New Delhi, Apr 1 : The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected the contempt petition filed against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and Union Transport Minister TR Baalu by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in connection with the October 1, 2007 state shut-down.

A bench of Justices BN Aggarwal and GS Singhvi dismissed the petition on the ground that the AIADMK failed to establish the allegation.

New Delhi, Jan. 10 : Union Surface Transport and Shipping Mminister T R Baalu on Saturday said that he was ready to invoke the Essential Service Maintenance Act (ESMA) to force striking transporters to get back on the road.

Suggesting an advisory action plan to state governments to deal with the strikers, Baalu said it would include declaring transport services as essential services and to use transport vehicles within the state for carrying the essential commodities without permit.

He also said that while he did want to act tough, he would not hesitate to suspend or cancel the permits of strikers if they did not back down.

New Delhi, Oct 7 : Union Shipping and Road Transport Minister T. R. Baalu today said 400 more ships will be introduced in the next five years to augment the existing fleet.

While addressing a global conference on shipbuilding industry in New Delhi today, he said, “Commissioning of new facilities will change the face of the Indian shipbuilding industry.”

“The unprecedented increase in global trade during the past few years has fuelled the demand for more and more ships,” said Baalu, adding that demand and supply gap has been widening and shortage of vessels in all the segments worldwide has resulted in sharp increase in freight rates.

New Delhi, Oct 7 : Union Minister for Shipping and Road Transport T. R. Baalu today said that the shipbuilding facilities are being developed in different parts of the country to meet the growing demand of ships.

Addressing a global Conference on Shipbuilding Industry here, Baalu said that 400 more ships would be introduced in the next five years to augment the existing fleet.

He said commissioning of new facilities would change the face of the Indian shipbuilding industry.

"The unprecedented increase in global trade during the past few years has fuelled the demand for more and more ships," he added.

New Delhi, Feb. 12: India and Netherlands signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MoU) here today in the various areas concerning shipping and port sectors.

The Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, T. R. Baalu, and The Netherlands Minister of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, Camiel Eurlings, signed the pact.

New Delhi, Nov 2 : Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, T.R. Baalu has sanctioned a sum of Rs.702.49 lakh for road improvement works on NH-210 in Tamil Nadu.

National Highway-210 from Trichy to Ramanathapuram via Pudukkottai, Karaikkudi and Devakottai is an important National Highway in Tamil Nadu. This road connects important marketing places, towns and leads to Rameswaram a renowned pilgrim center.

The approval has been granted for the following stretches on NH-210 in Pudukkottai district of the State.

An amount of Rs. 211.71 lakh has been approved for improvement of Riding Quality (IRQ) work at 52/00 km to km 60/20 of NH-210 between Pudukkottai town limit end (Maalayedi) and Lenavilakku.