A parliamentary standing committee on the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), in its report submitted to Parliament on Wednesday, flagged concerns over the reactive nature of highway maintenance budgeting, underutilisation of research and development funds, and slow progress in key projects such as port connectivity under the Bharatmala project.. Parliamentary panel raises concerns over highway upkeep, R&D fund utilisation and delays in key Bharatmala port connectivity projects. (Representative photo). The report highlighted that while overall budget utilisation might suggest good absorption of funds, there is wide variation across verticals.. “The ministry stated that budget utilisation has been consistently above 99% in recent years, with 90% utilisation expected in the current year with Rs. 870 crore pending. The Committee observes that while the aggregate capital head shows high utilisation, this figure masks significant sub-head level variations: Highway Research at 80.59% under-utilisation in 2025-26; MMLP at under 20% utilisation; and Parvatmala at 53% utilisation. The Committee is of the view that aggregate utilisation figures, while broadly positive, should not mask specific areas of persistent under-absorption,” the report said.. The standing committee on transport, tourism and culture, in its 390th report on demands for grants, recommended that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways adopt specific, measurable annual targets to reduce road crashes and fatalities under its outcome budget framework.. In the ropeway sector under the Parvatmala Pariyojana too, the committee recommended expediting notification of comprehensive national standards for safety and operations, along with a vendor development programme to boost domestic manufacturing. The report comes after the March 22 ropeway trolley crash in Chhattisgarh that resulted in the death of a woman. Currently, eight projects covering 36 km have been awarded, and five projects are under implementation, with the Varanasi Ropeway targeted for operationalisation and 10 new projects planned for award in 2026–27, the committee noted. To be sure, the ropeway is not operated by MoRTH.. On maintenance planning of highways, the committee said it continues to rely on incremental precedents rather than scientific assessment of asset deterioration, resulting in disruptions to systematic repair cycles. It noted a recurring pattern of underestimation in budget estimates (BE), followed by sharp upward revisions. In 2024–25, maintenance allocation was projected at ₹2,500 crore (BE) and later revised upward by 86.4% to ₹4,660 crore (RE). For 2025–26, the BE was ₹4,555 crore, revised to ₹4,895.02 crore, while actual expenditure till January 2026 stood at ₹3,744.31 crore, leaving around 18% to be spent in the final two months.. To address this, the committee recommended a shift to a “zero-based maintenance budgeting” framework, under which annual projections woul 

 The government has blocked 652 mobile applications over concerns related to data security and “other malpractices,” the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.. The government has blocked 652 mobile applications over concerns related to data security.. In a written reply to a question raised by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Minister of State for MeitY Jitin Prasada said the blocking was carried out under Section 69A of the IT Act, which allows the government to restrict access to online content in the interest of sovereignty, security and public order. However, the government’s response did not address several specific questions raised by Gandhi. The government did not provide a list of Chinese-origin apps that may still be operating in India under rebranded versions, nor did it clarify what action has been taken against such entities.. HT reached out to IT Ministry officials to ascertain how many of the 652 blocked apps are of Chinese origin but did not receive a response. However, China has claimed that since June 2020, India has banned over 300 Chinese mobile applications across sectors such as social media, e-commerce and gaming, as per the minutes of a World Trade Organisation Council for Trade in Services meeting dated July 25, 2025, which records proceedings from June 13.. India’s first round of app bans in June 2020 came in the immediate aftermath of the Galwan Valley clash, which escalated tensions between India and China. The government then said the 59 apps were blocked over concerns that they were collecting and transmitting user data to servers outside India. Among the apps banned, and which remain banned to this day, include TikTok, PUBG, WeChat and Shein.. Over the years, several Chinese apps banned by India have resurfaced on Android and iOS app stores, often under rebranded or altered versions, a concern also flagged by Gandhi in his question.. In 2022, then MoS MeitY Rajeev Chandrasekhar, in response to a question in the Lok Sabha, said the Ministry of Home Affairs had identified 348 mobile apps, developed across multiple countries including China, that were collecting user data and transmitting it to servers outside India without authorisation. Acting on the MHA’s request, MeitY blocked these apps. The latest figure of 652 apps suggests the number has nearly doubled in four years.. On surveillance, the government, in its parliamentary response on Wednesday, highlighted new CCTV security rules such as disclosing hardware origins, testing for vulnerabilities, and mandatory lab certification. It said 507 models are now certified and that non-compliant devices cannot be procured by government departments. However, it did not share how many CCTV cameras have been bought in the past five years or where they came from.. Further, the ministry did not elaborate on the security protocols governing AI systems used by the government or identify any foreign AI platforms curre 

 Maharashtra Police has arrested a man in Mumbai for allegedly plotting the murder of his wife, Geeta Chaudhary, in a calculated act driven by an extramarital affair. The case, which initially appeared to be a suicide, came to light a year and a half later after persistent investigation revealed the chilling details.. The investigation found that Sakaram had tried twice to kill Geeta before resorting to hiring people to murder her. (Praful Gangurde/HT). The incident took place on October 14, 2024, when Geeta, 34, was found hanging from a ceiling fan in her kitchen. The man has been identified as Sakaram.. Police initially treated it as an accidental death and registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR). The post-mortem at the time failed to determine a clear cause of death, and Geeta’s body was subsequently transported to Rajasthan for her last rites, according to a report by NDTV.. However, suspicion arose within her family. Her father, Bhanaram Chaudhary, refused to accept that his daughter would take her own life, the report further added.. Also read | 18-year-old held in Canada for killing Indian student in suspected hate crime. Convinced that foul play was involved, he lodged a formal complaint and pressed for the case to be reinvestigated. Geeta’s body was exhumed, and a second post-mortem confirmed that she had died from strangulation.. The investigation found that Sakaram had tried twice to kill Geeta before resorting to hiring people to murder her.. Also read | Chargesheet names seven in kabaddi promoter’s murder case. The first attempt involved staging a road accident in Powai, and the second was physical assault. After these failures, he enlisted his friend, Shankar Dangi, and two accomplices, Babu (also known as Raghav or Amarchand Gayari) and Dinesh Gayri, to carry out the murder for a sum of ₹6.7 lakh.. On October 14, they strangled Geeta and staged the scene to appear as a suicide.. During questioning, Sakaram initially misled investigators but eventually admitted to the crime. He revealed that he had been involved in an affair with a woman named Dimple Chaudhary and wanted to live with her. Geeta, his wife, became an “obstacle” to this.. All four accused—Sakaram, Shankar Dangi, Babu, and Dinesh Gayri—have been arrested. 

 Singer Zubeen Garg drowned accidentally, and there is no evidence of foul play, Singapore’s state coroner’s court ruled on Wednesday. State coroner Adam Nakhoda said the court had no reason to differ from the conclusions of the police, which determined that the incident was a tragic accident.. Singer Zubeen Garg. (PTI). Garg, who was in Singapore for a cultural festival and was scheduled to perform, died on September 19, 2025, during a private yacht outing. Evidence presented during the coroner’s inquiry suggested that Garg had alcohol before boarding the yacht and appeared visibly unsteady. Witnesses told the court that he initially wore a life jacket when he first entered the waters, but later removed it, citing poor fit.. The court found Garg returned to the yacht in an exhausted state and attempted a second swim. “Despite being offered a properly sized life jacket, he refused to wear it,” the court said. It added that those present tried to persuade him to use safety gear.. The Singapore Police said video evidence reviewed during the inquiry showed Garg’s swimming was laboured and unsteady. He turned back towards the yacht, possibly due to fatigue or physical discomfort, before becoming unresponsive in the water.. Other swimmers quickly moved to assist him and brought him back on board. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was administered, and emergency services were alerted. Garg was taken to Singapore General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.. A post-mortem examination confirmed drowning as the cause of death. Toxicology findings showed a high level of alcohol in his bloodstream, which the court said would have significantly impaired his coordination and judgment.. The coroner noted Garg’s medical history, including hypertension and epilepsy, but said there was insufficient evidence to conclude that a seizure occurred at the time of the incident.. The court addressed concerns Garg’s family had raised and said the investigation had been comprehensive and found no indication that anyone had forced or coerced him into the water or contributed to his death through deliberate action.. Garg’s death sparked outrage, protests, and demands for accountability. Separate criminal proceedings are pending in Assam against individuals connected to Garg’s Singapore trip.. The Assam government formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into Garg’s death. Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described the incident as a plain and simple murder.. A probe team travelled to Singapore in October last year following diplomatic intervention. After nearly three months of investigation, the SIT filed a 12,000-page chargesheet in December 2025. Seven people, including the Garg’s cousin and an Assam Police officer, have been arrested.. The Assam government formed a fast-track court in October to hear the case. The high court approved day-to-day hearings in the matter this month. 

 Sonia Gandhi, senior Congress leader, is stable and being checked by doctors for possible infection in the stomach and urinary tract, said Delhi’s Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in a statement on Wednesday, a day after the politician was admitted.. Senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on the occasion of the 140th foundation day of the Indian National Congress on December 28, 2025. (Vipin Kumar/Hindustan Times). Sonia Gandhi was admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital on Tuesday at 10:22 pm, news agency ANI quoted Dr Ajay Swaroop, chairman of the medical facility, as saying.. “She is stable. Doctors are conducting further investigations to check for possible infection in the stomach and urinary tract. A team of doctors is closely monitoring her condition, and antibiotics have been administered,” Dr Swaroop said.. Gandhi was reportedly admitted after experiencing respiratory issues at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. Ajay Swaroop said that following a detailed medical examination, Sonia Gandhi’s bronchial asthma was mildly exacerbated by the combined effects of cold weather and prevailing pollution levels in Delhi, ANI reported.. As a precautionary measure, doctors decided to admit her for observation and further medical management.. Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP and Sonia Gandhi’s son, on Wednesday cancelled his scheduled official visit to Kerala due to his mother’s health concerns.. He was scheduled to kick off his election campaign for the upcoming Assembly polls in Kerala today with a major rally in Kozhikode. Senior Congress MP and party president Mallikarjun Kharge later left for poll-bound Kerala in place of Rahul Gandhi.. The veteran leader was also admitted last year in June due to stomach-related issues. She was kept under observation at the hospital’s gastro department.. Gandhi was admitted to Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital in Himachal Pradesh’s Shimla earlier the same month – on June 7 last year.