PM unveils connectivity projects worth Rs 18,680 crore in West Bengal
Kolkata (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled connectivity projects worth Rs 18,680 crore in West Bengal on Saturday, and said a new chapter of India's development was being written from the state.
He laid the foundation stone for five sections of the 231 km-long four-lane Kharagpur-Moregram economic corridor, which will reduce the distance by around 120 km and save nearly seven to eight hours.
The road, which is part of the economic corridor between Kharagpur and Siliguri, will pass through Paschim Medinipur, Bankura, Hooghly, Purba Bardhaman, Birbhum and Murshidabad districts, officials said.
The corridor will integrate key national highways, including NH-16, NH-19, NH-14 and NH-12, thereby strengthening multi-corridor connectivity, they said.
The PM also laid the foundation stone for the construction of a 5.6-km-long four-lane Dubrajpur Bypass and additional four-lane major bridges over the Kangshabati and Shilabati rivers on NH-14.
He flagged off the Purulia-Anand Vihar Terminal Express and unveiled six railway stations that were redeveloped under the Amrit Station scheme. These stations are Kamakhyaguri, Anara, Tamluk, Haldia, Barabhum and Siuri.
Modi also dedicated two railway projects to the nation -- the 16-km-long third rail line between Belda and Dantan and the automatic block signalling system between Kalaikunda and Kanimohuli in the South Eastern Railway zone.
The PM said a mission has been undertaken to modernise India's railways.
Modi also inaugurated sections of NH-19 and NH-114, which will enhance road safety, reduce travel time, ease congestion and pollution, improve regional connectivity, and boost tourism and economic growth in the region.
The PM also inaugurated the mechanisation of Berth 2 at Haldia Dock Complex, which will enable efficient, faster and environment-friendly cargo handling, and the rejuvenation project at Khidderpore Docks (Dock 1 - West).
He laid the foundation stones for multiple port infrastructure projects, including the mechanisation of Berth 5 at Haldia Dock Complex and the renovation of the Bascule Bridge in Kolkata.
The PM laid the foundation for a river cruise terminal and river tourism facility near the Indenture Memorial in the city.
Assembly elections are expected to be held in the state in April.
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Two held for EV sales fraud in Karnataka
Bengaluru (PTI): Two men involved in the sale of electric vehicles in the city have been arrested for allegedly defrauding several people by offering two-wheelers at subsidised rates, claiming the benefit was under a central government scheme, police said on Saturday.
The accused have been identified as Hanumantha Bilkar and Rakesh, they said.
Police said an investigation was initiated after receiving two complaints against at the Peenya and Bagalagunte police stations last month.
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According to police, the accused convinced people to buy electric two-wheelers by claiming that they were available at subsidised rates under a central government scheme.
"However, no such scheme exists. The accused allegedly arranged loans in the names of the buyers and had the loan amounts credited to their companies, as per the complaints," a senior police officer said.
Police said the accused got loans sanctioned for nearly double the price of the vehicles and told buyers they only needed to pay the last three to four EMIs, while the 'companies' would pay the remaining instalments.
Initially, the 'companies' paid the EMIs but later stopped doing so, after which banks and finance firms began demanding payments from the buyers, they said.
The officer said the accused sourced parts of electric two-wheelers from Delhi, assembled them in Bengaluru and sold the vehicles through their showrooms.
He added that loans were taken in the names of several people and the investigation is ongoing.
"While vehicles were delivered to many buyers, the companies allegedly stopped paying the EMIs as promised. An investigation is underway to ascertain how many more people were cheated through this fake scheme," he added.
