Dhruvaksh Saha And Aashish Aryan

Stories by Dhruvaksh Saha And Aashish Aryan

168,491 Lives Lost In Road Mishaps

168,491 Lives Lost In Road Mishaps

Rediff.com   13 Nov 2023

33 per cent of all road accidents and 35 per cent of fatal accidents took place on national highways and expressways.

Gadkari unveils prototype of world's first BS-VI-compliant flex-fuel car

Gadkari unveils prototype of world's first BS-VI-compliant flex-fuel car

Rediff.com   30 Aug 2023

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday unveiled the prototype of the world's first Bharat Stage (BS)-VI-compliant electrified flex-fuel car, developed by Toyota Kirloskar Motor. The car, which runs on 100 per cent ethanol (E100), is based on the Toyota Innova HyCross. It can cover 40 per cent of its distance on ethanol and the remaining 60 per cent on electric, with the petrol engine shut off.

India's first public InvIT for road, highway projects in the works

India's first public InvIT for road, highway projects in the works

Rediff.com   8 Aug 2023

After the success of the National Highways Authority of India's (NHAI's) first infrastructure investment trust (InvIT) with foreign institutional investors, the Centre is working on a proposal to launch a fresh InvIT for national highways, where domestic retail investors can hold units of the trust

Export preparedness: Tamil Nadu takes top spot, Gujarat slips to 4th

Export preparedness: Tamil Nadu takes top spot, Gujarat slips to 4th

Rediff.com   18 Jul 2023

After topping it for two consecutive years, Gujarat slipped three places on the NITI Aayog's Export Preparedness Index (EPI) for 2022, as Tamil Nadu emerged as the most export-ready state, the central think tank said in its report released on Monday. In a continuing trend, coastal states were found to have the most robust export infrastructure, which officials attributed to the integration of maritime trade into the core of their economies. Maharashtra and Karnataka retained their positions -- second and third, respectively; Haryana was ranked first among landlocked states and fifth overall.

Rail Accidents Surged By 37% In 2022-2023

Rail Accidents Surged By 37% In 2022-2023

Rediff.com   13 Jun 2023

In 2021, the Railways boasted of a historic feat -- no passenger deaths in train accidents in two years. However, the derailment of the Bikaner-Guwahati Express in 2022 brought the Railways back to its forgetful past.

Sittwe Port: India's Move Against China

Sittwe Port: India's Move Against China

Rediff.com   20 May 2023

The project, the agreement for which was signed way back in 2009, had been gaining strategic relevance over the years as India-China ties took a hit.

Railways Realising Its Paperless Dreams

Railways Realising Its Paperless Dreams

Rediff.com   17 May 2023

'Currently, 81 per cent of all reserved tickets are booked through e-ticketing.'

To avoid 2022 crisis, Indian Railways ferries more coal for electricity

To avoid 2022 crisis, Indian Railways ferries more coal for electricity

Rediff.com   15 May 2023

As Indian Railways looks to avert the crisis like last summer, preparations are under way to stock up coal at thermal power plants. Much like February and March, thermal coal movement in April was 5 per cent higher than the previous year, data from the Ministry of Railways shows. While India prepares for a hot summer this year, 48.23 million tonnes (mt) of coal for thermal power plants was ferried by Indian Railways in April. The national transporter also moved about 500,000 tonnes--18.4 per cent-- more imported coal for power plants this April than it had done last year.

'No second thoughts on Great Nicobar Port'

'No second thoughts on Great Nicobar Port'

Rediff.com   11 Apr 2023

'An area of land has already been earmarked for their protected habitation.' 'There are also steps being taken to take care of the coral zone and mangroves.'

100% Railways Electrification By 2024

100% Railways Electrification By 2024

Rediff.com   3 Mar 2023

India is now much ahead of other large railway networks in the world in terms of electrification -- with the US at just 1 per cent, China at 72 per cent and Europe at 60 per cent.

Ganga Vilas: World's Longest River Cruise

Ganga Vilas: World's Longest River Cruise

Rediff.com   12 Jan 2023

The MV Ganga Vilas will traverse through 27 rivers over 52 days, covering over 3,200 km.

Railways rolls out energy efficiency plan to meet 2030 net-zero target

Railways rolls out energy efficiency plan to meet 2030 net-zero target

Rediff.com   4 Jan 2023

Focuses on meeting non-traction demand through renewables.

LNG Tankers Shortage Affects India's Fuel Supply

LNG Tankers Shortage Affects India's Fuel Supply

Rediff.com   19 Oct 2022

Tightening Russian gas supplies to Europe has led to scramble for tankers before winter sets in.

Cattle hits, snags raise doubts over Vande Bharat as 'train of future'

Cattle hits, snags raise doubts over Vande Bharat as 'train of future'

Rediff.com   19 Oct 2022

Experts suggest that a revamp in the surrounding infrastructure should take care of the issues plaguing the VB-2, stressing that the lightweight nature of the trains is what allows for higher speeds, and that needless design additions may hamper the train's efficiency.

IRCTC moves to monetise passenger data

IRCTC moves to monetise passenger data

Rediff.com   26 Aug 2022

In a first of its kind move, the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), the ticket booking arm of the Indian Railways, is looking to monetise its bank of passenger data while conducting business with private and government companies. IRCTC has a large bank of data related to every online railway ticket ever generated as it is the country's only railway ticketing platform, an IRCTC official told Business Standard. The public sector undertaking, which has sought the services of a consultant to assist with the monetisation process, plans to raise Rs 1,000 crore through this exercise.

Govt to amend 114-year-old the Indian Ports Act, bring in reforms

Govt to amend 114-year-old the Indian Ports Act, bring in reforms

Rediff.com   19 Aug 2022

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has released a draft to amend the Indian Ports Act, 1908, which aims to bring in sweeping reforms in the sector by bringing non-major ports into the national fold, creating a new mechanism for resolution of disputes, and empowering maritime state development council (MSDC). The draft bill will see comments from stakeholders before being tabled in Parliament. "The Indian Ports Act, 1908 is more than 110 years old. It has become imperative that the Act is revamped to reflect the present-day frameworks, incorporate India's international obligations, address emerging environmental concerns, and aid the consultative development of the ports sector in the national interest," the shipping ministry said.

Traffic surge at ports a sign of India's economic revival: Report

Traffic surge at ports a sign of India's economic revival: Report

Rediff.com   27 Jul 2022

Buoyed by higher demand for crude oil and imported coal, Indian ports recorded a growth of 11 per cent in traffic during the April-June quarter of 2022-23. This shows that the economy is opening up, a report by DAM Capital said. The volume increase assumes significance since both prices of crude oil and imported coal have been soaring this year. Indian coal companies were pressed for supply amid a thermal coal crisis earlier in the year.

Railways may scrap new dedicated freight corridors, enhance existing ones

Railways may scrap new dedicated freight corridors, enhance existing ones

Rediff.com   25 May 2022

This alternative is being planned as the existing projects continue to be delayed due to land acquisition troubles. The ministry is thinking of adding new track lines to its existing eastern and western DFCs passing major areas in the proposed stretches, senior officials said.

Power outage: Jalandhar MSMEs' new struggle

Power outage: Jalandhar MSMEs' new struggle

Rediff.com   20 May 2022

With the Covid-19 pandemic showing signs of ebbing and economic activity picking up, factory owners in Jalandhar had hoped that the worst was over. However, the heat wave in April and extensive power cuts that came with it, have crushed their hopes. The city's large number of micro, medium and small enterprises (MSMEs) are now gearing up for yet another struggle, this time to survive with the shortage of power that is severely impacting their operations.

Railways not to cancel any more passenger trains

Railways not to cancel any more passenger trains

Rediff.com   9 May 2022

The Indian Railways has decided to not cancel any more passenger trains to accommodate more freight traffic for coal transport. It will also gradually restore the ones it cancelled recently. The national transporter is of the view that coal supply is now reaching normative levels and does not need any more special measures. "Early data suggests that coal supply has stepped up since the passenger trains were cancelled.