SEVERAL ACTIVISTS and citizens from Mumbai staged a protest at Dadar (East) in support of Mumbai-based social activist Teesta Setalvad and retired state DGP R B Sreekumar, who were arrested by the Gujarat police.They termed the FIR and arrests “vindictive” and a brazen attempt to silence and criminalise those who stand for constitutional values and demanded their immediate release.Setalvad was arrested by Gujarat ATS on Saturday last week from her Juhu residence on allegations that she had concocted a conspiracy to send innocent individuals to jail after the 2002 riots in Gujarat. The protestors also expressed shock at the Supreme Court judgment in the Zakia Jafri case, which has criminalised the lawful pursuit of the criminal conspiracy case of the 2002 Gujarat alleged genocide and appealed to the SC to review its judgement in the above matter.While several protests took place across the country, over 50 people got together outside Dadar railway station holding placards and chanting, “Jo Hitler ki chal chalega, woh Hitler ki moth marega!” and “Avaaz do hum ek hain!”
Teesta Setalvad questioned why ATS was sent for arresting her in an alleged forgery case.Ahmedabad (Gujarat): Teesta Setalvad, who was produced before the court on Sunday in connection with a case against her NGO which gave baseless information about the 2002 Gujarat riots to the police, alleged that her arrest was illegal and she was driven from Mumbai to Ahmedabad in a car to intimidate a "human rights lawyer".She called her arrest an "abuse of power" alleging that she was not allowed to speak to her lawyer.She was making her statements in the metropolitan court of Ahmedabad where she was produced by the Gujarat police crime branch."The ATS barged into my house without any warrant, snatched my phone and pushed me. Look at this wound they inflicted on me. They brought me to Ahmedabad Crime Branch at 6 am," she said in the court."They came in at three and it was only after my lawyer came that they showed me an FIR. Is arresting on the basis of an FIR legal? Why wasn't I served a notice? I was detained illegally from 3 pm to 10.30 am. Why was I driven down in a car by ATS from Mumbai to Gujarat? To intimidate me? To intimidate human rights lawyers is okay? This is an abuse of power. My detention and arrest is illegal," Ms Setalvad alleged.Alleging "fear for life", she questioned why ATS was sent for arresting her in an alleged forgery case."I fear for my life. I have been roughed up, and abused...why should ATS be sent for what is a forgery case? Is this the new norm? I should be given bail. I am a human rights activist. This is a political case. I am cooperating and will cooperate with all legal investigations and queries," Ms Setalvad said.Meanwhile, the Gujarat Police Crime Branch on Sunday arrested Teesta Setalvad in connection with a case against her NGO which gave baseless information about the 2002 Gujarat riots to the police.The action came after Union Minister Amit Shah in an interview with ANI said that Teesta Setalvad-run NGO gave baseless information about the 2002 Gujarat riots to the police."Former IPS officer RB Sreekumar was arrested yesterday and Teesta Setalvad was arrested today. Forging of evidence and hindering of evidence will be looked into. We will produce both the accused in the court by 3 pm," Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Chaitanya Mandlik said earlier today."The accused are not supporting us in the investigation. We are demanding 14 days of custody. Teesta will be produced in front of the Magistrate and all her statements will be recorded there. We are getting the documents arranged from various sources," said the DCP.He further said that as of now the investigation is at a primary level and later strict actions will be taken once the investigation is done."We have done the medical check-up, and the due process was followed by the Crime Branch. The investigation is at a primary level, strict actions will be taken once the investigation is done. We have the primary affidavits and documents submitted by accused," he added.Earlier in the day, Ms Setalvad was taken for a medical checkup at Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad."They have done my medical. I have a big bruise on my hand. This is what the ATS did to me. They are taking me to the magistrate's court," said Teesta Setalvad had said after the medical checkup.On Saturday, Gujarat Anti-terrorism Squad (ATS) team detained Ms Setalvad from Mumbai in connection with a case on her NGO and later in the night she was taken to Ahmedabad.The Gujarat ATS team took Teesta Setalvad to the Santacruz police station yesterday."I have read the judgement very carefully. The judgement clearly mentions the name of Teesta Setalvad. The NGO that was run being run by her - I don't remember the name of the NGO- had given baseless information about the riots to the police," Amit Shah, in an exclusive interview, told ANI.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comThe Supreme Court had on Friday, dismissed as "devoid of merit" an appeal by Zakia Jafri in a plea challenging SIT's clean chit to the then chief minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi and others in cases related to the riots. Zakia Jafri is the widow of former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri who was killed in the riots.(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Teesta Setalvad is also accused of conspiring to fabricate facts and documents.Ahmedabad: The Ahmedabad crime branch on Sunday arrested activist Teesta Setalvad, a day after she was detained in Mumbai and shifted to Gujarat, in connection with a fresh case of forgery, criminal conspiracy and insulting criminal proceedings to cause injury registered against her, officials said.A day earlier, the crime branch had arrested former Gujarat DGP Sreekumar and is in the process of getting a transfer warrant for ex-IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt's custody in connection with the FIR lodged against them, said DCP (crime), Chaitanya Mandlik.He said the crime branch will collect documents submitted by Ms Setalvad, Mr Sreekumar and Mr Bhatt to the Commission of Inquiry, the Special Investigation Team (SIT), and courts regarding the 2002 communal riots cases as part of the investigation."The investigation is underway in this case and we are procuring documents that were submitted by the accused persons before the Commission of Inquiry, SIT (formed by the Supreme Court to investigate 2002 riots cases), and different courts...Affidavits and other documents are the main basis for the FIR, and we are trying to collect other documents as well," he told reporters.Investigators believe that more people may be involved in the criminal conspiracy and the probe is conducted from this angle, Mr Mandlik said, adding that none of the two accused - Mr Sreekumar and Ms Setalvad- are cooperating in the investigation.Ms Setalvad was detained from her house in Juhu area of Mumbai on Saturday afternoon after an FIR was registered against her at the Ahmedabad crime branch based on a complaint lodged by a crime branch inspector DB Barad. She was brought to Ahmedabad via road by the Gujarat police squad."After being brought here, Setalvad was handed over to the city crime branch on Sunday morning. She will soon be placed under arrest," a crime branch source had said earlier in the day.The FIR was lodged against Ms Setalvad, Mr Sreekumar, and Mr Bhatt after the Supreme Court dismissed a petition challenging the clean chit given by the SIT to then chief minister Narendra Modi and others in the 2002 post-Godhra riots cases."The FIR is based on the observation made by the Supreme Court in its judgment, which said, 'As a matter of fact, all those involved in such abuse of process, need to be in the dock and proceed as per law,' Mr Mandlik said.Ms Setalvad, who is the secretary of NGO Citizens for Justice and Peace, is also accused of conspiring to fabricate facts and documents, tutor witnesses and abuse the process of law by fabricating false evidence to frame people, based on the submissions made before the SIT formed by the Supreme Court to investigate the 2002 Gujarat riots cases and before the Justice Nanavati-Shah Commission of Inquiry.Ms Setalvad and her NGO were co-petitioners with Zakia Jafri in the petition filed against PM Modi and others in the Supreme Court. Jafri's husband and former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri was killed during the riots.While former DGP Sreekumar was arrested, Mr Bhatt is currently lodged in jail after being convicted of life imprisonment in a custodial death case. In another case, he has also been charged with planting contraband to frame a lawyer.The FIR invoked sections 468, 471 (forgery), 194 (giving or fabricating false evidence with intent to procure conviction of capital offence), 211 (institute criminal proceedings to cause injury), 218 (public servant framing incorrect record or writing with intent to save a person from punishment or property from forfeiture), and 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.The officer said that while the investigation is at the primary stage, all the persons who are found to be involved in the criminal conspiracy will be arrested.After her detention, Ms Setalvad claimed her "arrest" was illegal and apprehended a threat to her life.On her accusation that she was roughed up by the Gujarat police, Mr Mandlik said that due process was followed and Ms Setalvad is free to lodge a complaint before the court of the magistrate.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comMs Setalvad, Mr Bhatt and Mr Sreekumar have been accused of having conspired "to abuse the process of law by fabricating false evidence to make several persons to having committed an offence that is punishable with capital punishment."(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Teesta Setalvad is also accused of conspiring to fabricate facts and documents.Ahmedabad: The Ahmedabad crime branch on Sunday arrested activist Teesta Setalvad, a day after she was detained in Mumbai and shifted to Gujarat, in connection with a fresh case of forgery, criminal conspiracy and insulting criminal proceedings to cause injury registered against her, officials said.A day earlier, the crime branch had arrested former Gujarat DGP Sreekumar and is in the process of getting a transfer warrant for ex-IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt's custody in connection with the FIR lodged against them, said DCP (crime), Chaitanya Mandlik.He said the crime branch will collect documents submitted by Ms Setalvad, Mr Sreekumar and Mr Bhatt to the Commission of Inquiry, the Special Investigation Team (SIT), and courts regarding the 2002 communal riots cases as part of the investigation."The investigation is underway in this case and we are procuring documents that were submitted by the accused persons before the Commission of Inquiry, SIT (formed by the Supreme Court to investigate 2002 riots cases), and different courts...Affidavits and other documents are the main basis for the FIR, and we are trying to collect other documents as well," he told reporters.Investigators believe that more people may be involved in the criminal conspiracy and the probe is conducted from this angle, Mr Mandlik said, adding that none of the two accused - Mr Sreekumar and Ms Setalvad- are cooperating in the investigation.Ms Setalvad was detained from her house in Juhu area of Mumbai on Saturday afternoon after an FIR was registered against her at the Ahmedabad crime branch based on a complaint lodged by a crime branch inspector DB Barad. She was brought to Ahmedabad via road by the Gujarat police squad."After being brought here, Setalvad was handed over to the city crime branch on Sunday morning. She will soon be placed under arrest," a crime branch source had said earlier in the day.The FIR was lodged against Ms Setalvad, Mr Sreekumar, and Mr Bhatt after the Supreme Court dismissed a petition challenging the clean chit given by the SIT to then chief minister Narendra Modi and others in the 2002 post-Godhra riots cases."The FIR is based on the observation made by the Supreme Court in its judgment, which said, 'As a matter of fact, all those involved in such abuse of process, need to be in the dock and proceed as per law,' Mr Mandlik said.Ms Setalvad, who is the secretary of NGO Citizens for Justice and Peace, is also accused of conspiring to fabricate facts and documents, tutor witnesses and abuse the process of law by fabricating false evidence to frame people, based on the submissions made before the SIT formed by the Supreme Court to investigate the 2002 Gujarat riots cases and before the Justice Nanavati-Shah Commission of Inquiry.Ms Setalvad and her NGO were co-petitioners with Zakia Jafri in the petition filed against PM Modi and others in the Supreme Court. Jafri's husband and former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri was killed during the riots.While former DGP Sreekumar was arrested, Mr Bhatt is currently lodged in jail after being convicted of life imprisonment in a custodial death case. In another case, he has also been charged with planting contraband to frame a lawyer.The FIR invoked sections 468, 471 (forgery), 194 (giving or fabricating false evidence with intent to procure conviction of capital offence), 211 (institute criminal proceedings to cause injury), 218 (public servant framing incorrect record or writing with intent to save a person from punishment or property from forfeiture), and 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.The officer said that while the investigation is at the primary stage, all the persons who are found to be involved in the criminal conspiracy will be arrested.After her detention, Ms Setalvad claimed her "arrest" was illegal and apprehended a threat to her life.On her accusation that she was roughed up by the Gujarat police, Mr Mandlik said that due process was followed and Ms Setalvad is free to lodge a complaint before the court of the magistrate.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comMs Setalvad, Mr Bhatt and Mr Sreekumar have been accused of having conspired "to abuse the process of law by fabricating false evidence to make several persons to having committed an offence that is punishable with capital punishment."(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NEW DELHI: The Gujarat ATS (Anti-Terrorist Squad) on Saturday detained Mumbai-based activist Teesta Setalvad in connection with an FIR filed in Ahmedabad alleging “criminal conspiracy, forgery and placing false evidence in court to frame innocent people” in the 2002 Gujarat riots case. The action came a day after the Supreme Court dismissed a plea challenging SIT's clan chit to then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi and others in cases related to the riots. Read AlsoGujarat police detain Teesta Setalvad, arrest ex-DGP day after SC upholds SIT clean chit to ModiMUMBAI: Activist Teesta Setalvad was on Saturday detained by the Gujarat Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) from Mumbai in connection with an FIR registered against her at the Ahmedabad city crime branch. The former director general of police R B Sreekumar was also arrested. This comes a day after theAfter the SC verdict, Union home minister Amit Shah lashed out at the Teesta Setalvad-run NGO for giving "baseless information" about the 2002 riots to the police. Read Also'Truth has come out shining like gold': Amit Shah on SC upholding SIT clean chit to Modi in 2002 Gujarat riotsHe also said Narendra Modi had endured pain for the last 19 years without speaking a word and followed "Lord Shiva who swallowed poison and held it in his throat."Who is Teesta Setalvad?An activist, journalist and Padma Shri recipient, Setalvad is a founding trustee and secretary of the NGO Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP). The NGO was established after 2002 Gujarat riots with an aim to provide legal and financial support to the victims of the riots. Setalvad and her NGO were co-petitioner with Zakia Jafri in the petition filed against PM Modi and others in the Supreme Court. This was the petition that was dismissed by the apex court on Friday. Jafri's husband and former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri was killed during the riots. Setalvad became a prominent face in standing up for the victims of the Gujarat riots and in 2007 pushed the Supreme Court into launching a fresh probe into the post-Godhra violence six years later. A series of allegations were also launched against her in the Gujarat riots. Aided by Citizens for Jusice and Peace, Zakia Jafri had filed a criminal complaint for criminal and administrative culpability against top politicians and policemen, including Narendra Modi. This is separate from the Gulberg trial on the killing of Ehsan Jafri and 68 others. Setalvad had sought an FIR against PM Modi for his alleged role in the Gujarat riots. Why was Teesta Setalvad detained?Several charges were levelled against Teesta Setalvad in 2006, including allegedly hurting religious feelings, fabricating false evidence, and trespassing on burial places among other charges. She was also slammed by the BJP for attacking Narendra Modi without “substantial evidence” and running a defamation campaign against her. She is also accused of conspiring to fabricate facts and documents, tutor witnesses and abuse the process of law by fabricating false evidence to frame people, on the basis of submissions made before the SIT formed by the Supreme Court to investigate the 2002 Gujarat riots cases and before the Justice Nanavati-Shah Commission of Inquiry. Setalvad was detained on the basis of an FIR registered on Saturday which accused her and two former IPS officers - R B Sreekumar and Sanjiv Bhatt - of forgery, criminal conspiracy, instituting criminal proceedings to cause injury, among others. (With inputs from agencies)
MUMBAI/AHMEDABAD: Gujarat Police detained Mumbai-based activist Teesta Setalvad and arrested ex-DGP RB Sreekumar on Saturday in connection with an FIR filed in Ahmedabad against them and Sanjiv Bhatt, alleging "criminal conspiracy, forgery and placing false evidence in court to frame innocent people" in the 2002 Gujarat riots case. Bhatt, who is in Palanpur jail (Banaskantha, Gujarat) awaiting trial in a case of planting drugs on a suspect, will be arrested after the police obtain a transfer warrant from the court, sources said. The action came a day after the Supreme Court dismissed a petition challenging the SIT clean chit to then Gujarat CM Narendra Modi in the 2002 riots case. The apex court said "all those involved in such abuse of process need to be in the dock and proceeded with in accordance with law". The FIR naming Setalvad and the two former IPS officers had been registered by the Ahmedabad crime branch hours before ATS officials knocked on her door in Mumbai. As part of detention procedure, the team first took her to Santacruz police station, where she lodged a complaint claiming "illegal arrest" and threat to her life, sources said. The team bringing Setalvad to Ahmedabad was expected to reach the city late Saturday. All three are accused of forgery Ex-DGP RB Sreekumar was taken into custody in the evening after being summoned to crime branch headquarters at Gaekwad Haveli for interrogation earlier and sent for a Covid test. The FIR lodged by inspector DB Barad of the Ahmedabad city crime branch against Setalvad and the two ex-IPS officers alleges that they fraudulently passed off forged documents as genuine "with intent to procure conviction of capital punishment" against those whom the SIT had cleared. Setalvad specifically stands accused of "conjuring, concocting, forging and fabricating facts and documents, including witnesses' testimonies, and influencing and tutoring witnesses". The allegations are based on the cross-examination of Zakia Jafri during the Gulbarg massacre trial. Setalvad's NGO supported Jafri, who had filed the petition alleging a larger conspiracy behind the riots, throughout her legal battle. Bhatt has been accused of making false claims in 2011 that he was present at a meeting at Modi's then residence on February 27, 2002. He alleged that the erstwhile CM asked bureaucrats to go slow on rioters. The FIR also charges Bhatt with furnishing forged documents "in order to implicate various persons". The complaint states that the SIT probe revealed he colluded with people who had vested interest, and NGOs and political functionaries who wanted to settle scores by "framing innocent individuals". Bhatt allegedly received incentives for this, the FIR states while making a case for a detailed investigation. Sreekumar is accused of making false claims in his affidavits before the Godhra inquiry commission. The then DGP had alleged that he was illegally issued verbal orders that he recorded in a "semi-official diary".
PM Modi laid the foundation stone for the redevelopment of Surat, Udhna, Somnath and Sabarmati stations.Vadodara: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of development projects worth over Rs 21,000 crores in Gujarat on Saturday.Beneficiaries of various government schemes participated in Gujarat Gaurav Abhiyan at Vadodara on Saturday.PM Modi dedicated and laid the foundation stone of various railway projects worth over Rs 16,000 crores. These include the inauguration of 357 km long New Palanpur-Madar section of Dedicated Freight Corridor; gauge conversion of 166 km long Ahmedabad-Botad section; electrification of 81 km long Palanpur - Mitha section, among others.PM Modi laid the foundation stone for the redevelopment of Surat, Udhna, Somnath and Sabarmati stations, along with the foundation stone of other initiatives in the railway sector.Under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, a total of 1.38 lakh houses have been dedicated by the Prime Minister, including houses worth around Rs 1,800 crore in urban areas and houses worth over Rs 1,530 crores in rural areas. In addition, Khat Muhurat of around 3,000 houses worth over Rs 310 crores will also be done.During the programme, PM Modi dedicated and laid the foundation stone of various development works at Kheda, Anand, Vadodara, Chhota Udepur, and Panchmahal, worth over Rs 680 crore.PM Modi also laid the foundation stone of Gujarat Central University in Kundhela village of Dabhoi taluka of Gujarat. Located at about 20 km from Vadodara city, the university will be constructed at a cost of around Rs 425 crores and will cater to higher education needs of over 2,500 students, said the Prime Minister's Office.With a focus on improving maternal and child health, PM Modi launched 'Mukhyamantri Matrushakti Yojana', which will have an outlay of Rs 800 crores. Under the scheme, pregnant and lactating mothers are to be given 2 kg of chickpeas, 1 kg of tur dal and 1 kg of edible oil free of cost from Anganwadi Centres every month.PM Modi also disbursed around Rs 120 crores towards Poshan Sudha Yojana which is now being extended to all tribal beneficiaries in the state.Earlier on Saturday, PM Modi inaugurated the redeveloped Kalika Mata Temple atop the Pavagadh Hill.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.com(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
On his visit to Vadodara on June 18, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate railway projects worth Rs 16,369 crore, including laying the foundation stone of the new building of the National Rail and Transportation Institute (NRTI) which is being rechristened as the Bharatiya Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya and will officially be declared a central university. Modi will also launch the Chief Ministers’ Matrushakti Yojana from Vadodara’s Leprosy Ground.The Prime Minister is first scheduled to visit the Kalika Mata temple in Panchmahal district’s Pavagadh and hoist the saffron flag (dhwajarohan) on the shikhara of the newly renovated temple premises which, according to the trust, will be the first ‘religious flag hoisting’ at the temple in centuries. Modi will inaugurate the temple premises, renovated at a cost of Rs 121 crore, under the aegis of the Gujarat Pavitra Yatradham Vikas Board,The renovations include a campus with a capacity for over 2,000 devotees, a widened stairway to the temple, gold plating of the kalash, garbhagriha and the shikhara done at a cost of Rs 7.5 crore as well as installation of elevators (for which tendering process is underway). The trust is also in the process of building a dormitory for visitors at a cost of Rs 12 crore and a dining hall with a capacity to serve meals to 400 devotees simultaneously.From Pavagadh, Modi will arrive in Vadodara and head directly to the Leprosy Ground as the original plan for a road show from the airport has been cancelled due to security reasons. At the Leprosy Ground, he will inaugurate projects and lay foundation stones for 18 projects of the Indian Railways worth Rs 16,369 crore, including the renaming of the NRTI to Bharatiya Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (BGSV).PM Modi will also lay the foundation stone of the new, modern building of the BGSV in Vadodara, the country’s first railway university, that will come up near the Pratap Vilas Palace. According to a release from the government, Modi will inaugurate five railway projects worth Rs 10,746 crore and lay foundation stones of 13 projects pegged at Rs 5,620 crore, including the Rs 571-crore BGSV building.“National Rail and Transportation Institute (NRTI) set up as per the vision of PM Modi in 2018 will be rechristened Bharatiya Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya and also be accorded the status of a Central University at the same event. As part of the Gati Shakti movement, PM Modi has given an impetus to infrastructure projects,” the statement said.PM Modi will inaugurate the Rs 7250 crore Palanpur-Madar dedicated freight corridor and flag-off of the Botad-Ahmedabad passenger train after gauge conversion. In addition, he will also flag off passenger trains between Lunidhar-Deesa and Palanpur-Radhanpur. Modi will lay the foundation stone for the locomotive repair depot located at Gandhidham and the redevelopment projects of Surat, Udhna, Somnath, and Sabarmati railway stations. The Prime Minister will also perform the virtual ground-breaking for the gauge conversion of railway lines between Vijapur-Ambaliyasan, Nadiad-Petlad, Kadi-Katosan, Aadraj Moti-Vijapur, Jambusar-Samni, Petlad-Bhadran and Himmatnagar-Khedbrahma.The PM will also launch the Chief Minister Matrushakti Yojana (MMY), which will provide women with nutritious meals for 1,000 days starting from the first trimester of pregnancy in order to improve the health of mothers and newborns in the state.
Gandhinagar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay foundation stones and inaugurate projects of the railways, worth a total of Rs 16,369 crore during his visit to Vadodara on June 18, state government spokesperson Jitu Vaghani said on Monday.Vaghani said the PM will either lay foundation stones or inaugurate 18 projects of the railways, which includes flagging off of new trains, the new freight corridor, redevelopment of railway stations and gauge conversion works. The PM will address the Gujarat Gaurav Abhiyan rally in Vadodara as well.At Monday’s state cabinet, the government also decided to hold a ‘Vande Gujarat Vikas Yatra’ from July 1 to 15 to showcase the development work of the last two decades. Vaghani said in another important decision, 46 MLAs representing municipal corporation areas of the state, will get grants of Rs 2 crore each for development activities.
GANDHINAGAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay foundation stones and inaugurate projects of the railways, worth a total of Rs 16,369 crore during his visit to Vadodara on June 18, state government spokesperson Jitu Vaghani said on Monday. Vaghani said the PM will either lay foundation stones or inaugurate 18 projects of the railways, which includes flagging off of new trains, the new freight corridor, redevelopment of railway stations and gauge conversion works. The PM will address the Gujarat Gaurav Abhiyan rally in Vadodara as well. At Monday’s state cabinet, the government also decided to hold a ‘Vande Gujarat Vikas Yatra’ from July 1 to 15 to showcase the development work of the last two decades. Vaghani said in another important decision, 46 MLAs representing municipal corporation areas of the state, will get grants of Rs 2 crore each for development activities.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the government is confident of running the country’s first bullet train project by 2026. “The trial run (of the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Corridor) would be between Surat and Billimora in Navsari district in August 2026,” Vaishnaw said in Surat.The Union minister was on a visit to Surat and Navsari to review the progress of the bullet train project. “I have seen the construction work in progress at Surat and Navsari. I am satisfied with it. The fares of the bullet train will be lesser than airlines. One will get better facilities than airlines. We have not yet decided on the fares. We will work on it once the project gets completed,” he said while interacting with mediapersons.The bullet train will run at an average speed of 300 kilometre per hour (kmph) while its design speed is 320 kmph. “For that more time has been consumed for designing. Every month, 12 kms work is done,” he said. The total length of the project is 508.17 kilometres. There will be 12 stations out of which eight will be in Gujarat and four in Maharashtra. There will be three depots, two in Gujarat (Surat and Sabarmati) and one in Maharashtra (Thane).🚨 Limited Time Offer | Express Premium with ad-lite for just Rs 2/ day 👉🏽 Click here to subscribe 🚨Vaishnaw said that the bullet train project has generated around 1 lakh employment. “Of the 508-km project between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, the work is in progress between Vapi and Ahmedabad. Of the 350-km section areas, the work is in progress on 160 kms. The pillars had been erected in a 60-km area. Latest technology is being used in six casting yards. Earlier, the girders were directly imported from China, but now we have started manufacturing girders locally in Surat and Chennai,” the minister said.At the same time, he said the process of land acquisition was happening at a slower pace in Maharashtra. “The local people want bullet trains there, but the Maharashtra government does not wish to go ahead with this project. We will not have any problems, our work will continue. We are hopeful that the people of Maharashtra will accept this project in the coming days. A few days ago, I spoke to a big political leader of Maharashtra and he told me that he wanted such a project in the state,” Vaishnaw said.Meanwhile, the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) said over 90 per cent of the total land required for the bullet train project has been acquired. More than 98.8 per cent of the land has been acquired in Gujarat, while 100 per cent is acquired in Dadra and Nagar Haveli (Union Territory) and 71.5 per cent in Maharashtra. Until last month, around 139.6 kilometre of piling work, 72.4-kilometre of foundation work and 61.6 kms of Pier work were completed.Vaishnaw also stated that the Railways will undertake the redevelopment project of the Surat Railway Station, which was initially planned to be done under public-private partnership. “Earlier, we lacked the experience for redeveloping railway stations. We got experience after redeveloping two railway stations—one in Gandhinagar and second in Bhopal. We have issued tenders for the redevelopment of 30 railway stations across the country to make them first-class railway stations,” he said.The total cost for redeveloping the Surat Railway Station is Rs 980 crore. “The tender will be issued in the first or second week of July. The work will be initiated from Diwali month (October). We have done improvement in the structural design part… A two-floor roof plaza will be made and the same concept as railway stations in Beijing and Tokyo will be applied on the two floors. It will be connected with BRTS and Metro Rail. The roads of the nearby areas will be elevated,” he said.
Ashwini Vaishnaw said the bullet train is a national project and there should be no politics. (File)Surat, Gujarat: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday said they are confident of achieving the target of running the country's first bullet train between Surat and Bilimora in Gujarat in 2026 as good progress has been made in this direction.Mr Vaishnaw was in Surat to inspect the progress of the government's ambitious Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project.There has been good progress in the construction of infrastructure for the bullet train between Ahmedabad and Mumbai, and the work is being done at a high speed."We are keeping the target of running the first bullet train between Surat and Bilimora in 2026. The progress is very good, and we are confident of running the train by that time," he told reporters.Bilimora is a town in Navsari district of south Gujarat.The project is aimed at running the bullet train between Ahmedabad and Mumbai on a high speed rail (HSR) corridor at a speed of 320 kmph, covering a distance of 508 km and 12 stations. The train is expected to reduce the travel time between the two cities to about three hours from the current six hours.The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is funding 81 per cent of project cost which is estimated at Rs 1.1 lakh crore.Mr Vaishnaw said pillars for the bullet train project have been put up on 61 km of the route and work is underway on around 150 km of the stretch."It is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision to provide ultra modern and best services, such as redevelopment of railway stations, new Vande Bharat trains, Kavach (automatic train protection system), bullet trains...We are working to fulfil the aspirations of 130 crore Indians," he said.Vaishnav inspected the operation of a segmental casting yard of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Corridor near Vaktana village in Choryasi taluka of Surat, and also visited the under-construction Antroli railway station under the project.Later, he also visited the project site at Nasilpore in Navsari along with Minister of State for Railways Darshana Jardosh Jardosh.Asked about the progress of the bullet train project in neighbouring Maharashtra, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said it was slow due to land acquisition issues. He said Maharashtra should work with the spirit of cooperation and collaboration on the project."This is a national project and there should not be any politics over it," he said."I believe we would set an example of working together on this project...The progress (in Maharashtra section) is slow. We hope there will be more progress," he said.But, at the same time, the 352 km section in Gujarat is also sufficiently long, he said, adding that the focus will remain on Gujarat until the work of land acquisition in Maharashtra is completed.Earlier, addressing the bullet train project workers at a site in Surat, Mr Vaishnaw informed them about the Centre's 'One Nation, One Ration' scheme, whereby they can get food grains in any part of the country where they are working.The central government is working with the spirit of service and development of all under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, he said.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.com(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
