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83000-km worth highway projects, including Bharatmala, get Cabinet nod

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83000-km worth highway projects, including Bharatmala, get Cabinet nod

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Union Cabinet approved highway projects worth around Rs 7 trillion on Tuesday, Bharatmala project finally approved

In a move that paves the way for a major boost to India’s surface transport infrastructure, the Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday, approved a slew of highway projects, including the ambitious over 20000-km-long Bharatmala.

The projects are collectively are pegged at an estimated cost of a staggering Rs7 trillion. These highway projects are to be executed within the next five years.

Aimed at pushing economic activity and generating at least 32 crore man days across the country in the next five years, this biggest ever highway development plan to be approved by the Modi Cabinet hopes to develop and expand approximately 83,000 km of roads at an investment of Rs 6.9 lakh crore (Rs 7 trillion) by 2022. The Bharatmala highway project alone is estimated to cover a vast network of 28,400 km – connecting border areas of the country.

The focus of the plan is to improve speed of traffic flow on key corridors by providing uniform four-lane roads between two identified points. Most of these corridors will be shorter and access-controlled for faster movement of cargo vehicles.

“The new highway development programme is both building roads and improving mobility to reduce logistic cost. Better road network and rolling out of smart-tag based tolling will transform the road transport sector”, a report in the Times of India said quoting an official privy to the Cabinet’s decision.

The development comes barely few months after Union minister for surface transport Nitin Gadkari declared that the central government will soon launch the first phase of the Bharatmala project. The Cabinet’s approval can also be seen as a personal victory for Gadkari, whose performance as the Union transport minister has been applauded within the BJP circles – and also by the Prime Minister – primarily because he has managed to carry out his mandate of developing India’s roads and highway infrastructure without attracting any controversies or being embroiled in scams. It was largely due to this performance record that Gadkari was tipped for a promotion as the Union railway minister in September this year – an offer he reportedly declined because he didn’t want any additional responsibilities.

Given that the Cabinet’s approval for the mega-infrastructure plan comes close on the heels of the high-stakes Assembly polls in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh – both states where the Congress and BJP are in a direct contest – it is expected that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party will use the decision as an example of their commitment to development.

The Bharatmala project – a pet plan of the BJP government – is the second largest highways project after National Highways Development Project (NHDP) that saw development of about 50,000km. Detailed project reports of the Bharatmala project have been in the process of finalisation for over two years now.

News agency PTI quoted an official privy to the decision to outline that the Cabinet’s decision also includes economic corridor developments aimed at faster movement of cargo. The government had earlier planned to develop economic corridors with a length of about 21,000km besides 14,000km of feeder routes.

The corridors included Mumbai-Cochin-Kanyakumari, Bengaluru-Mangaluru, Hyderabad-Panaji and Sambalpur-Ranchi, to name a few. A study under the proposed Bharatmala project by global consultancy firm AT Kearney had identified 44 economic corridors. The Prime Minister’s Office, earlier this year, had asked for Public Investment Board’s (PIB) clearance to the first phase of the project.

With the Indian economy still reeling under slow growth and investor sentiment being severely dented in the aftermath of demonetisation and the rollout of the Goods and Services Tax regime, it is expected that 70 per cent of the sanctioned highway projects will be implemented through government funding. According to a report in the Times of India: “about one-third of the investment will come from fuel cess, over one-fourth from market borrowing and the rest from budgetary support, private investment and auctioning of completed highways.”

National Highways Authority of India(NHAI) has already prepared detailed project reports (DPRs) for about 10,000 km of the identified network, which will help faster roll out of projects.

What, however, remains unclear at the moment is how the Modi government plans to ensure that land acquisition for this mammoth and ambitious mega-project will be executed without attracted protests and controversies.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

India News

Abhishek Banerjee says will not bow to BJP after nearly 11 hours of ED questioning

After spending nearly 11 hours before the Enforcement Directorate, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee said he would not bow to the BJP and accused the ruling party of using investigative agencies for political purposes.

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Abhishek Banerjee

Trinamool Congress leader and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday said he would not bow to the BJP after spending nearly 11 hours being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an ongoing investigation.

Speaking after the questioning, Banerjee alleged that central agencies were being used to target opposition leaders and asserted that he would continue his political fight despite what he described as sustained pressure.

The TMC leader has repeatedly maintained that investigations involving him are politically motivated, a charge he has made on several previous occasions while appearing before central agencies.

His appearance before the ED comes amid a period of heightened political activity and multiple investigations involving leaders in West Bengal. Recent days have also seen Banerjee face summons and questioning in separate matters by state investigative agencies.

After leaving the ED office, Banerjee reiterated that he would not be intimidated and said he remained committed to his political responsibilities. He also accused the BJP of attempting to weaken opposition parties through investigative action, an allegation that the BJP has rejected in the past.

The Enforcement Directorate has not publicly commented on Banerjee’s remarks. The investigation related to the questioning remains ongoing.

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India News

DMK attacks Rahul Gandhi, accuses him of weakening opposition unity

DMK has intensified its criticism of Rahul Gandhi, alleging that the Congress leader’s actions have weakened opposition unity and strained relations within the INDIA bloc.

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Rahul-Gandhi

The war of words between the DMK and Congress has intensified, with the DMK launching a strong attack on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and accusing him of contributing to divisions within the opposition alliance. The criticism comes amid strained ties between the two parties following their political split in Tamil Nadu.

According to the DMK, Rahul Gandhi’s political approach has weakened unity among opposition parties. The party’s IT wing mocked the Congress leader on social media, while an editorial published in the DMK’s official mouthpiece Murasoli questioned his recent remarks on opposition solidarity.

DMK questions Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on opposition unity

In its editorial, Murasoli argued that Rahul Gandhi was speaking about opposition unity despite, according to the DMK, contributing to disagreements among alliance partners in several states. The publication cited criticism directed at Congress by various opposition parties and suggested that the party’s actions had often created tensions within the INDIA bloc.

The editorial also referred to past political disputes involving Congress and Left parties, particularly in Kerala, claiming such episodes had raised concerns among opposition allies about Congress’s approach toward its partners.

Tamil Nadu political fallout adds to tensions

The attack comes after a major political realignment in Tamil Nadu. Following the 2026 Assembly elections, Congress ended its alliance with the DMK and joined the government led by Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The move left the DMK in the opposition and significantly altered the political equation between the two former allies.

The DMK has alleged that Congress benefited from the alliance during the election and later abandoned its partner. The party’s editorial questioned whether assurances from Congress leadership would be trusted by alliance partners after the developments in Tamil Nadu.

Congress rejects allegations

Congress has not issued a detailed official response to the editorial, but party sources have rejected the allegations. According to the party, its decisions in Tamil Nadu were made in line with the mandate delivered by voters and were not intended to undermine either the DMK or the broader opposition alliance.

The latest exchange highlights growing strains between two key opposition parties even as leaders continue to stress cooperation on national issues. Just days earlier, Rahul Gandhi had said that the DMK remained aligned with the opposition on defending the “idea of India” despite political differences.

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Entertainment

Kumkum Bhagya actor Sanchita Ugale dies by suicide near Mumbai at 22

Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for Kumkum Bhagya and Wagle Ki Duniya, died by suicide at her residence near Mumbai. Police have launched an investigation.

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Sanchita Ugale

Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for her appearances in Kumkum Bhagya, Wagle Ki Duniya and Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi, died by suicide at her residence in Nalasopara East near Mumbai on June 14. She was 22.

According to police officials, the incident took place at her home in Achole village, Nalasopara East. Authorities said Ugale had locked herself inside her bedroom and was later found hanging from a ceiling fan. Family members and local residents rushed her to a hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death. Officials said inquiries are underway and the exact reason behind the incident has not yet been established.

Career across television, OTT and films

Ugale had built a growing presence in the entertainment industry through television, streaming projects and films. Apart from Kumkum Bhagya and Wagle Ki Duniya, she played a lead role in Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi. She also appeared in OTT projects such as Crime Aaj Kal and Silence 2.

The actor was also associated with the film Chhaava, which contributed to her growing recognition among audiences.

Last social media post draws attention

Following news of her death, social media users shared and commented on Ugale’s final Instagram post, which had been uploaded hours before the incident. The post showed the actor in traditional attire lip-syncing to a classic Bollywood song. Fans expressed shock and grief after learning of her death.

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