The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) continued its eviction drive for the second consecutive day near the Matunga Railway Station and Phool Bazaar area, targeting unauthorised constructions and encroachments. According to the BMC, a total of 30 illegal shops were removed on Friday as part of the ongoing action by the civic body’s F (North) Division. Under the leadership of Deputy Commissioner (Zone-2) Prashant Sapkale and Assistant Commissioner of F (North) Division Nitin Shukla, BMC officials carried out the operation on Bhandarkar Marg. The crackdown follows reports of encroachments obstructing footpaths and roads, causing inconvenience to pedestrians and traffic. This latest action comes after a similar drive on March 6, during which 52 shops were evicted. Of the 30 shops cleared on Friday, 14 were identified as full encroachments, while the remaining had unauthorised additional constructions. The operation involved a workforce of 65 personnel, supported by a JCB machine and other vehicles. The BMC has reiterated its commitment to reclaiming public spaces and ensuring smooth movement for residents. Officials have warned that strict action will continue against unauthorised structures in the area. Matunga station becomes Central Railway’s first fully women-operated station Matunga Station on Central Railway has made history as the first fully women-staffed railway station in India. This pioneering initiative, launched in July 2017, has set a benchmark for women's empowerment in public service and railway operations. In recognition of this achievement, Matunga Station was featured in the Limca Book of Records 2018 as the first station in the country to be fully managed by women. A dedicated team of 32 women staff members, including 16 booking clerks, 9 ticket checkers, 6 operating staff, Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel, pointsmen, and safai karmacharis, manage every aspect of the station’s daily operations. Their responsibilities encompass ticketing, passenger safety, station operations, and maintenance, ensuring seamless service and efficient management. Since the introduction of the all-women workforce, Matunga Station has witnessed remarkable success, with operations running efficiently and effectively. The initiative not only empowers women but also serves as a model for inclusivity and gender equality in traditionally male-dominated sectors like railway operations.
07 March,2025 08:03 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMatunga Station on Central Railway has made history as the first fully women-staffed railway station in India. This pioneering initiative, launched in July 2017, has set a benchmark for women's empowerment in public service and railway operations. In recognition of this achievement, Matunga Station was featured in the Limca Book of Records 2018 as the first station in the country to be fully managed by women. A dedicated team of 32 women staff members, including 16 booking clerks, 9 ticket checkers, 6 operating staff, Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel, pointsmen, and safai karmacharis, manage every aspect of the station’s daily operations. Their responsibilities encompass ticketing, passenger safety, station operations, and maintenance, ensuring seamless service and efficient management. Under the leadership of Station Manager Mrs. Sarika Sawant, the all-women team has demonstrated exemplary dedication and professionalism. Mrs. Sawant, a trailblazer in her own right, has played a crucial role in ensuring the smooth functioning of the station while fostering a work environment that promotes leadership and decision-making among women employees. Smt. Manali Patil, the Chief Ticket Inspector, along with her team of lady ticket-checking staff, enforces regulations and ensures disciplined travel at the station. Their vigilance and commitment have significantly contributed to maintaining order and enhancing passenger experience. Since the introduction of the all-women workforce, Matunga Station has witnessed remarkable success, with operations running efficiently and effectively. The initiative not only empowers women but also serves as a model for inclusivity and gender equality in traditionally male-dominated sectors like railway operations. The transformation of Matunga Station is a testament to Central Railway’s vision of fostering an inclusive work environment where women are given the opportunity to lead, make key operational decisions, and contribute to the overall development of the railway sector. This initiative stands as a beacon of inspiration for organizations across India, proving that women's leadership can drive excellence in public service and infrastructure management. The success of Matunga Station is a proud milestone for Central Railway and reinforces the vital role of women in shaping the future of India's railway network.
07 March,2025 07:50 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA high-level meeting was held today, led by Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw, to discuss crowd control measures at railway stations. Several key decisions were taken to enhance passenger management and safety across major stations in the country. At the meeting, the following decisions were taken: Permanent outside waiting areas will be established at 60 stations that periodically experience heavy crowds. These waiting areas were successfully implemented during the 2024 festival season at Surat Udhna, Patna, and New Delhi, as well as during the Mahakumbh at nine Prayag area stations. Pilot projects for permanent waiting areas have commenced at New Delhi, Anand Vihar, Varanasi, Ayodhya, and Patna stations. This initiative will contain sudden crowd surges, allowing passengers onto platforms only when trains arrive. Complete access control will be enforced at these 60 stations. Passengers with confirmed reserved tickets will have direct access to platforms, while those with waiting list tickets or without tickets will be required to wait in designated outside areas. Unauthorized entry points will be sealed to enhance security. To improve passenger flow, new foot-over-bridges (FOBs) will be introduced. Two standard designs of 12-metre-wide and 6-metre-wide FOBs, tested effectively during the Mahakumbh, will be installed at all major stations. Surveillance will be bolstered with the installation of a large number of cameras at stations and surrounding areas. War rooms will also be established at major stations, where officers from various departments will coordinate crowd management during peak situations. Advanced digital communication equipment such as walkie-talkies, announcement systems, and calling systems will be deployed at stations handling heavy crowds. Additionally, a new identification system will be introduced, with redesigned ID cards for staff and service personnel to ensure that only authorized individuals can access stations. Railway staff will receive new uniforms for easy identification during emergencies. Furthermore, the position of station director will be upgraded at all major stations, with senior officers given financial authority to make immediate decisions for station management. All departments will report to the station director for streamlined operations. The sale of tickets will be regulated based on the capacity of stations and available trains. The station director will have the authority to control ticket sales to prevent overcrowding and ensure passenger safety. These measures aim to improve crowd management, enhance passenger convenience, and strengthen security at railway stations across the country.
07 March,2025 07:40 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Central Railway, Mumbai Division, will operate a Mega Block on its suburban sections on Sunday, March 9, 2025, to carry out essential engineering and maintenance works. The Mega Block schedule is as follows: The Matunga-Mulund Up and Down fast lines will be affected from 11:15 AM to 3:45 PM. Down fast line services departing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) from 10:56 AM to 3:10 PM will be diverted onto the Down slow line at Matunga station. These trains will halt at their respective scheduled stops between Matunga and Mulund stations and will reach their destinations approximately 15 minutes behind schedule. Fast trains beyond Thane will be re-diverted onto the Down fast line at Mulund station. Up fast line services departing Thane from 11:03 AM to 3:38 PM will be diverted onto the Up slow line at Mulund station, halting at their respective stops between Mulund and Matunga stations. These trains will be re-diverted onto the Up fast line at Matunga station and will reach their destinations approximately 15 minutes behind schedule. The Up and Down Harbour lines between CSMT and Chunabhatti/Bandra will be affected from 11:10 AM to 4:40 PM. Down Harbour line services to Vashi, Belapur, and Panvel departing CSMT from 11:16 AM to 4:47 PM and Down services to Bandra/Goregaon departing CSMT from 10:48 AM to 4:43 PM will remain cancelled. Up Harbour line services from Panvel, Belapur, and Vashi to CSMT departing from Panvel between 9:53 AM and 3:20 PM, as well as Up services from Goregaon/Bandra to CSMT departing Bandra from 10:45 AM to 5:13 PM, will also be cancelled. To assist commuters, special services will operate between Panvel and Kurla during the block period. Additionally, Harbour line passengers will be permitted to travel via the Main Line and Western Line stations from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The Railway Administration has requested passengers to bear with the temporary inconvenience caused by the necessary maintenance work. Meanwhile, the Western Railway (WR) has announced that there will be no day block on the suburban section on Sunday, March 9. However, a night block will be carried out between Vasai Road and Bhayandar stations for essential maintenance work on tracks, signalling, and overhead equipment.
07 March,2025 07:24 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Western Railway (WR) has announced that there will be no day block on the suburban section on Sunday, March 9. However, a night block will be carried out between Vasai Road and Bhayandar stations for essential maintenance work on tracks, signalling, and overhead equipment. According to a statement issued by the Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, Vineet Abhishek, maintenance work on the Up Fast Lines will take place from 11:30 PM to 3:00 AM between Bhayandar and Vasai Road on the night of March 8-9, 2025. On the Down Fast Lines, the block will be from 1:15 AM to 4:45 AM between Bhayandar and Vasai Road on the same night. During this period, all Up and Down Fast line trains will be operated on the Slow lines between Virar and Bhayandar/Borivali stations. Some suburban trains will also be cancelled during the block period. Passengers can check detailed information with the respective Station Masters. Western Railway has urged passengers to take note of these temporary arrangements and plan their travel accordingly. Western Railway to run seven more pairs of special trains Ahead of Holi 2025, Western Railway announced that it will run seven more pairs of special trains on special fares to various destinations. An official statement said that for the convenience of passengers and with a view to meet the travel demand during the Holi festival and summer season, the Western Railway will run 7 more pairs of special trains on special fares. According to a press release issued by Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, Vineet Abhishek the details of these trains are as under: Train No. 09189/09190 Mumbai Central-Katihar (Weekly) Special [08 Trips] Train No. 09189 Mumbai Central – Katihar Special will depart from Mumbai Central every Saturday at 11.00 hrs and will reach Katihar at 07.30 hrs, on Monday. This train will run from 8th March to 29th March, 2025. Similarly, Train No. 09190 Katihar - Mumbai Central Special will depart from Katihar every Tuesday at 00.15 hrs, and arrive at Mumbai Central at 18.40 hrs, the next day. This train will run from 11th March to 1st April, 2025. Enroute this train will halt at Borivali, Vapi, Udhna, Bharuch, Vadodara, Ratlam, Ujjain, Sant Hirdaram Nagar, Vidisha, Bina, Virangana Lakshmibai Jhansi, Orai, Kanpur Central, Fatehpur, Prayagraj Jn, Mirzapur, Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, Buxar, Ara, Danapur, Patliputra, Hajipur, Barauni, Begusarai, Khagaria and Naugachia stations in both directions. This train comprises of AC 2-Tier, AC 3-Tier, Sleeper Class and General Second Class coaches. - Train No. 04714/04713 Bandra Terminus – Bikaner (Weekly) Special [08 Trips] Train No. 04714 Bandra Terminus – Bikaner Special will depart from Bandra Terminus every Friday at 16.00 hrs and reach Bikaner at 14.30 hrs the next day. This train will run from 7th to 28th March, 2025. Similarly, Train No. 04713 Bikaner - Bandra Terminus Special will depart from Bikaner every Thursday at 15.00 hrs and arrive Bandra Terminus at 13.40 hrs, the next day. This train will run from 6th to 27th March, 2025. Enroute this train will halt at Borivali, Vapi, Udhna, Vadodara, Anand, Nadiad, Sabarmati, Mahesana, Bhildi, Raniwara, Marwar Bhinmal, Modran, Jalor, Mokalsar, Samdari, Luni, Jodhpur, Merta Road, Nagaur and Nokha station in both directions. This train comprises of AC 2-Tier, AC 3-Tier, Sleeper Class and General Second Class coaches. - Train No. 04828/04827 Bandra Terminus – Bhagat Ki Kothi (Weekly) Special [08 Trips] Train No. 04828 Bandra Terminus – Bhagat Ki Kothi Special will depart from Bandra Terminus every Sunday at 10.30 hrs and will reach Bhagat Ki Kothi at 04.30 hrs the next day. This train will run from 9th to 30th March, 2025. Similarly, Train No. 04827 Bhagat Ki Kothi – Bandra Terminus Special will depart from Bhagat Ki Kothi every Saturday at 11.30 hrs and arrive Bandra Terminus at 07.25 hrs the next day. This train will run from 8th to 29th March 2025. Enroute this train will halt at Borivali, Vapi, Udhna, Bharuch, Vadodara, Sabarmati, Mahesana, Palanpur, Abu Road, Pindwara, Jawai Bandh, Falna, Rani, Marwar, Pali Marwar & Luni station in both directions. This train comprises of AC 2-Tier, AC 3-Tier, AC 3-Tier (Economy), Sleeper Class and General Second Class Coaches. - Train No. 04826/04825 Bandra Terminus – Jodhpur Superfast (Weekly) Special [6 Trips] Train No. 04826 Bandra Terminus – Jodhpur Superfast Special will depart from Bandra Terminus every Tuesday at 11.15 hrs and will reach Jodhpur at 04.00 hrs the next day. This train will run from 11th to 25th March, 2025. Similarly, Train No. 04825 Jodhpur – Bandra Terminus Superfast Special will depart from Jodhpur every Monday at 17.00 hrs and will arrive Bandra Terminus at 09.30 hrs, the next day. This train will run from 10th to 24th March, 2025. Enroute this train will halt at Borivali, Vapi, Udhna, Bharuch, Vadodara, Sabarmati, Mahesana, Palanpur, Abu Road, Pindwara Jawai Bandh, Falna, Rani, Marwar, Pali Marwar & Luni station in both directions. This train comprises of AC 3-Tier and Sleeper Class Coaches. - Train No. 03418/03417 Udhna – Malda Town (Weekly) Special Train [4 Trips] Train No. 03418 Udhna – Malda Town Special will depart from Udhna on Tuesday & Monday at 12.30 hrs & will reach Malda Town at 02.55 hrs the third day. This train will run on 18th & 24th March, 2025. Similarly, Train No. 03417 Malda Town - Udhna Special will depart from Malda Town on Sunday & Saturday at 12.20 hrs and will reach Udhna at 00.45 hrs the third day. This train will run on 16th & 22nd March, 2025. Enroute this train will halt at Chalthan, Vyara, Navapur, Nandurbar, Dondaicha, Amalner, Bhusaval, Itarsi, Pipariya, Jabalpur, Katni, Satna, Manikpur, Prayagraj Chheoki, Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, Buxar, Ara, Patna, Bakhtiyarpur, Kiul, Abhaipur, Jamalpur, Sultanganj, Bhagalpur, Kahalgaon, Sahibganj, Barharwa and New Farakka station in both directions. This train comprises of AC 2-Tier, AC 3-Tier, Sleeper Class and General Second Class coaches. - Train No. 09417/09418 Ahmedabad - Danapur Special (Weekly) [08 Trips] Train No. 09417 Ahmedabad – Danapur Special will depart Ahmedabad every Monday at 09.10 hrs & will reach Danapur at 20.30 hrs, the next day. This train will run from 10th to 31st March, 2025. Similarly, Train No. 09418 Danapur - Ahmedabad Special will depart from Danapur every Tuesday at 23.50 hrs & will reach Ahmedabad at 12.15 hrs, on Thursday. This train will run from 11th March to 01st April, 2025. Enroute this train will halt at Nadiad, Chhayapuri, Ratlam, Dakaniya Talav, Gangapur City, Hindaun City, Bharatpur, Mathura, Kasganj, Farrukhabad, Kanpur Central, Fatehpur, Prayagraj Jn, Mirzapur, Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhaya, Buxar and Ara station in both directions. This train comprises of AC 2-Tier, AC 3-Tier, Sleeper Class and General Second Class Coaches. - Train No. 09425/09426 Sabarmati – Haridwar (Bi-Weekly) Special [14 Trips] Train No. 09425 Sabarmati – Haridwar Special will depart from Sabarmati every Thursday & Sunday at 17.20 hrs and reach Haridwar at 17.00 hrs, the next day. This train will run from 9th to 30th March, 2025. Similarly, Train No. 09426 Haridwar – Sabarmati Special will depart from Haridwar every Friday & Monday at 21.00 hrs and reach Sabarmati at 22.30 hrs, the next day. This train will run from 10th to 31st March, 2025. Enroute this train will halt at Mahesana, Palanpur, Abu Road, Pindwara, Falna, Marwar, Beawar, Ajmer, Kishangarh,Jaipur, Gandhinagar Jaipur, Bandikui, Alwar, Rewari, Gurgaon, Delhi Cantt, Delhi, Ghaziabad, Meerut City, Muzaffarnagar and Roorkee station in both directions.
07 March,2025 07:07 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe debt stock of Maharashtra is expected to increase by 10.1 per cent over the previous year and will stand at 17.3 per cent of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), which will be within fiscal and budgetary norms, as per the economic survey tabled in the state legislature on Friday. Debt stock of 17.3 per cent will be within the prescribed limit of 25 per cent of GSDP, it said. The survey said the debt stock currently stood at Rs 7,82,991 crore as per budget estimates, while interest due was Rs 56,727 crore. The major contributor of total debt stock, at 81.4 per cent, is internal debt, which is expected to be Rs 6,37,141 crore, while the revenue deficit, fiscal deficit and primary deficit are expected to be Rs 20,051 crore (0.4 per cent of GSDP), Rs 1,10,355 crore (2.4 per cent of GSDP) and Rs 53,628 crore (1.2 per cent of GSDP), respectively. The survey said the state was adhering to the Maharashtra Fiscal Responsibility & Budgetary Management (MFRBM) Rules 2006 on fiscal consolidation. Maharashtra's economy is expected to grow at 7.3 per cent as per the advance estimates of 2024-25, said the government's pre-Budget Economic Survey tabled in the assembly on Friday. The projected growth is more than that of the country's economy which is expected to expand by 6.5 per cent in the current fiscal, as per the survey report.The Economic Survey was tabled by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who holds the finance portfolio. In the financial year 2024-25, agriculture and allied activities, industry and services sectors are expected to grow at 8.7 per cent, 4.9 per cent and 7.8 per cent, respectively, it said. Maharashtra leads the list of top 10 states in nominal GSDP during 2023-24, the survey said. It is followed by Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh. Maharashtra's per capita income (Rs 2,78,681) is less than that of Tamil Nadu (Rs 3,15,220), Karnataka's Rs 3,32,926 and Gujarat's Rs 2,97,722. During 2024-25, agriculture and allied activities are expected to grow at 8.7 per cent. In the kharif season of 2024-25, sowing was completed in 157.59 lakh hectares of area. The production of cereals, pulses, oilseeds and cotton is expected to increase by 49.2 per cent, 48.1 per cent, 26.9 per cent and 10.8 per cent respectively, it said.
07 March,2025 06:52 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday reiterated that the Ladki Bahin Yojana would continue and said his government was working to ensure the financial aid provided under it brings gainful benefits to beneficiaries, reported news agency PTI. Fadnavis was taking part in the debate in the assembly to mark International Women's Day, which will be celebrated on March 8. "The Ladki Bahin Yojana will not be scrapped. The state government is working to ensure the financial aid brings gainful benefits to beneficiaries. The scheme will be implemented effectively," the CM said, reported PTI. The government's pre-Budget Economic Survey tabled in the legislative assembly during the day mentioned that a sum of Rs 17,505.90 crore has been transferred into the bank accounts of 2.38 crore women beneficiaries of the Ladki Bahin Yojana till December 2024, reported PTI. The 'Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana', the flagship scheme of the previous Eknath Shinde-led government, was formally launched in August last year. Under the scheme, eligible women get financial assistance of Rs 1,500 per month through direct benefit transfer (DBT). CM Fadnavis also hailed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Ahilyabai Holkar and said they showed everyone how to run welfare states in the era of monarchies. In all, 2.38 crore women availed the benefit and expenditure of Rs 17,505.90 crore was incurred up to December, 2024, the Economic Survey report said. The objective of this scheme is to promote employment and economic development by providing adequate facilities to women and girls in the age group 21 to 65 years. It was also aimed at rehabilitating women economically and socially, making them self-reliant, it said. The scheme aims to promote the empowerment of women and girls and improve the health and nutritional status of women and children dependent on them, it added. The Ladki Bahin scheme was touted as one of the primary reasons for the Mahayuti alliance's resounding victory in the November 2024 assembly polls. The ruling alliance of the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP won 230 seats in the 288-member assembly. During the assembly poll campaign, Mahayuti leaders promised to hike the Ladki Bahin monthly aid from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,100. However, the scheme has been attacked by the opposition over its financial viability in a state where the fiscal deficit has touched Rs 2 lakh crore. (With inputs from PTI)
07 March,2025 06:41 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Maharashtra government has transferred Rs 17,505.90 crore into the bank accounts of 2.38 crore women beneficiaries under its Ladki Bahin Yojana till December 2024 - in the first five months after the scheme was launched. This was mentioned in the government's pre-budget Economic Survey tabled in the legislative assembly on Friday. The 'Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana', the flagship scheme of the previous Eknath Shinde-led government was formally launched in August last year. Under the scheme, eligible women get financial assistance of Rs 1,500 per month through direct benefit transfer (DBT). In all, 2.38 crore women availed the benefit and expenditure of Rs 17,505.90 crore was incurred up to December 2024, the Economic Survey report said. The objective of this scheme is to promote employment and economic development by providing adequate facilities to women and girls in the age group 21 to 65 years. It was also aimed at rehabilitating women economically and socially, making them self-reliant, it said. The scheme aims to promote the empowerment of women and girls and improve the health and nutritional status of women and children dependent on them, it added. The Ladki Bahin scheme was touted as one of the primary reasons for the Mahayuti alliance's resounding victory in the November 2024 assembly polls. The ruling alliance of the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP won 230 seats in the 288-member assembly. During the assembly poll campaign, Mahayuti leaders promised to hike the Ladki Bahin monthly aid from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,100. However, the scheme has been attacked by the opposition over its financial viability in a state where the fiscal deficit has touched Rs 2 lakh crore. The Economic Survey said that as of March 2024, there were 16,30,589 self-help groups (SHGs) in Maharashtra having accounts with cooperative banks, regional rural banks, and public and private commercial banks, out of which 13,80,838 SHGs (85 per cent) are exclusively for women. In 2024-25, till December (2024), women SHGs received loans of Rs 10,475.48 crore from various financial institutions, and the total internal loans disbursed was Rs 3,779 crore, while total cumulative savings of women SHGs stood at Rs 1,404 crore, the report said. It also said that complaints regarding marital problems, social problems, rape, property issues, sexual harassment at the workplace, harassment at the workplace and other problems were received at the counselling branch and legal branch of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women. The number of crimes against women per lakh female population in the year 2022 was 75, which was 77 in 2023, the report said.
07 March,2025 06:31 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Maharashtra archaeology department is planning to consult the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on conservation of the renowned Tulja Bhawani Temple in Dharashiv district, an official said on Friday, PTI reported. During conservation and repair work undertaken at the temple by the state archaeology department, cracks were observed in the stones bearing the load of the structure's roof, he said. He further said that cracks were observed in the stones bearing the load of the temple's roof during the state archaeology department's conservation and repair work, PTI reported. "We plan to consult the ASI on the conservation of the temple. We have decided to form a panel that will include three superintendents of archaeologists of ASI in this regard. For the moment, we have given support to the cracked stones," the state archaeology department official told PTI. On Thursday, Raigad Fort Authority president and former Rajya Sabha MP Sambhaji Chhatrapati had paid a visit to Tuljapur and said the ASI must be consulted on conservation works. Maharashtra: Tourist footfall decreases at Ellora, other ASI sites in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar The tourist footfall at Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) monuments in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, including Ajanta and Ellora Caves, decreased by almost 50 per cent between March 1, 2024, to November 30, 2024, data showed. As many as 50,50,071 domestic tourists had visited the 'ticketed monuments' of ASI — Ajanta and Ellora Cave Complex, Bibi ka Maqbara, Daulatabad (Devgiri) fort and Aurangabad caves — from March 1 to November 30, 2023. The footfall of foreign tourists stood at 35,618 during this period, news agency PTI reported. But the domestic tourist footfall came down by nearly half to 24,94,570 and that of foreign tourists was 30,884 during the same period in 2024, ASI officials said. The World Heritage Site of Ellora remained the favourite destination, with 10,60,741 tourists visiting the cave complex. According to PTI, Jaswant Singh, the President of the Aurangabad Tourism Development Foundation (ATDF), blamed "negative publicity" about the condition of roads for the shrinking footfall. The air connectivity of the city has also declined, while hotels have become expensive, he said. (With Agency inputs)
07 March,2025 06:28 PM IST | Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar | mid-day online correspondentThe Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) has agreed to allow the use of the turf and football nets at a Mumbai school where cricketer Rohit Sharma played as a student, days after demolishing the facility following complaints of commercial exploitation. Earlier this week, MHADA officials tore down the turf and football nets at the Swami Vivekananda School in Gorai after complaints that the facility was being used commercially. The facility had been in use for 29 years and played a crucial role in shaping young cricketers, including Rohit Sharma, who trained there as a budding cricketer. "After an assurance by those concerned that there will be no commercial use of the facility, we have renewed the lease of the facility for one more year," Milind Borikar, IAS, Vice Chairman and Chief Officer, Mumbai Board of MHADA, told PTI. The school has informed that it will set up the cricket nets again, Borikar told PTI. Dronacharya awardee Dinesh Lad, who is credited with spotting Rohit, denied that the facility was used for commercial purposes. "There were many complaints regarding the use of the playground that was allotted for the use of the school's students. There were complaints that the school authorities had erected big nets and were commercially exploiting the space," an official of the housing agency said. MHADA Konkan Board announces sale of plots for schools and hospitals in Shirdhon and Khoni The Konkan Housing and Area Development Board, a regional division of Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), has initiated the tender process for the sale of plots reserved for schools and multispecialty hospitals under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) at Shirdhon and Khoni in Kalyan Taluka, Thane District. The Chief Officer of the Konkan Board, Revati Gaikar, has invited eligible applicants, including individuals, companies, public charitable trusts, registered societies, educational institutions, healthcare organizations, partnership firms, trusts, and joint ventures, to participate in the process, a release said. The housing project at Survey No. 86, 95, Shirdhon (Kalyan, Thane) has been systematically planned to create a model residential township. The project includes 7,141 housing units for the economically weaker section (EWS) under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and 528 units for the low-income group (LIG) under the MHADA housing scheme. Out of these, 1,905 units have already received occupancy certificates, and the process to obtain certificates for the remaining units is in progress. Additionally, approval has been granted for the construction of 11,023 new LIG units under the MHADA scheme, the release said. The layout plan of this project includes two plots of 765.64 square meters and 596.87 square meters for multispecialty hospitals, along with two plots measuring 3,033.25 square meters and 2,768.67 square meters reserved for schools and playgrounds. (With inputs from PTI)
07 March,2025 06:23 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentShiv Sena (UBT) MLC Anil Parab's remark comparing himself to Maratha king Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj drew the ire of ruling Mahayuti legislators in the Maharashtra council on Friday, as they sought an apology from him, reported news agency PTI. The proceedings in the council were adjourned thrice following the din in the House. As the House convened, BJP MLC Pravin Darekar said Parab had compared himself to Chhatrapati Sambhaji in his speech in the council on Thursday and demanded an apology from him as the treasury members trooped into the well, reported PTI. Hitting out at the Sena (UBT) leader, state Ports and Fisheries Minister Nitesh Rane said a clerk cannot be compared to Chhatrapati Sambhaji. Following this, ugly exchanges also took place between the two. The Mahayuti's aggressive stance comes a day after the opposition cornered the government over RSS leader Bhaiyyaji Joshi's remarks on Marathi, reported PTI. Leader of Opposition in the council Ambadas Danve said if Parab's remark had hurt anyone, he, as a leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT), expressed regret over it. Though council chairman Ram Shinde informed the treasury benches that Danve had expressed regret, they did not relent. Parab, in his defence, said that if the chair thinks his remarks have hurt anyone, they can be expunged, reported PTI. He said he had only remarked that the way Chhatrapati Sambhaji had been tortured to change his religion, he too was being tortured to change his party, reported PTI. Parab pointed out that BJP MLC Shrikant Bharatiya had named his dog 'Shambhu', and he too should be asked to apologise, reported PTI. He said he also has a tweet of the BJP MLC apologising for the act. It was only after Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil intervened and asked that the matter be put to rest, as Danve had expressed regret, that the issue got resolved. I am not Uddhav to stay ongoing projects, says Fadnavis Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday took a dig at Shiv Sena (UBT) president and former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, saying he was not his predecessor to stay ongoing projects. Speaking on the motion thanking Governor C P Radhakrishnan for his address to the joint session of the state legislature, Fadnavis said decisions made by the previous Mahayuti government were not Eknath Shinde's alone but were made in coordination. (With inputs from PTI)
07 March,2025 06:14 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
