Page 2 - Transport

Norway transport firm tightens security after Chinese buses found hackable

A leading Norwegian public transport operator has said it will introduce stricter security requirements and step up anti-hacking measures after a test on new Chinese-made electric buses showed the manufacturer could remotely turn them off. Transport operator Ruter said test results published last week showed that Chinese bus maker Yutong Group had access to their control systems for software updates and diagnostics. In theory, this could be exploited to affect the bus," it said. The tests with buses driven in underground mines to strip away external signals were conducted both on brand-new Yutong buses and on three-year old vehicles from Dutch bus manufacturer VDL, the company said. It said the tests showed that the Dutch buses didn't have the ability to conduct over-the-air software updates, while the Chinese-made buses did. Yutong did not immediately respond to requests from The Associated Press on Wednesday seeking comment. The Guardian newspaper, which reported on the issue,

Action launched against those spreading fake clips on railways: Govt

Strict action has been initiated against those people who circulate fake videos targeting railways on social media, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Sunday after reviewing crowd management measures at Anand Vihar railway station in Delhi. While speaking to mediapersons, he also appealed to people not to circulate fake videos as this creates confusion among passengers. Vaishnaw conducted a surprise inspection of Anand Vihar station to ensure passenger safety and convenience during the festive season. "The minister inspected the holding area at the station and also directly interacted with passengers. During the interaction, he took feedback from passengers regarding the cleanliness of the station premises and the facilities being provided," a press note from the railway ministry said. According to the press note, the railways have made comprehensive arrangements to ensure that passengers do not face any inconvenience despite the huge rush. "Passenger convenience and safety

West Bengal transport department makes e-rickshaw registration mandatory

In a move to regulate the movement of e-rickshaws, known as totos in West Bengal, the state Transport department has made vehicle registration mandatory. A transport department statement said on Saturday that all e-rickshaws should have a digitised temporary toto enrollment number (TTEN) and the process must be completed by November 30. The process for registering under TTEN will start on October 13. A new portal will track registered e-rickshaws using QR codes, allowing the authorities to monitor vehicle activity and prevent new illegal totos from operating. Transport Secretary Saumitra Mohan said the government is cracking down on unregistered and unsafe e-rickshaws, and district magistrates have been instructed to identify and remove unregistered battery-operated e-rickshaws manufactured by local garages. "Many of these e-rickshaws don't abide by the Central Motor Vehicles, 1989 guidelines and hence the district authorities will issue notice for sealing those units which don't

HCC, KRCL join hands to execute transport projects in India, overseas

Hindustan Construction Company Ltd (HCC) on Tuesday said it has signed an agreement with Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd (KRCL) to jointly execute large-scale railway and multi-modal transport infrastructure projects across India and international markets. The company in a statement said the MoU establishes a framework for long-term collaboration that brings together complementary strengths of both organisations. Together, the partners will deliver integrated, end-to-end solutions across the full spectrum of transport infrastructure, including civil works, track laying, signalling, electrification, MEP systems, operations and maintenance, and other critical components of modern transport networks, it added. According to the statement, the partnership will particularly focus on complex assignments such as underground and elevated metro systems, NATM tunnelling, railway bridges, and large-scale EPC contracts. Commenting on the development, Arjun Dhawan, Vice Chairman & Managing ...

Ola, Uber, Rapido get provisional licences for bike taxi services in Mumbai

The State Transport Authority (STA) in Maharashtra has granted approval for provisional licences to the parent firms of app-based taxi aggregators Ola, Uber, and Rapido for bike taxi services in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and fixed a minimum fare of Rs 15 for 1.5 kms, officials have said. As per the minutes of an STA meeting, the approval has been granted on the condition that these companies apply for permanent licences within a month, fulfilling all terms and conditions prescribed in the Maharashtra Bike Taxi Rules 2025. ANI Technologies Private Limited, Uber India Systems Private Limited, and Roppen Transportation Services Private Limited, the parent companies of Ola, Uber, and Rapido, respectively, have been given approval. In the last two months, the transport department received four applications to launch bike taxi services in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). But it approved provisional licences for only three companies. The STA rejected Smart-Ride's application for

UP to provide bus connectivity to 12,200 villages: Transport minister

Uttar Pradesh Transport Minister Daya Shankar Singh on Sunday said 12,200 villages that are currently deprived of state roadways bus service will be connected with public transport facilities in the next one year. Singh also said that 23 bus stations in the state are being developed on the lines of airports. "12,200 villages in the state that are currently deprived of state roadways bus service will be connected with transport facilities within a year," Singh said while talking to PTI here. He said UP is playing a leading role in the country in the transport sector. "The state is at the forefront in terms of transport policy. We are leading in issuing driving licences, and rank third in automated testing stations. In the next six months, we will also secure the top position in this area," he said. The minister said that 23 bus stations in the state are being developed on the lines of airports, with rapid progress underway. Around Rs 1,000 crore is being spent on the modernisation

NYC transit system lost $1 bn in 2024 due to fare evasion: Report

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which runs city's subways, buses and commuter rail lines, has called the problem an existential crisis

Karnataka bus services hit as workers begin strike, passengers stranded

Employees of Karnataka's state-owned transport corporations began an indefinite strike on Tuesday morning, severely affecting public bus services across the state and leaving passengers in the lurch. The unions went ahead with the strike despite a court stay against the agitation, underway pressing demands including wage revision. Buses remained parked at depots and only a few were seen running, as some staff chose not to participate in the strike. Some buses in rural areas operated as a few drivers opted to work for the convenience of students to ferry them to their schools, said sources in the transport department. The transport corporations are learned to have roped in trainee bus drivers to manage the situation. Bus stands in major cities like Bengaluru, Chikkamagaluru, Raichur, Chitradurga, Hubballi, Dharwad, Belagavi, Mangaluru, Mysuru, Tumakuru, Hassan, Madikeri, Shivamogga, and Kalaburagi saw heavy passenger rush, with thousands stranded and struggling to find alternate wa

L&T terminated contracts of suburban rail project illegally, says K-RIDE

The termination of two contracts for Corridor-2 and Corridor-4 of the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP) by Indian multinational conglomerate Larsen & Toubro is a clear violation of agreement conditions, said officials of K-RIDE, a joint venture between the government of Karnataka and the Ministry of Railways, on Saturday. L&T had terminated the contract on July 31, added K-RIDE. "L&T has made unreasonable demands of revising contract price within the contract period and converting EPC contract into an itemised Bill of Quantities (BOQ) contract, even though contract condition does not permit the same," stated a press release issued by K-RIDE on Saturday. According to the release, L&T had entered into two agreements to perform the work assigned to them in the Corridor-2 (Chikkabanavara to Benniganahalli) and Corridor-4 (Heelalige to Rajankunte) of the suburban railway project, added the release. Originally, the scheduled completion time for Corridor-2 (C2) was 27 ...

Motor Vehicle Agregator Guidelines: Empowering drivers, customers alike

These guidelines, built on the legal foundations of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 aim to regulate the operations of app-based cab aggregators such as Ola, Uber, Rapido, and others

Ebix Tech secures ₹140 crore contract from Maharashtra Transport Corp

Ebix Technologies, Indian subsidiary of Eraaya Lifespaces, on Tuesday announced securing a Rs 140 crore contract from Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation for the first state-wide rollout of the National Common Mobility Card for concessionaires in India. Once fully operational, the project is expected to clock transactional volumes to the tune of Rs 2,000 crore annually, boosting the entity's digital transaction ecosystem and passenger convenience, Ebix Technologies Limited, earlier known as EbixCash, said in a statement. In November 2022, the company was awarded a contract to supply and maintain 38,622 Android-based Electronic Ticketing Machines (ETMs) integrated with an online reservation system. This mandate has successfully facilitated the issuance of approximately 220 crore passenger tickets in the past two years, Ebix Technologies said, adding that this network spans MSRTC's fleet of over 16,000 buses, serving more than 13 crore passengers monthly across urban and rura

Daimler Truck targets over 60,000 units to scale up operations by 2030

India to become a strategic base for Daimler Truck's global operations in manufacturing, R&D and exports under its Unlock Full Potential transformation plan

Testing driver subscription model in India, says Uber's Dominic Taylor

One thing that I have learnt about India is that it doesn't stay still for long, it evolves and changes every time. India is an incredibly important country

Ride-hailing companies cheer Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines 2025

MVAG 2025 allows non-transport motorcycles to operate as taxis, raises peak-hour surge cap to twice the base fare, and introduces new safety and cancellation norms

Karnataka bike taxi ban: Riders hold hunger protest, write letter to CM

Members of the Bike Taxi Welfare Association staged a hunger protest on Sunday, demanding to lift the ban on bike taxis in Karnataka and calling for an inclusive policy framework. They have also written an open letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. According to the association, protests were held in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mandya, Davangere, and Ramanagara, with several bike taxi riders participating. App-based bike taxi services were suspended across Karnataka on June 16 after the Karnataka High Court refused to stay an earlier order suspending such operations unless the state government notifies relevant guidelines under the Motor Vehicles Act. A division bench of the High Court, on June 13, had declined to stay the April 2 order given by a single judge, which directed bike taxi operators to stop services within six weeks. This deadline was later extended to June 15. "Sir, we, who ride through rain and sun to serve Karnataka, are writing this letter not out of anger but out of ...

Ashok Leyland secures order for 200 trucks from Instant Transport

Ashok Leyland will supply 200 trucks to Instant Transport Solution as part of a strategic deal that reinforces its leadership in India's commercial vehicle segment

Maha transporters threaten strike from Jul 1 against traffic e-challans

Maharashtra Minister Pratap Sarnaik on Thursday directed officials to form a committee and submit a report within one month in connection with the threat by transporters to go on strike from July 1 to protest against the e-challan system for traffic violations. A release issued from the state transport minister's office said the government is committed to addressing the grievances of transport operators. Transporters in Maharashtra, including private bus and truck operators, have called for an indefinite strike from July 1 to protest against the "unjust" collection of fines through e-challans as well as for other demands. Vahatukdar Bachao Kruti Samiti, an action committee of transporters, is not satisfied with the move, said its leader Uday Barge to PTI. Transporters are firm on launching the strike on July 1 for demands like stopping the forceful collection of e-challan fines, waiving existing penalties, cancelling the mandatory cleaner rule for heavy vehicles, and reconsidering

Plan to double projects to ₹5 trillion this year, says Nitin Gadkari

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari talks about why elections should not matter while setting targets, his take on being seen as a future prime minister, and much more

Bike taxi ban challenged in K'taka HC citing fundamental rights violation

Two individual bike owners moved the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday, challenging a recent single judge ruling that banned the operation of bike taxis in the state. The petitioners argued that the state cannot infringe upon the fundamental right to carry on a business or choose a bike taxi over the metro or a bus. Represented by Senior Advocate Dhyan Chinnappa, the owners argued that the prohibition not only contradicts provisions in the Motor Vehicles Act, but also severely impacts both their livelihood and public convenience. Appearing before a Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice V Kameswar Rao and Justice C M Joshi, Chinnappa contended that the Motor Vehicles Act allows two-wheelers to be registered as transport vehicles. Therefore, the state government cannot legally refuse to issue contract carriage permits to bikes intended for taxi use. The law enables registration of two-wheelers as transport vehicles. If the statute allows it, the state cannot override it by ...

Evera Cabs secures $4 mn from Mufin Green Finance to speed up EV expansion

Homegrown EV cab firm Evera secures funding from Mufin Green Finance to double airport reach, scale operations with BluSmart fleet acquisition and new growth targets