Gorakhpur Link Expressway inauguration on June 20, CM Yogi to flag off safety fleet also

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Gorakhpur, June 17 (IANS) The Gorakhpur Link Expressway, one of the flagship highway projects in Uttar Pradesh, is set to be opened for the public on June 20, offering more than just speed and connectivity.

On the day of inauguration, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath will also flag off a specially designated safety fleet comprising five Innovas, five Campers, four ambulances, two cranes and one hydra vehicle for commuter safety.

Plans are also underway to implement an Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS), similar to the one on the Lucknow-Agra Expressway, for continuous surveillance and enforcement.

Developed by the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA), the safety fleet will include five Innovas, five Campers, four ambulances, two cranes and one hydra vehicle.

According to UPEIDA’s nodal security officer Rajesh Pandey, the Innovas will patrol the expressway round-the-clock in 8-hour shifts, with each vehicle manned by four ex-servicemen.

The camper vehicles, open at the rear, will be equipped with traffic cones, ropes, and radium strips. In case of accidents or breakdowns, these vehicles will be deployed immediately to secure the area, preventing inconvenience or danger to other commuters.

Along the 91-km expressway, ambulances will be stationed every 45 km—on both sides of the road—to ensure quick medical response. Cranes will also be positioned every 45 km, along with one hydra vehicle to cover the entire stretch. In case of vehicle failure, small and medium vehicles will be moved using cranes, and large vehicles will be shifted via the nearest chainage point. As per NHAI guidelines, no broken-down vehicle is allowed to remain on the expressway.

ATMS will be implemented to strengthen road safety. The system includes the installation of CCTV cameras every 5 km, monitored from a central control room. It will also involve speed cameras and number plate readers (NPRs) to detect and report violations. Any instance of speeding will be automatically flagged to the respective district’s ARTO for swift action.

–IANS

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Telangana not to allow benefit shows of movies, actors’ theatres visits

Hyderabad, Dec 21 (IANS) In a strong reaction to the stampede during the premiere show of “Pushpa 2” at a theatre in Hyderabad, the Telangana government on Saturday announced that it has decided not to allow visits of the actors to theatres and benefit shows ahead of the release of movies.

Making the announcement in the Assembly, Minister for Cinematography Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, however, said the government will continue to extend special incentives for the promotion of the film industry.

He also declared that the government will not increase the rates of cinema tickets.

The state government has been allowing an increase in the rates for big-budget movies featuring top stars. It also permitted an increase in the rates for “Pushpa 2: The Rule”.

The minister’s announcement came after a statement by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on the December 4 incident at Sandhya Theatre, which claimed the life of a woman and injured her son.

The minister said that actor Allu Arjun did not fulfil his commitment to pay Rs 25 lakh compensation to the family of the deceased.

Venkat Reddy announced that he would pay Rs 25 lakh to the family from the Prateek Foundation. He later visited KIMS Hospital, where eight-year-old Sri Teja is undergoing treatment and handed over a cheque of Rs 25 lakh to his father Bhaskar.

He said the government would continue to bear expenditure for the treatment of Sri Tej, who remained in a critical condition. He assured the family that the government would do everything possible to save the boy’s life.

The Cinematography Minister said the film’s hero or any other member of the film unit did not meet the family or visit the injured child.

He also assured the Assembly that steps will be taken to prevent such incidents in future.

After visiting the hospital, the minister said that the government would look into requests for enhancing cinema ticket prices and take a decision on a case-to-case basis.

Earlier, speaking in the Assembly, the Chief Minister came down heavily on actor Allu Arjun for visiting the theatre despite the denial of police permission and also conducting a ‘roadshow’ while arriving at the theatre. He claimed that Allu Arjun left the theatre only after a Deputy Commissioner of Police threatened to arrest him.

The Chief Minister said the actor also conducted a ‘roadshow’ by waving at people while leaving the theatre after the stampede.

He lashed out at the film personalities who made a beeline to Allu Arjun’s house after his release from jail but none of them met the family of the deceased or called on the injured boy.

–IANS

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CBI books CGST inspector in corruption case

New Delhi, Dec 27 (IANS) The CBI has registered a corruption case against an inspector of Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) who allegedly took bribes to allow the import of containers ordered by a Delhi-based businessman without any checking and amassed illegal assets of over Rs 38 lakh.

Deepak Sharma, Inspector, CGST, posted in Uttar Pradesh, and his wife Manju Devi, both residing in Rohini in Northwest Delhi, have been found to possess Rs 38.87 lakh worth of assets disproportionate to his income.

He also allegedly collected Rs 2.32 lakh from a company as illegal gratification in three instalments as bank transfer through NEFT, the CBI said.

At least five import containers which Sharma allowed entry without any checking were brought to the Inland Container Depot in Dadri, Uttar Pradesh, between January 19, 2022 and July 13, 2022, the CBI said.

The CBI FIR said a written complaint dated December 12, 2024, has been received from Rajesh Kumar Meena, Inspector of Police, CBI, New Delhi, who conducted a preliminary inquiry, pointing towards offence related to criminal misconduct – punishable with imprisonment for at least one year.

A preliminary complaint was filed with CBI against Sharma on January 31, 2024, against Sharma under sections 7, 7A, 9, 10 and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and penal provisions related to conspiracy on the basis of reliable source information revealing alleged offence of criminal conspiracy and bribing a public servant. It was referred to Inspector Meena for verification.

As per the complaint registered by the CBI in January, Sharma, Inspector at Central Excise, Customs, Goods and Service Tax while being posted as Inspector (Import) at Noida Customs Commissionerate, ICD, Dadri, Gautam Budh Nagar, UP, took costly gifts and monetary advantages from Delhi-based businessman Harpreet Singh Talwar alias Kabir Talwar in exchange for not inspecting the import containers of the latter’s firm.

Talwar looks after the daily affairs of the company Talwar International, situated at 6,608, Neem Wala Chowk, Factory Road, Nabi Karim, Delhi, and is a resident of East Patel Nagar. The company’s proprietor/director is Baneet Singh Talwar.

The CBI noted in its FIR that Sharma worked as a primary teacher in Municipal Corporation of Delhi for four years, from 2010 to 2014, before joining the CGST department.

During the check period for his assets, Sharma had disproportionate assets worth Rs 38.87 lakh which was almost 51 per cent more than his known sources of income.

The preliminary CBI complaint said, “Most of the assets have been acquired by accused Deepak Sharma in the name of his wife Manju Devi.”

–IANS

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Prez Murmu, Vice Prez Dhankhar extend greetings on Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Magh Bihu

New Delhi, Jan 13 (IANS) President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar extended their heartfelt wishes to the people of India on Monday, on the auspicious occasions of Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Pongal, and Magh Bihu.

Taking to X, President Murmu shared, “On the auspicious occasion of Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Pongal, and Magh Bihu, I extend my heartfelt greetings to all Indian people living in the country and abroad. These festivals are a symbol of our rich cultural heritage and unity in diversity. These festivals celebrated in different regions of India express respect for nature.”

Highlighting the agricultural significance of these celebrations, she added, “These festivals related to agriculture are also opportunities to express gratitude to our farmers for their tireless hard work. I wish that this holy festival brings happiness and prosperity in the life of every person.”

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar also conveyed his greetings, posting on X, “Warm wishes on the auspicious occasion of Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Magha Bihu, and Pongal. These festivals, each uniquely celebrated across our nation’s diverse landscapes, represent our age-old tradition of honouring the harvest season.”

“May the sacred flames of Lohri and Magha Bihu dispel all adversity, may the soaring kites of Makar Sankranti fill our hearts with jubilation, and may the traditional sweetness of Pongal bring forth moments of celebration and happiness,” he added.

These traditional harvest festivals, celebrated across India, showcase the country’s unity in diversity.

Makar Sankranti, also known as Uttarayana, marks the transition of the sun from the zodiac sign of Sagittarius (Dhanu) to Capricorn (Makara). Observed annually on January 14 (or January 15 in leap years), the festival signifies the sun’s northward movement, dedicated to the solar deity, Surya, and symbolising new beginnings.

The celebrations are marked by colourful decorations, kite flying, and community gatherings. Rural children in some regions go house to house singing songs and collecting treats.

The festivals also mark the change in seasons, signalling the departure of winter and the arrival of spring, filling hearts with hope and joy.

–IANS

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