THE DRUDGERY
Less than 10 years ago, driving on India's highways was an exercise in patience that would test even the coolest of drivers. Just when you thought you were making good time on your road trip, a toll plaza would loom ahead, with a long line of cars in queue, as drivers fumbled with cash and argued over exact change. Sometimes, there would be violence. Rush hours and holiday season compounded the ordeal, when the long wait could last hours. Trucks and commercial vehicles fared worse, as waiting at the toll plaza not only meant wastage of fuel but also a disruption in delivery schedules. Manual systems meant limited transparency plus revenue leaks. Toll workers grappled with issues like cash handling, fake bills and the constant risk of theft. As India's highway network expanded, so did the volume of traffic, and the floundering system meant a daily challenge for millions of commuters, and losses to the economy.
THE EASE OF LIVING
Dit verhaal komt uit de February 03, 2025 editie van India Today.
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Dit verhaal komt uit de February 03, 2025 editie van India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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WINNING THE WAR
THE INSIDE STORY OF THE MODI GOVERNMENT'S DETERMINED BID TO END THE NAXAL THREAT, INDIA'S GREATEST INTERNAL SECURITY CHALLENGE
ART AND THE CITY
DAG's annual art and heritage festival will debut in Mumbai with a multi-site programme
Period Drama
Ram Madhvani's SonyLIV series The Waking of a Nation uses the courtroom drama and investigative procedural tropes to depict the lead up to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre
CHARTING NEW WATERS PARADIP PORT'S RISE AS INDIA'S CARGO LEADER
With unparalleled cargo handling growth, cutting-edge digital solutions, and sustainability-driven expansion, Paradip Port is redefining India's maritime landscape. Sh. P L Haranadh, Chairman of PPA, discusses the port's innovative approach to multimodal logistics, green hydrogen initiatives, and future-ready infrastructure in this insightful Q&A:
WOMAN POWER
Season 2 of the Tamil crime thriller series Suzhal, set against the backdrop of a vibrant local festival, features strong female characters
THE TIP OF THE SPEAR
IN India’s arsenal against Left-wing Extremism, the Naxal surrender policy has emerged as a crucial weapon. By providing Naxal cadres a peaceful exit, the policy has reduced insurgent numbers, disrupted leadership structures and logistical support, and yielded valuable intelligence for counter-insurgency operations. Over the past five years, nearly 3,000 rebels, including mid-level leaders, have surrendered in Chhattisgarh, significantly weakening Naxal influence in its last bastion.
Magic of Modernism
In its inaugural exhibition, Celebrating the Modernists of Indian Art, Thapar Gallery in Delhi honours several pioneers
THE POWER SHUFFLE
In politics, words can be weapons, but silence is often the sharpest blade. Barely a day after swearing in seven new ministers, all from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Bihar chief minister and Janata Dal (United) president Nitish Kumar made an appearance at a public gathering organised by another alliance partner—Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular)—at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan on February 28. What followed was an enactment of brevity.
URBAN ANGST
Sudhir Patwardhan's new solo is a visual meditation on the organised chaos of the city, and the grinding rites of passage its people must endure
VISIONARY BUILDER
This biography of the eminent architect Charles Correa highlights his penchant for design innovation and a sense of social responsibility
