The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has signed a Memorandum of Collaboration (MoC) with the World Economic Forum (WEF). MMRDA is the first parastatal agency to sign such an agreement with WEF, the authority stated on Thursday. "This partnership represents a bold step towards realizing Maharashtra's vision of becoming a $1 trillion economy while setting global standards for urban development," MMRDA stated in a press release. WEF Founder and Executive Chairman Professor Klaus Schwab signed the MoC during his first visit to Maharashtra in 45 years. According to MMRDA, the MoC focuses on advancing sustainable urban and infrastructure development in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), creating a framework for continuous dialogue and collaboration between the two organisations. MMR currently contributes $140 billion to India’s GDP. This figure is expected to reach $300 billion by 2030. The collaboration with WEF is likely to leverage MMRDA’s leadership in executing large-scale infrastructure projects. WEF’s extensive network across 130 cities and 185 business partners will provide MMRDA with cutting-edge solutions for climate-resilient, sustainable, and inclusive growth. This partnership aims to position MMR as a global hub for commerce, investment, and livability, fostering innovation in social, digital, and physical infrastructure. The MoC also aligns with Maharashtra's roadmap towards a $1-trillion economy and supports the state’s ambitious climate goals of achieving near net-zero emissions by 2047. Key focus areas include public transportation, affordable housing, logistics, green infrastructure, and the integration of AI investments. The collaboration is expected to create millions of jobs in technology, finance, healthcare, education, and logistics sectors. Additionally, this initiative will bolster Maharashtra’s economy by promoting real estate, manufacturing, and services, positioning the region as a leader in sustainable, inclusive, and resilient urban development. The MoC is expected to enhance MMR's global competitiveness by facilitating the exchange of best practices and technologies between Indian and international businesses. With an emphasis on promoting start-ups, the fintech sector, and sustainable infrastructure, this collaboration will attract global talent and investments, particularly in the finance and services sectors. MMRDA Metropolitan Commissioner Dr Sanjay Mukherjee has been coordinating with the NITI Aayog for implementing its recommendations for MMR. Currently, more than Rs 3 lakh crore worth of infrastructure projects are underway in the region. This MoC will further boost these efforts, promoting economic inclusivity and creating significant opportunities for global conferences, exhibitions, and trade events, ultimately enhancing Maharashtra’s position as a global leader in business, innovation, and sustainability, MMRDA stated. During the collaboration, Professor Schwab said, “I deeply appreciate the signing of this Memorandum of Collaboration with MMRDA. This partnership injects an essential international dimension into the region’s growth plan. As I envision the future, I see Mumbai emerging as one of the seven or eight truly global cities that matter, standing alongside hubs like Singapore, London, and New York. I am confident that through strong implementation, Mumbai will achieve this remarkable transformation.”
19 September,2024 08:41 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentManoj Saunik, a 1987 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, will be succeeding Ajoy Mehta as the new chairman of Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) from Friday, September 20. Saunik is the former Maharashtra Chief Secretary, who is currently serving as the principal advisor to the chief minister. Saunik was appointed as Maharashtra’s Chief Secretary last year. During his career, he has held several important positions in the government, including that of Principal Secretary of the State Water Resources Department and Principal Secretary of the State Finance Department. He is known for his expertise in the areas of finance, infrastructure, and water resources management. In addition to his government service, Saunik has also served as a Director on the board of various companies and organisations, including the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation, and the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation.
19 September,2024 08:37 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentCentral Railway will operate a special traffic and power block for de-launching of girders on Chandni Bundar Public Footover Bridge) using 140T crane at Thane station this weekend. The Up and Down Trans-Harbour lines as well as services on the 6th line are set to be affected on the intervening night of Saturday, September 21, and Sunday, September 22. Train services will be impacted from 10.30 pm on Saturday to 4.30 am – (6 am) on the Up and Down Trans-Harbour lines as well as the 6th line. Traffic block sectionUp and Down Trans-Harbour lines: Kopar Khairane (excluding platforms) to Thane (including platforms) 6th line: Diva to Mulund (excluding crossovers) 6th Line: Diva to Mulund (Excluding Crossovers) The following Mail/Express trains running on the 6th Line will be diverted on the Up Fast line between Kalyan/Diva and Mulund/Vidyavihar stations: 11072 Kamayani Express 11100 Madgaon- LTT Express 12052 Madgaon-Mumbai- Janshtabdi Express 11082 Gorakhpur- LTT Express 22120 Madgaon-CSMT Tejas Express 22537 Gorakhpur-Mumbai Kushinagar Express 11062 Jaynagar- LTT Express 11020 Bhubaneshwar-Mumbai Konark Express 18030 Shalimar- LTT Express 18519 Vishakhapatnam -LTT Express 20104 Gorakhpur-LTT Superfast Express Suburban trains to be affected during the block period: The suburban services to Vashi/Panvel departing Thane from 10.01 pm to 12 am as well as trains to Thane departing from Vashi at 9.37 pm and from Panvel at 11.18 pm will remain cancelled. The last local before the block on the Down Trans-Harbour Line will depart Thane at 9.41 pm and arrive Vashi at 10.10 pm. The last local before the block on the Up Trans-Harbour line will depart Vashi at 9.24 pm and arrive Thane at 9.53 pm. The first local after the block on the Down Trans-Harbour line will depart Thane at 5.12 am and arrive Panvel at 6.04 am. The first local after the block on the Up Trans-Harbour line will depart Vashi at 6.30 am and arrive Thane at 6.59 am. The Central Railway has requested passengers to bear with the administration for the inconvenience caused owing to this infrastructure block.
19 September,2024 07:27 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentCentral Railway’s (CR) Pune Division will operate traffic and power blocks for pre-NI and NI (non-interlocking) works at Rahuri-Padhegaon stations in connection with the doubling project of Daund-Manmad section. The pre-NI work of three days will commence from Thursday and go on till Saturday. During the pre-NI period, blocks will be operated for three hours. The NI work will be of 34 hours, starting from 5.30 am on Sunday and will end at 3.30 pm on Monday, September 23. A one-hour speed trial will be conducted for CRS inspection from 3.30 pm to 4.30 pm. Repercussions on train operations Saturday, September 21: The service of train no 11041 Dadar-Sainagar Shirdi Express will remain cancelled. Sunday, September 22: Train no 11042 Sainagar Shirdi-Dadar Express will not operate on Sunday. The railways has said that these blocks are crucial for the modernisation of rail infrastructure and essential for better connectivity. "Passengers are requested to bear with the railways for the inconvenience caused," a press release issued by the Public Relations Department of Central Railway, Mumbai stated. CR's renewable energy efforts save Rs 4.62 crore The share of renewable energy consumption on Central Railway has reached 9.9% for traction (railway train operation) and 6.5% for non-traction (all other purposes) and it is likely to increase soon. These initiatives have led to total savings of Rs 4.62 crore, which includes savings of Rs.2.66 crore by the Mumbai Division, Rs 1.09 crore by the Bhusaval Division, Rs 0.69 crore by the Pune Division, Rs 0.10 crore by the Nagpur Division and Rs 0.08 crore by Solapur Division. Harnessing solar power is one of the various measures being adopted by Central Railway to utilize green and renewable energy resources. Solar Panels have been installed at 205 locations over all 5 divisions of Central Railway including 47 locations in Mumbai Division, 58 locations in Nagpur Division, 50 locations in Pune Division, 32 locations in Bhusaval Division and 18 locations in Solapur Division July-2024 which have provided significant Power for CR’s requirements and has resulted in a considerable saving of revenue as well. During the FY 2023-24, Solar Panels on Central Railway’s five divisions have generated 8.04 MU (Million Units) of Power which is equivalent to reducing 6594.81 tonnes of Carbon Foot Print.
19 September,2024 06:43 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFormer Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Pandey, who was arrested in 2022 in the National Stock Exchange (NSE) co-location case, on Thursday joined the Congress ahead of the assembly polls in Maharashtra. He was inducted into the Congress by its Mumbai unit chief and Lok Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) Varsha Gaikwad at the party office in south Mumbai, news agency PTI reported. I am glad to welcome former DGP of Maharashtra and former CP of Mumbai Sanjay Pandey ji to the Congress family today. His integrity and dedication to upholding justice, even when facing politically motivated charges by BJP, reflect the core values we stand for. Throughout his… pic.twitter.com/uvS1W4yrOs — Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad (@VarshaEGaikwad) September 19, 2024 Calling himself a 'secular-minded' person, the retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, who briefly served as the acting Maharashtra Director General of Police, maintained that no other political party, except the Congress, follows secular ideology. "I am not joining a party but a family. I wanted to join the Congress way back in 2004, but didn't get a chance," said Pandey on the occasion of his new political innings. Expressing confidence about the opposition Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coming to power in the state after the assembly polls, Pandey noted that under its rule, common citizens will not have to fear anything. "As a retired police commissioner, I can say how false cases were filed against me," he said. The retired 1986-batch IPS officer was arrested in 2022 by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering case linked to the alleged illegal phone tapping of NSE employees. Pandey, probed in the case in connection with a company founded by him, was later granted bail. He served as Maharashtra's acting DGP and later as Mumbai Police commissioner when the MVA government, headed by Uddhav Thackeray, was in office. He was accused by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), then in the opposition, of conspiring with the MVA government to implicate its leaders in false cases. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
19 September,2024 06:37 PM IST | Mumbai | PTISanjay Shirsat, the Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Aurangabad West, took charge as the Chairman of City And Industrial Development Corporation Of Maharashtra Ltd (CIDCO) on Thursday, September 19. He took charge of his post at CIDCO Bhavan in Navi Mumbai. CIDCO's Vice-Chairman and Managing Director Vijay Singhal, Joint Managing Directors Shantanu Goyal, Ganesh Deshmukh, Dilip Dhole, and Chief Vigilance Officer Suresh Mengde were present on the occasion. While addressing the event, Shirsat said, "CIDCO has played a crucial role in Maharashtra's development so far. My focus will be on maintaining CIDCO's reputation as a leading authority in urban planning and development, while ensuring the timely completion of key projects such as the Navi Mumbai International Airport, NAINA (Navi Mumbai Airport Influence Notified Area ) City, and the mass housing scheme undertaken by CIDCO. Also, my priority will be to take decisions that will benefit the project-affected people of Navi Mumbai and the common citizens. CIDCO’s objective of making homes available to the common citizens at an affordable rate will be achieved soon."
19 September,2024 06:18 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe residents of Thane district will have to bear with water-cut for 24 hours till Friday 12pm, due to urgent repair work. Repair work to be taken from Katai Naka to Sheel Tank of the Barvi gravity channel , causing a complete water shutdown in Nehru Nagar and Kolshet Lower Village under Manpada Ward Committee. (Diva, Mumbra (Ward No. (except parts of 26 and 31) and all parts of Kalwa Ward Committee and Rupadevi Pada of Wagle Ward Committee, Kisanner No) The residents will also have to face low water pressure for the next 2 days after the supply starts. The BMC has asked the residents to corporate with the Thane Municipal Corporation by using water sparingly for the next few days. MIDC supplies water to Mumbra, Diva, Kalwa, Majiwada-Manpada and Wagle (in some areas) ward committees in the Thane Municipal Corporation area, this repair undertaken according to their water supply scheme.
19 September,2024 06:05 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentThe Bombay High Court questioned whether the ruling party was working against its own MP, Kangana Ranaut, in the ongoing controversy over the certification of her film Emergency. Ranaut directed and co-produced the film, which portrays the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and it has been delayed due to protests expressed by Sikh organisations over alleged historical inaccuracy, reported PTI. According to the report, during the hearing, the Bombay HC chastised the Central Board of Picture Certification (CBFC) for neglecting to decide on certifying the movie. Venkatesh Dhond, senior attorney for Zed Entertainment, said that the CBFC was purposefully delaying the release for political purposes, alleging that the ruling party was attempting to pacify specific sections before the Haryana elections, the report further added. Justice BP Colabawalla noted that Ranaut, a BJP MP, was also a co-producer of Emergency, prompting the inquiry, "The co-producer herself is a BJP MP. She is also part of the ruling party. So you are saying her own party is against its member?" Following this, the senior attorney said that the saffron party was ready to displease its sitting parliamentarian to appease a particular section of society, stated the PTI report. The court underlined its disapproval of the CBFC's handling of the situation, adding that creative freedom and freedom of speech should not be restricted due to concerns about public disruption. The HC, per the news agency report, said, "It was not for the CBFC to come to a conclusion that there may be a law and order problem and hence a movie cannot be certified." "This has to stop. Otherwise, we are completely curtailing creative freedom and freedom of expression by doing all this," the HC said. It asked, "Does the CBFC think the public in this country is so naive and stupid to believe everything they see in films? What about creative freedom?" The court has asked the CBFC to make a verdict on the film's certification by September 25. The bench further stressed that worries about potential law and order difficulties should not affect the certification process, as this was not a valid grounds to withhold certification, the news agency report stated.
19 September,2024 02:04 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn a groundbreaking initiative, Mumbai University (MU) has introduced the University Department Ranking Framework (UDRF), a first-of-its-kind evaluation system designed to assess and rank academic departments, schools, institutions, centres, sub-campuses, and model colleges. This new framework aims to promote academic excellence, research output, and governance quality across the university. The top-ranking departments will be awarded Research and Infrastructure Grants ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 25 lakhs, along with citations and mementoes. This initiative, approved by the University’s Management Council on September 12, marks a pioneering step in the Indian higher education system. The Mumbai University, known for its diverse academic offerings, has 15 departments under the Science faculty, 8 under Commerce, Skills, Online/Distance Education, and Management, 10 in Humanities and Social Sciences, 15 under Languages, 12 in Interdisciplinary Studies, and 20 specialized Centres of Studies. Under the UDRF, all these departments will undergo a quantitative evaluation process based on established parameters such as those used in the NIRF, QS/Times Rankings, and NAAC/NBA Accreditations. Grant Allocation and Categories Departments will be ranked in their respective categories, with the top-ranking departments in the Science category receiving a research grant of Rs 15 lakhs. Other category toppers will be awarded Rs 10 lakhs, while top-performing Centres of Studies will receive Rs 5 lakhs. Second-place departments will also be recognized, with grants of Rs 7 lakhs for Science, Rs 5 lakhs for Humanities, Commerce, and Management, and Rs 2 lakhs for Centres of Studies. In addition to individual departmental rankings, an overall ranking of all 80 departments, schools, and centres will be announced. The highest-performing department in the overall category will receive an additional research grant of Rs 10 lakhs, while the second-placed department will receive Rs5 lakhs. Special funding will also be available for departments demonstrating potential for research excellence under the 'Department with Potential for Research Excellence' category. The university will also honour individual faculty members with awards for outstanding contributions to research and innovation, including the 'Best Research Funding and Innovation Award' and the 'Outstanding Research Publications Award'. Speaking about the launch of the UDRF, MU Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ravindra Kulkarni, said, "The introduction of the University Department Ranking Framework is a significant step toward fostering academic excellence and innovative research. This evaluation process will motivate departments to focus on their strengths, continuously upgrade their capabilities, and align with global quality standards." This framework is expected to enhance the university’s academic ecosystem by fostering healthy competition among departments and encouraging a culture of continuous improvement. Evaluation Criteria The ranking framework is based on six key evaluation criteria: Research and Professional Activities Departmental Administration and Management Student Support, Achievements, and Progression Teaching, Learning, and Assessment Processes Faculty Output Conferences, Workshops, and Collaborations These criteria encompass grants and funding received from government agencies and industries, research and development outcomes, publications, patents, academic collaborations, student achievements, alumni support, and green initiatives, among other factors. External expert committees will evaluate the departments in each category. Departments with lower rankings will be encouraged to improve and will receive guidance through the 'VC Initiative Mechanism' to support necessary reforms. The University’s Research and Development Cell (RDC), Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), NIRF Cell, and Board of Deans have played key roles in shaping this framework.
19 September,2024 01:03 PM IST | Mumbai | Dipti SinghDespite verbal duels and 'credit war', especially about the launch of a slew of welfare and development schemes among the MahaYuti partners, NCP national president and Deputy Maharashtra Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Wednesday told his party legislators that the NCP will contest upcoming Assembly election in the MahaYuti grouping along with the alliance partners. Pawar at the special meeting with the party legislators also said that the NCP has already reached an understanding with the BJP and Shiv Sena whereby the party will get 54 seats which it had won in the 2019 Assembly election. He also hinted that the party would settle at 60 seats instead of pressing for its earlier demand of 80 to 90 seats. Pawar has scoffed at media reports that the BJP may ditch the NCP ahead of the Assembly election. He also ruled out the possibility of the NCP proposing friendly fights in a few seats. A senior party functionary said: "There is a clarity now among the legislators as party president and Ajit Pawar has made it amply clear that the NCP's 54 seats, which it bagged in the last Assembly election, will remain with it and there is no question of exchange with BJP or Shiv Sena. Further, he also clearly announced that the NCP along with the BJP and Shiv Sena will together contest Assembly elections in MahaYuti with the sole objective of retaining power after the Assembly elections." He further said that the party president has directed all the legislators and party office bearers to avoid war of words over various issues including the CM's face and also to not go on making statements giving credit to him (Ajit Pawar) for the launch of Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana and other schemes as it is the MahaYuti's initiatives. Pawar told the legislators that nearly 2.50 crore eligible women beneficiaries will be covered under the Ladki Bahin scheme, and they will get Rs 7,000 for the period July-November. He was of the view that the NCP along with BJP and Shiv Sena will benefit as these women beneficiaries will vote for the MahaYuti. The meeting also discussed a survey done by a digital marketing and political management firm with nearly 3.25 lakh samples especially from the districts where Ajit Pawar has so far carried out his Jansanman Yatra promoting the Ladki Bahin scheme. "Wherever the Jansanman Yatra has gone, the ratings of Ajit Pawar in particular and NCP in general have increased from 20 per cent to over 50 per cent. Ajit Pawar has an average 48 per cent rating, and it will come handy for NCP to get a political mileage in the upcoming assembly election,"said a senior NCP minister. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
19 September,2024 12:59 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSThe body of an unidentified man was discovered in Upvan Lake in Thane city, Maharashtra, on Thursday morning, according to civic officials. The body was spotted at around 7:43 am by people out for a morning walk near Upvan Lake, who immediately informed the police, said Yasin Tadvi, head of the Thane Municipal Corporation’s disaster management cell. Local fire brigade personnel and members of the regional disaster management team arrived at the scene and retrieved the body from the Upvan lake. The deceased man is believed to be aged between 40 and 45 years, the official added. The body was sent to a government hospital for a postmortem, and a case of accidental death has been registered. Police are currently investigating the incident. Body of Unidentified Man Found in Suitcase Near Ulhasnagar in Thane district The body of an unidentified man was discovered inside a suitcase at a rubbish dump in Varap village, near Ulhasnagar. Titwala police have registered a murder case and launched an investigation into the incident stated a previous mid-day report. The report cited sources stating that six separate teams had been formed to solve the case, and efforts were underway to identify the deceased. On August 15 morning, a local resident discovered the suitcase in the landfill. Initially, the resident assumed the bag had money, but was stunned to discover a dead body inside. When Senior Police Inspector Suresh Kadam of Titwala Police Station and his crew learnt of the event, they rushed to the location, the report stated. "A resident called the station after finding the body in the suitcase, and we responded immediately," said a police officer. The body was then sent to a government hospital for a post-mortem, the report stated. Senior PI Suresh Kadam told mid-day, "We have registered a murder case and are further investigating the matter; we have formed six different teams to conduct the probe. Firstly, we are trying to identify the deceased since no identity card was found near the body. Meanwhile, we are also waiting for the medical report to ascertain how was the person killed."
19 September,2024 11:21 AM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
