National
IL&FS to explore idea of rail alignment inside upcoming Zojila tunnel
New Delhi, Jan 24 (IANS) Union Minister of Road, Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday urged infra major IL&FS to explore the possibility of laying a rail alignment while constructing India’s longest tunnel highway at Zojila in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS) had in July last year got the contract for building the 14.1 km Zojila Highway tunnel.
“Gadkariji has urged IL&FS to explore the possibility of laying a rail alignment also in the tunnel as per Prime Minister’s suggestion and also asked them to complete the work faster than the assigned seven years,” said a ministry official.
The official also informed that the IL&FS had assured the minister that the idea of a railway line would be explored using the escape tunnel which would be built as part of the project as a safety measure in case of any accident inside the tunnel.
Gadkari was speaking at the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the project sanctioning government agency National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) and the IL&FS.
Zojila Pass, located at a height of 12,000 feet, is on National Highway-1 between Srinagar and Leh in the western section of the Himalayan mountain range.
The two-way tunnel, touted as South Asia’s longest when ready, will reduce travel time from three hours to a mere 15 minutes. The tunnel would have some unique features like pedestrian safety passages every 250 metres and vehicular safety passage at every 750 metres.
The road inside the tunnel will also have other features like lay-bys — an area at the side where vehicles may pull off and stop — and emergency telephone and communication systems at emergency exits at intervals of 125 metres.
The tunnel, which will provide a new lifeline to the locals in terms of road connectivity, will also have internal and external lighting, CCTV cameras, emergency guidance lamps and proper vehicle guidance systems. It will also be equipped to tackle fire incidents.
The Zojila Pass remains snow-bound for most part of the year, rendering road connectivity with Ladakh impossible for seven to eight months. The pass is not just vital for the locals but strategically crucial for the security of India’s northern frontier.
–IANS
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National
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.