
RailTel wins contract worth Rs 274 cr from Motor Vehicles Department, Maharashtra
Railtel Corporation of India has received a letter of intent from Motor Vehicles Department, Maharashtra for design, implementation, operate and maintain Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) on various blackspots/ vulnerable spots in the Vidarbha Circle for a period of 10 years. The estimated size of the contract is Rs 274.40 crore.
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Time of India
29 minutes ago
- Time of India
Questioned by mininster, Gurgaon civic body stands by its use of sweeping machines
Gurgaon: The corporation has found nothing wrong with the operations and maintenance of mechanical road sweeping machines (MRSMs) in the city. These MRSMs have proven to be economical, productive and environmentally suitable options for road sweeping in the city, an MCG probe panel has said. According to the report submitted by the MCG panel — which TOI has accessed — these machines (16 are in use in the city) traverse 480km each day, offering improved accountability, decreasing dependency on manual workers, while adhering to pollution control standards. It was in April that the department of urban local bodies (ULB) extended the contract of the operating firm of the road sweeping machines by one year. The extension coincided with the period when concerns about these machines' effectiveness emerged. Out of 44 machines, used across various state corporations, 16 machines are being operated in the city and five in Manesar. The use of these machines is "more cost-effective" than manual sweeping by sanitation workers, the panel has said. According to the MCG's cost analysis, a single sweeping machine can cover 30km of road each night. The monthly cost for manual sweeping of the same 30km stretch is Rs 15.8 lakh. This figure is based on the need for 90 sanitation workers, with three workers allocated per kilometre as per Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organisation (CPHEEO) norms and three supervisors required for the 90 workers, each earning Rs 16,900 and Rs 20,000 respectively. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo In contrast, the monthly operational and maintenance cost of one sweeping machine, as per the report, is Rs 4.7 lakh, with an additional Rs 1.87 lakh as fuel expenses each month, totalling Rs 6.57 lakh for each machine. The MCG concluded that the use of sweeping machines, costing Rs 6.57 lakh per month, is more economical than the Rs 15.8 lakh required for manual sweeping of the same distance. "The use of MRSMs has proven to be a cost-effective, efficient and environmentally compliant solution for road cleaning in Gurgaon. However, there are certain other technology vehicles, such as self-propelled mechanical road sweepers, that can also be considered in comparison to vehicle-mounted mechanical road sweeping machines. In the present scenario, after minor operational changes, these MRSM systems can be made more effective," the report says. Meanwhile, ward 11 councillor Kuldeep Yadav said the absence of a councillor or mayor in the MCG's committee examining sweeping machines' effectiveness and cost analysis raises questions. "Our inclusion would have contributed valuable insights from field observations. Councillors possess comprehensive knowledge and maintain thorough supervision of actual operations of the sweeping machines," Yadav said. The MCG panel was constituted in May. On May 9, Badshapur MLA and Haryana industries and commerce, forest and environment minister Rao Narbir Singh said he would conduct an investigation into the functioning of sweeping machines and super sucker machines run by MCG and MCM. The MCG panel had been constituted to evaluate how well the mechanical sweeping systems function, their operational effectiveness, difficulties faced and cost considerations, alongside a comparative analysis with conventional manual sweeping . The minister had questioned whether the machines' use justified their cost. The sweeping machines were purchased by ULB in 2019. Subsequently, the operations and maintenance of 44 such machines across various state corporations were outsourced to a private company for five years, although the machines remain the property of ULB. TOI reported on April 22 that the sweeping machines managed by a private contractor for MCG, which should operate throughout the night on city roads, were underperforming. "We have assigned duties to 16 clerks to monitor each of these sweeping machines throughout their working hours. It will ensure their efficient working," MCG commissioner Pradeep Dahiya said.


Time of India
29 minutes ago
- Time of India
Gateway cargo at Vizhinjam port likely only by Dec 2025
Thiruvananthapuram: Gateway cargo operations at Vizhinjam International Seaport are now likely to begin only by Dec 2025 or January 2026, with temporary road access to NH-66 still under construction. According to Divya S Iyer, managing director of Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd (VISL), preparations are underway for a phased rollout of export-import (exim) cargo operations to coincide with the port's first full year of commercial activity. "We're planning to initiate exim cargo traffic around Dec this year," Iyer said. "The rollout will be gradual to match infrastructure readiness. Cargo movement will increase steadily rather than launch at full scale. " Since its commercial launch in July 2024, Vizhinjam port has operated primarily as a transshipment hub. The addition of exim cargo handling will mark a significant expansion, boosting both regional and international trade. The temporary 1.7-kilometre road linking the port to NH-66 is nearing completion and is expected to be ready by the time gateway services commence, easing container truck movement and reducing congestion. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo However, sources indicate the state govt is in no rush to begin gateway operations, despite ports minister VN Vasavan's earlier assurance that services would start by July 2025. "Progress on the temporary road is slowed by the monsoon. A retaining wall still needs to be built at a 150-metre stretch between a bridge and NH-66, and service roads on both sides must be widened," a source said. The port users' building, which will house customs officers, has been completed and a scanner has been installed near the gateway to inspect cargo trucks. One major pending decision involves the proposed cloverleaf interchange at the NH-66 junction. Though NHAI has given in-principle approval, final clearance is awaited due to a delay in the state govt's review. Port secretary A Kowsigan is currently on deputation training and a final decision is expected after a joint meeting between the ports department and PWD. Estimated at Rs 360 crore, the cloverleaf design requires 30 acres of land and could be jointly funded by the state govt and Adani Group, with the Centre potentially covering 50% of the cost. Until then, the temporary road will act as a stopgap, supporting the gradual ramp-up of cargo operations.


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Insurer must cover compensation for accident involving relief vehicle, rules Karnataka high court
Bengaluru: Karnataka high court has ruled that the insurance company must cover compensation for an accident involving a relief or spare vehicle used following the breakdown of a scheduled bus. The court stated that such use doesn't constitute a fundamental breach of permit conditions exempting the insurer from liability. The court's decision came after it allowed appeals filed by two victims and the bus owner in connection with an accident that occurred on Jan 21, 2014. At approximately 11.45am, Ganesh and Basavaraj were travelling on a motorcycle from Mudur to Haveri. Near the sugar factory in Sangur village, a high-speed private bus collided with the motorcycle, causing both riders to fall and sustain grievous injuries. The duo subsequently filed petitions seeking compensation. On Jan 24, 2017, the motor accident claims tribunal in Haveri awarded compensation, placing liability on the bus owner, KM Altaf Hussain, on the grounds that the bus had deviated from its permitted route, violating permit conditions. Ganesh received Rs 3,71,030, and Basavaraj was awarded Rs 1,27,250. The claimants appealed for increased compensation, while Altaf appealed, arguing that the insurance company should settle the compensation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Skype Phone Alternative Undo He contended that although the bus had a permit only from Shivamogga to Hangal, it travelled beyond Hangal to Haveri and was being used as a relief vehicle when the accident occurred. Justice Hanchate Sanjeevkumar, after reviewing the materials on record, noted that the vehicle was employed as a relief vehicle under compelling circumstances, which did not amount to a fundamental breach of conditions. He determined that the tribunal had erred by not exempting the case as per Rule 57 of the Karnataka Motor Vehicles Rules 1989, given the route deviation was under compelling circumstances. Allowing the claimants' appeals, the judge also increased the compensation payable to Ganesh to Rs 7,15,550, considering the severity of his injuries. It awarded Basavaraj Rs 2,24,810. The compensation must be paid by United Insurance Company Limited, the insurer of the vehicle.