or delays. Responding to this on August 7 in Lok Sabha, the minister said that the total operational length of metro rail network in Uttar Pradesh is 147.446 km. He also added that the ministry has received proposal for Lucknow metro Phase-1B from Charbagh to Vasantkunj of 11.165 route km at a cost of Rs 5,801.05 crore with projected completion period of 5 years from date of sanction. 'The Kanpur Metro Rail Project of 32.38 route km at a cost Rs.11,076.48 crore and Agra Metro Rail Project of 29.4 route km at a cost of Rs.8,379.62 crore have already been sanctioned. UP Metro Rail Corporation Limited (UPMRCL), which is implementing agency for metro projects in Lucknow, Kanpur and Agra has informed that there is no cost overrun in these projects,' the minister stated. Details of current operational length of Metro rail network in Uttar Pradesh, average daily ridership, city-wise: (Source: As per written statement by MoS, MoHUA Tokhan Sahu in Lok Sabha on August 7, 2025.) Anish Mondal is a business journalist with over nine years of experience. He writes on diverse subjects such as Infrastructure, Railways, Roadways, Aviation, Politics, Market, Parliamentary affairs, Corporate earnings, General and International news etc. ... Read More
Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
Rs 1.5 lakh per sq ft: South Mumbai societies wooed with 5-star lunches as developers pitch crores-worth redevelopment
AI Image MUMBAI: This weekend, a prestigious luxury hotel in south Mumbai is the venue of meetings for members of a posh housing society on Altamont Road, one of the priciest residential enclaves in India. Three of Mumbai's leading developers will be meeting them separately to pitch their offers for redevelopment. The competition among developers for such prime properties will be aggressive considering that new apartments can fetch prices upwards of Rs 1.50 lakh a square foot. On Saturday, a prominent developer from Goregaon booked a large banquet hall in the hotel. Another big developer has booked an entire restaurant on the 19th floor of the same hotel on Sunday for the society members, followed by lunch. Later in the afternoon, the third developer with a national footprint will present its redevelopment plan. Mumbai's redevelopment mania has reached new levels, with builders going out of the way to entice housing societies in tony areas such as Malabar Hill, Nepean Sea Road, Carmichael Road and parts of Bandra. A prominent developer justified these meetings in luxury hotels as a "necessary business development exercise". 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 "It is expensive, but the developer must lay out his vision at a comfortable venue," he said. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai 'Spend on 5-star lunches no big deal when projects are worth crores' A developer, who finally bagged the redevelopment rights to a sea-facing Breach Candy society, invited its members for a final presentation over 'drinks and dinner'' in a south Mumbai five-star hotel. A prominent developer has justified such meetings. The lunch could cost Rs 5,000 a plate and the entire presentation about Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. 'The entire society is invited. So, there are no underhand deals with a few members,'' said the developer, who did not want to be identified. 'What we require is a proper LED screen, sound system and proper cooling for the presentation,' he added. A property market source narrated another interesting incident recently. A senior executive in a venture capital fund was shocked when he saw the budget drawn out by a builder who had applied for debt financing of a redevelopment project. The funding requirements are normally divided into pre-Intimation of Disapproval (IOD) and postIOD funding. Pre-IOD funding has the normal heads of payments to be made to BMC for scrutiny fees, NOCs from various departments including fire brigade for which huge amounts have to be deposited, purchase of floor space index (FSI) by payment of premiums, purchase of transfer of development rights (TDR) from the market, and so on. While scrutinising the funding requirements, a new head called 'entertainment' caught the attention due to its sheer quantum of numbers. Naturally, the person recommending sanctioning of amounts to his board has to check the details of each head, and 'entertainment', which ran into tens of crores of rupees, came up for scrutiny. The builder then revealed that to get a project in posh areas, lunches and dinners have to be organised at select five-star hotels initially for office bearers and managing committee members, then for all the members who will help reach the 51%-plus target for redevelopment. The executive expressed his apprehension about convincing his board about the necessity of such a huge expenditure and felt that the head under which such huge amounts are sought— 'entertainment'—would naturally be noticed first. The builder coolly replied that the nomenclature could be changed to 'education' because 'we are educating the members on the advantages of entrusting us with the task of redevelopment'. A Nepean Sea Road society has had several luncheon meetings and brunches with builders on Sundays because their society is on collector's land and no member is willing to pay the amounts for conversion of its status to free hold. The builder paying for these free lunches takes special efforts to convince them that he can get the conversion to free hold at no cost to members in minimum time. In a Carmichael Road society, members did not want to join the neighbouring society for cluster redevelopment only because the neighbouring society plot was abutting Pedder Road and by going with them, the tag of Carmichael Road which fetches them premium selling price would be lost. They needed to be convinced and services of top five-star hotels were availed of. Veteran property expert Pranay Vakil said land prices in south Mumbai are so exorbitant that developers prefer the redevelopment route. 'Once you have convinced the society, the developer gets control of the land with high FSI and a substantial free sale area in upmarket localities,' he said. So, when a single society redevelopment in a posh south Mumbai neighbourhood could be worth several hundred crores, a paid-for meal and presentation in a big hotel is no big deal for an A-list developer. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). 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