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Mamata Banerjee condoles demise of former West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee

Banerjee said she has known him for the last several decades and visited him a few times when he was ill and effectively confined to home in the last few years.

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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday condoled the demise of former Chief Minister of State Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and said she was shocked and saddened by the sudden demise of the former CM.

Banerjee said she has known him for the last several decades and visited him a few times when he was ill and effectively confined to home in the last few years.

“My very sincere condolences to Meeradi and Suchetan at this hour of grief. I communicate my condolences to the members of the CPI(M) party and all his followers. We have already taken a decision that we shall give him full respect and ceremonial honour during his last journey and rites”, West Bengal CM said in a post on X.

Veteran Left leader Bhattacharjee died at his south Kolkata residence early this morning. He was 80. He had been suffering from ill-health for several years, chiefly against respiratory problems that often landed him in hospitals. Last year, he was put on life support when a bout of pneumonia hit him, but the fightful CPM leader he was, made a remarkable recovery. He leaves behind his wife Meera and son Suchetan.

A former politburo member of the apex decision-making body of the CPM, Bhattacharjee led the Bengal Chief Ministership between 2000 to 2011 succeeding Jyoti Basu. Under his leadership, CPM fought the 2011 state elections, which the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC convincingly won ending the 34-year Communist regime in the state.

The 77-year-old Bhattacharjee, known for his austere life, died at the simple two-room house on Palm Avenue where, ironically, he had led the administration of the state. His organs would be donated for medical research in accordance with his wish. His body would be taken to the CPI headquarters for people to pay homage. The last rites would be performed on Saturday.

Bhattacharjee is an alumnus of Presidency College, Kolkata, and became a full-time politician after starting his career as a school teacher. An MLA and a state minister, he was being groomed for greater things to come as he was elevated as Deputy Chief Minister soon after Basu’s resignation in 2000. As Chief Minister, he led the CPM to electoral victories in the 2001 and 2006 Assembly polls.

His tenure has taken a comparatively liberal stand toward business, as compared with that of the Jyoti Basu era. Ironically, it was precisely this policy, coupled with the controversial land acquisitions for industrialization, that caused the Left to suffer an ignominious defeat in the 2011 election.

The Trinamool Congress, which managed to win only 30 seats in the 2006 polls, led the fight against the Tata Motors project at Singur. It was finally shifted out of the State to Gujarat in 2008 by Ratan Tata, who cited Banerjee’s agitation as the reason. The development marked a severe embarrassment to Bhattacharjee’s Government. No less damaging was the Nandigram violence, in which 14 people died when police fired on those protesting acquisition of land for a chemical hub.

The benefiting party, Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress, rode to power in 2011 with 184 seats on the wave of anti-incumbency sentiment against the Left Front and the negative perception of the land acquisition policies of the state government. The defeat completed the slide into a decline from which it has yet to recover. A decade later, the BJP is now the principal Opposition, pushing the Left to a minor force in a state it once ruled unchallenged for decades.

Condoling his death, Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose said that it marked the end of an era of politics. Chief Minister Banerjee said in her condolence message: “I am deeply saddened. My condolences to Meera di, Suchetan, and all CPM supporters. We have decided to accord him full respect and ceremonial honours during his last journey and rites.”.

Leader of the Opposition, BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari, took to Twitter to condone his “deep sadness over the death to the family and fans” of Bhattacharjee.

Long-time fellow and CPM general secretary, Sitaram Yechury, described the news of Bhattacharjee’s passing as “shattering”. “His commitment to the party, West Bengal, our shared ideals and his foresight will always be a guiding star,” he said.

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NHAI expands Rs 350 monthly toll pass to 121 toll plazas: How to apply 

NHAI has expanded its digital FASTag Local Pass to 121 toll plazas. Check who is eligible for the Rs 350 monthly pass and how to apply online.

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Toll plaza

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has expanded its digital FASTag Local Pass facility to 121 toll plazas across India, making it easier for eligible local commuters to obtain a monthly toll pass without visiting a toll plaza.

Under the new system, eligible commuters can apply for the Local Pass through the Rajmargyatra mobile app. The facility removes the need for physical visits and manual submission of documents where the required information can be verified digitally.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said the initiative is aimed at making National Highway travel more convenient and citizen-friendly.

Who is eligible for the Rs 350 monthly toll pass?

The Local Pass is intended for residents living within a 20-km radius of an eligible toll plaza.

The monthly pass, starting at Rs 350, allows eligible commuters to make unlimited journeys through the respective toll plaza during the month, subject to applicable rules.

It can be particularly useful for people who regularly cross the same toll plaza for work, daily errands or other routine travel.

However, the digital Local Pass facility is currently available only at 121 toll plazas. Commuters therefore need to check whether their toll plaza is covered before applying.

How to apply for the NHAI Local Pass

Eligible commuters can apply for the Local Pass through the Rajmargyatra mobile app.

The digital system uses consent-based integration with government platforms such as DigiLocker and VAHAN to verify information related to the applicant.

The details checked include the applicant’s residential address, vehicle information and the FASTag linked to the vehicle.

The applicant’s eligibility is then determined through GIS-based verification, which checks whether the registered residential address falls within the prescribed 20-km radius of the relevant toll plaza.

What information is checked?

After obtaining the applicant’s consent, the system retrieves relevant information from digital government records.

The information includes:

  • Residential address
  • Vehicle details
  • FASTag linked to the vehicle
  • Location of the registered address in relation to the toll plaza

According to the Ministry, digital records and GIS-based verification eliminate the need for manual documentation and physical verification where the required information can be verified digitally.

Where is the digital Local Pass available?

NHAI has extended the digital Local Pass facility to 121 toll plazas across the country.

Commuters can check the list of eligible toll plazas through the Rajmargyatra portal before starting the application process.

The facility was initially introduced in July 2026 at the Mundka-Bakkarwala Toll Plaza on Delhi’s Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II). It was subsequently expanded to more than 120 toll plazas.

The government has said the facility will be rolled out at additional toll plazas in the coming months.

Why has NHAI introduced the digital system?

Previously, commuters seeking a Local Pass had to visit the concerned toll plaza and submit documents to establish that they lived within the required 20-km radius.

The new digital process is intended to reduce paperwork and manual intervention while making the eligibility verification process quicker and more transparent.

The government has described the initiative as part of the Digital India vision and its efforts to improve the Ease of Living for citizens.

For eligible local commuters who frequently use a covered toll plaza, the monthly pass starting at Rs 350 provides an online alternative to the earlier physical application process.

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India News

DoT asks telcos to block new SIMs for subscribers with 9 connections

The Department of Telecommunications has directed telecom operators to deny new SIM connections to subscribers who already have nine mobile connections in their name.

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The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has directed telecom service providers to deny new mobile connections to subscribers who already have the maximum permitted number of nine connections in their name.

According to an official circular dated August 17, telecom operators must put appropriate technical and organisational measures in place from August 24 to identify subscribers seeking mobile connections beyond the prescribed limit.

The operators have been asked to inform such subscribers that they have already reached the maximum number of mobile connections permitted to an individual and that another connection cannot be provided.

Digital Intelligence Platform to help identify subscribers

The DoT has directed telecom service providers to use the Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) for the process. The platform has been established by the department using subscriber data records uploaded by telecom operators.

The circular said details of subscribers who have already obtained mobile connections beyond the prescribed limit are available on the DIP.

From August 23, a representative image of the photograph of each subscriber who has already reached the prescribed limit of mobile connections in their name will also be made available on the platform.

The move is aimed at helping telecom operators identify subscribers attempting to obtain additional mobile connections after reaching the prescribed limit and prevent them from crossing that limit.

Telecom operators asked to streamline process by November 30

The DoT has asked telecom service providers to streamline the process with the Digital Intelligence Platform by November 30.

The circular also provides for action against mobile connections activated beyond the permitted limit until the required measures are implemented.

It said that, until such measures are implemented by a telecom service provider on a post-facto basis, any mobile connection activated beyond the prescribed limit for a day would be immediately suspended, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Customer Application Form (CAF).

The connection would remain suspended until the issue related to crossing the permitted limit for mobile connections is resolved.

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India News

Union Cabinet approves Jammu and Kashmir High Court bench for Ladakh

The Union Cabinet has approved setting up a Jammu and Kashmir High Court bench in Ladakh to improve access to justice for people in remote areas.

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The Union Cabinet has decided to set up a bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir in Ladakh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Thursday.

Shah said the decision, taken under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will significantly improve access to justice for citizens living in remote areas of the Union Territory.

According to the Home Minister, the establishment of the bench will reduce the time required for people in Ladakh to access the legal services they are entitled to.

“The Union Cabinet, under the leadership of the PM Shri @narendramodi Ji, has decided to set up a bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir in Ladakh,” Shah said in a message posted on X.

He added that the move will significantly enhance access to justice for citizens living in remote parts of Ladakh by reducing the time needed to avail themselves of legal services.

Shah further said that the government is fully committed to the all-round development of Ladakh and to ensuring constitutional safeguards for the Union Territory.

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