Trump's ceasefire ultimatum to Putin: Won't be happy if deal is not reached today
On this 79th Independence Day special of India First, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 103-minute address from the Red Fort is decoded. The speech outlined a roadmap for a 'Vikasit Bharat' or developed India by 2047, emphasizing 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India). National security was a significant focus, with the Prime Minister acknowledging Operation Sindoor, India's military response to the Pahalgam terror attack, and announcing Mission Sudarshan Chakra, an indigenous defensive and counter-strike weapon system slated for development by 2035. The address also covered goals for indigenous manufacturing, including semiconductor chip production in India by late 2025 and domestic fighter jet engine manufacturing. For the first time in his twelve addresses, the Prime Minister praised the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), highlighting its century of service, which has generated political discussion. The program further examines India's assertive military posture, challenges in indigenous jet engine production, India-US relations, and flash floods in Jammu and Kashmir.
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Hindustan Times
16 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
PM Modi reviews Delhi sections of UER-2, Dwarka Expressway before inauguration
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday reviewed the Delhi section of the Dwarka Expressway and the Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II) and interacted with the construction workers of both the highways, before inaugurating the projects which are worth a combined cost of nearly ₹11,000 crore. According to the Prime Minister's office, the projects have been developed under a comprehensive decongestion plan for Delhi.(ANI File Photo) The Prime Minister along with union minister of road transport and highways, Nitin Gadkari, chief minister of Delhi, Rekha Gupta and chief minister of Haryana, Nayab Singh Saini reviewed the two projects. The first stretch is Alipur to Dichaon Kalan part of Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II) along with new links to Bahadurgarh and Sonipat, which is built at a cost of around ₹5,580 Crores. He also inaugurated the 10.1 km long Delhi section of Dwarka Expressway, that has been developed at a cost of around ₹5,360 crore. Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II): Alipur to Dichaon Kalan stretch The Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II) is aimed to ease traffic on Delhi's Inner and Outer Ring Roads and busy points like Mukarba Chowk, Dhaula Kuan, and NH-09. The 76-km Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II), designed as Delhi's third Ring Road, will give direct access to Bahadurgarh and Sonipat, improve industrial connectivity, cut city traffic, and speed up goods movement in the National Capital Region, reported PTI. According to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Modi will flag off four of the five packages of UER-II, connecting Mahipalpur near IGI Airport to Alipur in North Delhi. UER-II will link to the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, starting near Akshardham temple, enabling faster routes from Haryana and Rajasthan towards Dehradun. A new 65 km highway from Tronica City to the under-construction FNG Expressway has also been approved. In future, the corridor will connect five major NCR expressways: Delhi-Dehradun, Delhi-Meerut, Noida-Greater Noida, DND-Faridabad, and Yamuna Expressways. Also read: PM Modi to inaugurate UER-II, Dwarka Expressway shortly: What to know about the mega highway projects Delhi section of Dwarka Expressway The fresh 10.1 kms of the Dwarka expressway, or the Delhi section of the expressway adds on to the 19 km long Haryana section that was earlier inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March 2024. The Delhi section of the expressway will comprise a four level interchange, with two of them constructed under the ground. Marked with an eight-lane shallow and four-lane airport tunnel, it will also usher in Multi-modal connectivity to Yashobhoomi, DMRC Blue line and Orange line, the upcoming Bijwasan railway station and the Dwarka cluster Bus Depot, ensuring a seamless commute across the national capital region. It would also cut short the travel time from Sonipat, Rohtak, Bahadurgarh and Gurugram to the Delhi airport, significantly. A 34-lane wide toll plaza will also be constructed as a part of this expressway, said a PTI report. A stretch of 5.9 km of this section from Shiv Murti intersection to the Road Under Bridge (RUB) at Dwarka Sector-21 and another stretch of 4.2 km from Dwarka Sector-21 RUB to the Delhi-Haryana Border, will be providing direct connectivity to Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II). It would also be linking the proposed 'twin tube tunnel' on NH 148AE, connecting Shiv Murti intersection to Nelson Mandela Marg. Seamless mobility across NCR According to the Prime Minister's office, the projects — the Delhi section of the Dwarka Expressway and the Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II) — have been developed under a comprehensive decongestion plan for Delhi. With the objective of smoothening connectivity, cutting short travel time, and easing traffic disruptions, these initiatives reflect Prime Minister Modi's vision of creating world-class infrastructure that enhances ease of living and ensures seamless mobility, read a statement by the PMO on Saturday.
Indian Express
16 minutes ago
- Indian Express
BJP Parliamentary Board to meet today, V-P pick top on agenda
With days to go for nominations for the vice-presidential election to close, the BJP-led NDA has 'more or less zeroed in' on Jagdeep Dhankhar's successor ahead of the party's Parliamentary Board meeting, scheduled for Sunday evening. According to sources, the 11- member Parliamentary Board – the BJP's highest decision-making body – chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will grant approval to the NDA's pick. The vice-presidential polls have been necessitated after Dhankhar, in a 'surprise' move on July 21, tendered his resignation citing health reasons amid the Monsoon Session. An insider said that following the meeting, the BJP's decision is then likely to be conveyed to NDA partners like Nitish Kumar's JD(U), the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) led by N Chandrababu Naidu and others. In line with the alliance's showcase of 'significant unity' in the vice-presidential polls, the NDA last week had authorised Modi and BJP president J P Nadda to take a call on the alliance's pick for the polls. 'During the Parliamentary Board meeting, senior leaders typically discuss the merits of various candidates. It concluded with the PM giving his final nod on the matter. For the vice-presidential polls, the party has screened several contenders, including sitting Governors and Lieutenant Governors as well outgoing Rajya Sabha MPs. However, the alliance is also considering the polls as an opportunity to display its unity,' a source said. 'During the filing of the nomination and on polling day, the NDA will make it a point to publicly project a united and consolidated front,' a senior BJP leader said. Even as the NDA's Parliamentary Party will meet on Tuesday over the issue, a three-day workshop has been organised for MPs to give them procedural training for the September 9 polls. Sources said that the core agenda of the NDA's meeting was to finalise the vice-presidential candidate, discussions on the 70 Rajya Sabha vacancies scheduled to arise in 2026, the ongoing gubernatorial reshuffle, Cabinet rejig and the appointment of the new BJP national president could also be on the table.
India.com
16 minutes ago
- India.com
PM Modi Inaugurates Two Major Highway Projects In Delhi Worth Rs 11,000 Crore
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated two significant highway infrastructure projects in the capital, the Delhi segments of the Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II) and the Dwarka Expressway, together valued at Rs 11,000 crore. These developments mark a major step in the Union government's efforts to tackle chronic traffic congestion in the national capital and enhance connectivity across the National Capital Region (NCR). #WATCH | Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates two major National Highway projects, the Delhi section of the Dwarka Expressway and the Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II). (Source: DD News) — ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2025 'These initiatives reflect Prime Minister Modi's vision of creating world-class infrastructure that ensures seamless mobility,' the Prime Minister's Office stated. Officials anticipate that the new corridors will help reduce travel times, divert freight traffic away from the city centre, and provide relief to Delhi's overburdened Inner and Outer Ring Roads. UER-II: Delhi's Third Ring Road The flagship development is the 54.21km stretch of UER-II, which runs from Alipur through Bawana, Rohini, Mundka, Bakkarwala, Najafgarh, and Dwarka to Dichaon Kalan. The project, costing ₹5,580 crore, forms part of the 76km total corridor, which includes an additional 21.5km stretch in Haryana. Designed as Delhi's third ring road under the Delhi Master Plan Road 2021, UER-II will connect to key hubs such as Bahadurgarh and Sonipat. The six-lane highway is expected to ease congestion at major traffic points including Mukarba Chowk, Dhaula Kuan, and NH-9. The project is anticipated to reduce travel time between the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport and various locations in southwest and northwest Delhi by 40 to 60 percent, according to government estimates. It is also set to enhance connectivity between Chandigarh, Gurugram, and IGI Airport. Several sections, including those around Najafgarh, Mundka, and Alipur, have already opened in phases, bringing benefits to previously underdeveloped areas such as Karala, Alipur and Bawana. The corridor improves access to south Delhi, Noida, and Faridabad, and significantly boosts connectivity to Dwarka, Mahipalpur, and Vasant Kunj. Declared a national highway, UER-II is being developed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in five packages, with funding for Delhi's portion provided by the Delhi Development Authority. Dwarka Expressway The second project inaugurated is a 10.1 km stretch of the Dwarka Expressway, built at a cost of ₹5,360 crore. This bypass of the NH-48 Delhi-Gurugram Expressway includes a tunnel and an underpass near the airport, offering direct connectivity from IGI Airport to UER-II, Gurugram, and Dwarka. It links directly to Yashobhoomi in Dwarka Sector 25 and is integrated with multi-modal transport systems including the Delhi Metro's Blue and Orange lines, the upcoming Bijwasan railway station, and the Dwarka cluster bus depot. The new expressway section has already reduced travel time for commuters in Dwarka, Mahipalpur, Vasant Kunj, and Najafgarh, while significantly improving access to Gurugram and the airport. The Delhi section of the Dwarka Expressway includes two parts: 5.9 km from the Shiv Murti intersection near the airport to Dwarka Sector 21, and 4.2 km from Sector 21 to the Delhi-Haryana border. The 19 km Haryana section was inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi on 11 March 2024. The full 28 km expressway was completed at a total cost of Rs 8,611 crore. Sustainable Construction In a notable environmental initiative, two million tonnes of waste from the Ghazipur landfill were utilised in the construction of UER-II, reducing the height of the landfill mound by seven metres. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari previously highlighted the use of such material during the Delhi Assembly election campaign. 'We are using inert materials recovered through biomining of legacy waste for highway construction to promote sustainable infrastructure,' an NHAI official stated. 'These inert materials such as soil, silt, stones and construction debris are stable and suitable for embankment filling, subgrade layering and service roads,' the official added. The same material is also being used in other projects, including the DND–Faridabad–Ballabgarh–Sohna bypass, which aims to reduce landfill volumes, conserve natural resources, and lower both construction costs and carbon emissions. Political Endorsement Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who visited the site on Saturday to oversee preparations along with senior officials and party leaders, described the projects as a 'historic gift' for the capital. 'The commencement of UER-II will play a vital role in reducing congestion, improving industrial corridor network, lowering vehicular pollution and thereby contributing to a cleaner and healthier environment,' CM Gupta said. 'UER-II is not just an infrastructure project; it is an investment in the future of Delhi. It will improve traffic flow, cut travel time drastically, and uplift the quality of life for lakhs of people living in Delhi and NCR,' she added. Highlighting the long-distance benefits, she noted that UER-II will link with the Delhi-Jaipur National Highway, KMP Expressway and the Gurugram-Sohna Highway, which further connects to the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. 'Travel to Chandigarh, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Jaipur, and even Mumbai will become faster and more convenient. It is truly a transformative project,' Gupta said. 'With this network, UER-II will emerge as a backbone of high-speed connectivity, linking Delhi not just with NCR but with the entire nation,' she concluded. Experts' View While the projects are part of a broader strategy to decongest Delhi, transport experts have previously raised concerns about whether such road expansions provide lasting relief or simply shift bottlenecks to new locations.
