News for 'Ministry of Road Transport and Highways'

Are you really working for welfare of common man, SC asks Centre

Are you really working for welfare of common man, SC asks Centre

Rediff.com28 Apr 2025

The Supreme Court of India has reprimanded the central government for failing to implement a cashless treatment scheme for road accident victims. The court expressed its concern over the delay in formulating the scheme, which is designed to provide immediate medical care to accident victims within the crucial "golden hour." The court highlighted that despite a statutory provision requiring the scheme's implementation, the government has not taken any action, prompting the court to intervene. The court also criticized the General Insurance Council (GIC) for raising objections to the scheme and delaying its implementation. The court has now directed the government to notify the scheme within a week and has scheduled a hearing on the matter for May 13.

Nearly 90% of orders in Feb sales fully paid: Ola Electric

Nearly 90% of orders in Feb sales fully paid: Ola Electric

Rediff.com9 Apr 2025

Ola Electric on Tuesday clarified that its February sales figures reflect genuine customer orders after full payments, and not just preliminary bookings with a token amount, stating that "nearly 90 per cent" of these orders were paid in full at the time of placement. "To be clear, the sales figures for February 2025 represent genuine customer demand backed by financial commitment, not token-amount bookings.

After Brahmaputra dam, China to build Xinjiang-Tibet rail link near LAC

After Brahmaputra dam, China to build Xinjiang-Tibet rail link near LAC

Rediff.com11 Aug 2025

China is set to build a rail link connecting Xinjiang province with Tibet, part of which will run near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with India.

SC says Bihar babus suspended for bridge collapse brought back

SC says Bihar babus suspended for bridge collapse brought back

Rediff.com2 Apr 2025

The Supreme Court of India has transferred a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning the safety and longevity of bridges in Bihar to the Patna High Court. The court expressed concern over the state government's handling of bridge collapses, noting that officials were suspended after incidents but reinstated after the public outcry subsided. The court also criticized the state's voluminous response to the PIL, which lacked explanations for the collapses. The Patna High Court will now monitor the state's efforts to ensure structural and safety audits of bridges in Bihar.

Govt will not make six airbags mandatory for cars: Nitin Gadkari

Govt will not make six airbags mandatory for cars: Nitin Gadkari

Rediff.com13 Sep 2023

The government will not make six airbags mandatory for cars, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Wednesday. The government last year proposed to implement the six airbags safety norm from October 2023 for enhanced safety of occupants. "We don't want to make six airbags rule for cars mandatory," Gadkari said at an event in New Delhi.

Shipping ministry wants to use road funds for inland waterways

Shipping ministry wants to use road funds for inland waterways

Rediff.com15 Feb 2016

Transportation via inland waterways is cost-effective and more environment-friendly than rail or road transportation

Public transport may resume soon with guidelines: Gadkari

Public transport may resume soon with guidelines: Gadkari

Rediff.com6 May 2020

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said opening of transport and highways will go a long way in instilling confidence among the public and cautioned towards maintaining social distance and adopting all safety measures like hand wash, sanitizing, face masks, etc while operating buses and cars.

How Monsoon 2025 Turned Into A Nightmare

How Monsoon 2025 Turned Into A Nightmare

Rediff.com15 Sep 2025

IMD data shows in the 24 hours between September 1 and 2, Haryana received 806 per cent more rainfall than normal, Punjab 759 per cent, Himachal Pradesh 510 per cent, Delhi 740 per cent, Chandigarh a staggering 1,638 per cent, and Rajasthan 193 per cent.

New e-rickshaws on the roads soon

New e-rickshaws on the roads soon

Rediff.com11 Nov 2014

The ministry of road transport and highways on Monday launched a modified e-rickshaw based on the new rules notified through amendments in the Motor Vehicles Act.

Why EV sales set roads on fire in July

Why EV sales set roads on fire in July

Rediff.com2 Aug 2024

Sales of electric vehicles (EVs) in July touched 178,948 units, marking the highest monthly sales this financial year. This represents a 27.9 per cent increase from June, which saw 139,905 units sold, according to the Vahan data from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The strong performance in July contributed to more than one million being sold in the first seven months of the calendar year.

Gadkari scores on highways test, fails on road safety

Gadkari scores on highways test, fails on road safety

Rediff.com5 Jan 2019

The National Highways Authority of India will this year witness the highest ever growth out of the last decade. But Gadkari himself admits his biggest failure as India's roads minister has been his inability to curb loss of life in road accidents.

The India Story: 90% Work In Progress

The India Story: 90% Work In Progress

Rediff.com2 Jan 2025

From highways connecting once-remote regions to aviation networks carrying millions, India's infrastructure story is one of transformation.

FMCG distributors flag deep discounts by qcom cos to govt

FMCG distributors flag deep discounts by qcom cos to govt

Rediff.com5 Dec 2024

Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) distributors' association has written to the finance ministry, highlighting concern over fund utilisation and fund accumulation by quick commerce companies and deep discounting of goods on their platforms. According to a recent letter seen by Business Standard, All India Consumer Products Distributors Federation (AICPDF) noted that its analysis indicated that approximately 80 per cent of these funds were directed toward customer acquisition strategies instead of creating cutting-edge innovations or sustainable growth models for the retail sector.

Highway projects: States ink pact with ministry

Highway projects: States ink pact with ministry

Rediff.com13 Apr 2010

The Umbrella SSA is a single agreement that entitles the state government to support and facilitate the Centre in land acquisition, law and order and security in every highway project across the state.

Tata ev's Punch, Nexon Scores 5 In Crash Test

Tata ev's Punch, Nexon Scores 5 In Crash Test

Rediff.com14 Jun 2024

The Punch.ev achieved the highest score point ever recorded by any vehicle to date, scoring 31.46 out of 32 for adult occupant protection and 45 out of 49 for child occupant protection.

62 toll plazas on national highways, expressways closed

62 toll plazas on national highways, expressways closed

Rediff.com30 Apr 2015

A webportal has been launched with information concerning toll plazas on national highways and expressways

EV sales in India up 27% in 2024 miss 2 million mark by a whisker

EV sales in India up 27% in 2024 miss 2 million mark by a whisker

Rediff.com30 Dec 2024

India's electric vehicle (EV) industry hit a new milestone in 2024, with sales surging 26.5 per cent year-on-year to 1.94 million units as of December 29, according to Vahan data from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).

Joshi for transparency in highways sector

Joshi for transparency in highways sector

Rediff.com21 Jan 2011

The Minister for Road Transport and Highways C P Joshi, on assuming charge at the ministry, said improving the quality of roads built and bringing in transparency in the operations of the ministry would be his priority.

Road projects may hit slow lane in near term

Road projects may hit slow lane in near term

Rediff.com21 Dec 2023

A 25 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) increase in budget allocation towards the roads sector for FY24 has led to renewed interest among investors. However, a combination of escalating costs for Bharatmala and unseasonal rains to some extent have impacted progress. Bharatmala's cost has nearly doubled from Rs 5.35 trillion to Rs 10.6 trillion and the finance ministry has asked MoRTH to go slow until Cabinet approval is received.

19 deaths every hour in India due to road accident in 2022

19 deaths every hour in India due to road accident in 2022

Rediff.com31 Oct 2023

The report showed that 53 road accidents take place every hour in the country.

Electric vehicle sales down 12% in November after festival-driven rush

Electric vehicle sales down 12% in November after festival-driven rush

Rediff.com5 Dec 2024

In the e2W category, which accounts for more than 60 per cent of total EV sales, volumes fell 15 per cent to 118,944 units in November, compared to 139,787 units in the previous month

'As Tunnels Increase We See More Incidents'

'As Tunnels Increase We See More Incidents'

Rediff.com7 Mar 2025

'Balancing tunnel developments with ecological realities is a major challenge and, when overlooked, can contribute to mishaps.'

Govt to upgrade 3,700 km national highways

Govt to upgrade 3,700 km national highways

Rediff.com26 Jul 2010

The project, to be executed by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, would involve double-laning of single-lane highways in eight states in the next three years.

Why are India's road projects in limbo?

Why are India's road projects in limbo?

Rediff.com5 Dec 2013

Govt not to award BOT projects to private firms this year

Why FSSAI called up qcom companies

Why FSSAI called up qcom companies

Rediff.com11 Nov 2024

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has sought a meeting with quick-commerce (qcom) platforms like Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart and Zepto on Tuesday to discuss issues regarding violations of food safety standards, according to sources familiar with the matter. This comes at a time when there have been issues raised about food safety standard violations by qcom platforms for packaged food products, including violations related to expiry and best before dates.

Eco Survey: New EPC model to revitalise highways

Eco Survey: New EPC model to revitalise highways

Rediff.com27 Feb 2013

As a new initiative for promoting highway development, the mode of engineering procurement and construction contracts is being brought in, it said.

Sanjay Raut calls Gadkari 'future leader of country'

Sanjay Raut calls Gadkari 'future leader of country'

Rediff.com29 Aug 2023

Raut was responding to a reporter's question about opposition parties' claim that Gadkari was targeted through the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on alleged irregularities in the work done by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).

Omar meets PM: What is Centre's plan on restoring J-K statehood?

Omar meets PM: What is Centre's plan on restoring J-K statehood?

Rediff.com24 Oct 2024

This restoration, according to the officials, is seen as a crucial step towards initiating a healing process, reinstating constitutional rights and safeguarding the unique identity of the region's residents.

Highway projects worth Rs 14,000 cr in the pipeline

Highway projects worth Rs 14,000 cr in the pipeline

Rediff.com25 Oct 2012

The National Highways Authority of India and the road transport and highways ministry are currently engaged in appraisal of the request for qualifications, said a senior ministry official.

Railways To Begin Hiring Again

Railways To Begin Hiring Again

Rediff.com17 Jun 2024

With a large number of Indian youth aspiring to work in the railways, delays in filling up railway job vacancies were a point of criticism against the BJP in the run-up to the elections.

Vehicles bought after scrapping old ones to get tax sops

Vehicles bought after scrapping old ones to get tax sops

Rediff.com6 Oct 2021

The Union Road Transport and Highways Ministry on Wednesday said the states and union territories (UTs) will provide up to 25 per cent rebate on road tax for vehicles that are purchased after scrapping old vehicles under the new National Automobile Scrappage Policy. The ministry in a press note said that in the vehicle scrapping policy, it is proposed to have a system of incentives to nudge vehicle owners to discard old and polluting vehicles. "As an incentive for scrapping, concession is stipulated in the motor vehicle tax for a vehicle registered against submission of Certificate of Deposit, which is issued by a Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility.

Silkyara tunnel work to resume after safety audit, repairs

Silkyara tunnel work to resume after safety audit, repairs

Rediff.com29 Nov 2023

The 4.5 kilometre-long Silkyara tunnel project in Uttarakhand, which is part of the central government's strategic 900-km 'Char Dham Yatra All Weather Road', will continue after the necessary safety audit and repair of the broken structure, a senior road ministry official said on Wednesday.

5,000 km roads to be 2-laned

5,000 km roads to be 2-laned

Rediff.com27 Jan 2007

National highways in remote areas, intermediate and single roads are all set to be two laned, with the government having identified 5,000-km of such roads for upgradation.

The truth about India's highways

The truth about India's highways

Rediff.com16 Jan 2017

When Nitin Gadkari took charge as Road Transport and Highways Minister in 2014, he had set a target of constructing 40 km a day in two years. But construction at this point is a mere 16 km a day. Megha Manchanda on what ails the road sector.

Highway projects: Nath for faster green clearances

Highway projects: Nath for faster green clearances

Rediff.com8 Apr 2010

Kamal Nath is in New York attending several meetings, including McGraw-Hill Construction, which is one of the largest construction industry events.

Govt to raise funds from capital market for 4 road projects

Govt to raise funds from capital market for 4 road projects

Rediff.com23 Aug 2022

Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday said the government will approach the capital market next month to raise funds for four road projects. The money will be raised through Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs), and there will be an investment limit of Rs 10 lakh for retail investors, he added. "We will be approaching the capital market to raise funds for the four road projects... there will be an assured return of 7-8 per cent," Gadkari said while addressing a Ficci event.

Highways within 100 km of borders won't need green nod: Govt

Highways within 100 km of borders won't need green nod: Govt

Rediff.com19 Jul 2022

The notification issued by the Union Environment Ministry also exempts projects pertaining to the expansion of terminal buildings at airports (without an increase in the existing area of the airport) from seeking green nod.

Full list: Modi's New Ministers And Their Portfolios

Full list: Modi's New Ministers And Their Portfolios

Rediff.com10 Jun 2024

Here is the complete list of ministers in Modi 3.0 and their portfolios: