PM Modi flags off Yellow Line of Bengaluru's Namma Metro
Modi will also flag off a Vande Bharat train between Bengaluru and Belagavi.
The Prime Minister's visit to the southern state comes just days after Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, led a "Vote Adhikar Rally" against the alleged "vote theft." The Congress has alleged electoral fraud during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka, based on its study of the Mahadevapura assembly segment.
Project cost – The line has been built at an estimated cost of ₹ 5,056.99 crore.
Expected ridership – According to a PTI report, it is expected to carry nearly 8 lakh passengers each day.
Traffic relief – The notoriously congested Silk Board Junction is set to experience a noticeable drop in traffic.
Service start – Regular operations will begin on August 11, with three trains running every 25 minutes between RV Road and Bommasandra at the outset.
Linked expansion – The launch will also mark the laying of the foundation stone for Namma Metro's Phase 3, a 44.65 km extension costing ₹ 15,611 crore.
Phase 3 benefits – Once finished, Phase 3 is expected to help around 25 lakh people in south Bengaluru, boosting last-mile connectivity and easing travel in the city.
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First Post
3 minutes ago
- First Post
Why India is watching the Alaska summit closely
As India prepares to celebrate its Independence Day, it is undoubtedly keeping its eye on the meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in Alaska. But why does India have a stake in the successful outcome of the meeting between Putin and Trump? What do experts say? Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are set to meet in Alaska tomorrow (August 15). And India is watching closely. As India prepares to celebrate its Independence Day, it is undoubtedly keeping its eye on the events that are occurring nearly 10,000 kilometers away in the last Frontier State. But why does India have a stake in the successful outcome of the meeting between Putin and Trump? Let's take a closer look: New Delhi's position on the war From the beginning of the Ukraine war in 2022, New Delhi has taken a consistent and pragmatic position – the war must end through dialogue and diplomacy. This is a sentiment Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly voiced over the years. Perhaps none more memorably than in October 2022 on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Samarkand. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Modi, meeting Putin, told the Russian president 'this is not the era of war'. 'I know that today's era is not an era of war, and I have spoken to you on the phone about this', Modi said. 'We've spoken to you many times on the phone before on this, that democracy, diplomacy and dialogue — these things help the world. In the coming days, we will get the chance to talk about how to move on to the road to peace, I will also get the chance to better understand your viewpoint.' Putin at the time responded, 'I know your position on the conflict in Ukraine, the concerns that you constantly express. We will do everything to stop this as soon as possible.' Modi and India's message was even reflected in the declaration of the Bali G20 Summit in 2022. Modi also conveyed a similar message to Putin during his trip to Russia in July 2024 – which came just after a Russian airstrike on a children's Hospital in Kyiv left over three dozen dead. Modi, addressing Putin as his dear friend, said peace is 'of utmost importance' and a solution to the war in Ukraine 'cannot be found on the battlefield'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly voiced the sentiment that the war must end via dialogue and diplomacy. 'I know that war cannot solve problems, solutions and peace talks can't succeed among bombs, guns and bullets. And we need to find a way to peace through dialogue,' Modi said at the Kremlin. 'When innocent children are murdered, one sees them die, the heart pains and that pain is unbearable', he added. He repeated the message when he visited Poland last year for a two-day trip and met Indian diaspora. Modi before the trip said he would 'share perspectives' on a peaceful resolution of the conflict. 'As a friend and partner, we hope for an early return of peace and stability in the region,' Modi said. He repeated 'this is not an era of war' and any conflict should be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue. The Ministry of External Affairs also reiterated this message after news of the Trump-Putin summit emerged. 'As Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said on several occasions, 'This is not an era of war'', the MEA said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Opportunity to ease tensions with US The Trump-Putin summit could also ease tensions between India and the United States over the purchase of Russian crude oil. Trump has imposed a 50 per cent tariff on India for its trade relationship with Russia and accused New Delhi of fuelling Russia's war in Ukraine. India has hit back calling the levies 'unfair, unjustified and unreasonable.' New Delhi has also pointed out that prior to the war, India bought a fraction of its crude from Moscow and that it began doing so with US encouragement, which also kept the price of crude under control for the world. It also pointed to the hypocrisy of the United States and Europe continuing to trade with Russia. It has said it has placed the national interest above all else and will continue to do so. This was backed up by the Kremlin with spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying, 'Sovereign countries should have and do have the right to choose their own trading partners.' Trump has also ruled out further trade talks with India until the 'crude oil issue is resolved'. The development came in the backdrop of India and the United States trying to negotiate a trade deal. The United States has been pushing hard to for India to open up its sensitive dairy and agricultural sector. Senior US officials have said that Trump and the entire trade team are frustrated by New Delhi's insistence of a red line on agriculture. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A Russian crude oil tanker transits the Bosphorus in Istanbul. Reuters India's interest in a breakthrough in Alaska is clear. If Trump and Putin agreed to a ceasefire, the US-led West may roll back some sanctions on Russia. This in turn will help India, which is an important trading partner of Russia, to continue purchasing Russian oil. India has saved billions over the past few years as it buys crude oil from Russia, which has been placed under a cap and not sanctioned by the West. Experts have said that India's crude oil bill could rise between $1.5 billion and $12 billion in the coming years if it stops buying Russian crude. They have warned that doing so would be 'logistically daunting, economically painful and geopolitically fraught'. 'The pivot away from Russia, if forced, will be costly, complex and politically fraught', data firm Kpler wrote. Trade deal negotiations could restart It will also relieve some pressure off Trump himself, who has seemingly grown frustrated with Putin in recent months. Trump came to office vowing to end the war 'within 24 hours'. 'We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth', Trump said in July. 'We're not happy with Putin. I'm not happy with Putin. I can tell you that much right now, because he's killing a lot of people.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump can tout any breakthrough in Alaska with Putin as a victory. He can roll back tariffs on India and allow the trade deal negotiations to restart. US President Donald Trump and some of his officials from the administration have been pressuring India to forego its oil trade with Russia. File image/Reuters US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Tuesday that several major trade deals, including those with Switzerland and India, remain pending, remarking that New Delhi had been 'a bit recalcitrant' in its negotiations with Washington. Bessent has said that the Trump administration hopes to conclude the trade negotiations by the end of October. Modi, in his first response to Trump's move, has vowed never to compromise on the interests of India's farmers, even if it meant paying a heavy political price. 'Our farmers' welfare is paramount,' Modi said at an event in New Delhi. 'India will never compromise on the wellbeing of its farmers, dairy sector, or fishermen — and I know I may have to pay a heavy price for standing firm on this.' Keeping options open, Russia relationship A ceasefire or a peace deal in Alaska would allow India to keep its options wide open when it comes to balancing its global affairs. New Delhi has remained neutral on the Russia-Ukraine war at international forums such as the United Nations despite pressures from the US-led West. New Delhi has done so because it has friends on both sides of the aisle. India has also volunteered to act as a bridge, if possible, between Russia and Ukraine. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India as a developing power also needs to ensure friendly relations with major powers like the United States, the European Union, China. However, it cannot sacrifice its relationship with Russia, which goes back decades, to do so. India is reliant on Russia for a lot more than oil. In fact much of India's military hardware still comes from Russia. The S-400 air defence system'. Reuters As Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has written, 'India was the world's second largest arms importer in 2020–24 with an 8.3 per cent share of global imports. Indian arms imports decreased by 9.3 per cent between 2015–19 and 2020–24, at least partly due to India's increasing ability to design and produce its own weapons.' Russia still comprises over a third of India's arm imports. Though India is buying more from Western suppliers particularly France, Israel and the United States, New Delhi possibly replacing Moscow a as a major arms supplier remains years away at best. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This is a testament to the long and enduring relationship with Moscow going back to the 1960s when the United States was far more predisposed towards Pakistan. What do experts say? They say many in India remain a supporter of Russia – and with good reason. 'Many Indians still find Russia today, because of the history, a reliable partner,' Harsh V Pant of the Observer Research Foundation told The Times of India. 'Many in India believe that America has always been more favourably disposed towards Pakistan.' Indian diplomats such as Pankaj Saran and DB Venkatesh Varma said that the summit could be 'defining and potentially transformative'. 'It is a defining and potentially transformative summit for the world, specially for India. Our ties with both countries are integral to the success of our national development and security goals. India should extend its full support to the summit,' Saran said. 'The Alaska summit could prove to be a turning point at the global level and India has a vital interest in its success,' Verma added.
Hindustan Times
3 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
PM Modi should announce restoration of statehood to J&K on I-Day, says minister
Jammu and Kashmir minister Satish Sharma on Thursday demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi announce restoration of statehood to the Union Territory during his Independence Day speech at the Red Fort. The J&K said PM Modi should make the announcement on August 15 itself as it is something that the UT could get after 8 weeks. (DD Grab) Sharma was responding to questions from reporters about the Supreme Court on Thursday giving the Centre eight weeks to file a response on a plea seeking the restoration of statehood to J-K. "The PM should make an announcement tomorrow only for something that we may get after eight weeks," he said. The minister, however, said the Supreme Court should consider every aspect and return the dignity of the people of J-K. In a related development, the ruling National Conference (NC) said it was disappointed by the SC giving the Centre eight weeks. "It is disappointing. People of J-K were eagerly waiting for some good news, but today's decision to wait for the Centre's response for another eight weeks is disappointing," NC state spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar said. He, however, said the party is hopeful that the people of J-K will hear "good news" in the next hearing or the coming days. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran also took note of the submissions of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, that there are "several considerations which go into the decision-making process". It listed the plea, filed by academician Zahoor Ahmad Bhat and socio-political activist Ahmad Malik, for a hearing after eight weeks. "You cannot ignore what happened in Pahalgam... It is for Parliament and the executive to take a decision," the CJI said when senior lawyer Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for Bhat, sought an early hearing.
Hindustan Times
3 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
3 Kolkata Metro projects to be inaugurated by PM on August 22: Check new route details
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate three metro routes in Kolkata on August 22, including a section of India's first underwater metro. The inauguration function of the Kolkata Metro projects featuring PM Narendra Modi will be held at the Jessore Road metro station of the Yellow Line in the northern suburbs of the city.(PIB File) Union minister Sukanta Majumdar called the inauguration of the metro projects a "historic gift" for West Bengal ahead of Durga Puja. According to an X post by Majumdar, Modi will inaugurate the Sealdah-Esplanade section of the Green Line. Kolkata airport link to metro With this, the Green Line, touted as India's first underwater metro, will become fully operational, connecting Howrah Maidan to Salt Lake Sector 5, and the Kolkata airport will also get a metro link. The inauguration function will be held at the Jessore Road metro station of the Yellow Line in the northern suburbs of the city Ruby Crossing-Beleghata link to open too In addition to the green line, PM Modi will inaugurate the Hemanta Mukhopadhyay (Ruby Crossing)-Beleghata section of the Orange Line and the Noapara to Jai Hind (airport) section of the Yellow Line. In his X post, Sukanta Majumdar shared an invitation to the inauguration programme sent by railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. When will three new Kolkata metro routes open? At present, the Green Line is operational in two disjointed sections: Howrah Maidan-Esplanade and Sealdah-Salt Lake Sector 5. Construction of the Sealdah-Esplanade section was disrupted following a series of subsidence in Bowbazar in the central part of the city. PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate the much-awaited Sealdah-Esplanade section of the Kolkata metro green line. The new section will help lakhs of people travelling to the IT hub in Sector 5, as the Green Line connects with the Blue Line at Esplanade, besides linking Howrah and Sealdah railway stations. The airport will also get a metro link with this inauguration, benefiting fliers and also helping people commuting to Kolkata from the northern suburbs. The Yellow Line will connect with the Blue Line at Noapara. The Orange Line, already operational between New Garia and Ruby Crossing, will benefit people living in the eastern and southern suburbs of the metropolis. Metro Railway Kolkata, which operates the city's mass rapid transit system, is an Indian Railways zone. PM Modi will also inaugurate a subway at the Howrah metro station.
