India

New Delhi, Sep 27 (IANS) In a first, Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari unveiled the miniature of the state-of-the-art EV charging station conceptualised by the National Highways for EV (NHEV).

The NHEV miniature model of the charging station is the first ever such model in the industry which has been conceptualised as a comprehensive wayside amenities plaza that can reimagine and replace the existing traditional petrol pumps and wayside amenities on the highways. This comes as a successor to the initiative of EODB which strives at upgrading 5000 km of national highways to E-highways through its pilot project called the National Highway for EV.

The pilot project is currently conducting its concluding phase of technical and commercial trials with buses and long-range electric SUV on the Delhi-Jaipur stretch from September 9. This would add a 278 km stretch to the previously conducted 210 km TECH-trial run between Delhi-Agra in 2021 to accomplish technical trials of a total 500 km across four states -- UP, Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan -- in its pilot phase.

During the inaugural address, Nitin Gadkari said "Since the last 3-4 years I have been talking about electric vehicles and have been answering many questions like what would happen if we break down with an electric vehicle? However it didn't happen and with gradual increase in confidence the technology questions got answered. Now there are waiting lists for electric cars and scooters and I can say that electric is the fuel of the future. Currently electric double decker AC bus costs are coming to Rs. 60 per km, non AC Rs. 39 per kilometre and for normal electric AC bus Rs. 41 per km and diesel bus is costing Rs. 115 per km. If you can bring business class comfort in an electric bus with trolley on economical ticket cost to passengers, it will make public transportation more competent for users".

"The pilot has already covered a 10% stretch between Agra-Delhi-Jaipur in two phases, out of its total 5000 km highways that India aims to upgrade as E-highways in the next 2 years. The NHEV team is slating its plan to install pre-fabricated modules of these station's electrical and structural infra, soon after commissioning its pilot phase. So that new stations in expansion phase can be speedily installed within 90 days from their allocations." said National Program Director, Ease of Doing Business Abhijeet Sinha, also Project Director NHEV at EODB Services.

The revealed miniature has brought out the operational and financial comparison between a 'Charging Station' and 'Petrol Pumps', showing an imperative impetus on Public Private Partnership to build nationwide charging infrastructure. It showcased all the key indicators like ease in setting-up and minimal licensing, bankable and fundable world-class 'Relay Service' fleet models and the highest possible utilisation of infra and assets within a minimal breakeven period of 40 months.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Sep 26 (IANS) Veteran Congress leader Margaret Alva has slammed senior leaders of the party in Rajasthan and asked them to shun personal ambition.

Without taking names, she said the happenings were disappointing.

"The events unfolding in #Rajasthan are deeply disappointing, unfortunate & unnecessary. Senior leaders in the state must be prepared to sacrifice personal ambition & take their cue from @RahulGandhi who has shown what the Congress needs the most right now is selfless service," tweeted Alva on Monday.

The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting called on Sunday at Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's residence was cancelled as more than 90 MLAs loyal to the Gehlot threatened to resign, while demanding the new CM face be picked from their group.

"The MLAs want either Gehlot or his pick to be Chief Minister instead of Sachin Pilot," Rajasthan minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas told the media.

Gehlot reportedly received a call from Rajya Sabha MP K.C. Venugopal, who asked him to "handle the situation" but the Chief Minister told the Congress' central leadership that it was "not in his hands".

Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Pilot, meanwhile, is believed to be the central leaders' choice for the chief ministerial position.

A delegation from the Gehlot camp went to meet senior Congress leader Ajay Maken, who is in Jaipur as an observer for the CLP meeting.

These include state Urban Development and Housing Minister Shanti Dhariwal, Pratap Singh Khachariyawas and Mahesh Joshi.

Maken, speaking to the media, said: "We are not going to Delhi as of now. We have been asked to take feedback from each and every single MLA."

Meanwhile, sources said that the Congress high command has called both Gehlot and Pilot to Delhi.

--IANS
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Chandigarh, Sep 26 (IANS) Seven tourists were killed and 10 injured in a road accident in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu district, police said on Monday.

The tourists, largely belonging to Uttar Pradesh, were travelling when a Tempo Traveller (UP 14 HT 8272) skidded off the road and rolled down the hill near Jalori Pass in Banjar subdivision on Sunday night.

Most of the injured were admitted to the Regional Hospital in Kullu town, some 200 km from the state capital.

The cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained, an official told IANS.

The administration had a tough time extricating the victims of both the accidents from the badly mangled vehicle.

People in the area began rescue operations even before authorities reached the spot.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Sep 26 (IANS) After the action taken by the various central investigating agencies against the extremist organisation -- Popular Front of India (PFI), the demand for banning the latter has started growing louder with each passing day.

The Muslim Rashtriya Manch, an affiliate of the right wing organisation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has demanded an immediate ban on the PFI from the Central government after holding a meeting with other nationalist organisations.

The RSS Muslim wing has asked the Union government: "If the PFI has become so dangerous, then why is it not being banned at the earliest? Why are the organisation's bank accounts not being frozen yet? Why are its properties not being attached? Why strict action is not being taken against the leaders, office-bearers and representatives of the PFI on the basis of their involvement in violence-related incidents?"

However, a few days ago the Union government told the Supreme Court that PFI is being banned in several states and it is going to impose a ban on the extremist organisation.

After a meeting with other nationalist organisations, Mohammad Afzal and Shahid Akhtar, the National Convenor of Muslim Rashtriya Manch, described PFI as a more dangerous terrorist organisation than SIMI and said that the evidences recovered during the raids conducted by the central investigating agencies are enough proof to ban this organisation. Hence, the government should immediately ban the PFI by taking strictest action against it.

The Rashtriya Muslim Manch Media In-charge Shahid Saeed said that all the evidences found against the PFI clearly shows that it is a terrorist organisation which receives funding from foreign countries and slogans of 'Pakistan Zindabad' are raised in the rallies conducted by it.

--IANS
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Jaipur, Sep 25 (IANS) The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting called on Sunday at Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's residence has been cancelled as more than 90 Congress MLAs loyal to the veteran party leader threatened to resign, while demanding the new CM face be picked from their group.

"The MLAs want either Gehlot or his pick to be Chief Minister instead of Sachin Pilot," Rajasthan minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas told the media.

Gehlot reportedly received a call from Rajya Sabha MP K.C. Venugopal who asked him to "handle the situation" but the Chief Minister told the Congress' central leadership that it was "not in his hands".

Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Pilot, meanwhile, is believed to be the central leaders' choice for the chief ministerial position.

A delegation from the Gehlot camp has went to meet senior Congress leader Ajay Maken who is in Jaipur as observer for the CLP meeting.

These include state Urban Development and Housing Minister Shanti Dhariwal, Pratap Singh Khachariyawas and Mahesh Joshi.

Maken, speaking to the media, said: "We are not going to Delhi as of now. We have been asked to take feedback from each and every single MLA."

Meanwhile, sources said that the Congress high command has called both Gehlot and Pilot to Delhi.

--IANS
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Shillong, Sep 25 (IANS) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said all people living in India are Hindus in terms of identity.

Elaborating the RSS' philosophy, Bhagwat said that Hinduism is not a religion but a way of life.

Addressing a gathering in Shillong, the RSS chief said all are Hindus as all Indians are the inhabitants of Hindustan, which, he said is in the south of the Himalayas, north of Indian Ocean, on the bank of the Indus river.

"The habitants of this area are traditionally called Hindus. This is also called Bharat," said Bhagwat, who arrived here on Saturday on a two-day visit.

He said that even before the Mughals who have spread Islam and the British rulers who spread Christianity, Hindus were already in existence.

Highlighting the ideology of RSS, Bhagwat said the term 'Hindu' covers all those who are the sons of 'Bharat Mata', descendants of Indian ancestors and who live in accordance with Indian culture.

Ruling out the fear of religious conversion, the RSS supremo said to become Hindu one does not have to change since everyone here is Hindu.

"India is not a country with a western concept. It has been a cultural country since time immemorial; in fact, it is such a country, which has taught the world the lesson of humanity."

Since Saturday, he has attended a series of events, including the meeting of RSS functionaries and workers across the hill state.

Several BJP leaders, members of Hindu organisations attended the events organised by the Meghalaya unit of RSS.

Bhagwat's visit to Meghalaya -- a Christian majority state, assumes significance as Assembly elections are scheduled to be held there in February next year.

Elaborate security arrangements were made in the state in view of the visit of Bhagwat, who has a 'Z Plus' security cover.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Sep 25 (IANS) The sources in the National Investigation Agency (NIA) have claimed that apart from the BJP and the RSS leaders, a few Congress leaders were also on the radar of a few who were either associated or were in touch with the PFI.

A source said that they came know about this during the course of interrogation of arrested members of PFI.

The sources have claimed that the Congress leaders from southern India were the target of a few persons who were in touch with the Popular Front of India (PFI).

Both NIA and the ED are currently investigating the PFI case.

The NIA is investigating a total of 19 PFI related cases.

Sources have claimed that PFI members had known that the government is going to take action against them due to their suspicious activities and hence they had created a number of dummy organisations to fool the intelligence agencies.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Sep 25 (IANS) Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Sunday inaugurated the two-day long Arogya Manthan 2022 programme to mark the completion of 4 years of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) and one year of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).

Highlighting the PMJAY beneficiaries as the most important stakeholder in the largest global public health insurance scheme, Mandaviya stated that over 19 crore Ayushman Cards have been made in the country spanning its coverage in 33 States/UTs, and more than 24 crore ABHA numbers have also been generated. This reflects an important milestone in the digitization of health records in the country, he said.

Mandaviya further said that the current rate of making 4.5 lakh cards per day will be increased to making 10 lakh Ayushman Cards every day.

"The government's focus is to make health services reach the person at the end of the delivery chain, enabled by technology," he said adding that PM-JAY has been successful in bridging the gap between rich and poor in terms of accessibility of healthcare services in the country.

Union Minister for Railways, Communications, Electronics & IT Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of State for Health Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar, NITI Aayog Member (Health) Dr. Vinod Paul, Uttarakhand State Health Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat and CEO National Health Authority Dr. R.S. Sharma were also present on the occasion.

Addressing the gathering, Ashwini Vaishnaw said that with the interplay of Information Technology and Health, the vision of Prime Minister of making healthcare accessible in the country can be achieved.

He added that every village in the country will be connected through high speed optical fibres in the next few years which will ensure connectivity and continuous health access to all.

MoS Health Bharati Pravin Pawar stated that the country is not only pioneering the adoption of technology in health services but also ensuring that it is implemented at the grass root level. She added that the government is working holistically to ensure the best of healthcare services to its citizens.

Mandaviya also launched several new initiatives including Health Claims Exchange (HCX), National e-Rupi Portal and Roadmap for Digitization.

The digital versions of Annual Report for NHA, Coffee Table Book and Best Practices Booklet were also unveiled. He also inaugurated the "Digital Health Expo" that saw enthusiastic participation from digital health innovators.

The day one of Arogya Manthan saw informative sessions with representatives from international organisations and ministries like Hong Kong Hospital Authority, Commonwealth Centre for Digital Health, World Bank, Centre for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, Global Health Payment LLC, USA, Health Ministry Mexico, Ministry of Health, Thailand and Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee, Australia along with various thought leaders of healthcare and technology in India.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Sep 25 (IANS) Delhi High Court has restrained Axis Bank from substituting PS Toll Road Pvt Ltd (PSTR) as the concessionaire of the Pune-Satara Toll Road Project.

Delhi HC has found Axis Bank in breach of its own undertaking given before the court.

The court in its order has said that Axis Bank is bound by its undertaking given to the court in February 2021 and then in March 2021 that it will not go ahead with the substitution of the concessionaire in the PS Toll Road project, without the court's nod.

According to the court, Axis Bank's undertaking was unconditional, and therefore it cannot rely upon any event under the Concession Agreement or the Substitution Agreement, to appoint a new concessionaire in the project.

PS Toll Road Pvt Ltd (PSTR), the concessionaire of the Pune-Satara Toll Road project, had challenged the appointment of a new concessionaire in the project by the Axis Bank despite a stay on the process by the Delhi High Court in March 2021.

PS Toll Road Pvt Ltd, in its appeal before the high court, contended that Axis Bank was in breach of its own undertaking given before the court in 2021, that it will not finalise the bids or award the contract to a third party, thereby substituting the PS Toll Road Pvt Ltd.

The court has issued notice to Axis Bank and the matter will be heard on September 28.

PS Toll Road Pvt Ltd is a subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure Ltd. and was awarded the contract for six laning of 140 KM of stretch between Pune and Satara in Maharashtra on BOT basis. The project is now complete.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Sep 25 (IANS) The bouncers of a club in south Delhi allegedly thrashed a woman and tore off her clothes, the police said on Sunday. Woman's friends were also beaten up in the brawl.

However, the club owner denied all charges, accusing Delhi Police personnel of mental and physical harassment apart from being falsely implicated in the case for not paying 'extortion' money.

According to the police, the incident took place on the intervening night of September 17-18. "A PCR call was received at KM Pur police station regarding an incident of misbehaviour and tearing off the clothes of a woman at 'Da Code' club in South Extension after which the police reached the spot and met the caller," Deputy Commissioner of Police Chandan Chowdhary said.

According to the DCP, when the police reached the spot, they found that the woman caller's clothes were messed up and disordered, and on inquiry, she told that her clothes were torn by two bouncers and their manager of the club. "She further informed that she was misbehaved and hit by them, and they had also touched her inappropriately," the DCP said.

After taking the victim woman to AIIMS Trauma Centre, the police, accordingly, registered an FIR under sections 323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 354 A (Sexual harassment and punishment for sexual harassment), 354 B (Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), 509 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code and began probing the incident.

The senior official said the complainant was examined in the case, who had informed that she had come to the club along with her friends to party, but they had an argument over entry into the club and were subsequently thrashed by the bouncers.

The officer informed that they are investigating the incident and CCTV cameras of the club and other neighbouring showrooms are being analysed. "The details of the bouncers have been taken from the club and efforts are being made to arrest the real culprits," the DCP said.

Chowdhary further informed that the complainant's statement was also recorded before the Concerned Magistrate at Saket Court Complex. Seven days later on September 24, the club, yet again, found itself in controversy as seven of its people were detained after they allegedly tried to stop Delhi Police personnel who went there after a complaint of quarrel and loud music.

"A PCR call was received at KM Pur police station on 12.02 a.m. on September 24 stating that some quarrel has taken place with bouncers of the club and DJ is being played," DCP Chowdhary said.

The senior officer said when the police reached the spot and tried to enter the 'Da Code' club, the bouncers tried to stop them. "Hence, seven persons were detained and action against them was taken under sections 107 and 151 of the Code of Criminal Procedure," the DCP said.

The police also seized an amplifier that was being used to play the music at the bar. Notably, the DCP of the south district also shared a three-year-old old case of the club in which an FIR was registered against five people, including the bar owner and his son, on the complaint of an Excise Department Inspector. Sharing details of that case, the DCP said three years ago in 2019 when the Excise Staff came to conduct a raid in the club, they were assaulted and confined in the bar for several hours by the owner and his staff.

"The Excise Staff was released from the club, when the local police reached there and intervened in the matter. Hence, the club owner, his son and staff were also charge-sheeted in the case," the DCP added. On the other hand, the owner of the club, Surendra Singh Chowdhary, had a complete different story to tell.

In a letter to the Special Commissioner of Police (Law and order), he accused the local police personnel of demanding Rs 5 lakh extortion money every month and when he refused to pay that, he was subsequently threatened by them. On the September 18 incident, the club owner said that around 1 a.m. in the night, four boys and three girls, who were all drunk, misbehaved with the club's staff and when they were told to behave, the girls threatened to implicate us on false charges.

"They forcibly took Rs 1.5 lakh from the podium and then made a call to the police. When the police came, it was the same cop who had been threatening us with extortion and then he yet again threatened us of severe consequences," the club owner wrote in his letter to the Special CP. The owner claimed that the police personnel came the next day on September 18 as well and detained two of their staff members who were explaining to them the previous night's incident.

"We kept requesting the police personnel to investigate with the help of CCTV cameras as our club is completely covered with it and the whole incident has been recorded on it," the club owner said. He said that the police kept his staff members in custody for over 22 hours and thrashed them with belts, sticks and shoes at regular intervals.

The owner claimed that on September 23-24 intervening night, the police, yet again, reached their bar and seized Rs 2,53,000 worth instruments as he refused to pay the extortion money. Responding to the allegations of the club owner, DCP (south), Chowdhary said that further enquiry into the allegations made by the club owner are also being done.

--IANS
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