The Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, in collaboration with BEML, is designing and manufacturing high-speed train sets that will have a design speed of 280 kmph, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told Parliament on Wednesday. In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Vaishnaw said following the success of Vande Bharat trains under the "Make in India" initiative, the Indian Railways (IR) has now taken up designing and manufacturing of high-speed train sets. "The manufacturing cost is approximately Rs 28 crore per car (excluding taxes), which is highly competitive compared with other train sets," he said, replying to questions raised by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs Sudhir Gupta and Ananta Nayak. "The design and manufacturing of high-speed train sets is a complex and technology-intensive process," the minister added. He also highlighted the major technical aspects, such as the design and manufacturing of the aerodynamic, airtight car body, design and manufacturing of electrics including propulsion for high-speed application, weight optimisation of the train sets and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) of the trains. "The train sets will have chair cars with best-in-class features, such as aerodynamic exteriors, sealed gangways, automatic doors, optimum climatic conditions inside compartments for passenger comfort, CCTV, mobile-charging facilities, optimum lighting, fire safety equipment etc.," Vaishnaw said. He added that the completion of the project can be reasonably ascertained after the finalisation of the detailed design. The minister also provided an update on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) project, under execution with technical and financial assistance from Japan, and said so far, 336 km of pier foundation, 331 km of pier construction, 260 km of girder casting and 225 km of girder launching have been completed. "The work of the undersea tunnel (approximately 21 km) has also started," he added. The 508-km-long MAHSR project will have 12 stations planned at Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad and Sabarmati and the entire land (1,389.5 Ha) required for it has been acquired, the railway minister said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 November,2024 06:33 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIThe Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a show cause notice to Akasa Air for reportedly not providing corrective training to a pilot-in-command (PIC) after a flight operated by the pilot made a hard landing, official sources said on Wednesday. During a regulatory audit of the airline conducted in Mumbai last month, the regulator discovered the same for a Bagdogra-Bangalore flight (QP 1851) operated on a Boeing 737 MAX (VT-YAE) on March 5, 2024. “The incident was closed with a counselling session only without any corrective training being imparted to the PIC,” the regulator has found and mentioned in its notice. the notice issued to the airline has asked it to file a reply within 14 days. Sources say the aircraft had made a hard landing. “It bounced after touching down. The pilot then pressed the take off go around (TOGA) button to take off and land in a second attempt. TOGA was then rejected and the aircraft went on to land,” said sources. Incidentally last month the regulator had fined Akasa Rs 30 lakh for alleged non-compliance of rules in its training procedures for pilots. The regulator, previously, in May had conducted a spot check at Akasa’s Gurgaon HQ and then subsequently issued a show cause notice to the airline leading to the previous Rs 30 lakh fine. When contacted, an Akasa Air Spokesperson denied a comment on the matter citing it to be a legal notice.
27 November,2024 04:40 PM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentThe All Mizoram Village Council Association (AMVCA) has called the state government's move to shorten the present term of village councils (VC) "undemocratic" and stated that they will dispute the order in the high court, PTI reported. According to a notification issued last week by the local administration department, the current term of Mizoram village councils, except those in three autonomous district council areas in the state's south, has been reduced by six months and will end on February 19 next year. According to AMVCA president K Lalngaizuala, village council members unanimously adopted a resolution to seek the Gauhati High Court to safeguard village councils' prestige during a conference held in Aizawl on Tuesday, PTI reported. Lalngaizuala claimed that they did not simply oppose the curtailment but called the government's decision "undemocratic." He further claimed that they had decided to move to the high court in order to protect their rights and the reputation of village councils. The reduction of the term of the village councils has led to criticism from different quarters, including opposition parties, PTI reported. Congress claimed that the village council tenure was shortened as the Zoram People's Movement (ZPM)-led state government found it difficult to cooperate with The Congress claimed that the tenure of the village councils was cut because the state government led by the Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) found it impossible to deal with opposition-dominated VCs. Previously, Mizoram Local Administration (LAD) minister C Lalsawivunga claimed that the duration of the existing village councils (VCs) was lowered to ensure proper management and use of state money, as well as to adjust the extension necessitated by the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020, PTI reported. As per PTI, the minister said that the state government received a post-devolution revenue deficit (PDRD) grant of Rs 122.83 crore during the fiscal year 2023-24 and Rs 89.91 crore per month during the current fiscal. According to the 15th Finance Commission's recommendation, Mizoram will receive a PDRD grant of Rs 48.83 crore per month in fiscal year 2025-2026, he stated. Despite these financial limits, the state will hold civic polls (village councils and local councils) next year, as well as elections for the Lai Autonomous District Council (LADC) at the end of the year, the minister said. In addition, the state government plans to hold elections for the Aizawl Municipal Corporation (AMC) in early 2026, PTI cited. "Keeping in mind the upcoming civic polls, the government has decided to shorten the current VCs term and conduct elections to ensure that the general public is not inconvenienced," Lalsawivunga had said. The most recent elections for vice presidents and local councils (LCs) were held in August 2020. (With PTI inputs)
27 November,2024 02:57 PM IST | Aizawl | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Wednesday said instead of raising question marks over the electronic voting machines (EVMs), the opposition parties should accept their defeat in the state assembly polls and introspect, reported news agency PTI. Talking to reporters in Nagpur, he also accused the opposition of speaking lies over the issue of EVMs. Responding to a query on the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies alleging manipulation of EVMs, Bawankule asked why they did not raise a question mark over these machines when they performed well in the Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra earlier this year. "The Congress also won the Nanded Lok Sabha bypoll. So was the EVM proper in Nanded?" he asked, reported PTI. "All these are just lies...They should accept their defeat and introspect. We introspected after losing the Lok Sabha elections (in Maharashtra) and moved ahead. We worked at the booth level and met people. This time (in the assembly polls), our vote percentage increased," he said, reported PTI. The MVA, comprising the Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (SP) and Congress, won 30 out of 48 Lok Sabha seats in the general elections, and one Congress rebel later extended support to the alliance. In the assembly elections held on November 20, the ruling Mahayuti of BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP won a whopping 230 seats, while the MVA managed to get only 46 in the 288-member House. Bawankule's remarks on the EVMs come a day after the Supreme Court dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking to revert to paper ballot voting in elections in the country. The apex court said that allegations of tampering with EVMs raked up only when people lose polls. "What happens is, when you win the election, EVMs are not tampered with. When you lose the election, EVMs are tampered (with)," remarked a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and P B Varale on Tuesday, reported PTI. On a query over finalising the name of the chief minister in Maharashtra, Bawankule said, "In the alliance government, such things take time as many factors like the ministerial post, portfolios and guardian ministership have to be taken into account and decided," reported PTI. The MVA candidates who faced defeat in the Maharashtra assembly elections have decided to seek verification of the EVM-Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) units in their segments, a leader of the opposition alliance said, reported PTI. Many losing candidates of the Shiv Sena (UBT) pointed fingers at the functioning of the EVMs during their interaction with party head Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday. (With inputs from PTI)
27 November,2024 02:50 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondentIn a landmark judgement, the Supreme Court of India ruled that religious conversions carried out solely to claim reservation benefits, without genuine belief in the adopted religion, constitute a "fraud on the Constitution". The verdict was delivered by a bench of Justices Pankaj Mithal and R Mahadevan on November 26, as per PTI reports. The court dismissed the plea of C Selvarani, who had challenged a Madras High Court decision from January 24 that denied her a Scheduled Caste (SC) certificate. Selvarani, born to a Hindu father and a Christian mother, was baptised as a Christian but later claimed to be Hindu to access reservation benefits for employment. Justice Mahadevan, writing the 21-page judgement for the bench, observed that religious conversion should stem from genuine inspiration by the principles and tenets of the adopted faith. "However, if the purpose of conversion is to derive reservation benefits rather than a sincere belief in the religion, such actions are impermissible. They undermine the social ethos of the reservation policy," he noted. The bench highlighted that Selvarani continued to practise Christianity, attending church regularly, despite claiming to have reverted to Hinduism. Her dual claims, the court stated, were "untenable" and contradicted the objectives of India's reservation policies, which aim to uplift marginalised communities. The evidence presented confirmed that Selvarani’s father, though born into the Valluvan caste (classified as SC), had converted to Christianity, thereby losing caste identity. The apex court underscored that individuals converting to another religion lose their caste status and must provide substantial evidence of reconversion and acceptance by their original caste to regain SC benefits. The bench noted a lack of credible evidence supporting Selvarani's reconversion to Hinduism. "There was no public declaration, ceremony, or credible documentation to prove her return to Hinduism or acceptance by the Valluvan caste. On the contrary, factual findings indicated she continued practising Christianity," the judgement observed. The court further emphasised that while caste identity is lost upon conversion to Christianity, its resumption requires more than mere claims. Selvarani’s argument that her caste was "under eclipse" during conversion and could be reinstated upon reconversion was deemed "unsustainable". The ruling also addressed the broader implications of conversions made for ulterior motives, stating that such actions erode the fundamental social objectives of reservation policies. "Conversion purely for reservation benefits, devoid of belief, is impermissible," the bench declared. The Supreme Court's decision aligns with the spirit of India's Constitution, reinforcing the integrity of reservation policies and protecting their intent to support truly marginalised groups. According to PTI, the judgement reaffirms that caste identity is fundamentally linked to one's faith and community acceptance. In cases of disputed reconversion, compelling evidence is essential to validate claims, the court concluded. (With inputs from PTI)
27 November,2024 01:46 PM IST | New DelhiUnion minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday said there is a need to make existing laws more stringent to curb vulgar content on social media platforms, reported news agency PTI. In the Lok Sabha, the Information and Broadcasting Minister said the Parliamentary Standing Committee should take up the issue and also called for a consensus to frame more strict laws in this regard, reported PTI. Earlier, there were editorial checks and it was decided whether something was right or wrong but those checks have ended. Today, social media is a platform for freedom of press but it is uncontrolled and there is vulgar content, the minister said during the Question Hour, reported PTI. There is a need to make existing laws more stringent laws to curb vulgar content on social media platforms, Vaishnaw said amid din in the House. He was responding to questions by BJP member Arun Govil about existing mechanisms to check telecast of vulgar and sex-related content through social media platforms illegally and whether the government proposes to make the existing laws more stringent keeping in view the fact that the said laws are not much effective to stop misuse of these platforms, reported PTI. Railways recruited 5 lakh employees since 2014: Ashwini Vaishnaw Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday said the department recruited five lakh employees in the last decade, a number slightly higher than the previous decade, reported PTI. He made the statement at the national convention of the All India SC/ST Railway Employees Association, held on Ajani Railway Ground in Nagpur. The minister said the recruitment number between 2004 and 2014 was 4.4 lakh, reported PTI. He also highlighted the introduction of an annual recruitment calendar for the first time in Indian Railways' history. According to a press release, the event was attended by the association president B L Bhairava, Central Railway General Manager Dharamveer Meena, and South East Central Railway General Manager Neenu, reported PTI. It said Vaishnaw also appreciated Prime Minister Narendra Modi's gesture of giving a bow to the Constitution before entering Parliament. "Respect for the Constitution goes beyond symbolism; it is reflected in action," he said ahead of the Constitution Day on Tuesday, reported PTI. The minister said 12,000 general coaches are currently under production. Vaishnaw at the event unveiled a souvenir commemorating the association's efforts and earlier paid his tributes to Dr BR Ambedkar at the Central Memorial in Deekshabhoomi. (With inputs from PTI)
27 November,2024 01:41 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentCongress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said businessman Gautam Adani should be arrested after his indictment in the US and accused the government of protecting him, reported news agency PTI. Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, said when hundreds of people are arrested on "tiny" charges in the country, why is Adani not in jail? The reiteration by Gandhi comes hours after the Adani Group said the billionaire and his nephew Sagar Adani have not been charged with any violations of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in the indictment filed by US authorities in a court in a bribery case. The duo has been charged with securities fraud that involves a levy of monetary penalties. "You think the Adanis are going to accept the charges. Which world are you living in? Obviously, he is going to deny the charges," Rahul Gandhi said when asked about the denial of charges by the Adani Group, reported PTI. "The point is he has to be arrested. As we have said, hundreds of people are being arrested on tiny charges and the gentleman has been indicted in the United States for thousands of crores. He should be in jail... The government is protecting him," the former Congress chief said, reported PTI. Gandhi was the first to demand the arrest of Adani after charges of alleged bribery were made out by the US against the businessman. Earlier, Adani's lawyer Mukul Rohtagi said there are no specific charges against the businessman or his associates and the accusations of bribery are very general and no specifics on who gave the bribe to whom are not specified. Earlier today, in its exchange filing, Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) had cited the news reporting on the alleged bribery and corruption charges against Adani officials as 'incorrect.' "Media articles state that certain of our directors namely Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani and Vneet Jain have been charged with violation(s) of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in the indictment. Such statements are incorrect," said the statement by Adani Green Energy Ltd. "Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani and Vneet Jaain have not been charged with any violation of the FCPA in the counts set forth in the indictment of the US DOJ or civil complaint of the US SEC," it added. (With inputs from PTI)
27 November,2024 01:29 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe National Investigation Agency registered a case in connection with the recent violence in Jiribam along with two other cases on the directions of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, a press release said. "Acting swiftly on the Union Ministry of Home Affairs's directions to bring the culprits to book expeditiously, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has launched thorough investigations into three major cases relating to the recent spate of violence in Manipur", the release said. The anti-terror agency re-registered three cases afresh on November 13, 2024, after the MHA decided to hand over the investigations to NIA considering the gravity of the offences, amid escalating violence in the strife-torn state and to unearth the larger conspiracy behind the brutal attacks. "In the first case (FIR No. 29(11) Borobekra PS, dated November 11, 2024), several houses were burnt and two civilians were killed at Borobekra. Later unknown militants had also abducted and murdered 6 persons including 3 women and 3 children," the release said. The incident took place on November 11 when some unknown armed militants fired towards Borobekra Police Station, as well as some houses and shops located at Jakuradhor Karong, and also set ablaze the latter. The police and CRPF personnel of Borobekra PS retaliated, leading to a heavy exchange of fire. Subsequent search operations led to the recovery of two dead bodies inside the burnt houses, it added. The case has been re-registered by NIA as RC-15/2024/NIA/IMP under various sections of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 and Arms Act, 1959. The second case in which NIA has initiated a probe is connected with the 11th November attack on a CRPF post located at Jakuradhor Karong and Borobekra police stations, Jiribam, by armed militants (original FIR No. 30(11) registered at Borobekra PS). A CRPF constable sustained bullet injuries in the attack and was evacuated to Silchar for medical treatment. During a search by security forces and the police team, dead bodies of unidentified armed militants, along with arms and ammunition, were recovered from the vicinity of the attack. NIA has re-registered the case as RC-14/2024/NIA/IMP under various sections of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 and Arms Act, 1959. The third case relates to the murder of a woman at Jiribram by fully armed militants. The incident took place on November 7, when 31-year-old Zosangkim (31 years), wife of Ngurthansang from Jairolpokpi (Zairawn), Jiribam, Manipur, and mother of three, was allegedly raped and burnt alive at her residence by fully armed militants. The case was originally registered as FIR No. 80(11)2024 at Jiribam PS on November 8, 2024, NIA has re-registered the case as RC-13/2024/NIA/IMP under relevant sections of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, Arms Act, 1959, and UA(P) Act. The release said that the NIA teams visited the spots on November 21-22, 2024 and started the probe. The process of handing over case documents from local police to NIA is currently underway. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 November,2024 01:17 PM IST | New Delhi | ANIRains persisted overnight in Tamil Nadu's Cauvery (Kaveri) delta areas, affecting standing paddy fields, and the India Meteorological Department warned on Wednesday that heavy to very heavy and extremely heavy rainfall is expected in a few spots in Cuddalore and Mayiladuthurai districts, both in the delta region, PTI reported. Crops were submerged in the rains, either partially or completely at multiple places including those in and around Tiruvarur, Thiruthuraipoondi, Muthupettai, Mayilduthurai, Vedaranyam and as per rough estimates by farmers, crops about 2000 acres were affected. According to an IMD update on Thursday, a deep depression over the Southwest Bay of Bengal moved north-northwestward at a speed of 13 kmph over the last 6 hours and was centred at 05.30 hours IST over the same region, approximately 130 km east-southeast of Trincomalee, 400 km southeast of Nagappattinam, 510 km southeast of Puducherry, and 590 km south-southeast of Chennai. It is quite likely to continue moving north-northwest and intensifying into a cyclonic storm over the next 12 hours. After that, it will continue to move north-northwest towards the Tamil Nadu coast, hugging Sri Lanka's coast over the next two days, ANI reported. IMD has predicted widespread heavy rainfall today due to a possible cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal and heavy to very heavy rain at some places and extremely heavy rain at one or two places is likely in Cuddalore and Mayiladuthurai districts, ANI and PTI reported. Heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur at remote places in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Ariyalur, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Pudukkottai districts, PTI reported. "Heavy to very rain at a few places with extremely heavy rain at one or two places is likely to occur over Cuddalore and Mayiladuthurai and Karaikal area. Heavy to very rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Chennai, Thiruvallur Kanchipuram, Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Ariyalur, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Pudukkottai district and Pondicherry," according to IMD release, ANI cited. Due to the rains, November 27 has been declared a holiday for schools and colleges, including Tiruvarur, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, and Mayiladuthurai districts. A holiday has been declared only for schools in Chennai, Chengelpet, Ariyalur, and Kanchipuram, PTI reported. Madras University, Karaikudi Alagappa University, Bharathidhasan University, and the Directorate of Technical Education have postponed the scheduled semester exam owing to heavy rainfall predictions on Wednesday. A new date will be announced later, ANI reported. (With PTI and ANI inputs)
27 November,2024 01:16 PM IST | Chennai | mid-day online correspondentThe Congress party on Wednesday expressed grave concern over the "atmosphere of insecurity" reportedly being faced by religious minorities in Bangladesh, particularly in light of the recent arrest of Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das. Pawan Khera, Chairman of the Congress Media and Publicity Department, issued a statement urging the Indian government to address the matter with their Bangladeshi counterparts. He stated, "The Indian National Congress expects the government of India to prevail upon the Bangladesh government to take the necessary steps and ensure the security of life and property of minorities in the country." Khera further highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by minorities in Bangladesh, describing the arrest of ISKCON monk Chinmoy Krishna Das as a troubling example. "The Indian National Congress expresses its deep concern at the atmosphere of insecurity being faced by religious minorities in Bangladesh. The arrest of the ISKCON monk is the latest example," Khera noted. The incident escalated when a lawyer was killed on Tuesday amidst clashes between security personnel and followers of Das in Chattogram, where the Hindu leader was denied bail and subsequently sent to jail on charges of sedition. According to PTI reports, Chinmoy Krishna Das, who also serves as the spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote, was apprehended on Monday at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. His arrest has sparked outrage among his supporters and amplified concerns over the safety of religious minorities in the country. India’s Ministry of External Affairs also responded to the development, expressing "deep concern" over the arrest and urging Bangladesh to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and other minority communities. However, the Bangladeshi government issued a strong rebuttal to India's remarks. In a statement, Dhaka described the Indian concerns as "unfounded" and inconsistent with the longstanding friendship between the two nations. The Bangladeshi authorities emphasised that their judiciary is entirely independent and operates without interference from external entities. The incident has added to the ongoing discourse regarding minority rights and safety in Bangladesh, a subject that has repeatedly surfaced in international conversations. Congress’s appeal for decisive action reflects growing apprehensions about the need to safeguard vulnerable communities in the region. PTI reports indicate that tensions remain high, and the situation is being closely monitored. Both governments are likely to engage in further discussions to address these pressing concerns, while activists continue to call for greater accountability and protection for minorities in Bangladesh. (With inputs from PTI)
27 November,2024 01:15 PM IST | New DelhiWest Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday asked the police to take action against those trying to 'create hindrances' in laying pipelines for water supply to households. Banerjee said she has urged the director general of police to look into the matter. The CM also said a recent survey has revealed that in some places, pipes were laid by the state's Public Health and Engineering (PHE) Department, but the water supply did not start. "Even soil testing was not done (in such cases)," she said. Banerjee also criticised the BJP, alleging that despite the state government carrying out almost all the work in laying pipelines for water supply, the saffron party tries to give credit for it to the Centre prior to elections. "We purchase land, fund 90 per cent of this project... and pay for the maintenance. But during elections, the BJP claims that the central government did everything. That is not the case,' she asserted. Banerjee said 75 per cent of village areas and 73 per cent of municipality areas have already been covered under the water supply programme. "The state government has spent Rs 55,000 crore for the project, and another Rs 66,000 crore will be spent to connect 1.75 crore more households in the state," she added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 November,2024 01:13 PM IST | Kolkata | PTIADVERTISEMENT
