Toll for NH-8 reduced: The ministry of surface transport has decided to reduce the rate of fees (toll) for heavy construction machinery and earth moving equipment plying along the Jaipur-Koiputli section of National Highway No 8. Accordingly, a uniform rate of Rs 110 per triphas been prescribed for these category of vehicles. The decision has brought the toll rate of heavy construction machinery and earth moving equipment at par with trucks and buses. The ministry had received several representations suggesting that the toll rates be reduced in order to encourage multi-axle vehicles.

Railways seeks Japanese help: Indian Railways on Wednesday sought technical cooperation from Japanese Railways for improving safety in its operations. The specific areas identified for technical cooperation related to radio communication, tunnelling, modernisation of rolling stocks, cargo transportation and improvement in timely running of trains, a senior railway official told newsmen. The matter came up for discussion at the 10th annual meeting of the Indo-Japan railway working group where the Indian delegation was led by SK Khanna, member (electrical), railway board. The Japanese side was headed by Yasutaka Tsuruno, deputy director general of transport bureau, ministry oftransport.

Assocham suggests ways to promote tourism: The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India has recommended a multi-pronged strategy for promoting tourism which abolishes royalty on foreign airlines to encourage enhanced services by international carriers to India, allows issuance of visa to foreign tourists on arrival and creates an independent national tourism authority. In its report to the Prime Minister's advisory council on industry and trade, Assocham has called for declaration of tourism as an export industry so that concessions and the incentives allowed to exporters are available to all segments of tourism-related industries.

Central aid for N-E states: Union tourism ministry has sanctioned Rs 2 lakh for each of the northeastern states to help them participate in tourism related fairs, festivals and expositions. The decision was taken by minister of state for tourism Omak Apang, who asked chief ministers of these states to utilise these funds for enhancing thevisibility of their states in tourism events in India and abroad, an official release said on Wednesday.

Reckless coal mining may ruin environment: Coal mining is posing risk to environment due to loopholes in existing regulations and lack of initiative on part of the mine owners to introduce green technologies, experts have cautioned. In spite of excessive accumulation of polluting particles in air, mine owners were taking advantage of the difference in norms set by the Directorate-General of Mine Safety and ministry of environment and forest, said scientists at a recent conference on `clean coal initiative' in New Delhi.

Fertiliser decontrol list may be expanded: The government is considering extending the decontrol of fertilisers to nitrogenous based ones. It is also working on a system of flat rate of subsidy on fertilisers which will replace the current retention pricing schedule. The government had last year decontrolled pottassic and phosphatic fertilisers. A high level interministerial group meeting will be held soon on this issue. This is part of finance ministry's move to cut down excess expenditure which has been bloating its fiscal deficit. Fertiliser subsidies currently amount to about Rs 10,000 crore a year. Any cuts in this would help the government balance its books better.

Protest against on Patents, IRA bills: The Insurance Regulatory Authority and Patents bills will be opposed tooth and nail both inside Parliament and on the streets and the government's `misleading' claims exposed, a citizens forum consisting of political parties, academics and insurance sector representatives announced in New Delhi on Wednesday. Mass demonstrations would be held outside Parliament House and in other parts of the country on February 22, the opening day of the Budget session.

This would be preceded by a national convention on February 7 in Delhi against the IRA and Patents bills, the organisers announced after a meeting of the forum.