New Delhi: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will deploy AI-powered dashcam analytics services (DAS) on approximately 40,000 km of NH network that is under operation and maintenance contract. The decision has been taken amid complaints from passengers against ride quality and road conditions.For effective monitoring, NHAI has divided the country into five zones and contracts have been given for two years.This week, the Highways Ministry informed the Rajya Sabha that the number of public complaints on the quality of highway construction and condition of the riding surface of the NH has registered an increase of more than 60% this year compared to last year. As of March 12, such complaints increased from 7,030 to 11,340 in 2024-25. The ministry also said that 9,977 complaints have been resolved this year.An NHAI official said that dashcams will be installed in every highway patrol vehicle and these will record all the details including 30 types of defects and anomalies on the highways. The primary focus will be on the condition of the pavement, which will include issues such as potholes, cracks, ruts and surface deterioration as well as blurred lane markings, damaged crash barriers and non-functional street lights.“The recordings will be fed into a specialized IT platform, which will have dedicated modules for data management and AI analytics. It will generate reports within a day and identify faults. Based on this, instructions will be issued to agencies and officials concerned to rectify the issues,” an official said.The system will also identify other safety concerns, including illegal center openings, unauthorized signboards, encroachments and illegal parking.The survey will be conducted at least once a week, with night-time inspections conducted at least once a month to assess the performance of road signage, pavement markings, road studs and highway lighting. It will also cover important issues like water stagnation, missing drainage covers, vegetation growth and condition of bus bays.

Caravan tourism is seeing a surge in popularity, driven by a growing tribe who eschew hotels and hyper-curated experiences in favor of traveling at their own pace, eschewing room service for spontaneity.Soon after sunrise, amidst the misty folds of Igatpuri and the Sahyadri ranges, Vaibhav Surve opens the door of his caravan and steps out barefoot. There are no hotel corridors, no reception desks, no buffet timings to worry about, only rolling hills in the distance, birdsong breaking the silence and a boiling kettle inside a compact kitchen on wheels.“You see nature in its raw, untouched form,” Surve says of his road trip in December with friends. “This is something a hotel room can never provide.”Across India, a small but growing number of travelers are discovering caravan tourism – particularly the joys of leisurely, in-depth travel. This form of tourism, or leisure, is not new around the world, but it is getting a renewed boost in India, largely led by urban explorers. Maharashtra Who have shunned crowded resorts, rigid itineraries and hyper-curated experiences.From sunrise drives on the Konkan coast to unusual sojourns in the forests of Tadoba or the winding Ghats of Goa, caravans are offering something rare in modern travel: control. You decide where to stop, how long to wait, and when to move on. Depending on the place and the circuit offered, renting a caravan costs between Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000 per day. It’s not cheap, but the freedom is addictive for those who can afford it.Slow promotion, growing marketThis increase in interest is happening despite poor and irregular promotion by governments. Policies are in place, incentive schemes are announced, but at the grassroots level, awareness is still largely driven by word of mouth, social media and early adopters.“Mumbai is emerging as a major market for caravans,” says Prateek Athalaye of The Vacay Vans, one of Maharashtra’s well-known caravan providers. “Travelers are opting for everything – from raw camping to luxury city-to-city travel. “After managing Vans for six years, I have seen how increased awareness is driving strong demand.”This demand cuts across different age groups. Young professionals want road trips without the hassle of hotel booking. Families want safety, hygiene and flexibility. Elderly travelers prefer to keep their bed, toilet and kitchen with them at all times. Female travelers and pet owners, often deprived of traditional travel options, find caravans liberating.Akshay Mhadik, who recently traveled in a rented caravan, calls it “the perfect blend of adventure and homey comfort”. He misses a huge bed, a compact kitchen for quick meals and the luxury of choosing a destination at will. “If you’ve ever dreamed of picking a spot on a map and going there without worrying about a hotel or packing lights, this is the way to go,” he says.Why does Maharashtra fit into the caravan dream?Maharashtra is suitable for caravan tourism due to its 720 km long coastline, dense forests, heritage towns, wine trails, highways and hill ranges.Before the pandemic, in 2018-19, the state recorded 12.4 crore visitors, which translated into about 3.1 crore travel groups annually. Industry estimates suggest that to cater to even a 1% share of this market, around 1,725 ​​caravans would be required – enough to generate around Rs 465 crore annually in rental revenue at current rates.The state government has launched a caravan tourism policy with incentives aimed at attracting private players and young entrepreneurs. But industry insiders say implementation remains uneven, leaving much of the momentum to the private sector.The private sector is full of ideas to increase caravan travel but is hampered by a lack of finance options, says Rahul Soman, director of Vacations on Wheels (WOW), which launched caravan rentals in Maharashtra in 2016, the first to do so. “Individual investors are now keen to invest in Caravan, as Mahindra Caravan is being offered with bank finance option. But this business still does not fit into any finance scheme of the financial institutions.“The organic growth of the market is such that WOW Caravan is setting up a network of dedicated parking spots at tourist locations across the state. This will give all caravan operators access to facilities at scenic parking locations near lakes, beaches, forests, forts, hills or river banks – such as clean sewage disposal facilities, and water and electricity supply. “However, funds to set up this caravan eco-system are difficult to get without any collateral,” says Soman.Another state where caravan holidays are seeing interest is Rajasthan, which, enthusiasts say, offers freedom, raw beauty and cultural immersion. Aman Verma, who recently hired a caravan to tour the state, recalls evenings spent around campfires, listening to folk music and watching Kalbeliya dance. Seeing the golden hues of the Thar Desert near Jaisalmer, or spending the night under the starry sky, feels truly magical, he says.“We sampled local sweets and explored havelis,” says Verma. “Our caravan became a cozy home on wheels, giving us the opportunity to stop wherever the view struck – whether it was wild camping in tranquil desert spots, near ancient temples, or pulling up for spontaneous tea with hospitable locals who shared stories. Rajasthan in a van or caravan isn’t just travel – it’s the royal, colorful heart of India, Living the rhythm of an open horizon one day at a time,” says Verma, who has a YouTube travel channel.private initiativeOne of the biggest initiatives in the caravan sector has come from private player Campervan Group, which has signed an MoU with it. Tamil Nadu The government is committing Rs 185 crore over the next three to five years to develop caravan infrastructure and entrepreneurs. The project is also expected to create 300 direct entrepreneurs and around 3,000 indirect jobs.Industry watchers believe that Maharashtra could be next. With Mumbai’s large base of road-trip enthusiasts and the state’s natural advantages, similar partnerships can unlock economic value if policy intent is translated into action.Campervan also recently announced a nationwide CARS (Caravan-as-Rental-Service) entrepreneurship program, which has a simple idea: to turn caravan tourism into a structured industry, not just a niche travel fad.Founder and director KM Vandhan says the goal was to establish caravan tourism as a large-scale industry in India. The company has contributed to the drafting of state tourism policies and the national AIS 207 Trailer Caravan Guidelines, which are now awaiting notification.To support operators and travelers, Campervan has also created TravelKit, a booking platform that connects caravan renters with operators and secure parking locations – from farmhouses and homestays to resorts and private land. Agrotourism in particular is seen as a win-win, providing farmers with a source of additional income.‘Not just a destination’However, for travelers like Surve, the appeal of caravan tourism remains intensely personal. “It’s not just about the destination,” he says. “It’s about waking up to the hills, sharing a meal under the open sky and feeling like a part of the landscape.”In a country racing towards fast, flashy tourism, caravan travel is quietly arguing for something slower, softer – and perhaps more meaningful. And on India’s long highways, that argument is finding more listeners by the day.

Passengers sitting (right or left) can see the Pyramids of Giza. weary pilots of air india Flights to and from the West now often make this declaration when flying over Egypt on extremely long routes imposed by the US–Israel war against Iran on days with clear visibility.Since February 28, going west from India – except for the west coast of North America – means flying over the Arabian Sea while avoiding Pakistan (for Indian carriers) and Iranian airspace (for all); Then turn right over Oman to Muscat, Saudi Arabia or beyond, via Cairo to Europe, Britain and North America. It is the same way back also. The war-zone air traffic corridor covering the airfields of Afghanistan (starting from Pakistan for Indian carriers), Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel has a deserted look due to almost all the aircraft flying under this route. Like parts of Saudi Arabia, utility corridors in the region are also being affected by the war.Impact: Air India’s Delhi-London non-stop flight time has increased by 50% from around eight hours after the Iran war – when both Pakistan (for Indian carriers) and Afghanistan airspace remained open – to now more than 12 hours. Its Mumbai-New York 13-14 hour non-stop has become onestop via Rome and the journey time is now close to 21 hours. IndiGo uses wide-body aircraft from Norway’s Norse Atlantic airline, which completely bypasses West Asia as advised by the EU regulator. They fly over the Arabian Sea to Africa, and then turn right to fly north to Cairo and beyond. Same route for everyone in return.Since February 28, travelers have faced a steep rise in airfares and a sharp decline in travel options due to the Iran war, while the Big Three – Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad – are out of the picture for the time being. Airlines have seen their operating costs skyrocket, less attractive Gulf flights, and fatigued pilots at the controls of their widebody planes. Here’s how it’s affecting various stakeholders:

Indian operatorShrinkable Network: Their daily flights between India and the West used to be between 400 and 500, this number has fallen sharply since February 28 due to the closure of airports in Bahrain and Doha, while in the UAE they remain open sporadically and offer slots. There are regular flights and air flights to only a few places in the region these days, such as parts of Saudi Arabia and Muscat.Half of IndiGo’s 300 daily international flights were to the west and have now dropped to a handful. Air India Express had 110 daily West Asia connections, which has now reduced to 50 “ad-hoc” connections. Air India had 254 weekly scheduled flights to West Asia and that has come down to 30-40. Akasa and SpiceJet have also seen a reduction in their Gulf flights.Rising Operating Costs: Since the Iran war began, aviation fuel (ATF) prices have effectively risen every time the rupee has hit a new low, which is now a daily feature. It currently costs around $817 per kilo liter (KL) in both Delhi and Mumbai – up from around $779 last month. But the INR-to-USD exchange rate has gone from Rs 91 to Rs 93.30. So all dollar-denominated costs – like lease rent and maintenance – have gone up.On top of that, routes have become much longer, meaning expensive fuel will cost a lot more. A Boeing 787 burns about five tons of fuel every hour and a B777 burns about 7.5 tons of fuel. If the flight time is increased by two hours, an additional 10-15 tons are burned per flight. At $817 per tonne and Rs 93.30 per tonne for international flights by domestic airlines, the additional expenditure on fuel alone comes to Rs 80,000 per hour. Air India has 358 weekly flights to the West – covering Europe, the UK and North America – which are still operating.Indian operators upload more fuel than usual from India these days so that planes can return home with passengers instead of getting stranded if fighting escalates in West Asia. More fuel means heavier aircraft. And the heavier the plane, the more fuel it burns.“At the current operating costs, it does not make sense to operate flights to the west. We’re doing this as a commitment to keeping our flyers engaged. Flying a plane has always meant challenging nature, with heavy metal tubes flying through the air. Now, after the Iran war, they are challenging economics also,” said a senior official. Airlines’ appeals to the government for some relief on ATF excise duty or VAT have so far been in vain.The effect of this is shocking for everyone, especially the Maharaja. AI Group, IndiGo and Akasa have imposed fuel surcharge ranging from Rs 199 to $200 on their flights. Insurance costs for flights to West Asia have increased to Rs 30-40 lakh for narrow-body return trips and Rs 90 lakh to Rs 1 crore for wide-body round trips.tired crewSince the aircraft are flying very long routes to and from the West, Air India sought and received exemption from flight duty time limit rules for its crew from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The regulator has now allowed its pilots to fly for up to 11.5 hours, meaning two pilots can conduct longer flights without the need for a third pilot who would allow them to take turns taking rest en route. The pilots have been flying the long route since last April, when Pakistan’s airspace was closed during Operation Sindoor. The Iran war has made an already long road even longer.AI’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner pilots have been most affected as the plane’s cockpit seat allows limited reclining due to a safety issue. “We are pushing our bodies to the limits of human endurance,” said one B787 pilot, a sentiment echoed by others. “Imagine sitting in an uncomfortable office chair for 11.5 hours straight and being 100% present during the entire duration as we navigate GPS jamming and flying close to war zones from airspace near Pakistan to beyond Turkey. Airlines should be asked to increase pilot availability. God forbid, if something goes wrong, just blame the pilot. It’s a normal script.”Both AI and DGCA are aware of the difficulties, which they attribute to extraordinary circumstances. AI has replaced 30 B777 pilots on the Dreamliner and they are expected to start flying in two months.“We have formally sought coordinated flight time (FT) and flight duty period (FDP) exemptions from the DGCA. These exemptions are to be used only as long as the current Middle East airspace restrictions are in effect and are critical to maintaining schedule integrity and minimizing passenger inconvenience… All such exemptions are supported by safety risk assessments and will be implemented strictly as per the approved conditions,” AI’s senior VP (flight operations), Captain Manish Uppal, said recently. said in a mail to the pilots.unrest affects passengersWhen the Iran war broke out, travelers were forced to spend huge sums of money to reach their destination and India was no exception. An Indian student, who came to Delhi from Ireland in mid-February for his grandfather’s funeral, paid Rs 1.8 lakh for a one-way ticket to return to college.Many people have put their bookings on Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways for this summer. If the war does not end quickly and those airlines do not resume flights soon thereafter, airfares over other options in India will seriously decline in the summer travel months starting from early April.add capacityGulf carriers have historically carried a significant share of traffic between India and the rest of the world through their mega hubs such as Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi. The sudden unavailability of the Big Three has created a void, as passengers who had already booked with them for travel after February 28 are now looking for alternatives and thus, those making new bookings are pursuing the same limited options.Air India is adding as many additional flights to the West as possible. Lufthansa deployed its 500-seat Airbus A380 instead of the 280-seat A350 on the Munich-Delhi and Munich-Mumbai routes besides increasing frequency between Chennai and Frankfurt. SWISS will operate a second daily service between Delhi and Zurich from March 19-24. Lufthansa is considering the option of bringing more group airlines into India. Now only Lufthansa, Swiss and ITA fly to India; There are other group carriers that do not yet do this, including Austrian, Brussels Airlines, Discover and Eurowings.Away from flights, some of the ways in which India is being harmed by war…medical equipment : : Medical supplies like syringes and hospital disposables are being threatened by rising medical-grade plastic, freight and gas costs. Prolonged disruption could lead to production cuts and rising pricesPharma: Pharmaceutical plants in states have shut down due to propane shortages. Production of some essential medicines affectedFertilizer: Ammonia and urea production being affected ahead of Kharif season due to LNG disruptionRestaurant/Catering: Commercial LPG shortage is increasing costs and disrupting operationsAC: LPG and petrochemical shortages hurting air conditioner production just ahead of summer seasonAutomobile: Expensive components, gas shortage putting pressure on auto production

The Bill has a provision to earmark a minimum of 50% of IG level posts, 67% of ADG level posts and all DG and Special DG level posts in the CAPFs for deputation (Representational Image)

New Delhi: Citing the need to retain deputation of Indian Police Service (IPS) officers in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) for operational efficiency through better Centre-state coordination, the Home Ministry is set to bring a bill in Parliament to provide for deputation to a minimum of 50% Inspector General (IG) level posts, 67% Additional Director General-level posts (ADGs) and all Director Generals (DGs) and special officers in the CAPFs for deputation. DG-level posts will be earmarked.TOI was first to report on March 11 that the Union Cabinet had approved the draft of the CAPFs (General Administration) Bill, 2026, which provides for continued deputation of IPS officers to the CAPFs.The recruitment and service conditions of Group A General Duty Officers and other officers/members of the CAPFs are currently regulated by rules issued through an Executive Order. “In recent years, due to the absence of a comprehensive legislation, the regulatory provisions have evolved in a fragmented manner, resulting in numerous litigations on service-related matters and certain functional and administrative difficulties… There is a need to enact a comprehensive legislation to regulate the recruitment, deputation, promotion and other conditions of services of Group A General Duty Officers and other officers… to ensure legislative clarity, preserve their specific operational and functional requirements and comply with administrative and federal requirements and judicial directives To ensure the coherence of the “Statement of Objects and Reasons” outlined in the Statement of Objects and Reasons. Of the bill.The Bill effectively blunts the Supreme Court order passed in May last year, confirming the status of ‘Organized Services’ (OGAS) for Group A CAPF officers for all purposes and directing the government to progressively reduce the deputation posts of IPS officers in the Senior Administrative Grade (SAG) up to the rank of IG in the CAPFs. As per the current recruitment rules for CAPFs, 20% of the posts at DIG level and 50% of the posts at IG level are deputation posts for IPS officers.The CAPF (General Administration) Bill does not retain the 20% deputation quota for DIG level posts.The Supreme Court’s May 2025 decision was seen as a potential career boost for around 13,000 CAPF cadre officers who were complaining of discrimination due to IPS officers holding senior level posts.Noting that IPS officers serving on deputation are an integral part of the CAPFs, the text of the Bill underlines how the CAPFs perform national security and counter-insurgency duties in coordination with state authorities. “In the interest of maintaining Centre-State relations by ensuring close coordination between the Union and the States for effective operational functioning, it is necessary to maintain the existing system of deputation of IPS officers to the CAPFs,” it said.

Ambekar framed the RSS’s approach to caste through social harmony rather than structural confrontation (file photo)

New Delhi: Drawing a line between politics over welfare and caste data, RSS national publicity chief Sunil Ambekar said the Sangh supports the caste census but opposes its use to “divide the society”, even as he outlined the organisation’s position on key debates ranging from caste reforms and women’s participation to equation with the BJP.In a conversation with TOI, Ambekar framed the RSS’s approach towards caste as one through social harmony rather than structural confrontation. He said, “If mutual affection increases and discrimination ends, even big issues can be resolved. Without harmony, even small issues become big fights.”He said access to temples, cremation grounds, water sources and public places should be open to all, adding that RSS volunteers are engaged at the local level to address such concerns. Pointing to institutions such as Vidya Bharati, Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, Ekal Vidyalaya and Seva Bharati as part of a broader outreach network, he said leadership is increasingly emerging from marginalized communities, including women.On women’s participation, Ambekar defended the parallel structure of the Rashtriya Sevika Samiti, saying that it reflected the RSS shakha model. At the same time, they acknowledged the need to expand the role of women, noting that participation in decision-making and outreach is increasing through a coordination mechanism called “women’s relations.” He also flagged off the centenary theme of “Kutumba Prabodhan”, which aims to encourage families to support women’s participation in public life.On caste census, he reiterated that RSS supports it for welfare, but opposes political misuse. “Democracy requires representation, but politics should not pit one community against another,” he said, arguing that social unity could counter divisive mobilization. Despite perceptions of polarization, he said, “on the ground we see unity”, citing gatherings such as the Kumbh and Ram Mandir Abhishek.Addressing the RSS-BJP equation, Ambekar said the Sangh remains a social organization focused on “man-building”, with volunteers working in all fields, including politics. He stressed that the organizations work independently, while describing India’s structure as “society-centric” in contrast to the Western state-centric model. He said that while political parties work within electoral cycles, the RSS works on a long civilizational horizon through “Lokmat Jagran”.On criticism linking Hindu nationalism to democratic backsliding, Ambekar rejected this premise, describing Hindu culture as “united” and rooted in ideas such as “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”. He argued that India’s civilizational ethos enables co-existence and strengthens democracy in a diverse society.On concerns over discrimination against people from the North-East, he said the term “racial discrimination” is incorrect, blaming historical distortions and limited dialogue for past tensions. He said the exchange programs have reduced misunderstandings and called for handling such issues sensitively.On global conflicts, Ambekar said India should be guided by peace and principles, with the government taking decisions based on strategic assessment.