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India Today
an hour ago
- Politics
- India Today
Amit Shah to visit Poonch today, meet families of Pak shelling victims
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Poonch on Friday to meet the families of victims of Pakistani shelling and drone attacks during Operation Sindoor. Poonch district recorded the highest number of civilian fatalities — 14 out of the total 28 deaths — between May 7 and May arrived in Jammu on Thursday evening amid tight security, marking his first visit to the Union Territory since the launch of Operation Sindoor. During his visit to Poonch, Shah will also visit religious places and address Border Security Force (BSF) personnel deployed in the part of his trip, the Home Minister will express gratitude to the BSF for their significant role in Operation Sindoor and extend support to the affected on the visit, BJP leader Vikram Randhawa said, "The Union Home Minister's visit to J&K shows that the government is concerned about the security of the people after India-Pak tensions."Earlier on Thursday night, Shah chaired a high-level meeting in Jammu to review the overall security situation in Jammu and Kashmir and assess the preparations for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra.'The government will leave no stone unturned to provide all required facilities to the Amarnath pilgrims,' Shah said during the meeting, while directing security forces to maintain the highest level of vigilance to ensure the safe and smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.'Chaired a review meeting for the Amarnath Pilgrimage and evaluated the security arrangements and preparedness meant for the pilgrims. Instructed to maintain utmost vigilance and ensure seamless completion of the sacred journey,' Shah later wrote on annual Amarnath Yatra is set to begin on July 3 and will conclude on August inputs from Watch advertisementIN THIS STORY#Amit Shah#Jammu and Kashmir
Time of India
an hour ago
- Politics
- Time of India
War of words over Sukanta's ‘Op Bengal' remark
1 2 Kolkata: Junior Union minister Sukanta Majumdar's "Operation Bengal" comment on Thursday prompted a sharp attack by TMC . Addressing a rally in Alipurduar, Majumdar, also BJP 's Bengal president, said party workers will carry out "Operation Bengal". "I can see thousands of workers in front of me. They will carry out Operation Bengal, like Operation Sindoor. They will uproot the govt from this state and throw it into Bay of Bengal." TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh shot back, saying: "How can someone say that after Operation Sindoor, it will be Operation Bengal? Operation Sindoor was against terrorists, are you now equating people of Bengal with terrorists? Are you equating Bengal and terrorism? You have insulted Bengal and its people. CM Mamata Banerjee rose above politics and lent her weight to Centre's fight against terrorism. Abhishek Banerjee, our national general secretary, is taking this word abroad. But this is dirty politics they are resorting to." Majumdar later told media that "Operation Indur (mouse)" was enough for TMC. "Trinamool netas are like rats that gnaw at bags and steal grains. They stole everything and sold that off. The entire state has become a mall," Majumdar said, indicating that he would not back down. Ghosh took a swipe at Majumdar. "Don't get into cheap politics and demean the sacrifices of jawans. Do not exploit Operation Sindoor or the valour of our armed forces for political gains. Their bravery must never be used as a tool for election propaganda," he said, aading: "People like Majumdar are only engaging in malicious gossip and slander. He is a failed president of BJP. Since his arrival, there has been only downfall for BJP in Bengal. "
Time of India
an hour ago
- Business
- Time of India
Indian Railways Start-ups: Indian Railways to launch sandbox policy for start-ups, ET Infra
The Indian Railways is preparing a policy to set up a sandbox framework to encourage start-ups to test new ideas, Union minister for railways, information technology, and information and broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Thursday. Start-ups in railways Advt Electronics and AI push By , ETInfra Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals Subscribe to our newsletter to get latest insights & analysis. Get updates on your preferred social platform Follow us for the latest news, insider access to events and more. 'Maybe in another two months from now, we'll have a new policy where any new innovative idea can be tried and tested at a small scale, in a sandbox environment, and then we can scale it up to a bigger level,' Vaishnaw said at a CII summit.A sandbox is a controlled environment where businesses can experiment while minimising regulatory or legal said the policy builds on Indian Railways' experience in onboarding start-ups for procurement over the last year and a half. 'The results have been very encouraging,' he minister also said India had reached a 'take-off point' in electronics manufacturing, with the first domestically produced chip expected this year.'Manufacturing and services, both are equally important for the next level of growth,' he said, adding that the mindset shift to becoming a 'product nation' is already artificial intelligence infrastructure, Vaishnaw said the government plans to add 14,000 more graphics processing units (GPUs) to the common compute cluster under the IndiaAI Mission , in addition to the 18,000 GPUs already in place.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Business
- Time of India
Bhopal Metro running late, may miss July launch date
Bhopal: In Madhya Pradesh, while Indore Metro is set for its launch on May 31, marking a significant advancement in urban transportation, Bhopal Metro continues to face setbacks with incomplete infrastructure work, creating uncertainty about its operational timeline. Despite simultaneous project initiation, Indore has successfully obtained necessary approvals for its five-station Super Priority Corridor, featuring modern amenities like automatic fare collection and QR-based ticketing. Meanwhile, Bhopal's project remains incomplete, awaiting crucial safety inspections and struggling with final construction phases. The priority corridor from Subhash Nagar to AIIMS Bhopal, spanning 7.2 km and comprising 43% of the Orange Line, stands at 81.26% completion, as of April 3, according to Union ministry of housing and urban affairs. The remaining work includes metro station infrastructure, depot facilities and operational command buildings, presenting significant challenges. Following Indore's experience, Bhopal Metro still requires clearances from the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) and the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS), with inspection dates undetermined. Indore's clearance process took approximately eight weeks. The anticipated July launch for Bhopal Metro's passenger service seems unattainable, with officials suggesting a potential start date after the monsoon season. The project's progress stands in stark contrast to Nagpur Metro, which completed its 39.38 km Phase 1 in five years. Bhopal's metro construction has extended beyond six years, following administrative delays. The project cost has increased by 30% from the initial estimate of Rs 6,941 crore. Additional challenges include adverse weather conditions, financial limitations and planning issues. With only eight metro stations planned for the initial launch and minimal progress on the 16 km Orange Line, a comprehensive metro network in Bhopal remains a distant prospect. As Indore progresses with its metro implementation, Bhopal residents await clarity on their city's metro development timeline. Where MP Stands In Metro Race Madhya Pradesh's metro expansion is making steady progress, but its financial backing remains significantly lower compared to major metro projects across India In 2024-25, the Govt of India allocated Rs 47,710 crore for metro development nationwide, with Madhya Pradesh receiving Rs 505.81 crore—just 1.06% of the total funding. This means for every Rs 94 spent on metro projects across the country, MP got Rs 1 Funding for metro projects in Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Chennai is several times higher than MP's, reflecting their larger networks and ongoing expansions. For example, Delhi Metro alone received Rs 4,048.67 crore, nearly eight times MP's total allocation Indore Metro is set to become Madhya Pradesh's first operational metro service, launching its 5.9 km priority corridor on May 31, 2025. Meanwhile, Bhopal Metro's priority section (7.2 km) is 81.26% complete but still awaiting approvals, delaying its start Despite its slow growth, MP's metro projects—especially Bhopal and Indore—remain vital for urban mobility. However, with significantly less funding compared to metro systems in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, MP's metro expansion will likely progress at a much slower pace Metro network: MP vs Rest of India India has 1,011.48 km of operational metro track, with MP's Indore Metro adding 5.9 km, accounting for 0.58% of the country's active metro network. Nationally, 979.462 km of metro lines are under construction, with MP's Bhopal (27.87 km) and Indore (31.55 km) metros making up 6.07% of the total under-construction metro expansion MP gets only 1.06% of total Metro funding in 2024-25 Between 2021-22 and 2024-25, the Madhya Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MPMRCL) received funding from the central govt for both Bhopal and Indore Metro projects. MP received only 1.06% of India's total metro funding, with Bhopal (0.45%) and Indore (0.61%) making up a small fraction of the national budget. Funding per km for MP's metros is significantly lower compared to major cities like Chennai (Rs 46.72 crore/km), Surat (Rs 56.13 crore/km), and Ahmedabad (Rs 136.46 crore/km) Bhopal Metro Funding Rs 527.23 crore (2021-22) Rs 217.54 crore (2022-23) Rs 613 crore (2023-24) Rs 215.81 crore (allocated for 2024-25) Rs 215.81 crore (released in 2024-25 till March 25) Indore Metro Funding Rs 250.63 crore (2021-22) Rs 260 crore (2022-23) Rs 1,105.74 crore (2023-24) Rs 290 crore (allocated for 2024-25) Rs 290 crore (released in 2024-25 till March 25) Source: Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs MP's share lower than other cities MP received only 1.06% of India's total metro funding, with Bhopal (0.45%) and Indore (0.61%) making up a small fraction of the national budget. Funding per km for MP's metros is significantly lower compared to major cities like Chennai (Rs 46.72 crore/km), Surat (Rs 56.13 crore/km), and Ahmedabad (Rs 136.46 crore/km) State/UT City Under-Construction Length (km) Funds Allocated (₹ in crore, 2024-25) Funds per km (₹ in crore/km) Percentage of Total Metro Funding (%) Delhi & NCR Delhi 138.56 4,048.67 29.22 8.49% Karnataka Bangalore 140.28 4,814.58 34.33 10.09% West Bengal Kolkata 73.87 906 12.27 1.90% Tamil Nadu Chennai 118.9 5,554.15 46.72 11.64% Kerala Kochi 11.2 140.8 12.57 0.29% Uttar Pradesh Kanpur 23.657 262.25 11.09 0.55% Uttar Pradesh Agra 24.1 387 16.06 0.81% Maharashtra Mumbai 176.05 4,484.58 25.48 9.40% Maharashtra Nagpur 43.8 0 0 0.00% Maharashtra Pune 33.133 962.02 29.05 2.02% Maharashtra Thane 29 50 1.72 0.10% Gujarat Ahmedabad 7.48 1,020.72 136.46 2.14% Gujarat Surat 40.35 2,264.00 56.13 4.75% Madhya Pradesh Bhopal 27.87 215.81 7.74 0.45% Madhya Pradesh Indore 31.55 290 9.19 0.61% Bihar Patna 32.507 164.37 5.06 0.34% TOTAL India 979.462 km 47,710.00 crore 48.69 100% Source: Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (Lok Sabha Question) , March 2025
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Business Standard
an hour ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Amit Shah directs security forces to maintain vigil during Amarnath Yatra
The government will leave no stone unturned to provide all required facilities to the Amarnath pilgrims, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, as he directed security forces to maintain utmost vigilance and ensure seamless completion of the annual pilgrimage. Shah said this after chairing a high-level meeting here on Thursday night to review the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the arrangements for the Amarnath Yatra. Chaired a review meeting for the Amarnath Pilgrimage and evaluated the security arrangements and preparedness meant for the pilgrims. Instructed to maintain utmost vigilance and ensure seamless completion of the sacred journey," Shah wrote on X. The Central government and the Jammu and Kashmir administration will leave no stone unturned to provide the pilgrims with all necessary facilities, Shah said. The annual Amarnath pilgrimage will begin on July 3 and end on August 9. Shah arrived here on Thursday evening amid tight security, his first visit to the Union Territory after Operation Sindoor, officials said. The home minister will visit Poonch on Friday to meet the people affected by Pakistani shelling. Shah will also visit religious places and meet BSF personnel in Poonch district, which recorded the highest number of civilian fatalities 14 out of the total 28 deaths in Pakistani shelling and drone attacks between May 7 and May 10, the officials said. The Centre has ordered the deployment of 581 companies, comprising about 42,000 on-ground personnel, of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) for the Amarnath Yatra, official sources said. While 424 companies are being sent to the Union Territory, the rest, including about 80 companies that moved to J-K during Operation Sindoor, will be "relocated" to secure the pilgrimage route, the pilgrims and other areas, including Srinagar, they said.
