Latest news with #BharatmalaProject
NDTV
29-05-2025
- Business
- NDTV
PM Modi To Lay Foundation For Phase-2 Of Varanasi-Kolkata Expressway Today
Patna: In a landmark move to boost infrastructure and connectivity in eastern India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for the second phase of the Varanasi-Gaya-Ranchi-Kolkata Expressway (NH-319B) on Thursday, during his visit to Bihar. This expressway, which is part of the Bharatmala Project, is a massive infrastructure initiative that promises to transform road travel and economic activity across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. The 690-kilometre-long expressway, with a width of 36 metres, will be Bihar's first six-lane greenfield expressway. Starting from Barhauli near the Varanasi Ring Road in Uttar Pradesh, it will traverse through Kaimur, Rohtas, Aurangabad, and Gaya in Bihar before entering Jharkhand and continuing to Kolkata. The expressway promises to halve travel time between Varanasi and Kolkata from 12-14 hours to just 6-7 hours. The total estimated cost of the project is Rs 35,000 crore, with around Rs 5,994 crore allocated for Bihar alone, and Rs 1,200 crore earmarked for Gaya district. In Gaya, the expressway will cut through the heavily forested and historically Naxal-affected blocks of Imamganj and Dumaria, covering 29 revenue villages (mauzas) across 33.5 kilometres. The route includes Anwar Salaiya, Barha, Chhakarbandha, Tarchua, and Dhakpahari, areas that were once difficult to access due to insurgency. A construction company from Rajasthan has begun setting up a work centre in Chhakarbandha forest and a project office in Baseta to oversee operations. "Till just a decade ago, even common people hesitated to visit Chhakarbandha due to Naxalite dominance. Today, the expressway is a symbol of development reclaiming such regions," said a local resident, Rahul Manjhi, while noting the missed opportunity of not having an interchange point at Chhakarbandha itself. Deepa Manjhi, MLA from Imamganj, hailed the project as a game-changer for traffic and economic growth. "The expressway will improve inter-city connectivity, reduce traffic congestion, and boost freight movement. Industrial development will follow, generating employment and fostering economic prosperity," she said.
Hans India
29-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
PM Modi to lay foundation stone for Varanasi-Gaya-Ranchi-Kolkata expressway's second phase today
In a landmark move to boost infrastructure and connectivity in eastern India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for the second phase of the Varanasi-Gaya-Ranchi-Kolkata Expressway (NH-319B) on Thursday, during his visit to Bihar. This expressway, which is part of the Bharatmala Project, is a massive infrastructure initiative that promises to transform road travel and economic activity across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. The 690-kilometre-long expressway, with a width of 36 metres, will be Bihar's first six-lane greenfield expressway. Starting from Barhauli near the Varanasi Ring Road in Uttar Pradesh, it will traverse through Kaimur, Rohtas, Aurangabad, and Gaya in Bihar before entering Jharkhand and continuing to Kolkata. The expressway promises to halve travel time between Varanasi and Kolkata from 12–14 hours to just 6–7 hours. The total estimated cost of the project is Rs 35,000 crore, with around Rs 5,994 crore allocated for Bihar alone, and Rs 1,200 crore earmarked for Gaya district. In Gaya, the expressway will cut through the heavily forested and historically Naxal-affected blocks of Imamganj and Dumaria, covering 29 revenue villages (mauzas) across 33.5 kilometres. The route includes Anwar Salaiya, Barha, Chhakarbandha, Tarchua, and Dhakpahari, areas that were once difficult to access due to insurgency. A construction company from Rajasthan has begun setting up a work centre in Chhakarbandha forest and a project office in Baseta to oversee operations. "Till just a decade ago, even common people hesitated to visit Chhakarbandha due to Naxalite dominance. Today, the expressway is a symbol of development reclaiming such regions," said a local resident, Rahul Manjhi, while noting the missed opportunity of not having an interchange point at Chhakarbandha itself. Deepa Manjhi, MLA from Imamganj, hailed the project as a game-changer for traffic and economic growth. 'The expressway will improve inter-city connectivity, reduce traffic congestion, and boost freight movement. Industrial development will follow, generating employment and fostering economic prosperity,' she said.
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Won't add to country's challenges': Punjab farmers skip plan to block rail tracks amid India-Pakistan tensions
DEVIDASPURA: In a display of restraint and patriotism, farmers, labourers and women under the banner of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee , Punjab, opted for a peaceful sit-in on a nearby ground instead of disrupting rail traffic in Devidaspur, keeping in view the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. The protest was announced by state president Sukhwinder Singh Sabhra and general secretary Rana Ranbir Singh. It was initially planned as a rail blockade to oppose the Punjab government's policies and the alleged forceful land acquisition for the Bharatmala Project. "The decision to avoid rail disruption came as the nation grapples with heightened security concerns following Operation Sindoor and the closure of the Kartarpur Corridor," said farmer leader Sarvan Singh Pandher, adding that they are fighting for their rights, but they will not add to the country's challenges at this critical time. Emphasising the farmers' commitment to national interest, another farmer leader, Jarmanjit Singh Bandala, said that the protesters gathered at Devidaspura on May 6 night to condemn the Punjab government, which they accuse of transforming the state into a "police state." He alleged, "For years, the govt has acted on the Centre's orders, deploying police to forcibly acquire land while subjecting resisting farmers, labourers, and women to arrests, lathi charges, and abuse. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 10 Mysterious Photos That Cannot Be Explained True Edition Undo " Addressing the gathering, Pandher talked about the recent incidents, including alleged police crackdowns on farmer protests at Shambhu and other borders on March 19-20, and the high-handed response to a planned gherao of the Shambhu police station. "The police arrested our people from various districts, using brute force to crush our democratic rights," he alleged. He claimed a brief scuffle with police ensued, but the protesters halted near the tracks, clarifying they had no intention of blocking trains prematurely. In a significant move, they chose to relocate to a nearby ground, ensuring no disruption to rail services. The farmer leaders also warned, saying, "The govt's use of police to suppress farmer organisations and harass their families must stop. If this continues, we will launch large-scale protests to end this oppression."
Indian Express
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Punjab farmer union withdraws rail roko protest as tensions rise following Operation Sindoor
On the night of May 6, thousands of protestors gathered near Devidas Pura in Punjab's Amritsar district. (Representational image/ File Photo) The Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee withdrew its 'rail roko' protest on Wednesday, following the heightened security situation along the Indo-Pak border after Operation Sindoor saw the Indian armed forces target terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The protest call, originally announced weeks earlier, aimed to oppose alleged police repression and forced land acquisitions under the Bharatmala Project. Farmer union leaders accused the Punjab government of turning the state into a 'police state,' citing arrests and heavy crackdowns on farmers resisting land takeovers.
Time of India
26-04-2025
- Time of India
4 held in Bharatmala ‘scam'; Action taken in CGMSC case
Raipur: Four individuals were arrested on Saturday in connection with the multi-crore 'scam' in the Bharatmala project in the state following searches at 20 locations linked to officials on Friday. In a parallel development, EOW has filed a detailed charge sheet against six arrested individuals in the Chhattisgarh Medical Services Corporation (CGMSC) 'scam'. In the Bharatmala case, according to information shared by Amresh Mishra, EOW/ACB chief, the investigations revealed that between 2020 and 2024, a criminal conspiracy was orchestrated by public servants, compensation recipients, and others to fraudulently resell land already acquired by the govt. Misappropriate compensation payments were done by issuing them to individuals other than rightful landowners, and divide private lands into subplots to illegally claim compensation. These activities led to defrauding the government and caused financial losses worth crores of rupees. The arrests were made by the Anti-Corruption Bureau/ Economic Offences Wing (ACB/EOW) in connection with the irregularities related to the Bharatmala Project's land acquisition for the proposed Raipur-Visakhapatnam Economic Corridor. ACB/EOW had registered a case under crime No. 30/2025 under Section 7(c) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018), and Sections 467, 468, 471, 420, and 120B of the Indian Penal Code. On April 25, 2025, Bureau teams conducted raids at 20 locations across the state. Following interrogation, Uma Tiwari and her husband, Kedar Tiwari, were arrested for illegally receiving Rs 2 crore in compensation belonging to another person. Another accused, Harmeet Singh Khanuja, was arrested for aiding Uma Tiwari in illegally acquiring compensation money and siphoning off funds meant for several farmers. Additionally, businessman Vijay Jain, another associate of Uma Tiwari, was arrested for his role in the fraudulent acquisition of compensation funds. All accused were produced before the Special Court (Anti-Corruption), Raipur, and police remand was obtained. Further investigation into the case is ongoing. In the second development, registered under Crime No. 05/2025, the CGMSC case involves charges under Sections 409 and 120B of the IPC and Sections 13(1)(A) read with 13(2) and 7(c) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018). The 'scam' pertains to the Hamara Lab Scheme, under which medical equipment and reagents were purchased for district hospitals, FRUs, CHCs, PHCs, and sub-health centers across the state. Investigations revealed large-scale collusion through pooled tendering and unnecessary procurement of reagents far beyond requirements, leading to a massive misappropriation of public funds amounting to approximately Rs 550 crore. The arrested accused include Shashank Chopra (Director/Partner of Mokshit Medicare Pvt. Ltd.) and five officials from the Chhattisgarh Medical Services Corporation — Basant Kumar Kaushik, Kshirodra Rautia, Dr. Anil Parsai, Kamalkant Patanwar, and Deepak Kumar Bandhe. Together, they are accused of a well-orchestrated criminal conspiracy to embezzle govt funds. An 18,000-page charge sheet was submitted today before the Special Court (Anti-Corruption), Raipur. Further investigation in the matter is ongoing.
