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New Indian Express
14 hours ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Rs 6,700 crore boost for road development in Kerala
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Union government has approved road development projects worth Rs 6,700 crore submitted by Kerala, following a meeting between Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi on Wednesday. The clearance covers 14 projects proposed by the state. Gadkari also assured that the 380-m-long stretch in the Malappuram-Kooriyad section that got damaged during NH 66 construction will be rebuilt as a viaduct at the contractor's expense. Public Works Minister P A Mohamed Riyas, who was part of the CM-led delegation, said the independent engineer, contractor and design consultant involved with the project have been removed and the NHAI (National Highways Authority of India) project director suspended. The meeting also reviewed the progress of NH works under way in Kerala. 'Recognising minor delays in some stretches, the Union minister suggested corrective steps. All highway construction will be completed by December 2025,' Riyas said. He also confirmed that the state will receive `151 crore under the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) scheme this week. Riyas said the Centre would give final approval for the Thiruvananthapuram Outer Ring Road and the Palakkad-Kozhikode Greenfield Highway, likely by the end of July. Several projects that were pending for over eight years have now received clearance. The Ernakulam Bypass project has received in-principle approval, and the remaining formalities are expected to be completed within five months. Of the seven NHs currently under development through the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways fund, five have received approval, while nod for the other two is expected within two months.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Centre gives assurance, construction of NH-66 to be completed by Dec: Kerala minister
NEW DELHI/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The central government has promised to complete the ongoing construction of the National Highway 66 project, spanning from Kasaragod in the north to Thiruvananthapuram in the south, by December this year, Kerala Public Works Minister P A Mohammed Riyas said on Wednesday. The assurance was given by Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari during a meeting with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in New Delhi, he said. The state government would continue to extend all support to the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to complete the much-awaited infrastructure project in a time-bound manner, Riyas told reporters in Delhi after taking part in the meeting attended by Gadkari and Vijayan. "Gadkari has opined that the construction of the NH 66, between Kasaragod and Thiruvananthapuram, will be completed by December 2025. If there are any other issues in this regard, all those things will be examined and resolved, and the project will be taken forward," the minister said. As of now, the Centre has assured that the project can be dedicated as a new year gift to the people in 2026, he said. Sharing more details about the meeting, Riyas said Rs 6700 crore projects, submitted for road development in the state, have received central approval. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trending in in 2025: Local network access control [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo As many as 14 projects submitted by Kerala to the Centre have been approved, he said, adding that it has also been informed that the state will receive Rs 151 crore of the amount due under the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) scheme this week itself. Gadkari assured that the 380-metre-long road, which was damaged during the construction of NH 66 in the Kuriyad area of Malappuram, would be reconstructed as a viaduct (a type of long bridge) at the contractor's own expense. Quoting the union minister, Riyas further said that the Kollam-Senkotta Greenfield (NH 744) would be approved within three months. The state minister also said that a directive has been received to prepare a DPR for the construction of a road connecting National Highway 66 to the Kozhikode International Airport. Riyas's statement came hours after the opposition Congress in Kerala on Wednesday demanded a CBI probe into the recent collapse and damage of sections of National Highway 66 across the state following heavy rains. Criticising the Left government in the state for not seeking any inquiry so far into the issue, the grand old party said only a comprehensive probe can uncover the alleged corruption involved in the construction of national highways in the state. Riyas, however, sought to belittle the matter and said though there are certain issues in some reaches of the under-construction highway, the work is progressing in a remarkable manner generally. "The state government will continue to extend all support to complete the construction. It is not going to be discontinued anyway," he said. The PWD minister added that the state government had urged the union minister to take strong action over issues arising from the NH 66 construction and ensure a timely completion of the project. The Centre, in turn, gave assurance in both these matters, he added. "Had a productive meeting with Hon'ble Union Minister Shri @nitin_gadkari Ji in Delhi to review the progress of ongoing National Highway projects in Kerala. Thank you for your continued support," CM Vijayan tweeted later. Earlier in the day, Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan, during a press meet in Malappuram, pointed to the alleged engineering lapses in the NH construction. Besides an investigation into the technical aspect by an expert panel, a comprehensive probe should be conducted into the "corruption" involved in it, he alleged. "A large-scale probe should be carried out into the lapses in road (national highway) constructions in the state. A CBI probe should be ordered. Corruption to the tune of thousands of crores of rupees has happened in it," Satheesan told reporters in Malappuram. He claimed that the opposition has received clear indications of some people within the state government who allegedly granted favours to the contract company, which is now facing allegations over the construction of the NH in the state. The leader further alleged that the Pinarayi Vijayan government's silence on the serious issue of the NH collapse stems from its apprehension to speak out against the union government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The LoP's demand for a CBI probe came days after CM Vijayan had made it clear that the full responsibility for the construction of the national highway lies with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Vijayan had said the development of the National Highway, which had been stalled due to the severe apathy of the previous UDF government, became possible solely because of the determination of the LDF government. The political blame game erupted following the collapse of a section of the under-construction National Highway 66, the appearance of cracks in parts of the road, and soil slips in areas where hills had been levelled for construction in central and northern Kerala after continuous rainfall two weeks ago. The incidents were reported from Thrissur, Malappuram, Kannur and Kasaragod districts. PTI Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Tamil Nadu sees drop in microfinance gross loan portfolio in fiscal 2025
The Gross Loan Portfolio (GLP) of the microfinance industry in Tamil Nadu has declined in fiscal 2025, influenced by anticipated ordinances and increased regulatory intervention on collection practices, according to CRIF High Mark, a credit bureau. According to data from CRIF, the GLP in Tamil Nadu declined by 19.6% to ₹46,800 crore in fiscal 2025, from ₹58,200 crore in fiscal 2024. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, the GLP fell 7.7%, from ₹50,700 crore. Tamil Nadu (-7.7%, quarter-on-quarter basis), followed by Karnataka (-7.0% quarter-on-quarter basis), recorded steep GLP decline. State-level data revealed notable contractions in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka portfolios, influenced by anticipated ordinances and increased regulatory intervention on collection practices, the credit bureau said. Overall, the microfinance industry's GLP stood at ₹381.2K crore as of March 2025, marking a 2.6% decline quarter-on-quarter and a 13.9% drop year-on-year. The Tamil Nadu government has proposed to come out with a legislation aimed at fair collection and recovery practices, signalling further regulatory shifts in the sector, the further impact of which is yet to be seen, CRIF said. In April 2025, the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly passed the Tamil Nadu Money Lending (Prevention of Coercive Actions) Act, 2025. The Bill aims to protect and relieve the economically weaker and vulnerable groups and individuals from the undue hardship of coercive means of recovery of any loans by money-lending lending entities, such as microfinance institutions, money-lending agencies, and money-lending organisations. 'The fall in the gross loan portfolio was in line with the national trend. There were numerous factors involved, including the elections, impact of heatwaves and cyclones in some parts, and also over-leverage by borrowers in certain pockets affecting recoveries,' according to Jiji Mammen, executive director and CEO of Sa-Dhan, a self-regulatory organisation for the microfinance industry. The proposed Tamil Nadu legislation clearly excludes regulated entities. He claimed that with the passing of the Bill, some people in certain pockets have tried to take advantage of it by refusing to pay; however, overall, business has remained normal. Sa-Dhan has made a representation to the State government regarding the inclusion of all types of lenders under the 'coercive' clause in the Bill, which can get misrepresented. 'We have sought suitable amendments when the rules are framed to exclude regulated entities from the coercive clause,' he added. Aditi Singh, chief strategy officer, Satin Credit Network Ltd, which has a portfolio of ₹227 crore in Tamil Nadu, said during the initial discussions around the Bill, 'we took a cautious approach by slowing down disbursements in Tamil Nadu to evaluate the on-ground situation. However, after assessing the situation and seeing there is normalcy at the ground level, we gradually resumed business operations.'
Malay Mail
5 days ago
- General
- Malay Mail
Paris Holocaust memorial, synagogues hit with green paint amid rising anti-Semitism over Gaza war fallout
PARIS, June 1 — France's Holocaust memorial as well as three synagogues and a restaurant in Paris were vandalised with green paint overnight yesterday, according to police sources. An investigation has been opened into 'damage committed on religious grounds', said Paris's public prosecutor's office. No arrests have been made. 'I am deeply disgusted by these heinous acts targeting the Jewish community,' French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau posted on X. Retailleau last week called for 'visible and dissuasive' security measures at Jewish-linked sites amid concerns over possible anti-Semitic acts. In a separate message seen by AFP, the interior minister on Friday had ordered heightened surveillance ahead of the coming Jewish Shavuot holiday. 'Anti-Semitic acts account for more than 60 percent of anti-religious acts, and the Jewish community is particularly vulnerable,' Retailleau said in the message seen by AFP. The French Jewish community, one of the largest in the world, has for months been on edge in the face of a growing number of attacks and desecrations of memorials since the Gaza war erupted on October 7, 2023. 'There is deep sadness and outrage... at the sight of these images showing vandalised Jewish sites,' said Yonathan Arfi, head of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France (CRIF). Paris authorities plan to lodge a complaint over the paint incident, said the city's mayor, Anne Hidalgo. 'I condemn these acts of intimidation in the strongest possible terms. Anti-Semitism has no place in our city or in our Republic,' she said. Last year, France registered 1,570 anti-Semitic acts, according to interior ministry figures. By comparison, 436 anti-Semitic acts were recorded in 2022, and since 2012 they have fluctuated between 311 and 851 per year. Several EU nations have reported a spike in 'anti-Muslim hatred' and 'anti-Semitism' since the start of the Gaza war, according to the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. In May 2024, graffiti of red hands was painted beneath the wall at the memorial in central Paris honouring people who saved Jews from persecution during the 1940-44 Nazi occupation of France. — AFP
The Sun
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Paris Holocaust memorial, synagogues vandalised
PARIS: France's Holocaust memorial and three Paris synagogues and a restaurant were vandalised with paint overnight Saturday, in what the Israeli embassy denounced as a 'coordinated anti-Semitic attack'. An investigation has been opened into 'damage committed on grounds of religion', the Paris public prosecutor's office said. No arrests have been made. French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said he was 'deeply disgusted by these heinous acts targeting the Jewish community,' in a post on X. Retailleau had called last week for 'visible and dissuasive' security measures at Jewish-linked sites amid concerns over possible anti-Semitic acts during the conflict between Israel and the Hamas-run Gaza territory. The Israeli embassy in France said it was 'horrified by the coordinated anti-Semitic attack', adding that recent tensions with some French officials were contributing to a 'problematic discord'. 'We stand with the Jewish community and have full confidence in the French authorities, who will identify and bring the perpetrators to justice,' the embassy said in a statement. 'At the same time, we cannot ignore the problematic discord seen over the past two weeks among certain leaders and officials,' it added. 'Words matter, and the current discord against the Jewish state is not without consequences, not only for Israel but also for Jewish communities around the world,' it said. Israeli's President Isaac Herzog said Saturday he was 'dismayed' by the Paris vandalism, noting that his great-grandfather had been a rabbi at one of the synagogues. 'I call on the French authorities to act rapidly and forcefully to bring these people to justice,' Herzog said in a statement. - 'Particularly vulnerable' - The row comes amid growing concern in France over anti-Semitic incidents. In a separate message seen by AFP, the interior minister on Friday ordered heightened surveillance ahead of the coming Jewish Shavuot holiday. 'Anti-Semitic acts account for more than 60 percent of anti-religious acts, and the Jewish community is particularly vulnerable,' Retailleau said in the message seen by AFP. The French Jewish community, one of the largest in the world, has for months been on edge in the face of a growing number of attacks and desecrations of memorials since the Gaza war erupted on October 7, 2023. 'There is deep sadness and outrage... at the sight of these images showing vandalised Jewish sites,' said Yonathan Arfi, head of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France (CRIF). Paris authorities plan to lodge a complaint over the paint incident, said the city's mayor, Anne Hidalgo. 'I condemn these acts of intimidation in the strongest possible terms. Anti-Semitism has no place in our city or in our Republic,' she said. Last year, France registered 1,570 anti-Semitic acts, according to interior ministry figures, over three times more than the 436 recorded in 2022. Since 2012 they have fluctuated between 311 and 851 per year. Several EU nations have reported a spike in 'anti-Muslim hatred' and 'anti-Semitism' since the start of the Gaza war, according to the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. In May 2024, graffiti of red hands was painted beneath the wall at the memorial in central Paris honouring people who saved Jews from persecution during the 1940-44 Nazi occupation of France.
