Local Round-up: From Telangana's Times Square to New Policies in Different States!

Local Round-up brings to you what's happening across the country in the travel, food, infrastructure, sports, and herein, we have curated for you, the updates from the weekend and the initial of this week. So, read these out below. 

PM Modi inaugurates various projects worth over Rs.29,400 crore in Mumbai

The development projects launched in Mumbai today will enhance connectivity, significantly upgrade the city's infrastructure and greatly benefit its citizens. https://t.co/7Xt7oSdceO

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 13, 2024

The Prime Minister visited Mumbai, Maharashtra on Saturday. He laid the foundation stone for two twin tunnels between Thane and Borivali as well as the BMC’s Goregaon Mulund Link Road. He also inaugurated the new platforms at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus and the extension of platforms 10 and 11 at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus. Along with these, he also laid the foundation for other road and rail projects. 

Telangana to build T-square to celebrate local spirit

The Telangana government has released a request for bids to construct Hyderabad's version of "Times Square." Named "T-Square," the public area in Raidurgam, Hi-Tech City, will soon serve as a hub for communication and a location where people can gather anytime to relax. The public square will host a variety of celebrations of the local spirit, from planned activities to spontaneous musical performances.

Hidden treasure box found in Kerala

A hidden treasure box was discovered in the Kannur rubber plantation in the Kannur district of Kerala. The box was discovered by Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme workers near the Parippayi Government LP School while the labourers were digging a rain pit. The hidden trove was mistaken for a bomb but upon opening it revealed 17 pearl beads, 13 gold medallions, four medallions believed to be part of a traditional ornament called Kashi Mala, a set of earrings, rings, and silver coins.

Government to soon launch Agri Fund for Start-Ups & Rural Enterprises

The government is about to launch the "Agri Fund for Start-Ups & Rural Enterprises" (AgriSURE), which will provide direct equity support to start-ups operating in the agriculture and related sectors, as well as debt investments, Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) that are sector-specific or sector-agnostic. Through the creation of a Rs.750 crore Category-II Alternative Investment Fund (AIF), this program seeks to promote sustainability and innovation in India's agricultural industry. The fund will target high-risk, high-impact agriculture value chain activities and provide finance and equity support.

Konkan railway route services were halted due to a landslide

Cancellation, Diversion & Short Termination of trains. @RailMinIndia @Central_Railway @GMSRailway @WesternRly @SWRRLY pic.twitter.com/UXZOOafYfA

— Konkan Railway (@KonkanRailway) July 15, 2024

The tunnel between Vinhere (Raigad) and Divan Khawati (Ratnagiri) stations was hit by a landslide due to heavy rainfall on Sunday. Following the incident, the train services were hit on the Konkan railway route and the restoration work was underway. Five to six long-distance trains were halted at various stations on the Konkan route, the official said in an article. The Konkan Railways is arranging ST buses, and food and drinking facilities at the nearby KR stations for facilitating passengers travelling towards Mumbai. 

Indore, Madhya Pradesh sets a world record for planting 11 lakh saplings in a day

इंदौर अब विश्व में नंबर 1

मेरे इंदौर के भाई-बहनों स्वच्छता के बाद पौधरोपण में इतिहास रचने की आप सभी को अनंत बधाई और शुभकामनाएं। आप सभी की सहभागिता से एक दिन में 11 लाख से अधिक पौधरोपण का विश्व रिकॉर्ड हमारे देश के स्वच्छतम शहर, मध्यप्रदेश की आर्धिक राजधानी इंदौर ने अपने नाम कर… pic.twitter.com/y0vmdq1c5S

— Dr Mohan Yadav (@DrMohanYadav51) July 14, 2024

Madhya Pradesh's Indore on Sunday set a new Guinness World Record for "the most trees planted by a team in 24 hours." in a programme organised by the state government. The state planted as many as 11 lakh saplings in a single day drive. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav stated that Indore, already the cleanest city in India and the economic capital of Madhya Pradesh, has now achieved the world record of planting more than 1.1 million saplings in a single day. 

CODP installs benches made up of eco-bricks in Mangaluru

The Canara Organization for Development and Peace (CODP) in Mangaluru has created a sustainable solution out of plastic garbage. More than thirty benches in places like Fajir Church, Morgan's Gate Park, Kadri Park, and Father Muller's have been built with eco-bricks - plastic bottles filled with other plastic waste.

Himachal Pradesh announces 15-year mandatory scrappage for vehicles 

The government of Himachal Pradesh declared that vehicles older than fifteen years would be scrapped. Twelve scrap centres - one in each of the state's twelve districts will be established by the state government in partnership with the transportation department. Under this new policy, no spare parts from scrapped vehicles will be eligible for reuse. In addition to this, comprehensive records of scrapped vehicles will be maintained in order to ensure transparency and compliance.

Karnataka's Nandi Hills choked by heavy rush of tourists over the weekend

Nandi Hills in the Chikkaballapur district of Karnataka saw a heavy rush of tourists on Sunday. The visitors were stranded in a long queue of vehicles on the road to the hill station due to overcrowding and congestion of vehicles. The parking area of the hill allows only 300 vehicles to park at a time which leads to constant jams, especially over weekends.  

Bihar government urges for MSP for Makhana

The Bihar government has urged the Centre to declare the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for makhana, an aquatic crop cultivated across 10 districts in the state. According to Indian Express, The state has also flagged a “lack” of manpower at the Darbhanga-based Indian Council of Agricultural Research - National Research Centre (ICAR-NRC) for Makhana and told the Centre it was in “bad shape”.

Vizhinjam port in Kerala is supposed to get an investment of Rs.20,000 crore

India's first transshipment hub and deepwater container terminal, Vizhinjam International Port is about to get an additional investment of Rs.20,000 from the Adani Group to complete the phase one work in one go. The first phase of the port, which is set to be commissioned this September-October, received its first cargo ship San Fernando as part of a trial of commercial operations on Thursday last week. The deadline to complete phases 2 and 3 of the project has been set for 2028, far ahead of the original deadline of 2045.

Priests hold protest for building another Kedarnath temple in Delhi 

Priests at the Rudraprayag district's Kedarnath temple held a protest in front of the shrine on Sunday in opposition to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami's foundation stone-laying of another Kedarnath temple in New Delhi. The Uttarakhand CM took part in a bhoomi pujan (consecrating holy ground) at a ceremony held in the Hiranki neighbourhood near Burari in northwest Delhi and laid the foundation stone for a new Kedarnath temple to be built at the location.