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Length Of Highways In India Increased 59% In 9 Yrs: Gadkari

By LokMarg 28th June 2023

The total length of national highways in India increased by about 59 per cent in the past nine years – since the current government came into power, said Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said and noted as a result of this expansion the country now has the second largest road network after the US.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi on Tuesday, Gadkari said the total length of National Highways was 91,287 km in 2013-14, which has now increased to 145,240 km in 2022-23.
He also said that, in the last nine years, the increase in four-lane highways rose about two times. In 2013-14, the length of four-lane highways was 18,371 km which has increased to 44,654 km now.

Secretary road transport and Highways Anurag Jain and NHAI Chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav were also present at the press conference.

Further, Gadkari said with the introduction of FASTag, there has been a significant jump in toll collection. The minister further informed that the revenues from tolls rose to Rs 41,342 crore in 2022-23 from Rs 4,770 crore in 2013-14. The central government aims to increase the toll revenue to Rs 130,000 crore by 2030, he added.

Gadkari said the waiting time at toll plazas has also reduced as a result of this.

“In 2014, the waiting time at the toll plazas was 734 seconds, whereas in 2023 this has reduced to 47 seconds. We are hopeful that we will bring it down to 30 second soon,” he said.

Minister spoke about the transformative impact of FASTag on travel experiences in India, saying it has revolutionised the concept of toll payments, eliminating the need for cash transactions. This breakthrough, he said citing some research, has saved approximately Rs 70,000 crore in wasted fuel expenses.

For the northeast region, Gadkari said special emphasis is being laid on the expansion in the road highway network in the far east region, saying projects worth more than Rs 2 lakh crore are being carried out in the region.

On green initiatives taken by the government, Minister pointed out that his Ministry has utilised 30 lakh tons of garbage in road construction for the Delhi Ring Road project, demonstrating a proactive approach towards waste management and sustainable infrastructure development. (ANI)

M’rashtra: Over 40 Vehicles Damaged In Accident At Pune-Bengaluru Highway

By LokMarg 21st November 2022

Over 40 vehicles were severely damaged in a tragic road accident that occurred in Pune on Sunday evening, officials said.

The accident took place on the Pune-Bengaluru highway.

“A major road accident occurred at Navale bridge on the Pune-Bengaluru highway in Pune in which about 48 vehicles got damaged. Rescue teams from the Pune Fire Brigade and Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) have reached the spot,” said Pune Fire Brigade officials.

The cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained.

Further details are awaited. (ANI)

Afghan Truck Drivers Report Amid Rising Cases Of Robbery On Highways

By LokMarg 17th November 2022

Truck drivers in the Afghan province of Paktia raised concerns about rising cases of armed robberies on highways and said that they have been deprived of money and valuables at gunpoint, Pajhwok News Agency reported on Wednesday.

Despite rise in crimes across Paktia province, the security officials refuted the claims made by drivers of theft and said that measures have been taken to ensure security on highways.
Mohammad Khan, a truck driver on the Gardez-Patan highway, lamented about the situation and said that he has been stopped by burglars several times on the highways.

“I and other drivers have been looted by robbers several times. They take money, mobile phones, and other things, there is no one to stop them,” Khan said while raising the issue of the deteriorating situation of truck drivers in the south-eastern province of Paktia, according to Pajhwok News Agency.

Another driver Rozi Uddin stated, “I was carrying food items in my vehicle four days ago when armed robbers stopped me at about 9 pm in the Badam Khanda area of Sayed Karam district. They robbed me of 5,000 afghanis, a bag of rice, a tin of cooking oil, and other food items.”

He stated that hundreds of trucks travel on the highway every day, but they run into troubles owing to armed robberies. Several other Paktia citizens expressed similar sentiments, urging security agencies to strengthen patrols and construct security checkpoints along routes, reported Pajhwok News Agency.

Incidents of robberies have increased in the country since the Taliban seized power in August last year.

Afghanistan is currently experiencing its highest rate of unemployment and poverty since the Taliban seized power and the crime rate has also increased ever since. In turn, this has led to a rise in killings, suicides, and interpersonal disputes, as per reports by Khaama Press.

The war-torn country is currently grappling with a serious humanitarian crisis according to international assessments with more than 23 million in need of assistance.

Moreover, the situation of human rights in Afghanistan has worsened since the collapse of the Afghan government and the Taliban’s return to power in August last year. Although fighting in the country has ended, serious human rights violations continue unabated, especially against women, children, and minorities.

With the US troop’s withdrawal from the country, large-scale violence has been unleashed creating political uncertainty in different parts of the country. At least 59 percent of the population is now in need of humanitarian assistance – an increase of 6 million people compared with the beginning of 2021, UNAMA reported. (ANI)