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Montreal Gazette
a day ago
- Montreal Gazette
Judge temporarily halts dismantling of Notre-Dame St. encampment
By A Quebec Superior Court judge has temporarily blocked the dismantling of the homeless encampment Notre-Dame St., ruling that it could pose 'enormous risks' to the people living there. The encampment, which is on land owned by Quebec's Transport Department, was slated to be dismantled on June 11. A legal clinic that works with unhoused people had brought the issue to court. 'In the present circumstances, the inconveniences on the lives and dignity of the people affected by the eviction outweigh all the interests that the MTQ have raised before me,' Judge Babak Barin ruled on Wednesday. Barin granted the Clinique juridique itinérante's request for a 10-day injunction, ordering the Transport Department to stop any attempts at dismantling the camp or clearing out the area. The clinic's larger argument that encampments should be permitted when homeless shelters and resources in the city are at capacity will be debated at a later date. It's believed about 30 people are living in the encampment. The clinic had argued that clearing out the area violates their Charter rights, and that dismantling the camp would leave them even more isolated in dangerous situations. Especially so, it argued, given that all of Montreal's homeless shelters are already operating at capacity, turning away dozens people each night. Representing the Transport Department, the Quebec government had argued the camp presents safety risks for those who live there. It also presented evidence from Mercier—Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough officials that more than 20 calls had been made to the Montreal police department regarding the camp since January. The city's fire department also had to intervene on 27 occasions during that time period, it noted. The grassy area along Notre-Dame St. was the site of another large encampment in 2020 that was ordered dismantled after a fire broke out and nearly spread to a propane tank. Tents have come and gone in the area ever since. Another eviction was carried out there in December, after the legal clinic had managed to have it postponed. The city of Montreal has said it can't tolerate encampments because they pose a safety risk and it would rather persuade people to stay in shelters, where there is oversight and access to services. A city-commissioned report published this year stressed the negative consequences of dismantling encampments and called on the city to establish a clear protocol on the issue.
IOL News
a day ago
- Automotive
- IOL News
Transport Department races to clear 733,000 driving licence backlog after machine failure
The Transport Department aims to clear the 700,000 backlog in driving licence card printing within three to four months after its machine was fixed following its breakdown in February. Image: Independent Newspapers Archives The Transport Department is racing against time to wipe out backlogs totalling more than 700,000 outstanding driving licence cards to be printed after its printing machine broke down in February, when its electronic cards were damaged. Responding to sets of parliamentary questions from parliamentarians from Rise Mzansi, EFF and MK Party, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy said the driver's licence card machine has now been fixed and is currently dealing with the backlog of driving licence cards that must be printed. 'As of 15 May 2025, the backlog count is estimated at 733,000 cards,' said Creecy. The backlog was down from 747,748 outstanding cards recorded on May 2. The machine has suffered major breakdowns totalling 129 days from 2022/23 to date, with only 38 days recorded in the current financial year alone. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The department incurred R11.9 million in repairs and maintenance costs and sent R4.3 million in overtime payments during the same period. Creecy said the card production facility has since extended working hours for the staff members in the card production facility to ensure the reduction of the backlog. 'The services of card production have been restored. Already over 200,000 cards have been printed. We hope to clear the backlog within three to four months,' she said in reply to EFF MP Babalwa Mathulelwa dated May 12. She had previously indicated to EFF MP Lencel Mashidika Komane late in May that the backlog could be resolved in six to seven months. Creecy explained that the current driving licence printing machine, introduced in 1998, operates on outdated technologies that the Original Equipment Manufacturer no longer supports. 'The current equipment is obsolete, and we are in the process of mitigating the risk of equipment failure with an interim solution,' she said without elaborating. Last year, Creecy said in parliamentary replies that a service provider had been appointed to assist the department in rolling out the new driving licences. Three machines were to be procured – two for the primary site and one for a disaster recovery site – at a cost of R334 million each. She had stated that the tender has been finalised and a service provider appointed to deliver a turnkey solution for the personalisation of smart card driving licences after advertising of the tender, both local and international had an equal opportunity to bid. But the announcement of the new service provider never went ahead after the Auditor-General found non-compliance with procurement processes, a move that prompted Creecy to seek a court order to block the awarding of the contract. Asked long-term measures to ensure the critical national service related to the printing of driver's licences was never compromised, Creecy said the department intended to acquire a new machine. 'However, as a result of procurement irregularities noted by the Auditor-General, the minister directed that a declaratory order on the tender be sought to ensure that no further possible irregular expenditure occurs,' she said in a reply to Komane. She gave a similar response when asked by Rise Mzansi MP Songezo Zibi about the progress made to acquire a new driving licence card printing machine. 'The minister has directed that a declaratory order be sought from a competent court on the tender to acquire a new machine, to ensure that no further irregular expenditure occurs.'
NDTV
2 days ago
- NDTV
Exit-Entry Monitoring, Private Vehicles Ban: Meghalaya's Safe Tourism Push
In the wake of the Meghalaya honeymoon murder, the state government has doubled down on its commitment to ensure safe tourism with a multi-pronged action plan aimed at both enhancing visitor experience and eliminating criminal activities linked to the sector. State tourism minister Paul Lyngdoh, while outlining the government's action roadmap, said that all accommodation units across the state - lodges, resorts, homestays or paying guest facilities-must now mandatorily register every traveller through the government's tourism app. "The app already contains all data of every traveller in Meghalaya. Now these travellers will stay at either resort or homestays and all of the properties have been instructed to register them compulsorily. The data is also being shared with the local police station," he said. He further added, "If anyone doesn't register and there is a breach of the law, the onus falls on the owner of that accommodation unit." The minister confirmed that the government's broader strategy will also include entry-exit monitoring, mandatory digital tracking, and a ban on private vehicles ferrying tourists to plug security loopholes. The Transport Department has issued a formal notification prohibiting the rental of private two-wheelers and four-wheelers for tourism purposes. The state cabinet is also set to revisit and strengthen the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) to give it "more teeth." "The decision to revisit the MRSSA and give it more teeth will also help to a large extent for us to be able to control crime," Lyngdoh remarked. In a major expansion of mobility services for regulated tourism, Mr Lyngdoh announced that the state will induct 50 new prime tourism vehicles by July. "We will introduce a new fresh fleet of this prime vehicles. We will follow the due process of inviting interested entrepreneurs to access this scheme," he informed. Addressing concerns over a temporary decline in tourist footfall, the minister stressed that no single event can be blamed in isolation. "In any sector, especially a sector as fragile as tourism, there are always ups and downs, but if there's any decline in footfalls, it would not be only because of this one single incident. You have to consider the traffic situation in the city, you have to consider the flash floods and waterlogging at Jorabat. All of these also hinder movement of tourists," Mr Lyngdoh said. He assured that efforts are underway to resolve these hurdles. "When it comes to the waterlogging at Khanapara and Jorabat, we have just had a discussion at the level of the Chief Ministers of both Assam and Meghalaya." Mr Lyngdoh said the swift breakthrough in the high-profile murder case involving Indore-based businessman Raja Raghuvanshi and his wife Sonam Raghuvanshi is a testament to Meghalaya Police's efficiency. "The state police has already made a name for itself by cracking this criminal case of Sonam in record time of seven days. That spectacular performance of the Meghalaya police itself has put the fear to visitors to not play around while travelling to Meghalaya. You can come here as tourists-we will welcome you, but if you create any issues and indulge yourself in criminal activities, the state police is there to immediately jump upon you." Mr Lyngdoh expressed optimism about the sector's revival, with events like the upcoming Cherry Blossom Festival 2025 presenting an opportunity of a major rebound in tourist arrivals. "After this case was solved by the state police, there is a tendency for the sector to again recover and hopefully with our announcement of future events, we expect that there will be an upsurge of visitors again," he said.
Auto Express
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Dart Charge Dartford crossing tolls leap 40% as government tries to "manage demand"
Drivers will soon have to pay more in order to use the Dartford Crossing as government ministers claim the current rate is insufficient to 'manage demand and protect the crossing'. Currently, the majority of motorists must pay £2.50 if they wish to make use of either the QE2 bridge or the Dartford Tunnel if they are travelling clockwise or anti-clockwise on the M25 respectively. Advertisement - Article continues below However, the charge for cars is set to increase by £1 (40 per cent) in September to £3.50 per crossing; those with a DART account will see charges increase by 80 pence from £2 to £2.80. Motorcyclists making use of the crossing still won't have to pay the charge, but two-axled buses, coaches and HGVs will see prices increase to £4.20 (£3.60 for DART account holders) and those with more than two axles will, from September, have to pay £8.40 (£7.20 if you have a DART account). Local residents can pay £25 per year for unlimited crossings, up from £20 annually. In a statement, Transport Secretary Lillian Greenwood said that she is 'aware that these necessary changes to the charges will be unwelcome news for users of the crossing'. Greenwood continued: 'In the 11 years since [the charge was last increased], demand at the crossing has grown 7.5 per cent, with the crossing now used by an average of over 150,000 vehicles every day and up to 180,000 vehicles on the busiest days 'These traffic levels are well in excess of the crossing's design capacity, causing delays for drivers using the crossing, congestion and journey disruption to drivers on the M25 and a range of knock-on impacts for local communities'. The new charge will come into effect on 1 September, with the government keen to remind drivers that the increase is still below inflationary levels between now and when toll booths were removed in 2014. Come and join our WhatsApp channel for the latest car news and reviews...
India Gazette
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai flags 48 new vehicles for Transport department
Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], June 17 (ANI): Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Tuesday flagged off 48 new government vehicles for the Transport Department, all bearing CG-02 registration numbers, marking a significant upgrade from the earlier reliance on rental vehicles. 'Today is a matter of pride for the Transport Department, as it has been provided with 48 new government vehicles, all with CG-02 registration numbers, in one go. Earlier, the department used rental vehicles and such, which didn't generate much excitement. But now, with these brand-new CG-02 numbered vehicles--48 in total--being handed over to the Transport Department, we extend our heartfelt congratulations,' Sai said. The initiative aims to strengthen road safety campaigns and improve emergency medical transport across the state. 'Certainly, these vehicles will help raise awareness about road safety and help reduce road accidents. They will also be effectively used to transport people to hospitals on time and save lives. So, many congratulations once again,' he added. Responding to a reporter's question about the notification for the 2026 census, Sai credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for fulfilling a long-pending commitment, contrasting it with the Congress party's inaction during its tenure. 'This is a very good decision, Honourable Prime Minister. The Congress party always talked about a caste-based census, but despite being in power for a long time, it could never carry it out. That task has now been completed by our Honourable Prime Minister -- thank you,' he said. On Saturday, CM Sai launched a scathing attack on the opposition Congress, accusing it of large-scale corruption during its tenure, in connection with the alleged Rs 2,000 crore liquor scam. Speaking to the media, CM Sai asserted that central and state agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate (ED), are conducting a comprehensive investigation into the case, and assured that strict action will be taken against those found guilty. 'For the entire 5 years, they have done corruption. Now, central and state agencies are investigating it, and action will definitely be taken against the culprits. If they feel that injustice is being done to them, then they can definitely go to court. And what can they do? They can do this only because they are in the opposition,' he said. This comes after the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Raipur Zonal Office provisionally attached three immovable properties worth Rs 6.15 crore under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with the Chhattisgarh Liquor Scam case. (ANI)
