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World Bank signs Rs 800 crore project with India to improve inland waterways in West Bengal

The World Bank

The World Bank

The Central government, the West Bengal government and the World Bank, on Tuesday, signed a $105 million (approx Rs 800 crore) project to improve the inland water transport infrastructure in Kolkata, West Bengal. 

The West Bengal Inland Water Transport, Logistics and Spatial Development Project? would facilitate passenger and freight movement across the Hooghly river, undertake spatial planning to improve accessibility in the Kolkata Metropolitan Area, enhance the quality of life of its residents, and contribute to the growth of the states logistics sector.

The Inland waterways are now emerging as a cost effective and an environment friendly option for passenger and freight movement, Additional Secretary of Department of Economic Affairs in the Finance Ministry Dr CS Mohapatra stated. 

This Project will help improve the river transport infrastructure in West Bengal and help in the economic development of the state by connecting the hinterland with markets and job centres in Kolkatas Metropolitan Area, he said. 

World Bank Country Director in India Junaid Ahmad said, This operation will allow the state to invest in Kolkatas economic productivity by making its waterways and ferry services part of an efficient and safe urban mobility strategy. 

Importantly, given Kolkatas strategic location, the project is also ensuring that the metropolitan area emerges as a transport and logistics hub for the sub-region, leveraging the EDFC and connecting to the north-east and the land-locked countries of Nepal and Bhutan, he added. 

In the first phase, the project would enhance the capacity and improve the safety of the Inland Water Transport system; including rehabilitating existing jetties, buying new ferries with enhanced design, and installing electronic gates in 40 locations. 

In the second phase, it would support long-term investments for passenger movements, including in terminals and jetties; improve the design of the inland water transport vessels, ensure night navigation on the most hazardous and trafficked routes and crossing points, and encourage the private sector to invest in Ro-Ro vessels that will allow easier movement of trucks across the Hooghly river.

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COVID-19

Thane Municipal Corporation adds 25 beds as COVID cases rise

Published

2 months ago

on

March 31, 2023

By

Radhika Dhawad | Thane

Thane Municipal Corporation added 25 additional beds separately in the wake of rapidly rising COVID-19 cases.

Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) added 25 additional beds in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital Kalwa apart from arranging a special ward  dedicated to COVID-19 patients. The total number of active patients in the city stood at 252 while five succumbed to the virus.  Meanwhile, TMC Commissioner Abhijit Bangar said a ‘death audit’ of patients who died of COVID would be conducted. The TMC has ensured it has additional stock of oxygen concentrators, testing kits, medicines, to name a few. Bangar told HT, “Due to the increasing number of Covid patients, it is necessary for everyone to be alert.”

He added, The number of Covid tests should be increased to stay one step ahead of the disease. As a result, the number of patients is likely to increase due to increased testing. However, as per the ‘test, isolate, treat’ protocol for Covid, it becomes necessary to isolate and treat more and more patients. The testing centres will not remain closed even for a single day. At the same time, more arrangements for testing will be made immediately in public places, markets, railway stations, malls.” 

India recorded 3,095 new COVID cases and five deaths in last 24 hours.

Also read: Nagpur records 22 COVID cases in 24 hours

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Politics

After Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification, his namesake who contested from Wayanad disqualified

Published

2 months ago

on

March 31, 2023

By

Radhika Dhawad | Wayanad
An independent candidate named Rahul Gandhi has been disqualified from contesting polls for failing to lodge account of election expenses.

Rahul Gandhi

An independent candidate for Lok Sabha elections named Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from contesting polls for failing to lodge account of election expenses. Gandhi, who’s name figures as ‘Rahul Gandhi K E S/o Valsamma’ in an Election Commission list of persons, had contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as an Independent and had received 2196 votes from the Wayanad seat in Kerala – a constituency from where ex-Congress MP Rahul Rajiv Gandhi had won with over seven lakh votes.

However, since it is mandatory for all contestants to submit their account of election expenses among other mandatory requirements under EC rules and the Representation of the People Act.

Rahul Gandhi K E S/o Valsamma stood disqualified to contest polls from September 13, 2021 till September 13, 2024. According to Section 10A, the Election Commission can disqualify a contestant for a period of three years from the date of the order if he/she has failed to lodge an account of election expenses within the time and in the manner required by law and has no good reason or justification for the failure.

Also read: ‘CBI under UPA govt. pressurised me to frame Modi,’ recalls Amit Shah

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Nagpur News

Nagpur records 22 COVID cases in 24 hours

Published

2 months ago

on

March 31, 2023

By

Radhika Dhawad | Nagpur

A total of 22 patients tested positive for COVID-19 in Nagpur in past 24 hours on Thursday. Almost 242 people were tested in the city.

A total of 22 patients tested positive for COVID-19 in Nagpur in past 24 hours on Thursday. Almost 242 people were tested in the city, out of which 15 belonged to urban area while and 6 were from the rural areas, and one from outside Nagpur district. 

At present, there are 72 active patients in the city. Three new cases of the new XBB.1.16 variant of COVID-19 were detected that took the total tally to five in the district.  

India recorded 3,095 new COVID cases and five deaths in last 24 hours.

Also read: CELESTIAL! Unique alignment of Moon and 5 planets

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