The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP SP) leader Jitendra Awhad on Thursday described the Maharashtra Assembly election 2024 results as a well-planned 'conspiracy' by the BJP to politically harm his party chief Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray, reported the PTI. Addressing a press conference, Jitendra Awhad, who retained his Mumbra-Kalwa seat in Thane district of Maharashtra, claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wanted to cause distress to Sharad Pawar in his old age. Sharad Pawar will turn 84 next month. The BJP also wanted to push Uddhav Thackeray to the political fringes, he claimed, according to the PTI. "The Maharashtra poll results are a well-planned conspiracy to politically harm Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray," he said. The Mahayuti, comprising of the BJP and its allies Ajit Pawar-led NCP and Shiv Sena of Eknath Shinde swept the polls, winning 230 of the 288 seats in Maharashtra. By contrast, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) partners NCP (SP), Congress and Sena (UBT) got 10, 16 and 20 seats, respectively. Jitendra Awhad also raised questions over voter turnout figures in the November 20 elections. The polling percentage jumped by 7.83 per cent after 5 pm, when voting officially ended, he claimed, as per the PTI. According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), the final turnout in Maharashtra polls was 66.05 per cent as per EVM votes, up from 61.1 per cent in 2019. In Harayana elections, too, the rise in turnout figures after 5 pm was 6.73 per cent, Jitendta Awhad claimed. There, the BJP beat exit poll predictions to bag 48 of the 90 seats in Haryana, while the Congress ended with 37 seats. However, in Jharkhand where the opposition INDIA bloc won, the turnout percentage rose by 1.79 points and 0.86 points in the first and second phases, respectively, after 5 pm, said the NCP (SP) leader. According to Awhad, polling figure usually increases by about 1.5 per cent after 5 pm in Maharashtra. He wondered why the Election Commission of India has not yet explained the sharp rise this time. Earlier, Congress state chief Nana Patole also raised a similar question and asked the ECI to clarify the huge increase in polling percentage after 5 pm. (with PTI inputs)
28 November,2024 10:18 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn a move to remove illegal encroachments and ensure the smooth functioning of the railways, a major demolition drive was carried out by Western Railway and civic authorities on Thursday in Bandra East area of suburban Mumbai, the officials said. The demolition drive, spanning from the ROB (Road Over Bridge) to L.C Gate 18, was executed to clear unauthorised structures from a stretch of the railway corridor, the officials said. They said that a total of 45 unauthorised encroachments were removed during the demolition drive, aiming to free up the area for a more efficient railway operations. The demolished encroachments had been allegedly affecting the proper functioning of the railway lines, posing risks to both infrastructure and commuter safety, said an official. Watch Videos below Illegal structures near Bandra East station were demolished under heavy police securityVia: @DiwakarSharmaa #Mumbai #Bandra #IllegalStructures #MumbaiPolice #MumbaiNews pic.twitter.com/sfjebfbb2v — Mid Day (@mid_day) November 28, 2024 The demolition drive involved a large team of personnel and machinery to ensure the removal of these encroachments. Heavy police presence was witnessed during the demolition drive that was undertaken for several hours on Thursday. The officials said that the police officials from Nirmal Nagar police station, Government Railway Police (GRP) officials and Railway Police Force (RPF) officials along with other railway officials were present during the entire drive. The workforce included a significant number of railway, civic staff and police officials, who worked in coordination to oversee the demolition operation, the officials said. The operation was further supported by heavy machinery, including two JCBs for demolition and a truck for transporting debris. The collaboration between Western Railway personnel, the RPF, GRP, and local Nirmal Nagar police ensured that the demolition was carried out efficiently without any untoward incidents, they said. In a similar drive in Bandra East in August last year, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had carried out a demolition drive to clear a pathway for auto-rickshaws outside Bandra East railway station. The structures were narrowing the pathway, making it difficult for vehicles to pass, the officials had earlier stated. They had said that the structures that were bulldozed were relatively new, allegedly erected only two to three months ago. Several unauthorised encroachments were removed during the demolition drive then and the aim was to free up the area for smooth traffic operations and hurdel-free pedestrian movement.
28 November,2024 08:59 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarShiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Ambadas Danve on Thursday criticised the Congress for its "overconfidence," which he claimed adversely affected the Maha Vikas Aghadi's (MVA) performance in the Maharashtra polls. According to news agency ANI, while speaking at a press conference in Mumbai, Danve said that Congress exhibited overconfidence after the Lok Sabha Elections, which was evident in every region where it contested. "It is true that Congress was overconfident. After the Lok Sabha elections, wherever elections were held — be it in Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, or Maharashtra —this overconfidence was apparent. Rahul Gandhi and Congress worked hard during the Lok Sabha elections, and the INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) bloc saw some success, but they were overconfident," he said. According to ANI, Danve also pointed out that MVA had been bogged down by seat-sharing negotiations until the very last day, instead of engaging with the public. "We remained stuck in seat-sharing discussions until the very last day, whereas those days should have been spent engaging with the public. Some seats should have been allocated to Shiv Sena, but Congress was simply unwilling to agree. Congress behaved as if the Chief Minister's oath-taking ceremony was all that mattered to them," Danve said. He further emphasised that had his party President Uddhav Thackeray’s name been projected as the Chief Minister, the outcome could have been different. "Uddhav Ji's name should have been put forward for the Chief Minister's (CM) position. If he had been projected as the CM candidate from the beginning, it could have brought a significant change in the results," he said. According to ANI, Danve also highlighted the case of the Sambhajinagar seat, where Shiv Sena had been active for the past five years but it was instead handed to Congress, which should have won it. "After the Lok Sabha elections, Congress members were already preparing to wear suits and ties, thinking about which departments they would get. They weren't even discussing the election results," Danve remarked. The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader stated that they would now focus on strengthening their party in all 288 assembly seats across Maharashtra. "Shiv Sena members have demanded that we should strengthen the party in all the 288 seats, and preparations for this should start immediately. The organisation will be strengthened across all 288 seats. Shiv Sena has never compromised on Hindutva and never will. Shiv Sena does not need to be taught Hindutva by anyone. However, we believe that Hindutva does not mean disrespecting other parties," he said. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the largest party with 132 seats in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly, while its allies — Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Ajit Pawar — secured 57 and 41 seats, respectively. MVA suffered a significant defeat in the Maharashtra polls. Shiv Sena (UBT) won only 20 seats, while Congress secured 16, and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) managed 10. (With ANI inputs)
28 November,2024 08:53 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAhead of the Mahaparinirvan Divas 2024, the Central Railway on Thursday announced that it will run 12 unreserved special trains. In an official statement, the Central Railway said that it has decided to run 12 unreserved special trains for the convenience of passengers travelling to Mumbai for attending Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar's Mahaparinirvan Divas celebration. It said that four specials will run between Nagpur - Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Mumbai, 1 special will run between Kalaburagi - Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus. The details of special trains are as under- (A) Nagpur- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Mumbai unreserved specials (4) - Special train No. 01262 will leave Nagpur at 11.55 pm on 4.12.2024 and arrive Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) Mumbai at 3.30 pm on next day. - Special train No. 01264 will leave Nagpur at 08.00 am on 5.12.2024 and arrive Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) Mumbai at 11.45 pm on same day. - Special train No. 01266 will leave Nagpur at 03.50 pm on 5.12.2024 and arrive Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) Mumbai at 10.55 am on next day. Having stoppage at Ajni, Sewagram, Wardha, Pulgaon, Dhamangaon, Badnera, Murtizapur, Akola, Jalamb, Malkapur, Bhusawal, Jalgaon, Chalisgaon, Manmad, Nashik Road, Igatpuri, Kasara, Kalyan and Dadar. Special Train No. 01262, 01264 and 01266 will have 16 General second class. Special train No. 02040 will leave Nagpur at 01.20 pm on 7.12.2024 and arrive Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Mumbai at 04.10 am next day. Having stoppage at Ajni, Wardha, Pulgaon, Dhamangaon, Badnera, Akola, Shegaon, Malkapur, Bhusawal, Nashik Road, Igatpuri, Kalyan and Dadar in Mumbai. Kalaburagi - Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Mumbai unreserved special (1) Special train No. 01245 will leave Kalaburagi at 06.30 pm on 5.12.2024 and arrive Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) at 08.20 am on the next day. Having stoppage at Ganagapur Road, Akkalkot, Solapur, Kuruduwadi, Daund, Pune, Lonavala, Kalyan and Dadar and it will have 22 General second class. Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar had passed away on December 6, 1956 at his home in Delhi and to commemorate Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s significant contribution to the society, Dec 6 is observed as Mahaparinirvan Diwas across India. Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar is remembered for his several contributions to the country. He headed the committee drafting the Constitution of India. He is also called the father of the Indian Constitution. Babasaheb Ambedkar was posthumously awarded India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, in 1990.
28 November,2024 08:45 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarThe Panvel-Karjat Suburban Railway Corridor, a pivotal project under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP-III), is inching closer towards completion. Executed by the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC), the corridor is expected to significantly enhance connectivity between Panvel and Karjat, becoming a crucial part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region's (MMR) expanding suburban railway network. Sixty-seven per cent of the project, which has been sanctioned Rs 2,782 crore, has been completed as of October. A total of 56.82 hectares of private land required for the corridor has been successfully acquired along with 4.4 hectares of government land. Permissions for Stage-I forest clearance have also been obtained, with work already underway in forested areas. The Stage-II clearance is also in progress, with approvals in the final stages. The earthworks for the project are underway, with 2 million cubic metres of filling completed. The project has also seen breakthroughs for all three tunnels, with more than 3,100 metres of underground excavation completed. Along with this, the lining works are also in progress. Of the 47 bridges planned, 29 minor and six major bridges have been completed. Besides, four road overbridges (ROBs) are also ready, with significant advancements on key structures at Mohape and Kirawali. A key component involving girder launches has been achieved for the Pune Expressway Underpass, with finishing works such as painting also completed. The construction of station and service buildings is progressing across key stations: Panvel, Chikhale, Mohape, Chowk, and Karjat. Additionally, utility structures, including platforms, FOBs, and administrative buildings, are advancing as planned, the MRVC said. “Once completed, the Panvel-Karjat Suburban Railway Corridor will significantly reduce travel time, provide seamless connectivity, and cater to the increasing commuter demand in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). By serving as a crucial link between Panvel and Karjat, the corridor will support Mumbai's ever-expanding suburban railway network and promote regional economic growth,” said Subhash Chand Gupta, the Chairman and Managing Director of MRVC said. The Panvel-Karjat Suburban Railway Corridor project has also taken sustainability into consideration and focuses on modern engineering designs that minimise ecological impact. MRVC stated it has actively addressed environmental concerns, securing the necessary forest clearances and incorporating environmentally responsible construction practices.
28 November,2024 08:21 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarIn a fillip to the union school education ministries efforts towards addressing the learning crisis in India, IIT Bombay has developed an innovative mobile app, TARA (Teacher’s Assistant for Reading Assessment), designed to assess and improve oral reading fluency (ORF) in students across the country. The move comes at a time when the quality of education remains a major challenge, despite efforts to improve school attendance. According to the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2022, on an average more than half of Class 5 students in India struggle to read even simple Class 2-level texts, highlighting a major gap in foundational literacy. The ASER reading test assesses whether a child can read letters, words, a simple paragraph of first grade level or a story of second grade level of difficulty. The 2022 report also highlighted a concerning decline in reading levels among Class 3 students across both government and private schools. The percentage of students able to read text intended for second graders fell from 27.3% in 2018 to just 20.5% in 2022. This marks the lowest level since 2012, when only 21.5% of students demonstrated the same ability. For fifth graders, the percentage of children able to read at least Class 2-level text decreased from 50.5% in 2018 to 42.8% in 2022. Besides this NEP 2020 report further emphasized that over five crore students are yet to achieve foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) skills. The COVID-19 pandemic only worsened the situation, with a staggering 90% of students losing specific language abilities, such as reading comprehension or picture description. "As reading serves as a gateway to all other forms of learning, addressing this issue has become a priority for governments worldwide. In India, there is a concerted push to develop structured teaching methods and equip teachers with the tools to deliver effective education. However, one crucial area remains: monitoring learning outcomes. Regular assessments, particularly of oral reading fluency, are essential for measuring progress and guiding instructional strategies," read a statement issued by the IIT Bombay. Traditionally, oral reading fluency assessments require one-on-one interaction with trained evaluators, where attributes like accuracy, speed, and smoothness are manually scored. However, this method is time-consuming and difficult to scale. To address this challenge, IIT Bombay’s team of researchers, led by Professor Preeti Rao from the Department of Electrical Engineering, have developed TARA—a mobile app that automates the assessment of oral reading fluency through speech processing and machine learning technology. TARA app works by analyzing an audio recording of a child reading an age-appropriate passage aloud. It automatically extracts critical rubrics such as words correct per minute (WCPM), and also assesses expression by measuring phrasing, intonation, and stress in speech. These factors are key indicators of the reader's understanding of the text. “The system is trained on expert-annotated recordings and currently supports English and Hindi, with its reliability matching that of human experts,” said Rao. The app addresses a long-standing need for real-time data on student performance, according to Dr. Shailaja Menon, reading pedagogy expert and Lead of the Center of Excellence in Early Language and Literacy at Tata Trusts. TARA provides an end-to-end solution by enabling audio recordings and generating performance data for individual students, as well as for larger cohorts like classes, schools, and regions, all accessible via a user-friendly dashboard, Menon stated. The project has garnered significant attention and support, receiving funding from the Tata Centre of Technology & Design and the Abdul Kalam Technology Innovation Fellowship. In a major milestone, the app has been adopted by the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) for assessing oral reading fluency in English and Hindi for Grades 3-8, covering over 7 lakh students across 1200 schools in India. This initiative is now the largest oral reading fluency exercise ever conducted in the country. The collaboration with KVS is particularly vital in light of the NIPUN Bharat National Mission, which aims to ensure that all students achieve FLN by the end of Grade 3. KVS schools are expected to lead the way in this mission, serving as model schools for competency-based education and the adoption of learning outcome metrics. For now the TARA team continues to work closely with KVS to develop effective remedial strategies for students, with the first round of assessments providing valuable data to refine teaching approaches. Looking ahead, the success of this initiative will be gauged through regular test cycles and subsequent assessment phases, which will offer insights into how well the remediation strategies improve reading capabilities. "IIT Bombay is eager to expand partnerships and collaborations, with the ultimate goal of providing evidence-based solutions to transform the school education system in India," the institute's statement read.
28 November,2024 06:58 PM IST | Mumbai | Dipti SinghMaharashtra Congress president Nana Patole on Thursday demanded that the Election Commission (EC) clarify the rise in voter turnout by over 7 per cent after polling for the Maharashtra Assembly election 2024 ended on November 20 evening, reported the PTI. Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Nana Patole said the 'discrepancies' in polling figures put a question mark on the functioning of the Election Commission of India. Nana Patole claimed that the voting percentage was 58.22 at 5 pm but rose by 7.83 percentage points at 11.30 pm, as per the PTI. The EC must clarify this 'discrepancy' as it puts a question mark on transparency, he said. "This is theft of people's vote. We will seek legal recourse and hit the streets to make people aware," Nana Patole said, according to the PTI. After its crushing defeat in the assembly elections, many leaders from the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) have cast aspersions on ECI's voting process. Nana Patole said the ECI should publish photographs of those booths where polling continued till 11.30 pm. It is not who won or who lost, Patole said, adding that his party wanted to save democracy. In the Maharashtra elections, whose results were announced on November 23, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance scripted a stunning victory by winning 230 seats in the 288-member House. Recovering from its Lok Sabha elections losses, the BJP bagged 132 constituencies, the highest among all constituents of the Mahayuti. Its allies Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP bagged 57 and 41 seats, respectively. The Congress-led MVA suffered a setback. The grand old party registered one of its worst performances in the state polls winning only 16 seats. Sharad Pawar's NCP(SP) got just 10 seats, whereas Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) won 20 seats. In his Sakoli constituency in the Bhandara district, Patole scraped through with just 208 votes to defeat his nearest rival Avinash Brahmankar of the BJP. (with PTI inputs)
28 November,2024 06:36 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTop Mahayuti leaders Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar are likely to meet Union minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Thursday night as suspense over next Maharashtra CM continue, sources said, reported the PTI. The process of government formation in Maharashtra is expected to get a boost after a crucial meeting between them in Delhi, they said. The meeting assumes significance amid reports that the BJP leadership may be mulling over names of a few of its Maratha leaders, despite the perception that Devendra Fadnavis becoming the CM for a third time is a foregone conclusion, the sources said. Caste dynamics have assumed a greater role in the choice of the CM as an overwhelming number of the 288 MLAs from all the parties are from the Maratha community. Devendra Fadnavis is a Brahmin and first became the CM in 2014 and again for a brief while in 2019. "If the writ of RSS prevails, the chances of Fadnavis becoming the CM are bright," the sources said, according to the PTI. Despite vociferous demands from Shiv Sena leaders that Shinde should have a go at another term at the top post, the caretaker CM on Wednesday made it clear that he has told PM Modi and Shah that he abide by the BJP's choice for the post. As per the PTI, a close aide of Shinde said on Thursday that the caretaker CM is unlikely to accept the post of deputy CM in the new dispensation. Sanjay Shirsat, an MLA and spokesperson of the Shiv Sena, however, said Shinde would be a part of the cabinet. "He is unlikely to be a deputy chief minister. It does not befit a person who has already served as chief minister," Shirsat told PTI. The Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde will nominate another leader for the deputy CM's post, he added. Eknath Shinde's MP son Shrikant Shinde expressed pride in his father for exemplifying "alliance dharma" by prioritising collective governance over personal ambition. In a post on X, Shrikant highlighted his father's deep connection with the people of Maharashtra, emphasising his relentless dedication to serving all segments of society. "I am proud of my father and chief leader of the Shiv Sena. He kept faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah and set an example of the alliance dharma, keeping his personal ambition aside," he said. मला माझे बाबा आणि आमचे शिवसेना मुख्यनेते मा.ना.श्री.एकनाथजी शिंदे साहेब यांचा खूप अभिमान वाटतो. त्यांची महाराष्ट्र आणि येथील जनतेशी असलेली अतूट बांधिलकी अतुलनीय आहे. त्यांनी अहोरात्र अथक परिश्रम केले. समाजातील प्रत्येक घटकाची निस्वार्थ सेवा करून त्यांचे प्रेम, विश्वास आणि प्रशंसा… — Dr Shrikant Lata Eknath Shinde (@DrSEShinde) November 27, 2024 The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance scripted a stunning victory in the recent state assembly elections by winning 230 seats in the 288-member House. Recovering from its Lok Sabha elections losses, the BJP bagged 132 constituencies, highest among all constituents of the Mahayuti. Shinde's Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP also performed well. Sena won 57 while NCP won 41 seats. Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) suffered a setback. The grand old party registered one of its worst performances in the state assembly polls after it won only 16 seats. Sharad Pawar's NCP(SP) won just 10 seats, whereas Uddhav Thackeray's (UBT) won 20 seats. On Tuesday, Eknath Shinde tendered his resignation as CM to Governor C P Radhakrishnan. The Governor requested Shinde to continue as caretaker chief minister until the new government is formed. (with PTI inputs)
28 November,2024 06:08 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMumbai Police on Thursday issued a traffic advisory for motorists in Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) ahead of the Feeding India Concert where singer Dua Lipa is scheduled to perform on November 30. Dua Lipa on Thursday landed in Mumbai and the pop sensation will perform at the Feeding India Concert at MMRDA Ground in BKC. Mumbai Police in a traffic notification said that on November 30 international singers will be present for performing at the 'Feeding India Concert' and a large number of people will attend the event. The police said that since there will be a huge crowd of people in the MMRDA Grounds in BKC for Dua Lipa Feeding India Concert, it will affect the traffic and hence it is necessary to issue a temporary notification to close some roads for traffic and divert the traffic for a certain period of time. The traffic notification was issued by Samadhan Pawar, DCP, (H.Q. & Central), Traffic, Mumbai Police. The police said, In order to prevent danger, obstructions and inconvenience to the public following diversions were being made. Following roads shall be closed for vehicular traffic on 30/11/2024 between 13.00 hrs. to 24.00 hrs. on temporary basis and as per requirement. Road Closed : Traffic coming from Western Express Highway (WEH), Dharavi, Bandra-Worli Sea Link proceeding towards Kurla shall be restricted to go through Bharat Nagar Junction towards Kurla. Alternate Route : Vehicular traffic from Bharat Nagar Junction will take right turn for Sebi Junction - right turn from One BKC Junction - Left turn at Canara Bank Junction towards MCA Club - American Consulate junction - left turn at Tata Communication and shall proceed from MTNL junction towards Kurla. Road Closed : Vehicular traffic coming from Sant Dyneshwar Nagar proceeding towards Kurla shall be restricted to go through Bharat Nagar Junction towards Kurla. Alternate Route : Vehicular traffic from Bharat Nagar Junction - take right turn for Sebi Junction - take right turn from One BKC Junction - take Left turn fromCanara Bank Junction towards MCA Club - American Consulate Junction - Tata Communication left turn - from MTNL Junction - Razzak Junction and shall proceed to Kurla. Road Closed : Vehicular traffic coming from Kherwadi Govt. Colony, Kanakiya Palace, UTI Tower towards BKC, Chunabhatti and Kurla shall be restricted. Alternate Route : Left turn from Gurunanak Hospital - Mumbai Bank - Income Tax Junction - NSE Junction - right turn at Bharat Nagar Junction - Sebi Junction - One BKC and shall proceed from connector Junction to Kurla and Chunabhatti. Road Closed : Vehicular Traffic proceeding from Kurla & Razzak junction towards Western Express Highway, Dharavi and Bandra-Worli Sea Link shall be restricted to proceed from Platina junction to Bharat Nagar Junction. Alternate Route : U turn at Platina Junction - right turn at MTNL Junction - right turn at Tata Communication - American Consulate Junction - MCA Club - Canara Bank Junction - NSE Junction - towards Western Express Highway through Family Court Junction and proceed to Dharavi & Bandra-Worli Sea Link. Road Closed : Vehicular traffic from CST road to MMRDA ground - JSW building - shall be restricted to proceed UTR Tower - Kanakia Palace. Alternate Route : CST road - MTNL Junction - right turn at Tata Communication - American Consulate Junction - MCA Club - Canara Bank Junction - left turn at NSC junction - Western Express Highway - Kalanagar Junction - Bhaskar Court Junction and proceed through Kherwadi Junction. Road Closed : Vehicular traffic from Ambani Square towards Diamond Junction and from behind Laxmi Tower towards NABARD Junction will be restricted. Alternate Route : Vehicular traffic from back side of Laxmi Tower - will take left turn at One BKC - right turn at Connector Junction - N.S.E. Junction and proceed to their desire destination.
28 November,2024 05:39 PM IST | Mumbai | Asif RizviDomestic stock markets faced selling pressure on Thursday, driven by declines in tech-heavy stocks, a lack of significant global cues, and weak performance in Asian markets, news agency ANI reported. The Nifty 50 at the National Stock Exchange (NSE) closed at 23,914.15, down by 360.75 points, while the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) Sensex ended at 79,043.74, falling by 1,190.34 points. Both major benchmarks dropped by more than 1 percent during the trading session. Market experts attribute the downturn to investor concerns about President-elect Donald Trump's policies, particularly regarding the trajectory of US interest rate cuts, ANI reported. "The Indian stock market is under pressure today due to a combination of factors, including the absence of significant international cues, as the US stock market is closed. Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) are closely monitoring developments ahead of the Indian Union Budget 2025 next month. Foreign institutional investor (FII) selling, coupled with a strong US dollar, is dampening sentiment. Additionally, geopolitical concerns are contributing to the pressure," said Vinnaayak Mehta, Founder of The Infinity Group. At the close of trading on NSE, sectoral indices for Banking, Auto, Financial Services, FMCG, IT, Metals, Private Banks, Pharma, Realty, Healthcare, Consumer Durables, and Oil and Gas all declined. However, sectoral indices for Media and PSU Banks traded in positive territory. Major gainers during the session included Adani Enterprises, Shriram Finance, and State Bank of India, while key losers were SBI Life Insurance, Mahindra & Mahindra, Infosys, HDFC Life Insurance, and Bajaj Finance, ANI reported. "External factors such as recent anti-dumping measures in the steel sector and trade disputes over China's solar energy components are further straining the Indian economy. Weak growth and the declining value of the rupee are driving foreign portfolio investor (FPI) outflows, which may persist until the rupee stabilises," said VLA Ambala, Co-Founder of Stock Market Today. However, analysts cautioned against overinterpreting the market fall. Ajay Bagga, a market and banking expert, noted, "With F&O volumes down, expiry-day volatility is increasing. Given the shortened US trading week due to the Thanksgiving holiday, trading volumes are lower. Don't read too much into today's market decline. With the new series starting tomorrow, we expect the markets to rebound." (With ANI inputs)
28 November,2024 05:26 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA search operation is currently underway in Thane to recover the body of a 33-year-old man who reportedly jumped into Kalwa Creek near the Ganapati Visarjan Ghat on Khartan Road. The incident was reported to the Disaster Management Room at 09:58 am on Thursday. The man, a resident of Anand Nagar in Kalwa (East), is believed to have jumped into the creek from the Ganapati Visarjan Ghat. According to the initial information provided by an informer, Hanumant Shinge, the man has been reported missing and is feared to have drowned in the creek. Upon receiving the distress call, a coordinated response was launched by local authorities. Senior and sub-inspectors and officers from Kalwa Police, along with the Disaster Management Cell staff are on the scene. They have launched a search operation with the help of a pickup vehicle, local fishermen with a boat, and fire brigade staff with a high-rise vehicle. Additionally, one tempo vehicle is also assisting with the search. The operation has been ongoing for around two hours, with the local fishermen trying to comb the creek. Woman sets herself, two minor daughters on fire in Gujarat In another case of suicide attempt, a 32-year-old woman purportedly set herself and her two minor daughters in the Bhavnagar district of neighbouring Gujarat on Wednesday. The woman and the children have suffered serious burns and are battling for their lives in a government hospital, a police officer said.While one of the girls is nine years old, the authorities have not provided the other daughter's age. The incident took place in Hathab village, the officer added. According to news agency PTI, the woman's husband rushed his wife and daughters to a nearby hospital in a private vehicle. They were then taken to a government hospital in Bhavnagar city, the police said. The woman has been admitted to the surgical intensive care unit (SICU), while the two girls are in the emergency ward of the trauma centre, the officer informed. A probe is underway and the police are trying to ascertain why the woman took the drastic step. (With PTI inputs)
28 November,2024 04:20 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
