Repair work on the Manesar to Palwal section of the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway will begin next week. The Haryana State Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC) has completed preparations for the project. A total of Rs 48 crore will be spent on repairing this 53 km stretch.

The budget has been approved by the High Power Purchase Committee of the Haryana government. Accidents often occur due to potholes across the roads, illegal cuts and broken railings. Along with the road repairs, all illegal cuts will be closed and the railings will be repaired, Jagran reported.

Although the entire KMP Expressway is in poor condition, the stretch between Manesar and Palwal is in the worst state. The road has sunk at many place and the tar layers have peeled off. There are more than 20 illegal cuts on this section of the expressway. The situation is especially concerning in Nuh district, where vehicles enter the expressway from unauthorised points due to these illegal cuts. As a result, drivers are falling victim to accidents on a daily basis.

Moreover, vehicles cannot maintain the prescribed speed of 120 kilometers per hour anywhere on the expressway due to its poor condition. Large potholes are present along the main carriageway creating problems for commuters especially during night. Furthermore, potholes near the Gurugram border, also add to the risk and inconvenience for commuters on daily basis.

About KMP Expressway

The six-lane Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway in Haryana spans a total length of 135.65 kilometers. It is an access-controlled, six-lane high-speed toll road, featuring elevated sections at road junctions, underpasses for cattle, cars, and tractors, barricading to prevent animal entry, and constant surveillance.

The expressway facilitates smooth transportation of surplus food grains, milk products, fruits, and vegetables from Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Kashmir to other parts of the country. Additionally, it provides faster access to the International Airport for vehicles coming from northern parts of the county.

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CHANDIGARH: It is not only Gulf countries where women from India, who had gone there on the pretext of a job offer, got trapped; Malaysia has now become the new destination.

Women, especially from Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Kerala and Uttar Pradesh, are being taken to this Southeast Asian nation with promises of legitimate domestic work. Travel agents use the visa-free entry route to lure them, after which they are forced to live and work in conditions described as unstable and precarious.

In an advisory issued on September 9 this year, the High Commission of India, Kuala Lumpur (Labour Wing), in a document titled “Indian nationals getting stranded in Malaysia”, a copy of which is with this newspaper, stated: “The majority of the affected individuals are unskilled/semi-skilled labourers and hail from several states in India including Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Kerala and Uttar Pradesh. They are invariably misled with false promises of employment by unscrupulous agents in India and Malaysia.”

“The following issues of concern came to the notice of the High Commission: Indian nationals travelling under the pretext of tourism but intending to look for employment are often denied entry on arrival. Those who manage to enter the country often overstay beyond 30 days and are thus declared ‘illegal’. Entry is also refused to those Indian nationals who are genuine tourists but fail to provide valid documentation, including return tickets, proof of accommodation, and financial means,” it stated.

It further read: “It has been observed that unscrupulous agents in India and Malaysia entice a number of Indian nationals with prospects of employment and arrange their travel to Malaysia on the pretext of tourism to get visa-free entry and stay for 30 days in Malaysia. Such individuals become illegal after expiry of 30 days and are thus vulnerable to various forms of exploitation locally. They are also subjected to detention, imprisonment and associated legal actions by Malaysian enforcement agencies.”

The High Commission of India, Kuala Lumpur has further advised all State Governments, Protectors of Emigrants (PoE) and immigration officers to issue public advisories and exercise strict scrutiny of Indian nationals, especially ECR passport holders, departing to Malaysia from international airports including Trichy, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Cochin, Bengaluru and Amritsar.

It has also been stated that passengers deceived by agents should be encouraged to provide full details of such agents, and that information may be compiled and shared with state and central government authorities for appropriate action.

The Chandigarh Administration has prepared a comprehensive master plan to boost tourism by integrating cultural circuits that connect heritage landmarks, natural attractions, and modern sites. The initiative aims to offer visitors a complete tourism experience while enhancing the city’s profile as both a cultural and modern destination.

According to Tourism Department officials, infrastructure upgrades are already underway. Iconic attractions such as the Rock Garden and city gardens are being modernised with improved facilities. A digital museum at the Le Corbusier Centre is also in development to showcase the city’s rich architectural legacy and modernist design heritage.

The plan emphasises eco-tourism and cultural tourism as major focus areas. Activities like trekking, boating, and cycling will be promoted alongside lake tourism and green spaces. Festivals, exhibitions, and cultural performances will be used to highlight the city’s vibrant artistic and cultural identity, enriching visitor experiences and community engagement.

Officials stated that these projects will not only improve visitor satisfaction but also position Chandigarh as a balanced blend of heritage and modernity. By promoting sustainable and eco-friendly tourism, the initiative aims to create long-term economic opportunities while maintaining the city’s unique identity envisioned by Le Corbusier.

Despite its popularity among domestic travellers, Chandigarh attracts relatively fewer foreign tourists. Ministry of Tourism data shows that while lakhs of Indian visitors arrive annually, foreign arrivals remain limited. In 2019, the city welcomed 15.63 lakh domestic tourists but only 44,132 foreigners, and numbers dropped drastically during the pandemic years.

Tourism is now rebounding, with 2024 recording nearly 10 lakh domestic visitors and 39,058 foreigners — the highest foreign arrivals since the pandemic. With the new master plan under schemes such as Swadesh Darshan, the Administration hopes to scale up both domestic and international tourism, ensuring Chandigarh becomes a leading urban destination in India.