News for 'Road and Transport and Highways'

'Money Is Not A Problem For Me'

'Money Is Not A Problem For Me'

Rediff.com10 Sep 2025

'I can sanction projects worth Rs 20 trillion annually as of today.' 'But my system is only capable of executing projects worth Rs 3 trillion to Rs 4 trillion.'

Centre Creates Plan To Avoid Tunnel Collapses

Centre Creates Plan To Avoid Tunnel Collapses

Rediff.com22 Dec 2025

'The recent occurrences of tunnel collapses during construction have prompted a critical assessment of current implementation methodologies and the necessary improvements to prevent such incidents from recurring.'

'Life Possesses No Value In Our System'

'Life Possesses No Value In Our System'

Rediff.com30 Oct 2025

'A bus driver should possess a comprehensive road plan: Toll plazas, major hospitals, road conditions, repairs, diversions, and dangerous areas.' 'Only through such preparation can we save lives.' 'Otherwise, simply sitting in the driver's seat and pressing the accelerator -- anyone can do that.'

US Strikes Venezuela, Captures President

US Strikes Venezuela, Captures President

Rediff.com3 Jan 2026

Dramatic scenes unfolded in Caracas as tensions escalated between the US and Venezuela on January 3, 2026. Following President Donald Trump's announcement of strikes on Venezuela and the reported capture of President Nicolas Maduro, smoke rose near the Fort Tiuna military zone while residents evacuated and queued for fuel.

Toll-free highway travel up to 20 km for private vehicles with GNSS

Toll-free highway travel up to 20 km for private vehicles with GNSS

Rediff.com10 Sep 2024

Under the new regulations, known as the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Amendment Rules, 2024, fees will now be charged on the actual distance travelled if the distance exceeds 20 kilometres.

Govt keen to make India's auto sector No.1 globally: Gadkari

Govt keen to make India's auto sector No.1 globally: Gadkari

Rediff.com15 Sep 2025

The government is working to make India's automobile industry number one in the world within five years, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Monday. Inaugurating the 'International Value Summit 2025', Gadkari said the automobile sector pays maximum GST revenue to the government and generates employment opportunities.

Highway toll charges hiked by 4-5% across India

Highway toll charges hiked by 4-5% across India

Rediff.com2 Apr 2025

Commuters on national highways and expressways will need to pay more for their road journeys, as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has increased toll charges by an average of 4 to 5 per cent on highway sections across the country. The revised toll charges for motorists on national highways across the country have come into effect from Tuesday, a senior highways ministry official told PTI.

FASTag-based annual pass of Rs 3,000 to be launched

FASTag-based annual pass of Rs 3,000 to be launched

Rediff.com19 Jun 2025

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday said the government will introduce a FASTag-based annual pass for private vehicles, priced at Rs 3,000, effective from August 15, in a step towards hassle-free highway travel.

Gadkari: 'E20 Fuel Criticism Is Propaganda'

Gadkari: 'E20 Fuel Criticism Is Propaganda'

Rediff.com11 Sep 2025

'The petrol lobby is very rich and strong.'

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.com8 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

'I've No Desire To Be Prime Minister'

'I've No Desire To Be Prime Minister'

Rediff.com4 Jul 2025

'I am not an aspiration-oriented politician.' 'This is the time to redefine politics.' 'Politics of power is not real politics.'

Modi flags off India's 1st Vande Bharat sleeper train

Modi flags off India's 1st Vande Bharat sleeper train

Rediff.com17 Jan 2026

Developed to meet the growing transportation needs of modern India, the fully AC Vande Bharat sleeper train would offer passengers an "airline-like travel experience at economical fares," a statement issued by the PMO stated.

Get ready to pay more for Uber, Ola during peak hours

Get ready to pay more for Uber, Ola during peak hours

Rediff.com2 Jul 2025

The road transport ministry has allowed cab aggregators to charge up to two times the base fare during peak hours, as against 1.5 times earlier, while for non-peak hours the fare has to be a minimum of 50 per cent of the base fare.

Truth, not flattery, should guide politics, says Nitin Gadkari

Truth, not flattery, should guide politics, says Nitin Gadkari

Rediff.com2 Aug 2025

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari emphasizes the importance of truthfulness and confidence in politics, citing Balasaheb Thackeray as an example. He also addresses funding in his department and praises from Chief Minister Fadnavis.

Landslides, heavy rains kill 5 in Himachal; 1200 roads closed

Landslides, heavy rains kill 5 in Himachal; 1200 roads closed

Rediff.com1 Sep 2025

Heavy rains and landslides in Himachal Pradesh have resulted in multiple fatalities and widespread disruption, including road closures and train cancellations.

Realty's Next Address: SPR, Sohna Power NCR's Growth

Realty's Next Address: SPR, Sohna Power NCR's Growth

Rediff.com18 Oct 2025

Part-I of this three-part series dives into Delhi-NCR's SPR, Sohna, Dwarka Expressway, and Jewar Airport leading the charge.

Highway Spending May Rise 10%

Highway Spending May Rise 10%

Rediff.com24 Jun 2024

'With new projects and recently awarded projects kicking in, capital expenditure should only increase going forward.'

8,500 km of highway projects to be awarded in FY22, says Sitharaman

8,500 km of highway projects to be awarded in FY22, says Sitharaman

Rediff.com1 Feb 2021

While presenting the Union Budget 2021-22 in Parliament, the finance minister said poll-bound West Bengal will see highway projects worth Rs 25,000 crore. She also announced that highway projects worth Rs 65,000 crore will be undertaken in Kerala. She also announced an Rs 18,000-crore scheme to augment public transport in urban areas.

Prices of EVs to be same as petrol cars in 6 months, says Gadkari

Prices of EVs to be same as petrol cars in 6 months, says Gadkari

Rediff.com19 Mar 2025

Prices of electric vehicles (EVs) will be equal to those of petrol vehicles in the country within six months, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Wednesday.

Gadkari explains how building highways can create lakes

Gadkari explains how building highways can create lakes

Rediff.com8 Sep 2022

Union Minister for Road, Transport and Highway Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said his ministry can address the water woes faced in parts of the country.

'Such Catastrophes Will Only Worsen'

'Such Catastrophes Will Only Worsen'

Rediff.com12 Aug 2025

'There is a clear relationship between the Char Dham road widening and these landslides.' 'The situation has further worsened with the massive influx of tourists whose number are running into several lakhs per month.' 'No parameters have been laid down to control tourist inflow and the result is that the Char Dham yatra has seen a sharp escalation in accidents and loss of lives.'

Nitin Gadkari: Longest serving transport minister gets another stint

Nitin Gadkari: Longest serving transport minister gets another stint

Rediff.com9 Jun 2024

Gadkari is credited with the construction of more than 90,000 km of national highways and 30,000 km of new roads in the country in the last 10 years.

Shouldn't be poor are growing, while wealth is centralised: Gadkari

Shouldn't be poor are growing, while wealth is centralised: Gadkari

Rediff.com7 Jul 2025

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari voiced concerns about increasing poverty and wealth concentration, advocating for wealth decentralization and job creation in rural areas. He also highlighted the need for balanced sectoral contributions to GDP and discussed infrastructure development initiatives.

168,491 Lives Lost In Road Mishaps

168,491 Lives Lost In Road Mishaps

Rediff.com13 Nov 2023

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

Delhi choked by worst AQI of the year, strict curbs kick in

Delhi choked by worst AQI of the year, strict curbs kick in

Rediff.com13 Dec 2025

A thick layer of toxic smog enveloped the national capital on Saturday as air quality deteriorated sharply, prompting the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to invoke the strictest curbs under Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR.

Bombay To Goa Highway Coming In December

Bombay To Goa Highway Coming In December

Rediff.com31 Mar 2023

'The Mumbai-Goa highway touches 66 tourism spots in Maharashtra's Konkan. It will give development a high boost. It will also ensure quick transportation of fruits and other produce the region is famous for.'

Gadkari sets ambitious target for building National Highways

Gadkari sets ambitious target for building National Highways

Rediff.com10 Jul 2015

Ministry has set a target to spend Rs 5 lakh crore in road infrastructure

What Gifts Did Naidu Bring Nirmalaji?

What Gifts Did Naidu Bring Nirmalaji?

Rediff.com6 Mar 2025

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu showered gifts on Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman when he met her in New Delhi on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.

Ruler must tolerate dissent in a democracy: Gadkari

Ruler must tolerate dissent in a democracy: Gadkari

Rediff.com21 Sep 2024

Union minister Nitin Gadkari has said the biggest test of democracy is that the ruler tolerates even the strongest opinion against him, and it leads to introspection.

Himachal deputy CM, Cong MLA get death threat; probe launched

Himachal deputy CM, Cong MLA get death threat; probe launched

Rediff.com20 Jun 2025

According to the police, a social media user shared a post on Facebook on the arrest of notorious gangster Amrish Rana.

Contracts for highways, roads after 80% land buy

Contracts for highways, roads after 80% land buy

Rediff.com7 Jul 2009

"Land acquisition is the biggest issue. Now contracts will be awarded if 80 per cent of the land is acquired and is in possession of National Highway Authority of India," minister for road transport and highways Kamal Nath said during the Question Hour in the Lok Sabha. On members' complaints regarding 'very high' toll rates in public-private partnership projects, the minister defended the existing rates and said reduced toll would mean less roads.

Indian illegal immigrant causes multi-vehicle crash in California

Indian illegal immigrant causes multi-vehicle crash in California

Rediff.com26 Sep 2025

An Indian national, who had arrived in the United States illegally, has been arrested for causing a multi-vehicle crash while driving a truck in California last year that critically injured a five-year old child and left her with life-altering injuries.

Gadkari keen to fast-track highway projects

Gadkari keen to fast-track highway projects

Rediff.com23 Jan 2020

Various stakeholders, including about 600 developers, bankers and officials from various wings, including the National Highways Authority of India, will also be present.

Why Gadkari 'tries to hide his face in meetings abroad'

Why Gadkari 'tries to hide his face in meetings abroad'

Rediff.com12 Dec 2024

"When I go to attend international conferences where there is a discussion on road accidents, I try to hide my face," Nitin Gadkari said on Thursday, underlining he had set a target to reduce accidents by 50 per cent when he first took charge as the Road Transport and Highways Minister.

How To Stay Safe During Umrah

How To Stay Safe During Umrah

Rediff.com18 Nov 2025

Tips to avoid the heat, crowds, and travel risks, including incidents like the tragic Mufrihat accident that killed 45 Indian pilgrims.

Oppn's Chakka Jam Hits Normal Life In Bihar

Oppn's Chakka Jam Hits Normal Life In Bihar

Rediff.com9 Jul 2025

Wednesday's joint protest march in Patna marked a significant moment, with Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and Tejashwi Yadav, the Leader of Opposition in the Bihar assembly, leading a unified demonstration -- perhaps a first in the state's recent political history.

Transport strike: Commuters suffer as buses, taxis stay off roads

Transport strike: Commuters suffer as buses, taxis stay off roads

Rediff.com30 Apr 2015

The 24-hour transport strike began on Thursday, affecting normal life in several parts of the country including in Kerala and Karnataka, even as the Centre asked private operators and employees of state transport authorities to call off their strike.

In FY25, NHAI to monetise 2,741 km roads

In FY25, NHAI to monetise 2,741 km roads

Rediff.com18 Apr 2024

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is looking to monetise 33 stretches of national highways during the current financial year (FY25) through its toll operate transfer (TOT) and infrastructure investment trust (Invit). These stretches include Lucknow-Aligarh, Kanpur-Ayodhya-Gorakhpur, and Bareilly-Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh, Gurugram-Kotputli-Jaipur bypass and Jaipur-Kishangarh in Rajasthan, Panikoili-Rimuli in Odisha, Chennai Bypass in Tamil Nadu, and Muzaffarpur-Darbhanga-Purnia highway in Bihar. Cumulatively, the 33 stretches, spanning 2,741 kilometres (km) earned approximately Rs 5,000 crore revenue in FY24.

Rising orders, execution to help road infra companies

Rising orders, execution to help road infra companies

Rediff.com12 Sep 2024

Road awards were muted in Q1FY25. But the pace will accelerate with a bidding pipeline of Rs 1.1 trillion (September 2024), mostly dominated by HAM (Hybrid Annuity Model) projects, which contribute 47 per cent and engineering procurement and construction or EPC projects, which have about 36 per cent share. Hence, infrastructure companies mostly reported revenue decline on a year-on-year (Y-o-Y) basis in Q1FY25.

Helicopters airlift stranded people in Uttarkashi; 4 more deaths confirmed

Helicopters airlift stranded people in Uttarkashi; 4 more deaths confirmed

Rediff.com9 Aug 2025

Helicopters are being used to airlift people stranded in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, following flash floods and landslides. Rescue operations are ongoing, with hundreds evacuated and efforts underway to restore connectivity and power.