Kawar Yatra: The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) will increase the frequency of Namo Bharat trains on the Delhi–Meerut corridor from July 11, coinciding with the start of the holy month of Sawan, it said on Thursday.
The frequency of trains between New Ashok Nagar and Meerut South stations will be increased from every 15 minutes to every 10 minutes from 8 am to 11 am and 5 pm to 8 pm to accommodate the surge in passenger traffic, NCRTC said in a statement.
It said the kanwar yatra, which sees lakhs of pilgrims walking long distances to collect water from the Ganga River in Haridwar, leads to heavy traffic on roads, especially in parts of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
In Meerut, the entry of heavy vehicles and buses is usually restricted during this period to ensure pilgrims’ safety.
“We hope the increased train frequency will help ease pressure on roads and offer a faster, more comfortable alternative to devotees travelling from Delhi and nearby regions,” the corporation said.
“Traffic marshals are being deployed at key points, and adequate lighting has been arranged at all stations and surrounding areas,” it added.
It said that potholes and damaged road sections along the Namo Bharat route have been repaired, and the remaining work is being expedited.
No construction work will be carried out in crowded zones during the yatra, and parking will be restricted near station sites to prevent congestion, it said.
Read more
Delhi: Rise in abuse of prescription drugs, opioids is Police’s new pain point
On June 19, around 8:45 PM, Delhi Police apprehended a 17-year-old in North East Delhi’s Nand Nagri, recovering 22.44 grams of smack from him. The quantity qualifies as commercial under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, under which he was booked. This incident was not an outlier. In fact, it reflects a growing trend in parts of the national capital, where a surge in drug abuse—particularly injectable pharmaceutical drugs—has become visible. While smack has long plagued the streets of Delhi, syringes and banned drug cocktails are now emerging as a newer, more dangerous pattern. During an earlier raid in the same district, police recovered six panni pipes, three injection vials, 12 tablets, and one syringe. Such recoveries have become common across North East Delhi and Shahdara. Often, every syringe found is accompanied by opioid tablets like Buprenorphine and injections of Pheniramine Maleate.
Delhi LG approves continuation for 410 part-time vocational teachers till March 2026
Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has approved the continuation and enhanced remuneration of 410 part-time vocational teachers (PTVTs) in government and government-aided schools till March 2026, Raj Niwas officials said on Tuesday. The Delhi government’s education department had sought the extension of services for the 402 qualified and eight non-qualified PTVTs from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026. The proposal was cleared by the LG, they said. The government has sanctioned Rs 36 crore for PTVT remuneration and continued vocational education, an official said.
