Government increases maximum load capacity for trucks
New Delhi, July 17: The government has decided to increase the maximum load carrying capacity of all new heavy vehicles by 20-25 per cent, Road Transport and Highway Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Tuesday.
He said this would bring down the logistic cost in the country by 2 per cent and will help in increasing the "ease of doing business".
"Logistic cost in India is 16 to 18 per cent of the GDP whereas it is 8 to 10 per cent in developed countries. This decision will reduce transport cost by 2 per cent and will revolutionise the transport sector," Gadkari told reporters here.
He added that norms for axle load were last notified in 1983 and there has been no change over the last 35 years despite vast improvements in technology.
"Also, there was need to harmonize axle load with international standards. And we have taken this decision in line with international standards and best global practices," Gadkari said.
"The decision will increase capacity of transport vehicles by 20 to 25 per cent and will result in saving time and fuel cost," he said.
The Minister added the decision will also go a long way in checking over-loading of vehicles.
"After this, we will focus on strong enforcement to check over-loading. We are also sending circulars to state governments to enforce this," he added.
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'The Ba**ds of Bollywood’ mirrors my life, damages my reputation: Sameer Wankhede tells Delhi HC
New Delhi: IRS officer Sameer Wankhede has submitted his reply to the Delhi High Court in the defamation case he filed against Red Chillies Entertainment, the production company owned by actor Shah Rukh Khan. The case pertains to the recently released series The Ba**ds of Bollywood*, which Wankhede claims has defamed him.
In his statement to the court, Wankhede asserted that the show’s portrayal of a police officer is clearly based on him and has caused serious harm to his public image. He cited four key reasons supporting his claim.
First, he said the character in question bears physical similarities to him, including facial and body features. Second, he noted that the character’s working style and mannerisms closely resemble his own.
Third, Wankhede highlighted that the officer in the show is depicted making a high-profile arrest involving a major film personality, which he said directly mirrors his own involvement in the Aryan Khan drug case.
Fourth, he pointed out that the character frequently uses the phrase “Satyameva Jayate,” a motto he himself had used during media interactions in the course of that investigation. He argued that using the national motto in such a context cannot be dismissed as creative expression or humour.
Wankhede also referred to an interview in which Aryan Khan allegedly admitted that the show was “inspired by some real events.” This, he said, contradicts Red Chillies Entertainment’s claim that The Ba**ds of Bollywood* is purely fictional.
He further alleged that the tone and intent of the series indicate personal and institutional vendetta, aimed at discrediting and defaming him rather than engaging in artistic storytelling.
Wankhede informed the court that the fallout from the show has affected his family, with his wife and sister receiving abusive and vulgar messages online.
Rejecting Red Chillies’ argument that he is a “thin-skinned” officer, Wankhede said that a public servant cannot be expected to tolerate false and damaging portrayals simply because of his position. He emphasized that his legal action seeks to protect the constitutional rights and dignity of both himself and his family.
