India's bullet train project gains pace, first test coach ready: Vaishnaw
India's first Bullet Train project is closer to operations, with the Surat-Bilimora section targeted for commissioning in 2027. Here's what the Railway Minister has said on the launch timeline
India's bullet train testing is scheduled for May or June next year. The train will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister after testing. This project aligns with the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision for self-reliance. Work on the Surat-Vapi section will finish by December this year. Indian Railways is modernizing systems and infrastructure for future generations.
PM Modi gets rousing welcome in Vadodara, to unveil projects worth over Rs 35,000 crore
Digital Desk | Vadodara, Sep 8 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi received an enthusiastic welcome from the young crowd at the NaMo for Viksit Bharat programme in Vadodara on Tuesday, as thousands of people gathered for an event marking the launch and dedication of major infrastructure projects in Gujarat. PM Modi arrived in Vadodara as part of his visit to Gujarat and Maharashtra, with the Vadodara programme centred on development projects worth more than Rs 35,000 crore. The Prime Minister is scheduled to lay foundation stones, inaugurate and dedicate several rail, road, urban development and renewable energy projects to the nation. A key highlight of the programme is the dedication of three sections of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC), covering 326 route kilometres and developed at a cost of more than Rs 20,700 crore. The sections are Sanand (North)-Makarpura, New Umbergaon-New Saphale, and New Saphale-Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA). The commissioning of these sections marks the completion of the WDFC across its entire length. The corridor will provide direct freight connectivity to JNPA, facilitating the movement of export-import cargo between industrial centres and the port while helping reduce transit time and logistics costs and easing congestion on Mumbais railway network. PM Modi will also flag off freight train services from New Sanand (North), New Makarpura, New Umbergaon, and New JNPT, Mumbai. A new passenger train service between Vadodara and Tanda Road will also be flagged off, benefiting people in Vadodara, Chhota Udepur, and Alirajpur districts. The Prime Minister will dedicate the Jobat-Tanda Road new railway line, developed as part of the Chhota Udepur-Dhar project, connecting remote and tribal areas of Alirajpur with the national rail network. Three railway projects spanning 329 km and costing more than Rs 9,700 crore will also have their foundation stones laid. These include the third and fourth lines between Vadodara and Ratlam, gauge conversion of the Miyagam Karjan-Choranda-Malsar section, and doubling of the Vishwamitri-Dabhoi section. On the road network, foundation stones will be laid for three National Highway projects costing around Rs 1,780 crore. The projects include six-laning of the Kamrej-Chalthan section of NH-48, additional structures including major bridges over the Tapi and Narmada on the Vadodara-Surat section of NH-48, and grade-separated structures at Abhava, Mindhola, and Khajod junctions on NH-53. Six-lane flyovers at Kandari Chokdi and Luvara Patia will also be inaugurated. Projects of the state government worth around Rs 2,600 crore are also part of the programme, including Phase II of the Vadodara Urban Development Authority Ring Road, a 110 MW floating solar project at Kadana Dam, and a new Vadodara Municipal Corporation office. Housing projects under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and a water-supply project covering 11 villages in eastern Vadodara are among the projects to be inaugurated. Ahead of the Prime Ministers visit, public participation for the Vadodara programme was opened through free registration on BookMyShow, with the Vadodara Municipal Corporation managing registrations through the private digital platform. Organisers said all available seats were booked within an hour, while more than 42,000 additional applicants were placed on a waiting list. The event is also using a digital entry system, with registered participants receiving M-Tickets carrying secure live QR codes for verification. Registration, verification, entry, and seating are being managed digitally to facilitate crowd movement at the venue. After Vadodara, PM Modi is scheduled to travel to Mumbai, where he will inaugurate the Global Fintech Fest 2026 in the evening.
Forget Mumbai, Bengaluru. Surat is becoming India's new spending hub
Forget Mumbai Bengaluru Surat is becoming Indias new spending hub
PM Modi to inaugurate several development projects in Gujarat, Maharashtra today
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 8 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Gujarat and Maharashtra on Tuesday and launch various development projects in both the states. At around noon, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stones, inaugurate and dedicate to the nation various development projects worth more than Rs 35,000 crore in Vadodara. He will also address the gathering on the occasion. At around 5:45 p.m., the Prime Minister will inaugurate Global Fintech Fest (GFF) 2026 in Mumbai and address the gathering as well. In Vadodara, the Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation three important sections of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC), covering 326 route kilometres and developed at a cost of more than Rs 20,700 crore. These include the New Sanand (N)- New Makarpura, New Umbergaon-New Saphale and New Saphale- New JNPT sections. The officials said that the direct connectivity of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) will facilitate faster movement of EXIM cargo, strengthen connectivity between industrial centres and ports, reduce logistics costs and help decongest Mumbai's railway network. With the commissioning of these sections, the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) network will stand fully operational across its entire length. The dedicated freight infrastructure will further strengthen the country's logistics ecosystem by improving multimodal connectivity, reducing transit time and facilitating seamless movement of cargo across different regions, the officials said. The Prime Minister will also flag off freight train services from New Sanand (North), New Makarpura, New Umbergaon and New JNPT, Mumbai. In addition, he will flag off a new passenger train service between Tanda Road and Vadodara (Pratapnagar). PM Modi will dedicate to the nation the JobatTanda Road new rail line, developed as part of the Chhota UdepurDhar project. The new rail line will connect remote and tribal areas of Alirajpur with the national rail network. He will also lay the foundation stone for three railway projects spanning 329 kilometres and costing more than Rs 9,700 crore. These include the Vadodara-Ratlam third and fourth lines, Miyagam Karjan-ChorandaMalsar gauge conversion and the Vishwamitri-Dabhoi doubling project. The projects will enhance passenger and freight capacity, ease congestion and strengthen connectivity between Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, officials said. The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for three National Highway projects costing around Rs 1,780 crore. These include six-laning of the Kamrej-Chalthan section of NH-48; construction of additional structures, including major bridges over the Tapi and Narmada, on the Vadodara-Surat section of NH-48; and grade-separated structures at Abhava, Mindhola and Khajod junctions on NH-53. He will also lay the foundation stone for and inaugurate various Government of Gujarat projects worth around Rs 2,600 crore. Major projects for which the foundation stone will be laid include Vadodara Urban Development Authority Ring Road Phase II and a 110 MW floating solar project at Kadana Dam, construction of the new office of Vadodara Municipal Corporation, among others. Projects to be inaugurated include housing projects under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and a water-supply project for 11 villages in eastern Vadodara, among others. In Mumbai, the Prime Minister will inaugurate Global Fintech Fest (GFF) 2026, one of the world's largest and most influential annual fintech conferences. The seventh edition of the Global Fintech Fest is being held from Tuesday (September 8) to Friday (September 11). Since 2020, GFF has emerged as an international thought leadership platform bringing together policymakers, regulators, central banks, financial institutions, fintechs, technology companies, investors, academia and other global stakeholders to deliberate on shaping the future of finance. The theme of GFF 2026 is 'Potential to Impact: Agentic AI, Tokenisation, Quantum - Trusted, Connected, Global Systems for Inclusive Finance'. Officials said that the GFF 2026 has been designed as a convergence point for policy, regulation, technology, capital and industry on a common platform. It seeks to build on India's leadership in digital payments and financial inclusion and move from potential to impact. The discussions will focus on how Agentic AI, programmable finance, quantum technologies and other critical and emerging technologies can create trusted, inclusive and measurable outcomes for citizens, enterprises and economies globally, officials said.
Guarding the Green: Why Forestry Needs Technocrats, Not Generalists
The recently notified recruitment rules issued by the Forest Department vide NO: PCCF/NG/Est/150768/3486-96 Dt: 3-9-2026 for the post of Foresters reveal an institutional blind spot. By opening the cadre to unspecific academic streams spanning to Agriculture, Botany, Chemistry, Computer Applications, Engineering, Geology, Horticulture, Mathematics, Physics, Veterinary Sciences, and Zoologywhile simultaneously compressing Direct Recruitment to a meagre 40% against a 60% promotional quota, the government has diluted the operational standards of its forest administration. Further, while failing to mandate or accord primary preference to professional graduates in Forestry (B.Sc./M.Sc. Forestry), the government has reduced scientific conservation to mere patrol work which in an era dominated by rapid climate breakdown, complex forest tenure laws, carbon accounting, and severe wildlife-human conflict, will represent an institutional and scientific regression resulting in an ecological gamble .. which UT of J & K cannot afford. The framework of including some of the above-mentioned 3-year non-professional degree holders . being unable to even identify an endangered species or calculate the sustained yield viz a viz prioritising physical stamina (25/16 km in 4 hours for male and female aspirants) discredits a specific intellectual competence and cannot substitute technical knowledge required for such recruitments. Historically, when the Imperial Forest Department was established in 1864 under Sir Dietrich Brandis, the British Crown recognised that extraction required scientific regulation to prevent the premature exhaustion of valuable timber reserves. However, the administrative culture designed for the subordinate cadres (particularly Foresters and Forest Guards) was deliberately modelled on paramilitary policing. Their primary objective was exclusion: keeping local communities out of Reserved Forests, policing timber theft, and collecting transit revenue. The recruitment always favoured physical endurance, obedience and basic literacy over technical domain knowledge. Viewed as an auxiliary policing outfit tasked with perimeter security and timber extraction, the State Forest Departments across the country have undergone a total paradigm shift. Today, it stands as a frontline defence against ecological collapse, anthropogenic climate change and catastrophic biodiversity loss. The Forester occupies the vital operational tier within the departmental hierarchythe linchpin between the ground-level Forest Guard (Beat Guard) and the gazetted Range Forest Officer (RFO). Entrusting this technical post to candidates without any educational grounding in sciences like dendrology, silviculture, forest mensuration/management and environmental jurisprudence compromises the integrity of forests as an ecological asset. Following independence, the National Forest Policy of 1952 emphasised industrial production, with subordinate staff being trained in basic paramilitary drill, boundary upkeep, and basic timber calculations. However, the enactment of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972, the Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980 and the landmark National Forest Policy of 1988 completely inverted this operational mandate, with the latter formally subordinating revenue generation to environmental stability, ecological balance, and biodiversity preservation. Furthermore, the enactment of the Biological Diversity Act (2002) and the Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act (2006) placed complex statutory and participatory responsibilities upon field officers. Despite such seismic transformation in the department's core purpose, the recruitment framework for subordinate field staff has remained frozen in a colonial time warp, prioritising generic qualifications while ignoring the emergence of dedicated, university-trained forestry professionals. The prevailing administrative misconception that subordinate foresters learn everything through a brief post-selection departmental training course collapses when one evaluates the actual technical, scientific, and legal responsibilities demanded from a Forester on a daily basis. The core contention lies in the fact that forestry is a rigorous, multidisciplinary scientific profession and just as medical directorates cannot recruit general graduates to practice medicine, and public works departments do not hire a non-engineer to design bridges, the forest department cannot surrender scientific conservation to administrative generalists. Further, forestry is not an offshoot of general biology but a specialised technocracy and as such, equating a candidate who has spent four years for studying silviculture, forest mensuration, forest biometrics, dendrology, forest policy and wildlife with a candidate who has obtained other degrees (some 3 year programs) betrays a basic misunderstanding of what foresters do in the field. Here we have to understand that at a time when forest ecosystems face unprecedented ecological strainranging from catastrophic wildfire cycles and invasive monocultures to carbon sink verification under international climate compactsthe custodian of the forest beat/range can no longer be an ad-hoc generalis but a forestry technocrat trained in ecological restoration, assisted regeneration, canopy density optimization, measuring terrestrial biomass for carbon credits, diagnostic pathology of forest die-back, and host-pest vectors viz a viz enforcing the Forest Rights Act (FRA 2006), Wildlife Protection Act, Indian Forest Act, CAMPA compliance, fuel load index calculations, back-firing tactics and stress modelling. The critical review of deconstructed new set of rules exhibit two fundamental structural defects and flawed premises: first, that the forest management is presumed as an unskilled custodial chore which will bring an alarming administrative regression and second, that equalizing an exclusive specialized academic threshold of four years dedicated professional degree of B.Sc. Forestry, equivalent to some basic/generic university degrees in mathematics, computer applications, physics and other classroom sciences or desk disciplines, demonstrates that the people who have framed these regulations unfortunately lack a profound technical understanding of modern contemporary science followed in the management of forests. The competencies now required insist that forestry alone should remain a basic qualification to justify it as a genuine profession. But unfortunately, the regulations notified depict a general imagination, often influenced by colonial-era administrative tropes that treat the forester as an armed scout . whose duties begin and end with chasing poachers and illicit timber smugglers. Further, the new regulations notified also seem to betray Public Investment in formal Forestry Education being instituted in almost 29 SAUs and 86 affiliated colleges/ specialized research institutes following a landmark recommendations of the National Commission on Agriculture (NCA, 1976). The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) have recognised the four-year B.Sc. Forestry program as a specialised degree, with the public exchequer at the national level spending millions every year to subsidise these professional courses. Despite this, when vacancies arise in State Forest Services, the forestry graduates who spent four years in training are shoved into open competition, while other disciplines which are entirely disconnected from forest habitats have preserved strict recruitment boundaries. For instance, only B.V.Sc. graduates can enter State Veterinary cadres. Likewise, for engineering posts, only B.E./B.Tech. degree holders are eligible, and for Agriculture/ Horticulture/Extension cadres, only B.Sc. Agriculture / Horticulture graduates are preferred. Contrary to this, forestry remains the lone outlierroutinely degraded into an open-for-all category by the bureaucracy in Forest administration. The regulations issued also denounce National Policy Commitments, Working Group Studies of the various Commissions and Expert Committees established by the Union Government over the past four decades, which recommended that: Academic qualifications in forestry should be considered essential or given appropriate weightage for entry into forest services (The National Forest Policy,1988, Clause 4.12). Similarly, the National Forest Commission (2006), chaired by Justice B.N. Kirpal, explicitly noted that professional forestry education was being squandered because recruitment rules failed to mandate specialised qualifications. The commission formally recommended that State Forest Departments must prioritise candidates with professional degrees in forestry (B.Sc. / M.Sc. Forestry) for the posts of Forest Range Officers and Foresters. Further, under the Paris Agreement and our Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), India has pledged to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3.0 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through expanded forest and tree cover by 2030. The Foresters or the Range Officers cannot track these targets through casual guesswork but require a precise, ground-truthed carbon inventory calculations. Thus, expecting an untrained recruit or an administrative promotee to navigate national carbon registries without foundational training will guarantee a systemic data error. Further, while legitimate career progression for frontline Forest Guards and field watchers is essential for departmental morale, tilting the recruitment balance to a ratio of 40%: 60% for direct recruitment and promotion severely curbs the infusion of modern technical skills. The lower-cadre promotions often occur late in service tenures. Thus, without a stringent technical screening mechanism or prior academic immersion in contemporary forestry disciplines, the promoted personnel are routinely left ill-equipped to execute modern geo-spatial mapping, carbon inventory assessments, or complex legal evaluations under the Forest (Conservation) Act and the Wildlife (Protection) Act. A 60% promotional intake will, as such, mess the department up with unprofessional personnel trained solely under legacy administrative routines while sidelining contemporary scientific practices. National and International scenario As far as comparative precedents go across the country, the argument for technocratic specialisation is neither unprecedented or untested nor speculative. Several forward-thinking States within the country have formally amended their subordinate and gazetted recruitment rules to prioritise or exclusively mandate professional forestry qualifications. For instance, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have incorporated distinct eligibility weightages and direct recruitment paths prioritising Forestry degree holders in frontline Range and Forester selections. The State of Kerala has long stood at the forefront of administrative professionalisation in forestry. State service commissions in Kerala have repeatedly amended cadre rules for Forest Range Officers and Foresters to reserve substantial quotas or direct preference points for professional forestry graduates, recognising that specialised training significantly cuts induction costs while enhancing other outcomes. Similarly, in Karnataka, the Public Service Commission (KPSC) has framed rules for the recruitment of Forest Range Officers and subordinate ranks that reserve up to 50% or more of direct recruitment slots exclusively for B.Sc. (Forestry) graduates. This framework has repeatedly withstood administrative and judicial scrutiny, establishing a precedent that specialised qualifications directly correlate with departmental efficiency. Ironically, the courts have routinely intervened or scrutinised arbitrary recruitment criteria under Articles 14 and 16, while urging Forest Departments to align hiring standards with the actual technical nature of modern public administration in the States which have resisted inclusion of changes in recruitment rules. These Judicial Interventions have repeatedly affirmed that States retain full constitutional power to prescribe specialised technical qualifications tailored to forest management. In States where such preferences were codified, the frontline field operations saw measurable modernisation: faster updating of working plans, progressed GIS integration, and improved seedling survival rates under science-based plantation regimes. Similarly, the precedents around the world also advocate Professional Technocracy and have developed jurisdictions to abandon the practice of entrusting public woodlands to non-specialists. Globally, the identity of a forester has shifted from an armed ranger to an environmental technocrat. In Germanythe cradle of modern scientific forestry (Forstwissenschaft)subordinate and senior foresters undergo rigorous technical education at specialised forestry universities. The Scandinavian model similarly treats forest management as an exact bio-economic science linked directly to recruitment in national carbon budgets and ecological resilience. Under the Canadian model, the provincial statutessuch as Ontarios Professional Foresters Act and British Columbias Forestry Professions Actenvisage that the practice of forestry should be legally restricted to accredited Registered Professional Foresters (RPFs). The provisions under this Act explicitly state that it is a criminal offence for an individual to prepare a forest management prescription, audit a cutting block, or direct reforestation without an accredited four-year forestry degree. Likewise, in the United States, SAF Accreditation, the US Forest Service (USFS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) enforce strict educational requirements w.r.t. a graduate degree encompassing a core curriculum in silviculture, forest inventory, and forest biometrics, typically certified by the Society of American Foresters (SAF). Further, under such provisions, a general biologist and agriculturalist/ non licensed forestry technocrat is not permitted to manage the State Forests. The potential of forests for employment generation has stemmed from diverse situations, viz rebuilding natural assets, wood production/ processing, pulp and paper industry, climate change mitigation and management of natural and plantation forests. The total employment in the formal forestry sector at the global level is estimated at about 18.2 million (full-time formal employment), which is expected to increase to at least 25million by the year 2035. A significant share of the jobs in forestry on an annual basis, however, comes from the informal sector (33 million), the commercial forest sector (45 million) and around > 2000million man-days through the direct and secondary labour force in related industries. Further, while formal employment in commercial production of NTFPs is estimated at 100 million, the potential of the informal sector of NTFPs (extraction of around 5000 products) cannot be estimated reliably. Further, considering that the worlds protected forest areas extend over about 1.9 billion hectares (out of the total forest area of 4 billion ha), even a modest effort of silvicultural treatment to these areas can provide employment to thousands of people. The forests of India directly employ around 2.4 million persons in the formal forestry sector, 38 million in the informal sector and around 5.5-6 million as seasonal workers in various sectors. The total geographic area of Jammu and Kashmir is 42, 241 km2 of which 20,194 km2 is under demarcated/recorded forest area. The land under trees and crops (TOF) is around 67,000 ha. Unfortunately, in the extent of their livelihood potential, the ecosystem services provided by our forests have reduced from Rs 987 billion in 1850 to 118 billion in 2022-23 due to indiscriminate illicit felling and faulty management. The forests of Jammu and Kashmir thus constitute the biggest unmanaged industry and, being so, they are currently not viewed as the mainstay of the UT's economy, with a contribution of just 0.7% to GDP. As far as the manning of this natural resource is concerned, our forest department presents a reverse wedge, with more officers than the foresters who actually work at the ground level. It is a shocking fact that our forests are sustained by a sanctioned strength of 3 PCCFs (and equivalents), 7 Additional PCCFs, 16 Chief Conservators, 26 Conservators, 57 Special Grade Deputy Conservators and 81 Assistant Conservators. There are only 212 Range officers, 1154 Foresters ( around 250 vacant) and just under 3900 Deputy Foresters(around 1381 vacant), which manage 20230 sq km of Forest area. Every Range officer and Forester (generally non-technical) in our forest department, therefore, on an average, manages 19833 and 4934 ha of forest land, respectively, as against a national average of 8000 and 2000 ha and a global average of 1000 and 100 ha, respectively. The Department is thus understaffed at ground level and faces many issues in both cadrization and creation of new positions at the subordinate level. The vacancies available are also being filled sarcastically through faulty recruitment rules which do not suit modern forestry requirements. With this negligent approach, we have lost a major chunk of our forests, and the degradation is still unabated. Hence, the need of the hour is not only to create more positions to match the global standards but also to provide a technically trained field leadership if the scientific management of Forests is to be viewed seriously. The corrective blueprint for this flawed recruitment policy needs to be addressed by replacing it with a scientifically sound framework to meet regional/national goals. The government must, as such, not only withdraw/reframe these ill-advised rules but also listen to the recommendations of various commissions and take advice from SKUAST-Kashmir/Jammu to place the stewardship of our forests back in the hands of trained forestry professionals. In this regard, anything less than following decisive modifications will be a disservice to our ecological future. Proposed architecture for recruitment rules: 1: Reserve Direct Recruitment Exclusively for Forestry Graduates Amend the qualification schedule to make 4 years B.Sc. (Honours) Forestry from an ICAR/ICFRE- accredited university the exclusive minimum benchmark for direct recruitment to the position of Forester, and 4 years B Sc + 2 year M Sc Forestry from ICAR/ICFRE recognized universities for Range officers/ACFs. If allied disciplines need to be included, they should be strictly limited at the Master's level to candidates with formal postgraduate specialisations in Forest Ecology or Wildlife Management (with first preference statutorily reserved for pure forestry degree holders). 2. Invert the Cadre Quota (75% Direct: 25% Promotion) Reverse the recruitment distribution to assign 75% of vacancies to Direct Recruitment and 25% to Internal Promotion for Foresters/Range officers and ACFs. This shift will guarantee an influx of technically trained young professionals ready for decades of active field operations. At the same time, the 25% promotional route will maintain a healthy advancement pathways for Forest Guards with 1-Year bridging course at State Forest Academy/ University as a per-requisite for promotion as Foresters and 2 year diploma course ( for aspirants who do not possess essential professional degree) from State Forest Academy/ University for movement from Foresters to Range officers and Range officer to ACFs . 3. Establish a Mandatory Bridge Training Program for Promotees Every Forest Guard promoted to the rank of Forester must be required to pass a comprehensive, one-year training curriculum at an accredited State Forestry Training Institute or Agriculture university. Promotion should depend on completing coursework in elementary silviculture, field GPS navigation, forest law, and emergency wildfire responsenot simply on years of service. Conclusion The forests of J&K are the nation's principal terrestrial carbon sinks, the lifeline of perennial river basins, the repositories of priceless genetic diversity and the foundational habitats of various indigenous communities. Managing this natural resource demands a high technical competence to evade a dangerous colonial relics that any candidate with basic literacy and physical endurance can protect our complex ecosystems. Thus, by reforming the recruitment rules for various Forestry cadres by prioritising professional forestry technocrats over other irrelevant degree holders, the government can rectify not only the injustice to the trained youth, but will also save millions in training costs, besides upholding constitutional mandates for scientific management of forests. (The author is a former Dean, Faculty of Forestry, SKUAST-K. He can be reached at drthmasoodi@gmail.com )
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India's first Bullet Train project gains pace; first test coach ready: Ashwini Vaishnaw
India's first Bullet Train project is progressing rapidly with key milestones expected soon. The Surat to Bilimora section is targeted for commissioning next year. Civil construction on the Vapi-Surat section will be completed by December. The first test coach for the Bullet Train has already been manufactured. High-speed rail services are anticipated to commence in August 2027.
PM Modi's Gujarat visit to mark major push for rail, roads and urban infra
Digital Desk | Vadodara, Sep 7 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that his visit to Gujarat and Maharashtra on September 8 would include the launch of development projects worth more than Rs 35,000 crore, with the completion of key sections of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) set to strengthen freight movement and the logistics network. Will be attending programmes in Vadodara, Navsari and Mumbai tomorrow, September 8, the Prime Minister said in a post on social media platform X, listing the inauguration and foundation stone-laying of major projects, the dedication of three sections of the WDFC and his participation in the Global Fintech Festival 2026 in Mumbai. In Vadodara, PM Modi will inaugurate, dedicate to the nation or lay the foundation stones for projects worth more than Rs 35,200 crore, comprising over Rs 32,606 crore of Central government works and more than Rs 2,597 crore of state government projects. The programme is scheduled at the University Ground at around noon. The biggest component of the visit will be the dedication of three WDFC sections covering 326 route kilometres and developed at a cost of Rs 20,703 crore. These are the New Sanand (N)-New Makarpura section of 138 km, New Umargam-New Safale section of 86 km and New Safale-New Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT) section of 102 km. Their commissioning will complete the WDFC, allowing direct freight connectivity to Jawaharlal Nehru Port and facilitating faster movement of export-import cargo, while improving links between industrial centres and ports and helping reduce logistics costs. PM Modi said the WDFC sections would provide a big boost to the logistics sector. Freight train services will also be flagged off from New Sanand (North), New Makarpura, New Umargam and New JNPT in Mumbai. A new train service between Vadodara and Tanda Road will also be flagged off, benefiting passengers in Vadodara, Chhota Udepur and Alirajpur districts. Among the other railway projects are the Jobat-Tanda Road new rail line, developed as part of the Chhota Udepur-Dhar project, and foundation stones for the 259-km third and fourth railway lines between Vadodara and Ratlam, estimated at Rs 8,885 crore. Gauge conversion and doubling works on other routes will also be taken up. The wider railway package is valued at more than Rs 30,766 crore. Road infrastructure projects worth more than Rs 1,840 crore will also be inaugurated or launched through the National Highways Authority of India. These include major bridges over the Tapi and Narmada on the Vadodara-Surat section of NH-48, the six-laning of the Kamrej-Chalthan section and grade-separated structures at Abhva, Mindhola and Khajod junctions on NH-53. A six-lane flyover at Kandari Chowkdi and Luvara Patiya on NH-48 will also be inaugurated. The state government projects, valued at more than Rs 2,597 crore, cover urban development, energy, water supply, roads, housing, transport and other sectors. Under the Urban Development Department, eight projects worth Rs 916.38 crore include the second phase of the Vadodara Ring Road, for which the foundation stone will be laid, and a new office building for the Vadodara Municipal Corporation. Water infrastructure for 11 villages in eastern Vadodara under the Vadodara Urban Development Authority, costing Rs 203.77 crore, will be inaugurated. The works include filter plants, water tanks, pipelines, distribution systems, underground sumps and pumping stations. Other projects include facilities in the Bhayli TP-3 and TP-4 areas, 150 MLD-capacity pontoons at Ajwa Sarovar and stormwater drainage works at various junctions in Vadodara. In the energy sector, the foundation stone will be laid for a 110 MW floating solar project at Kadana Dam in Mahisagar district at a cost of Rs 489.20 crore. Transmission system projects worth Rs 94.58 crore in Vadodara and Surat will also be inaugurated. Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin, 13,888 houses constructed across Gujarat at a cost of Rs 236.10 crore will be inaugurated. Foundation stones will also be laid for major bridges over the Mahisagar and Vatrak rivers, a high-level bridge on the Nadiad-Dakor-Pali road and a new bus station at Anand. After Vadodara, PM Modi will travel to Navsari, where facilities developed at the Eru Police Headquarters will be inaugurated. Two works under Industries and Mines DepartmentGujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC), including renovation of the Jhagadia-Kantiyajal pipeline and road widening and resurfacing works in Savli GIDC, are also on the programme. Three Regional Water Supply Scheme packages in Songadh in Tapi district, worth Rs 214.52 crore, will be inaugurated. The Prime Minister will then travel to Mumbai to inaugurate the Global Fintech Festival 2026 at around 5:45 p.m. The festival's theme is Potential to Impact: Agentic AI, Tokenisation, Quantum - Trusted, Connected, Global Systems for Inclusive Finance.
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When a failing heart left no option but transplant, help came for Gujarat minister
Surat, Sep 6 (IANS) A 37-year-old Surat resident has received a new lease of life after undergoing a free heart transplant at Ahmedabads U.N. Mehta Heart Hospital, following efforts by state Health Minister Praful Pansheriya and the hospitals transplant team. Kishan Pethani, originally from Amreli and now living in Surat, had been suffering from a serious heart condition for nearly two years. His condition deteriorated despite treatment in Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Surat, including the insertion of two stents at a private hospital in Surat. Doctors eventually advised that a heart transplant was his only option. According to Kishan, his financial condition made the prospect of a transplant particularly difficult. He approached Pansheriya, explaining his medical condition and financial circumstances, following which the minister recommended his case to U.N. Mehta Hospital. My heart was damaged over time, and there was no option other than a heart transplant. When I brought my illness and weak financial condition to the attention of Minister Praful Pansheriya, he recommended me to U.N. Mehta Hospital. Through his efforts, my heart transplant was successfully performed on June 27, and today I am completely healthy, he said. The transplant was carried out, under the supervision of Dr Vishal Sharma, by Dr Chirag Doshi and Dr Pratik Manek. Kishan said the treatment had given him what he described as a ew life. He also recalled an emotional moment during his recovery. His birthday fell on July 3, shortly after the transplant, and doctors and nursing staff at U.N. Mehta Hospital joined him in cutting a cake to mark the occasion. It became a memorable moment for me and a lifelong cherished memory, he said. After recovering, Kishan met Pansheriya personally to express his gratitude. Speaking about organ donation, Pansheriya said organs donated by a single brain-dead person could potentially save the lives of seven to eight people. He added that donated tissues, including skin, eye corneas, bones and heart valves, could benefit around another 50 to 75 needy people. Government institutions including Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, the Kidney Hospital and Surat Civil Hospital had carried out significant work in organ donation and transplantation, with support from doctors and NGOs working to raise awareness about the process, Pansheriya noted. He also praised families who agree to donate the organs of deceased relatives despite the grief of losing a loved one. Such decisions, he said, represented a humanitarian act that could give others a chance at life. Such collective efforts towards organ donation have given a new lease of life to several needy patients, Pansheriya said, adding that Kishan had now regained the ability to walk and run as before. The minister appealed to citizens to come forward and participate in organ donation, particularly in brain-dead cases, so that donated organs and tissues could help more patients awaiting transplants. Gujarat has continued to focus on organ donation and transplantation as part of its public healthcare system, with government hospitals and transplant centres playing a key role in facilitating treatment for patients who otherwise may not be able to afford such procedures. Recent discussions on Gujarats healthcare system have also highlighted the state's efforts to expand access to transplantation and improve coordination in organ donation.
Dr. Mandaviya Encourages Youth to Embrace Fitness at Fit India-Sunday on Cycle Event in Surat
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya promotes a drug-free youth at the 89th Fit India-Sunday on Cycle event in Surat, encouraging fitness and health awareness. Dr. Mandaviya Encourages Youth to Embrace Fitness at Fit India-Sunday on Cycle Event in Surat
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157 caught gambling in the city
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BTech graduates murder: Two suspects identified
Bomb threat mail targets Ahmedabad, Surat courts, police search underway at court premises
A mail threatening to blow up all courts in Ahmedabad has been received. The police are carrying out routine action into this matter as of now, Ahmedabad Police said on Saturday.The threat mail reportedly named...
Surat to Host Cycling Event Promoting Substance-Free Youth on September 6
A cycling event in Surat aims to promote a healthy, substance-free lifestyle among youth, led by Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. Surat to Host Cycling Event Promoting Substance-Free Youth on September 6
Fit India Sundays cycle event in Surat promotes drug-free youth
The News Mill
Stipend row turns into NMC, Supreme Court flashpoint
Srinagar, Sep 3:With MBBS and BDS interns across J&K refusing to report for duty since August 31 in protest of the delay in stipend-hike, hospitals here are grappling with a severe crunch of working hands. The sudden withdrawal has left senior faculty and resident doctors stretched thin. The core of the matter is the debate on ethical work-load and commensurate emoluments to interns in view of the Supreme Court guidelines. At GMC Srinagar, GMC Jammu, SKIMS Bemina, GMC Anantnag, GMC Baramulla and GMC Handwara and other institutions, interns typically form the first line of round-the-clock care. They form a significant proportion of the staff deputed in emergency rooms, managing wards, and staffing OPDs through the night. The withdrawal of services has significantly impacted emergency rooms, wards and outpatient departments, according to hospital officials. There is no single official headcount of interns currently undergoing the mandatory one-year Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI) in J&K. It can be gauged from the 1100 MBBS seats that J&K had in the 2020-21 session. Since the batch now serving as interns, plus BDS graduates, the total would be running into several hundred to over a thousand young doctors. This is estimated to be the largest simultaneous intern walkouts. Interns say their stipend of roughly Rs 12,300, that has been broken down as Rs 400 a day, is inadequate to meet their basic needs and has remained unchanged for nearly seven years. Protesters have cited Odisha paying its interns Rs 44,319 a month, West Bengal paying Rs 43,099 and Assam Rs 35,000. In J&K a 2023-constituted committee had recommended raising the J&K stipend to around Rs 25,000. This was later cited in the 2026 Assembly session as Rs 26,300. However, apart from the recommendations and a file being stuck, no other communication regarding thei has been received from the government. J&K Health Minister Sakina Itoo recently called the demand justified and urged interns against striking. She expressed concern that the withdrawal of services could negatively impact patient care. The NMC, responding to a Union Health Ministry query on the stipend issue in February this year said its CRMI Regulations, 2021 already provide for payment of stipend to interns. The actual implementation and quantum are decided by respective states and UTs, the NMC said. This, it said, is based on their own financial capacity and budget provisions. Months later, in June 2026, it told the Supreme Court that non-payment persisted at only seven of 756 medical colleges nationwide. Hearing a batch of pleas, the apex court directed that year that Army College interns be paid Rs 25,000 a month from October 2023. In October 2025 the SC rebuked the Commission, observing that its conduct deserved to be deprecated since the stipend issue had been pending before the court for long. The matter remains under the court's active supervision. A nodal counsel has been appointed in June 2026 to compile a state-wise compliance chart. Under the CRMI Regulations, 2021, interns have a defined middle ground in hospital hierarchies, working under supervision throughout the internship. They are not permitted to practise independently. They may assist but cannot perform major procedures on their own. Thus J&K's interns could assist in OPDs, ward rounds, emergency-unit postings and night shifts. However, their shifts often stretches 24-36 hours. There also is compulsory rural postings, making their work demanding and exhaustive. While the government has reiterating that the revised stipend proposal is under process, the log-jam raises questions about ethical workload and stipend as per the guidelines and trends across the country.
Police save woman from ending her life
Mother and daughter die by suicide in Puna
Chikhli police seize liquor worth 16.89 lakh, one held
Flybrary launched at Surat airport
3 booked for extorting Rs 70 lakh from man, threatening rape case
Patient recovers From severe malaria after 6 weeks on ventilator
PNG price hiked to Rs 53.22 per SCM
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Indian Railways set to get indigenous 280 kmph bullet trains by early 2027
India could see the launch of its first bullet train service in 2027, with the SuratBilimora section of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project expected to become operational by August that year.
Student Arrested in Gujarat for
Surat, September 3: A 20-year-old student has been arrested in connection with a cyber fraud case involving 26.12 lakh in Gujarat. The suspect, identified as Aditya Pandey, hails from Silvassa and is originally from Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh. He was apprehended by the Surat city polices cyber crime cell following a technical investigation. According to police ... Read more Student Arrested in Gujarat for 26.12 Lakh Cyber Fraud Scheme
67-year-old woman cheated of 30.5 lakh in digital arrest
20-year-old who let account be used by scammers for 3% cut held
Textile businessman loses Rs 6.31 lakh in APK fraud
Main accused in BJP youth wing members murder arrested from Maharashtra
City generating 5 tonnes of hotfix plastic waste a day
Devastation in Barabanki: River Erosion Threatens Homes and Livelihoods
Mumbai, September 2: In Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, the rising and falling water levels of the Saryu (Ghaghara) River have intensified the challenges faced by local residents. The river is eroding land from the banks, particularly affecting the Terai region of Ramnagar Tehsil. Areas from Hetmapur to Kedaripur in the Suratganj block are witnessing significant erosion, ... Read more Devastation in Barabanki: River Erosion Threatens Homes and Livelihoods
'Smothered with plastic bags': Mystery surrounds Surat techies death
Police are still searching for the killer of Nidhi Patel, a computer engineer. She was found dead in her home, and investigators have no strong leads. A special investigation team was formed to probe the baffling case further. No signs of forced entry suggest the attacker was known to the victim. The victim was allegedly strangled and sexually assaulted while alone at home.
Tariff fears, Christmas stocking spur early US jewellery orders
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82-year-old man defrauded of 2.96cr in digital arrest scam
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Udaipur-Asarwa Vande Bharat Extended to Surat, Direct Rail Link to South India
Udaipur: Efforts by Udaipur MP Dr Mannalal Rawat to improve rail connectivity for Mewar have yielded results, with the Railway Ministry issuing orders to extend the Udaipur-Asarwa Vande Bharat Express up to Surat. The train will operate from Udaipur to Surat on six days a week, except Tuesday. The extension is expected to provide relief ... Read more Udaipur-Asarwa Vande Bharat Extended to Surat, Direct Rail Link to South India
SMC issues notices to 2,054 hotfix units, one plastic importer sealed
Journalist booked for extorting 50,000 from trader
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Rat seen eating puff at Surat railway station, Western Railway orders sealing of eatery
A video showing rat eating a puff at a food stall on Platform 1 of Surat railway station has gone viral, prompting Western Railway to seal the outlet. Officials have started an inquiry and proceedings that could include cancellation of the contractors licence. The action comes amid the railways ongoing efforts to improve food hygiene and safety standards.
22, 24 carat Gold prices down across other cities on August 31
Rat nibbles on puff at Surat railway station stall, authorities shut it down
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SC judge launches three initiatives
Two minors sexually abused in separate incidents, accused arrested
Contractor kidnapped for ransom in Jhagadia, four booked
Rat caught feasting on puff at food stall in Surat railway station
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INCA Map Quiz 2026: AM/NS International School Becomes West Zonal Champion
Kanak Jain Surat (Gujarat) [India], August 29: AM/NS International School, Surat, has been crowned West Zonal Champion at the INCA Map Quiz West Zone 2026, conducted on August 9, 2026. The school secured the top position and qualified for the National Round scheduled on September 13, 2026, in Ahmedabad. Organized under the aegis of the []
Diamond worker arrested for lending bank account for cyberfraud
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Indian Nationals Missing in Nepal Floods, Families Seek Urgent Help
New Delhi, August 28: Indian nationals residing in the United States, UK, and Canada have gone missing in Nepal due to severe flooding. They were on a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash. Families are urgently appealing to the governments of both countries for assistance. A family from Surat, Gujarat, has lost contact with their son, daughter, ... Read more Indian Nationals Missing in Nepal Floods, Families Seek Urgent Help
Indian Families Seek Help as Loved Ones Go Missing in Nepal Floods
New Delhi, August 28: Indian nationals residing in the United States, the UK, and Canada have gone missing in Nepal following devastating floods. They were on a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash. Families of the missing individuals have appealed to the governments of both countries for assistance. A family from Surat, Gujarat, lost contact with their ... Read more Indian Families Seek Help as Loved Ones Go Missing in Nepal Floods
Cyber Fraud in Surat: Man Duped of
Surat, August 28: The Cyber Crime Cell in Surat, Gujarat, has apprehended a 23-year-old man for allegedly defrauding a victim of 5.98 lakhs. The scam was disguised as a part-time work from home opportunity linked to star ratings. The accused reportedly siphoned off 1 lakh from the victims account. According to officials, the victim was ... Read more Cyber Fraud in Surat: Man Duped of 5.98 Lakhs Under the Guise of Work From Home
Three Missing from Surat on Kailash Mansarovar Journey Amid Nepal Disaster
Mumbai, August 28: Concerns are rising for families of individuals from Gujarat who went on the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage following a devastating natural disaster in Nepal. Three members of a family from SuratParesh Patel, his wife Jyoti, and their daughter Meenakshihave lost contact. Similarly, relatives of Amit Amin, Tejal, and Jitendra Patel, who also embarked ... Read more Three Missing from Surat on Kailash Mansarovar Journey Amid Nepal Disaster
VNSGU 59th Convocation: Aarvee Surendra Agrawal Wins Gold Medal
Surat (Gujarat) [India], August 27: The 59th Convocation Ceremony of Veer Narmad South Gujarat University (VNSGU) celebrated the outstanding academic achievements of meritorious students with the presentation of degrees, medals and awards. On this occasion, Aarvee Surendra Agrawal, a talented student from Surat, was awarded a Gold Medal and two prizes by Gujarat Governor Acharya []
Woman ties rakhi to man with her brothers heart
The hand that brought a sister home
Godown manager siphons off 10 two-wheelers worth 7.23L
SVNIT dropout arrested for defamatory posters on DyCM
Textile processors hike job work charges by 15%
