Ganga Expressway raises hopes of increase in tourist footfall at religious and heritage sites on the route

Lucknow: Car owners traveling between Meerut and Prayagraj or vice versa via the 594-km-long Ganga Expressway will have to pay a toll of Rs 1,800 for a single journey.The Uttar Pradesh Expressway Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) on Wednesday announced the toll for motor vehicles soon after the expressway was opened to the public. The toll for two-wheelers, three-wheelers and tractors will be Rs 905, while mini buses and commercial vehicles will have to pay Rs 2,840 for a single journey.Buses and trucks, heavy construction machinery and earth moving vehicles will be charged Rs 5,720 and Rs 8,760 respectively, while vehicles with seven or more axles (heavy haulers, trailers, heavy cranes or earth movers) will have to pay the highest user charge of Rs 11,265 for a single journey.Commuters returning within 24 hours via the Ganga Expressway will have to pay a slightly lower fare as private toll companies appointed to collect the toll have been asked to deduct 80% of the actual round-trip charge (a car owner will be asked to pay around Rs 2,880 instead of Rs 3,600, and a two-wheeler rider will have to pay Rs 1,448 for a return journey instead of Rs 1,810). Similar tariff will be applicable on other categories of motor vehicles also.The six-lane Ganga Expressway will connect 12 UP districts between Western, Central and Eastern UP. Commissioned within a period of three years and three months under the public-private partnership model with a budget of Rs 36,230 crore, the expressway has been divided into four packages – the first 129.70 km stretch was developed by IRB Infrastructure, while the remaining three sections 151.70 km, 155.70 km and 156.8 km were constructed by Adani Road Transport Limited (a unit of Adani Road Transport Limited). Adani Enterprises Limited).Currently, passengers traveling from Meerut to Prayagraj via Aligarh, Etah, Kanpur and Fatehpur take an average of 11 to 13 hours to cover the distance of 700 km. With the option to travel safely at a maximum speed of 120 km an hour, the travel time will now be reduced to six to seven hours.Security personnel, camera monitoring for safety and securityUPEIDA Additional CEO Srihari Pratap Shahi said adequate arrangements and deployment have been made to ensure the safety of passengers on the expressway. He said a total of nine roadside facilities would be monitored through cameras and security personnel would be deployed to maintain security.Six police patrol vehicles will patrol each package to control traffic and prevent violation of rules. Similarly, 18 advanced ambulances, eight heavy-duty cranes, eight towing vans and four hydraulic cranes (used to lift and move a completely damaged or immobilized vehicle) will be deployed to keep the expressway free from undue obstructions and hazards.Officials said passengers in distress can make an emergency call on the centralized number 14449. Designed to maintain speeds up to 120 km/h, two main plazas have been established on the main carriageway at the starting and ending points of the high-speed corridor along with 19 exits to provide first aid to the injured. At 21 locations, one ambulance with a driver and two paramedics will also be kept on standby.The demand for additional police patrol vans will be raised in the coming days if congestion or blockages are encountered at places where the Ganga Expressway intersects with national highways.AI-based cameras to send alerts during accidentsAdani Enterprises, which will collect toll on three packages of the Ganga Expressway, said artificial intelligence-based surveillance cameras will be used to generate real-time alerts to detect car accidents. “The emergency response system will be activated immediately to reach individuals seeking help. The AI ​​system is equipped to provide precise location with geographic coordinates to emergency response vehicles,” the company said in a statement. Adani Enterprises developed the 464 km extension (about 80% of the total project). According to estimates given by the UP government, the expressway will help save Rs 25,000-30,000 crore annually by improving logistics.

Sebastian Sawe of Kenya speaks during an interview with The Associated Press after winning the London Marathon in London, Monday, April 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Sébastien Sauvé made history at the London Marathon on Sunday morning, defending his title for the second consecutive year by becoming the first man to complete the marathon in under two hours under official race conditions. The 31-year-old Kenyan, known as the “Silent Assassin” in his training camp, completed the 26.2-mile (42.2-kilometer) course in 1:59:30, breaking a long-standing barrier in competitive racing and setting a new world record in the process. Finally, he picked up an Adidas trainer, marking the moment, with the time written on it in pen. It was only the fifth marathon of Savay’s career, yet he took control of the race and crossed the line clearly in what was described as an outrageous performance. Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha also finished second in the two-hour time on The Mall with a time of 1:59:41, while Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo finished third with a time of 2:00:28.

Sebastian Sawe of Kenya celebrates winning the men’s race at the London Marathon in London, Sunday, April 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

Sawe’s time erased 35 seconds from the previous official world record of 2:00:35 set by the late Kelvin Kiptom at the 2023 Chicago Marathon, and put him just 10 seconds faster than the unofficial 1:59:40 recorded by Eliud Kipchoge in 2019 under controlled conditions.

Prize money, bonuses and total earnings

If you were wondering how much the Kenyan star is taking home, Savay’s earnings from the race come from a mix of base prize money and a range of performance bonuses, creating a life-changing payout that could go a long way towards his family and his plans for the future. The base prize for winning the elite men’s race is $55,000 (approximately £40,000). Additionally, he qualified for every major performance bonus available:

This brings his confirmed prize pot to $355,000, approximately £263,000. Additional reports, including SunThere are suggestions that when sponsorship clauses and commercial bonuses are included, Saave could earn up to $1 million from the achievement. An Adidas athlete, he set the record wearing the Adios Pro Evo 3 shoes, which retail for around £450.

The winner of the men’s race, Sebastian Savay of Kenya, celebrates on the podium after the London Marathon, Sunday April 26, 2026. AP/PTI(AP04_27_2026_000113A)

Throughout the event, prize money has decreased from $55,000 for the winner to approximately $30,000 (£24,000) for second place and approximately $1,000 (£800) for 12th place.

what does he plan to do with the money

Sawe has already made it clear that his first priority is his family in Kenya. He plans to build a house for them and buy a car so they no longer have to walk, he also plans to complete a local church and assist relatives in traveling abroad. His father, Simeon, told the BBC through a translator: “The truth is, he promised us he would build us a house. And he said he would buy a car. So we won’t walk anymore.” “He also promised that he would finish building the church here – and that he would help us go abroad.” The family watched the race from rural western Kenya, where her mother Emily said she “jumped around the house” and was “so happy” when she crossed the line. He is planning big celebrations when he returns home as the world record holder.

Jati and Saave’s own words

About 59,000 runners took part in the London Marathon, but as Savay took the lead and maintained the lead, attention soon narrowed to the front in the men’s race. After the finale he credited the London crowd, telling Gabby Logan on the BBC: “First of all, I want to thank the crowd. “They help a lot. They helped a lot. You feel very happy and strong and moving forward. What comes to me today is not for me alone but for all of us in London.”

Sebastian Sawe of Kenya crosses the finish line to win the men’s race at the London Marathon in London on Sunday, April 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

Savay’s preparation that day was quite simple, he said that before the race he got energy from “two slices of bread with ham and a cup of tea”.

context behind the performance

Savay served as a pacemaker at the 2022 Seville Half-Marathon before rising through the ranks, and this latest win marks a second consecutive London Marathon title. For years, the two-hour marathon hurdle was considered out of reach in official competition. Not only did Savay break it, but he did so with great tenacity, with another runner also falling short of the mark on the same day. The result is one of the most important performances in long distance running, both for time and for the variation that is considered achievable in race conditions.

मुजफ्फरनगर 2017 में हिंदू सुरक्षा सेवा संघ की जिला कार्यकारिणी ने प्रधानमंत्री और उत्तर प्रदेश सरकार के नाम प्रशासनिक अधिकारियों को ज्ञापन सौंपकर गौमाता को राष्ट्रमाता घोषित करने की मांग की थी। यह ज्ञापन जिला अध्यक्ष शैंकी धीमान एवं कार्यकारी जिला अध्यक्ष अंकित कुमार के नेतृत्व में जिलाधिकारी कार्यालय सहित सदर, बुढ़ाना एवं खतौली तहसीलों में संबंधित अधिकारियों को दिया गया।

संघ पदाधिकारियों ने कहा कि यह मांग सिर्फ धार्मिक आस्था का मामला नहीं है, बल्कि भारतीय संस्कृति, परंपरा और सामाजिक मूल्यों के संरक्षण से जुड़ा मुद्दा है.

भारतीय संस्कृति में गौ माता के महत्व का उल्लेख किया।

ज्ञापन में संगठन की ओर से कहा गया कि भारतीय सभ्यता एवं संस्कृति में गौ माता का स्थान अत्यंत पूजनीय एवं आदरणीय रहा है। प्राचीन काल से ही गौ माता को मातृत्व, सेवा, समृद्धि और करुणा का प्रतीक माना जाता रहा है।

संघ ने यह भी बताया कि वेदों, पुराणों और अन्य धार्मिक ग्रंथों में गाय माता की महिमा का विस्तार से वर्णन किया गया है और यह भारतीय समाज में एकता और सह-अस्तित्व का संदेश देती है।

राष्ट्रहित एवं सांस्कृतिक संरक्षण से जुड़ा प्रस्ताव

संगठन ने अपने ज्ञापन में कहा कि आने वाली पीढ़ियों को भारतीय परंपराओं और सांस्कृतिक मूल्यों से जोड़ने के लिए गाय माता को राष्ट्रमाता घोषित करना एक आवश्यक कदम हो सकता है। यह पहल ग्रामीण समाज के सांस्कृतिक संरक्षण और सशक्तिकरण से भी जुड़ी थी।

ज्ञापन में यह भी कहा गया है कि गाय आधारित जीवनशैली पर्यावरण संरक्षण और ग्रामीण अर्थव्यवस्था को मजबूत करने में महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका निभा सकती है।

गोरक्षा के लिए सख्त कानून बनाने की मांग

संघ ने अपनी प्रमुख मांगों में गौमाता को राष्ट्रमाता घोषित करने के साथ-साथ गौवंश की सुरक्षा के लिए प्रभावी एवं सख्त कानून बनाने की आवश्यकता पर बल दिया।

इसके अलावा देशभर में गौशालाओं के विकास और संरक्षण के लिए विशेष योजनाएं लागू करने और गाय आधारित प्राकृतिक खेती और जैविक उत्पादों को बढ़ावा देने की भी मांग की गई.

ग्रामीण रोजगार एवं प्राकृतिक खेती को बढ़ावा देने का सुझाव

ज्ञापन में यह भी कहा गया है कि गाय आधारित खेती के तरीके ग्रामीण क्षेत्रों में रोजगार के नए अवसर पैदा कर सकते हैं। प्राकृतिक खेती को बढ़ावा देने से किसानों की आय में वृद्धि के साथ-साथ पर्यावरण संरक्षण को भी मजबूती मिल सकती है।

संगठन ने सरकार से इस दिशा में बड़े पैमाने पर योजनाएं लागू करने की अपेक्षा की.

स्कूल-कॉलेजों में जागरूकता अभियान चलाने की मांग

हिंदू सुरक्षा सेवा संघ ने शैक्षणिक संस्थानों में भारतीय संस्कृति और गोरक्षा से संबंधित जागरूकता कार्यक्रम आयोजित करने का भी सुझाव दिया। उन्होंने कहा कि इससे युवाओं को पारंपरिक मूल्यों से जोड़ने में मदद मिल सकती है.

ऐसे कार्यक्रमों को सांस्कृतिक जागरूकता एवं सामाजिक सहभागिता बढ़ाने में उपयोगी बताया गया।

ज्ञापन सौंपने के दौरान संगठन के कई पदाधिकारी मौजूद रहे।

ज्ञापन सौंपने के दौरान जिला प्रभारी अंशुल तायल, जिला अध्यक्ष शैंकी धीमान, कार्यकारी जिला अध्यक्ष अंकित कुमार, जिला उपाध्यक्ष शुभम राठी, जिला मंत्री हरिभान सिंह, सदर तहसील मंत्री सोनू कुमार सहित कार्यकारिणी सदस्य राम सिंह, टिंकू सैनी, अभिषेक, राजेंद्र तायल, पुष्पेंद्र शर्मा, नितिन सैनी व गौरक्षक मोनू व अन्य कार्यकर्ता मौजूद रहे।

संगठन के पदाधिकारियों ने उम्मीद जताई कि सरकार उनकी मांगों पर सकारात्मक विचार कर आवश्यक कदम उठाएगी.

हिंदू सुरक्षा सेवा संघ की ओर से सौंपे गए इस ज्ञापन के माध्यम से प्रशासन के समक्ष गौ माता को राष्ट्रमाता घोषित करने और गौ वंश की रक्षा से जुड़े मुद्दों को प्रमुखता से उठाया गया, जिसे संगठन ने भारतीय संस्कृति, ग्रामीण अर्थव्यवस्था और पर्यावरण संरक्षण से जुड़ा एक महत्वपूर्ण विषय बताया है.

रमन प्रसाद गोस्वामी मां डाट काली मंदिर के नौवें महंत थे। उनके निधन की खबर के बाद दून में शोक की लहर दौड़ गई। देर रात उनका पार्थिव शरीर सुभाष नगर स्थित उनके घर पहुंचा। उनका अंतिम संस्कार गुरुवार सुबह 10 बजे हरिद्वार में किया जाएगा।

उत्तराखंड-यूपी सीमा पर स्थित मां डाट काली मंदिर में रमन प्रसाद गोस्वामी 2007 से नौवें महंत के रूप में सेवारत थे। महंत सवा दो साल से गंभीर बीमारी से जूझ रहे थे। उनका दिल्ली के एक अस्पताल में इलाज भी चल रहा था. 25 अप्रैल को महंत रमन प्रसाद गोस्वामी की तबीयत अचानक खराब होने पर उन्हें दिल्ली के एक अस्पताल में भर्ती कराया गया था. यहां उसका इलाज चला लेकिन बुधवार शाम पांच बजे उसकी मौत हो गई।

महंत रमन प्रसाद गोस्वामी से पहले, उनके पिता महंत भगवती प्रसाद गोस्वामी 2006 तक मंदिर के महंत थे। उनकी मृत्यु के बाद, महंत रमन प्रसाद गोस्वामी ने 2007 में गद्दी संभाली। महंत रमन प्रसाद गोस्वामी के परिवार में उनकी पत्नी और बेटे संयम गोस्वामी और शुभम गोस्वामी हैं।

देहरादून नगर निगम बोर्ड बैठक: हंगामे के बीच आठ प्रस्तावों पर चर्चा, तीन ही पारित; किन्नरों के लिए बधाइयों की रकम तय है.

Former FBI Director James Comey surrendered to US authorities on Wednesday after being charged over social media posts that prosecutors allege contained threats against President Donald Trump.Comey arrived at the US Attorney’s office in Alexandria, Virginia, where he was taken into custody before appearing in court, CNN reported. He faces two charges, which include threatening the life of the President and sending threats across the state.Comey’s preliminary hearing took place in a federal court in Alexandria and lasted less than 10 minutes. He was wearing a dark suit and did not address the court, entering and exiting through a side entrance normally used by defendants.The judge allowed him to leave without any conditions on his release. “I don’t understand why they would be required this time,” the judge said during the hearing.The indictment stems from a post Comey made on Instagram last May, which showed seashells arranged to form the number ’86 47′, with the caption: ‘Making spectacular seashells on my beach walk.’Prosecutors argue that the message could reasonably be construed as a threat to Trump. The number ’86’ is a slang term that can mean ‘to get rid of’ someone, while ’47’ is seen as a reference to Trump as the 47th President of the United States.Comey removed the post shortly after publishing it and said it was not intended to be threatening. He said he saw it as a political message and was unaware of any violent connotations.In a video message posted a day before the surrender, Comey said he was ‘still innocent’ and planned to fight the charges in court.Comey’s legal team indicated that they would challenge the case, arguing that the Justice Department is engaging in selective and vindictive prosecution.The charges were approved by a federal grand jury in North Carolina and are the second criminal case brought against Comey during Trump’s current administration. A previous case accusing him of lying to Congress was dismissed by a federal judge.The case comes amid heightened political tensions, with Trump previously demanding legal action against his alleged opponents. Legal experts are divided on the strength of the case. Some have questioned whether the posts meet the legal threshold for criminal threat, particularly under First Amendment protections.The case is expected to proceed to North Carolina, where further hearings will determine the next steps in the prosecution.

New Delhi: West Bengal may be on the cusp of “Poriborton” with exit polls predicting a hung assembly, marking the end of Mamata Banerjee’s 15-year-old rule in the state. Most exit polls predict a close contest between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and BJP In West Bengal.And the second big surprise, if one pollster is to be believed, could come from the South where the actor-politician Victory‘TVK’ can end DMK-AIADMK monopoly Tamil Nadu Emerged as the largest party. However, most other pollsters have given a clear lead to the DMK-Congress alliance in the state.

In Assam, the BJP is projected to score a hat-trick of victories with a big win over the Congress, which is struggling in the northeastern state.While in Kerala, the CPM-led LDF may signal the end of the only Left government in the country. In PuducherryThe ruling NDA is likely to retain power with a comprehensive victory over the Congress-DMK alliance.The exit polls released on Wednesday after polling concluded in four states and one Union Territory (UT) presented an inconclusive picture where, if the exit poll data holds true, strong incumbents, rising challenges and new entrants could come together to shape the election outcome.With results due May 4, projections show both continuity and churn across the region, underscoring how state-specific dynamics continue to define voter behavior.

opinion poll

Bengal nail biter!

In West Bengal, the numbers point to one of the tightest contests in recent memory.While individual exit polls vary, the broad trend suggests an almost evenly polarized voter divide between the TMC and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has left no stone unturned to breach Mamata’s bastion.According to surveys, both parties got around 145 seats each in the 294-member assembly, while smaller parties and independent candidates were expected to get only a marginal presence.Such projections indicate possible structural shifts not only in competitive races but also in state politics.If exit polls are to be believed, the BJP, once a peripheral force in West Bengal, has consolidated its position as the main challenger, ending the dominance of the ruling TMC.At the same time, TMC’s ability to maintain parity in these projections shows that the incumbent still enjoys significant grassroots support, especially in key districts where high turnout was recorded.Nearly 90 per cent turnout was recorded in both phases of the Bengal elections, the highest since independence, reflecting intense voter participation.Districts such as East Bardhaman, Hooghly, Nadia and Howrah reported particularly strong participation, suggesting that the electoral stakes were widely recognized by voters across sectors. High turnout in tightly contested elections often introduces an additional layer of unpredictability, making the final outcome difficult to predict despite near-identical projections.

A surprise awaits Tamil Nadu?

Despite Axis My India’s bold predictions, the election story in Tamil Nadu is more nuanced.Most exit polls indicate that the DMK-led alliance led by Chief Minister MK Stalin is on track to retain power, although with a smaller margin than its 2021 performance.This will be a significant political moment in a state historically characterized by alternating mandates between two Dravidian chiefs. Continuing to retain power would indicate a degree of stability and voter support that incumbents have not often enjoyed in Tamil Nadu.However, the emergence of Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), led by actor-politician Vijay, brings a new change to the traditionally bipolar contest.While most estimates avoid placing TVK ahead of the established parties, they consistently indicate that the party is cutting into existing vote bases. Even conservative estimates suggest that TVK could influence the results in many constituencies by redistributing votes, while more optimistic estimates, such as those from Axis My India, point to a far more disruptive scenario where the party could secure between 98 and 120 seats.If such projections materialise, Tamil Nadu could witness a fundamental restructuring in its political structure, moving away from the long-standing DMK-AIADMK duopoly towards a more competitive, multi-polar structure. At the same time, projections for the AIADMK indicate partial improvement, but also highlight continued organizational and leadership challenges that may limit its ability to fully capitalize on anti-incumbency sentiment.

Status quo in Assam?

In contrast, Assam seems to be moving towards political continuity. Exit polls from multiple agencies agree on a clear result of BJP’s victory under the leadership of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.Surveys suggest that the BJP may get around 90 seats, far ahead of the Congress, which is projected to have around 30 seats, while others will have a small share of the assembly.These estimates reinforce the BJP’s strong position in the state, where it has consistently expanded its organizational base and electoral reach in successive election cycles.For the Congress, the numbers underline persistent structural challenges, with limited evidence of revival despite efforts to recalibrate its campaign strategy. If the result is in line with exit poll projections, the BJP will come to power for the third consecutive time, further strengthening its dominance in the northeastern region.

Congress predicted to win Kerala

Kerala perhaps presents the most analytically complex scenario of the five competitions. Exit polls show that there will be a tough fight in the elections between the Left Democratic Front and the Congress-led United Democratic Front.While the opinion poll indicates a slight lead for the UDF with around 72 seats in the 140-member assembly, the LDF is projected to lag behind at around 63 seats, pointing to a narrow margin that could change based on constituency-level variations.Also, differing estimates from agencies like Axis MyIndia and PMARK highlight the inherent uncertainty in the Kerala competition.While Axis My India suggested a wide margin in favor of the UDF, PMARQ predicted a majority for the ruling LDF, indicating that the final result would remain open.This variability reflects the unique electoral behavior of Kerala, where small fluctuations in vote share can lead to significant seat swings due to the state’s competitive constituency landscape.The broader significance of the Kerala elections is a departure from historical patterns. The state has traditionally alternated between the LDF and the UDF, but LDF’s consecutive victories in 2021 disrupted this cycle.Therefore, the 2026 election becomes a test of whether the break with tradition represents long-term change or a temporary deviation. The LDF’s defeat will have ramifications beyond the state, potentially weakening the national presence of the Left, for which Kerala remains a major stronghold.The narrative of the campaign in Kerala has also evolved over time, with the early stages dominated by issues such as corruption allegations, economic concerns, administrative disputes and local grievances, including rehabilitation challenges after the Wayanad landslide and the Sabarimala gold heist controversy. These factors have contributed to more issue-driven competition, where voter decisions may depend on regime performance as well as political alignment.

NDA again in Puducherry?

In Puducherry, exit polls suggest a clear result compared to some larger states. The locally ruling NDA, led by the AINRC-BJP alliance, is expected to retain power against the Congress-DMK alliance. The high voter turnout, which was recorded at around 89.83 per cent, indicated strong public participation, while many constituencies witnessed close contests.The entry of Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam has added an additional layer of competition in Puducherry as well, especially in constituencies with socio-political overlap with neighboring Tamil Nadu. However, despite this additional complexity, most estimates suggest that the existing coalition has retained decisive gains, reflecting either continued voter support or fragmentation within the opposition vote base.According to exit polls, some common themes have emerged in all five contests.First, the role of new political entrants, particularly in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, highlights the fluidity of voter preferences and the potential for rapid change in the established political system. Second, the varying degrees of gain or loss of incumbency across states reflects the importance of local governance and regional narratives, particularly in Bengal where SIR has played an important role.Like all exit polls, these estimates should be interpreted with caution. Although they provide a directional sense of electoral mood, they are not definitive predictors of the final results. Variations in sampling, methodology, and last-mile voter behavior can produce results that differ from exit poll estimates.With vote counting scheduled for May 4, the final verdict will determine whether the trends shown by these projections translate into actual election results or whether voters deliver surprises that defy pre-result expectations. Until then, exit polls serve as an informed but provisional view of the politically dynamic moments in the states and union territories going to the polls.