National
India’s first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS)
⇒ The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the priority section of Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor at Sahibabad RapidX Station in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh on 20 October 2023.
- He also flagged off the Namo Bharat RapidX train connecting Sahibabad to Duhai Depot, marking the launch of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) in India.
- Shri Modi dedicated to the nation, two stretches of east-west corridor of Bengaluru Metro.
Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor:
» The 17 Km priority section of Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor will connect Sahibabad to ‘Duhai Depot’ with stations at Ghaziabad, Guldhar and Duhai on the way.
- The foundation stone for Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor was laid by the Prime Minister on 8th March 2019.
» In line with the Prime Minister’s vision to transform regional connectivity in the country through the construction of new world-class transport infrastructure, the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) project is being developed.
- RRTS is a new rail-based, semi-high-speed, high-frequency commuter transit system.
- With a design speed of 180 Kmph, RRTS is a transformational, regional development initiative, which is designed to provide high-speed trains for intercity commuting every 15 minutes, which can go up to a frequency of every 5 minutes as per requirement.
» A total of eight RRTS corridors have been identified to be developed in NCR, out of which three corridors have been prioritised to be implemented in Phase-I including Delhi – Ghaziabad – Meerut Corridor; Delhi – Gurugram – SNB – Alwar Corridor; and Delhi – Panipat Corridor.
- The Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS being developed at a cost of more than Rs 30,000 crore and will connect Delhi to Meerut in less than an hour of travel time going through the urban centres of Ghaziabad, Muradnagar, and Modinagar.
» RRTS being developed in the country, is a state-of-the-art regional mobility solution and is comparable to the best in the world.
- It will provide safe, reliable and modern intercity commuting solutions in the country. In line with PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, the RRTS network will have extensive multi-modal integration with Railway stations, Metro stations, Bus services etc.
- Such transformative regional mobility solutions will boost economic activity in the region; provide improved access to employment, education & healthcare opportunities; and help in the significant reduction of vehicular congestion & air pollution.
Bengaluru Metro:
» The two metro stretches that will be formally dedicated to the nation by the Prime Minister connect Baiyappanahalli to Krishnarajapura and Kengeri to Challaghatta.
- These two metro stretches were opened for public service from 9th October 2023 to provide convenience to the public commuting on this corridor, without waiting for formal inauguration.
‘IMPHAL’ - Third Stealth Destroyer of Project 15B delivered to the Indian Navy
⇒ Yard 12706 (Imphal), the third Project 15B stealth guided missile destroyer, being built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), was delivered to the Indian Navy on 20 October, 2023.
The Project is a follow-on of the Kolkata class (Project 15A) destroyers commissioned in the last decade. Imphal follows in the wake of her predecessors Indian Naval Ships Visakhapatnam and Mormugao commissioned in the past two years.
- The first Ship of P15B (Visakhapatnam) was commissioned on 21 Nov 2021. The second ship (Mormugao) was commissioned on 18 Dec 2022. The third ship (IMPHAL) has been delivered to Indian Navy on 20 Oct 2023. The fourth ship (Surat) was launched on 17 May 2022 and is at an advance stage of outfitting.
About Yard 12706:
- Designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and built by M/s Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd, Mumbai, this ship is a hallmark of indigenous shipbuilding and is amongst the most technologically advanced warships in the world.
- Imphal is a potent and versatile platform equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, including surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles and torpedoes.
- The ship is constructed using Indigenous Steel DMR 249A and is amongst the largest Destroyers constructed in India, with an overall length of 164 meters and a displacement of over 7500 Tons.
- Powered by a Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) propulsion set, comprising four gas turbines, she is capable of achieving speeds in excess of 30 knots (56 km/h).
- The ship is a potent platform capable of undertaking a variety of tasks and missions, spanning the full spectrum of maritime warfare. It is armed with supersonic Surface-to-Surface ‘Brahmos’ missiles and ‘Barak-8’ Medium Range Surface to Air Missiles.
- Towards undersea warfare capability the Destroyer is fitted with indigenously developed anti-submarine weapons and sensors, prominently the Hull mounted Sonar Humsa NG, Heavy weight Torpedo Tube Launchers and ASW Rocket Launchers.
- The ship boasts of a high indigenous content of approximately 75% that includes Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (BEL, Bangalore), BrahMos Surface-to-Surface Missiles (BrahMos Aerospace, New Delhi), Indigenous Torpedo Tube Launchers (Larsen & Toubro, Mumbai), Anti-Submarine Indigenous Rocket Launchers (Larsen & Toubro, Mumbai) and 76mm Super Rapid Gun Mount (BHEL, Haridwar).
125th Founder’s Day of ‘The Scindia School’ in Gwalior
⇒ The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the programme marking the 125th Founder’s Day celebration of ‘The Scindia School’ in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh on 21st October, 2023.
- During the programme, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the ‘Multipurpose sports complex’ in the school and presented the school’s annual awards to distinguished alumni and top achievers.
- The Prime Minister also released a commemorative postal stamp on the occasion.
» The Scindia School was established in 1897 and is located atop the historic Gwalior Fort.
International
Gujarat's Dhordo awarded as Best Tourism Village by UNWTO
⇒ Dhordo village in Kutch district of Gujarat has been conferred the prestigious title of the Best Tourism Village 2023 by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).
- With this, Dhordo is now one of the 70 villages from nearly 40 countries that enjoy this prestigious title.
- Dhordo received this title at the Best Tourism Village – 2023 award ceremony organised by the UNWTO at the historic city of Samarkand in Uzbekistan on October 19, 2023.
» The selected villages are then evaluated on the basis of cultural and natural resources, promotion and conservation of cultural resources, economic sustainability, social stability, environmental sustainability, tourism potential & development, and value chain integration.
About Dhordo:
- Dhordo, a village located in the Kutch district of Gujarat, is well-known for being the gateway to the Great Rann of Kutch. The vast salt desert covers a total area of 27, 454 sq km.
- This is also the same village where Rann Utsav was launched back in 2005. Dhordo village, for all its cultural impacts, is a well-known name.