Modi inaugurates Delhi expressways worth $1.3bn to cut traffic congestion
New Delhi, India – Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated two major road projects in the national capital region, the Delhi section of the Dwarka Expressway and the Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II), together worth nearly 11,000 crore rupees ($1.3bn). The projects, built under the government’s broader plan to ease traffic congestion in Delhi and its surrounding areas, are expected to significantly reduce travel time to the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport from Sonipat, Rohtak, Bahadurgarh and Gurugram. “Dwarka Expressway and UER-II will benefit people of Delhi-NCR. Our government is making consistent efforts to remove all difficulties of citizens,” Modi said at the inauguration ceremony. He added that Delhi is being developed as a “model of growth” to represent India’s aspirations as a rising economy. The prime minister underlined the innovative use of technology in the new infrastructure, noting that millions of tonnes of municipal waste were recycled to construct sections of UER-II. “This scientific and sustainable approach has reduced the mountains of garbage in Delhi while turning waste into a valuable resource,” Modi said. Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, who joined Modi at the event, claimed the two projects would reduce traffic jams in the capital by “at least 50 percent”. The Delhi section of the Dwarka Expressway, stretching 10.1km, has been built at a cost of 5,360 crore rupees. It is designed to integrate multiple modes of transport, linking Yashobhoomi Convention Centre, Delhi Metro’s Blue and Orange lines, the upcoming Bijwasan railway station and the Dwarka bus depot. The project is split into two packages, connecting Shiv Murti intersection to the Delhi-Haryana border. The prime minister also inaugurated a 19km segment of UER-II between Alipur and Dichaon Kalan, including new spurs to Bahadurgarh and Sonipat. Developed at a cost of 5,580 crore rupees, the road is expected to ease congestion on Delhi’s Inner and Outer Ring Roads and busy intersections like Dhaula Kuan, Mukarba Chowk and NH-09. Officials say it will also improve freight movement by connecting industrial hubs directly with the national highways. During the visit, Modi interacted with labourers who worked on the expressway and later held a roadshow at the Mundka-Bakkarwala Village Toll Plaza. The Haryana section of the Dwarka Expressway was inaugurated earlier in March 2024. Supporters of the government hailed the projects as symbols of India’s fast-paced infrastructure expansion, while critics argue that congestion in Delhi cannot be solved without deeper reforms in urban planning, public transport and pollution control.
Alipore Zoo Welcomes Six New Species as Festive Gift Before Durga Puja
Ahead of the Durga Puja festivities, Kolkata’s iconic Alipore Zoological Gardens has welcomed from Jharkhand’s Bhagwan Birsa Zoological Park in Ranchi.The new arrivals include two gharials, two ostriches and two Himalayan black bears, brought to Kolkata through an animal exchange programme approved by the Central Zoo Authority. Last year nine new animals from neighbouring Odisha’s Nandankanan Zoological Park, in a move that has delighted wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists alike. Zoo officials confirmed that the fresh arrivals include a pair of lions, a tigress, two Himalayan black bears and four mouse deer — the last being a species on the brink of extinction due to rampant poaching and shrinking habitats. For now, the animals have been placed in specially designed night shelters within the zoo premises. Authorities say they will remain in quarantine for at least a week to acclimatise to their new environment before being introduced to the public. “This is part of an exchange programme between the two zoos. The animals will only be released for public viewing once they have fully adjusted,” said a senior official at Alipore Zoo. Rare and endangered The arrival of the mouse deer, also known as chevrotain, has drawn particular attention. Often described as looking like large rodents with delicate limbs, the species has become rare in India. Illegal hunting and the destruction of forested habitats have drastically reduced their numbers. “The mouse deer is a very shy, nocturnal animal. In the wild, they are almost impossible to spot. Having them in Alipore Zoo offers a chance to create awareness about their conservation,” said a Kolkata-based wildlife activist. The Himalayan black bears and the tigress are also expected to attract large crowds once they are moved to their enclosures. A tradition before Puja This is not the first time the Alipore Zoo has brought in new residents ahead of Durga Puja, West Bengal’s biggest festival. Last year too, animals from other Indian states were relocated to Kolkata before the holiday season, boosting footfall at the zoo. During Puja, thousands of families visit the zoo as part of their festive outings, making it one of the busiest public attractions in the city. “For many children, seeing a lion or a bear up close is unforgettable. These additions will make the zoo a bigger draw this year,” said a parent visiting the facility on Saturday. Conservation and concerns While the news has been welcomed, animal welfare groups have urged authorities to ensure that the new arrivals are not overexposed to crowds too quickly. “Acclimatisation is crucial, especially for animals brought from a different climate. Their health must come before visitor excitement,” said a representative of a local NGO. For now, the animals remain out of public view, but the anticipation in Kolkata is growing. As one zoo official remarked, “These new guests are our pride. They symbolise not just attraction, but also the urgent need for conservation.”
Kolkata marks Sukanta Bhattacharya’s centenary with poems on city walls
Kolkata, long celebrated as the city of poets and revolutionaries, paid tribute on Saturday to one of its most cherished literary voices — Sukanta Bhattacharya — as the city began year-long celebrations marking the centenary of the “poet of the youth.” The programme was launched at Jadavpur’s Sukanta Setu, where educationist Pabitra Sarkar announced that the poet’s verses would soon adorn the city’s walls. “For the next one year, we will celebrate Sukanta’s birth centenary. His poems will be written across Kolkata’s walls,” he said. A procession followed by a cultural event took place in Jadavpur, while in the afternoon the youth organisation Kishore Bahini led a colourful rally from Sealdah station to College Street. Thousands of children and teenagers joined, with performances of stick games, magic, music and dance along the route. The event concluded with a street play, while artists painted murals inspired by Bhattacharya’s poetry. Prominent cultural figures including Rajat Bandyopadhyay and Srijan Bhattacharya joined Sarkar at the Jadavpur celebrations, organised by the Sukanta Bhattacharya Birth Centenary Committee. Rajat Bandyopadhyay, general secretary of the Ganatantrik Lekhok Shilpi Sangha (Democratic Writers and Artists’ Association), said: “We will celebrate Sukanta’s centenary throughout the year. A documentary directed by Kamaleswar Mukherjee is in production and will be screened at colleges and universities once completed. We are also demanding the re-introduction of Sukanta’s poems into Bengal’s academic syllabus.” Meanwhile, DYFI (Democratic Youth Federation of India) members paid homage at the poet’s birthplace in Kalighat. In East Kolkata’s Beleghata, however, commemorations took a confrontational turn. The Kolkata Nagarik Sammelan (Kolkata Citizens’ Conference) staged a sit-in demanding the reopening of a community hall named after Bhattacharya, which has remained shut for years. The group alleged that their protest stage was torn down by miscreants. Bhattacharya, who died in 1947 at just 21, remains one of Bengal’s most iconic literary voices, known for blending youthful rebellion with a deep social conscience.
Outrage in West Bengal Over Death of Nursing Student, Doctors Demand Judicial Probe
The death of a young nursing student at a private medical facility in West Bengal’s Singur has sparked widespread outrage and drawn comparisons to a previous case that shook the state. The West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front (WBJDF), a prominent medical collective, is demanding a judicially monitored investigation into what it calls a suspicious death and potential cover-up. The 22-year-old woman, originally from Nandigram in Purba Medinipur district, was found hanging inside the hospital premises on Thursday evening — just four days after she joined as a trainee nurse. While the hospital management described the death as a suicide, the student’s family has alleged foul play, including sexual assault and murder, reportedly after she uncovered irregularities at the facility. “This is not an isolated incident,” WBJDF said in a statement released late Friday. “This is a rerun of the 9 August tragedy at RG Kar Medical College. Once again, a young woman is dead, and once again, institutions are scrambling to suppress the truth.” In August last year, the death of a postgraduate medical student at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College — widely seen as a case of sexual violence and institutional failure — triggered statewide protests. Doctors and civil society groups accused the authorities of shielding the perpetrators, manipulating evidence, and intimidating whistleblowers. Red Flags in Handling of Case According to WBJDF, the handling of the current case raises “serious red flags.” The group alleges that the nursing student’s body was hastily removed from the hospital before her family arrived and transported first to a local police station, then to Serampore Walsh Hospital, and finally to the morgue at Kolkata Medical College by Friday morning. The group questioned the motive behind shifting the body so quickly and accused the police of undermining the investigation. “There is already an attempt to write this off as suicide,” the WBJDF said. “We demand full transparency, or the public’s trust in the justice system will be permanently eroded.” Key Demands for Justice The organisation has issued five specific demands: A post-mortem under judicial supervision, with full videographic documentation A swift and impartial judicial inquiry, free of political interference Public disclosure of all findings at every stage of the investigation Immediate preservation of the crime scene and retrieval of all CCTV footage in a forensically sound manner Exemplary punishment for those found guilty Backing the family’s request, the WBJDF demanded that the autopsy be conducted at a neutral central government facility. Authorities have agreed, and the autopsy was being carried out at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Kalyani at the time of reporting. Political Fallout and Protests The incident has triggered political responses across the spectrum. Both BJP and CPM workers staged protests outside police stations, accusing law enforcement of prematurely declaring the death a suicide and attempting to erase evidence. Several opposition leaders echoed concerns raised by the WBJDF, pointing to similarities with the RG Kar case where police and hospital authorities faced widespread criticism. The state government has yet to respond publicly to the WBJDF’s statement or to announce any independent inquiry. As anger mounts across West Bengal, many fear this could be another case where justice is delayed—or denied—amid political apathy and institutional silence.
