The division bench of the Bombay High Court, in its recent order while hearing the custodial death case of Akshay Shinde, the prime accused in the Badlapur POCSO case, observed that the crucial recreation of the scene of the incident is still pending and that the explanation provided for the delay appears flimsy. Prosecution’s submission A team of forensic experts and police officers check the police van in which the incident occurred. Pics/Shadab Khan During the course of the hearing, Dr Birendra Saraf, advocate general, tendered a report regarding the probe by the State CID from September 24 after the investigation was transferred to the State CID, Navi Mumbai. “Dr Saraf also placed on record a document which enlists questions raised by this court vide order dated October 3, and the reply to them. He has also tendered before us the forensic expert report. All the said documents are taken on record,” the order read. ‘Appears to be flimsy’ “During the course of hearing, it was brought to our notice that the inquiry is still pending. It appears that the recreation of the scene of the incident is yet to be done. The explanation offered for the delay i.e. for not doing the same till date appears to be flimsy. Dr Saraf, on instructions of Prashant Waghunde, superintendent of police, State CID, Navi Mumbai, seeks two weeks’ time to enable the police to submit all the documents to the learned magistrate conducting the inquiry under Sections 193 and 196 of the BNNS. Statement accepted. We find that unless all the documents are submitted by the police and as sought for by the magistrate, are handed over to the magistrate, the magistrate will not be in a position to complete his inquiry in time,” the order stated. ‘Requests went unheeded’ “In order to suppress the truth, the government did not provide the required documents to the judicial magistrate who is conducting magisterial death inquiry of Shinde, as per the provisions of Section 196 of BNSS. We firmly believe that the government did not want to take any chance during election time, and hence deliberately delayed the process of State CID investigations and in submission of documents to JMFC, despite repeated requests,” said Advocate Amit Katarnaware, who represents the petitioner. Expert Speak “It may not be possible to forensically reconstruct the crime scene, as the incident happened in a moving vehicle and it is prima-facie crucial to understand the speed of the vehicle, the exact positioning of the policemen and the under-trial inside it, the exact spot where the incident of shoot-out happened,” said a forensic surgeon from Grant Medical College. Forensic aspect B B Daundakar, former director, of state forensic science laboratory, Kalina, said, “After the shoot out, it would have been advisable that the police stopped/parked their vehicle, without moving its position and should have protected the crime scene, for further forensic investigation, at the crime spot itself (Mumbra bypass). The escorting police party could have immediately contacted the police control room, informing them about the shootout, and could have called in for emergency backup including an ambulance for shifting the injured to the nearest hospital this would have prevented the police from disturbing the crime scene, which is very crucial for collection of maximum biological/ballistic evidence from the scene of crime.” Who is Akshay Shinde? The 23-year-old was arrested in mid-August for allegedly sexually assaulting two four-year-old girls in the Badlapur school where he worked as an attendant. He was killed in ‘retaliatory action’ on September 23 near Mumbra bypass after he allegedly snatched the gun of a policeman and fired shots while being escorted to Badlapur from Taloja jail as part of the probe into the case registered against him on the complaint of his former wife.
23 November,2024 08:01 AM IST | Mumbai | Vinod Kumar MenonA total of 46.29 lakh more female votes were cast in the 2024 Assembly elections as compared to the election in 2019. Similarly, 45.26 lakh more male votes were cast in this year’s elections. Though the actual number of female voters is slightly higher, voting by male voters increased by 8 percentage points from 58.5 per cent to 66.8 per cent. There was hardly a 1 percentage point increase in female voters, from 64.2 per cent in 2019 to 65.2 per cent this year. In 2019, there were a total of 4.93 crore registered male voters. Over the last five years, there has been an increase of 7.15 lakh registered male voters. During the same period, female voters increased by around 64 lakh, from 4.05 crore to 4.69 crore. This election, the overall voting percentage rose by 5 percentage points across the state. Overall, the state witnessed a surge of 89.26 lakh votes in the 2024 Assembly elections. A total of 6.4 crore votes were cast on November 20, which surpassed the 2019 voter turnout of 5.51 crore votes with a 17.28 per cent increase. The figures include votes cast by members of the transgender community. The highest male and female voting was observed in the Chinchwad constituency, with 1,83,724 female votes and 2,03,783 male votes. Meanwhile, the lowest number of female votes was cast in the Colaba constituency with only 54,058 votes and the lowest male votes were seen in Mumbadevi constituency, with 63,568 votes. The 275-Karvir Assembly constituency in Kolhapur recorded the highest voter turnout at 84.96 per cent, while 187-Colaba Assembly constituency witnessed the lowest voter turnout at 44.44 per cent. M R Parkar, joint chief election officer, Maharashtra, attributed the increase in voting to multiple factors including awareness and natural factors. “There are multiple factors which helped increase the voter turnout in the state. Of these, a major factor is voter awareness activities conducted by SVEEP (Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation) throughout the state. Apart from this, another major factor affecting the voter turnout was the day the election was held. Since it was in between weekdays, this made it almost impossible for anyone to go on a long vacation,” Parkar told mid-day. According to Parkar, the rationalisation of polling booths also played a crucial role. “Additionally, queue management in the entire state was improved, with every polling station having multiple facilities for voters that encouraged the polling process.”
23 November,2024 07:56 AM IST | Mumbai | Prasun ChoudhariEven before the first votes are counted in Maharashtra, fissures emerged within the ruling Mahayuti and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) on who would head the next government with constituents in both camps laying claim over the chief minister’s post. After polling for the 288-member Assembly ended on Wednesday evening, the ruling, as well as opposition fronts, have started claiming that the mandate will be in their favour when votes are counted on November 23. Soon after polling, state Congress chief Nana Patole asserted an MVA government would be formed in Maharashtra under the leadership of his party. Voting trends suggest the Congress will get the maximum number of seats in the new assembly, he said. His remarks did not go down well with ally Shiv Sena (UBT), whose leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday insisted the chief ministerial face will be decided by all alliance partners jointly once the MVA secures a majority. The Rajya Sabha MP said if the Congress high command has told Patole that he will be the CM face then the national party’s president Mallikarjun Kharge, and its top leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra should announce the same. The MVA, consisting of the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP), and the Mahayuti, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, have expressed confidence that their respective alliances will form the next government after votes are counted on Saturday. While a majority of exit polls have predicted that Mahayuti will retain power, a few have favoured the MVA. On the Mahayuti side, Shiv Sena MLA and party spokesperson Sanjay Shirsat said the assembly elections were contested with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as the face. “Voters have shown their preference for Shinde through voting. I think it is Shinde’s right (to be the next CM) and we are confident that he will be the next CM,” Shirsat said. BJP leader Pravin Darekar batted for Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for the top post. “I think if anyone from the BJP is becoming the CM then it will be Devendra Fadnavis,” he said. NCP leader Amol Mitkari pushed the name of his party chief and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar for the coveted job. “Whatever the results, the NCP will be the kingmaker,” Mitkari said. Asked about the CM face, Fadnavis maintained all three Mahayuti parties will sit together and take a “good decision”. Speaking to reporters separately, BJP leader Darekar claimed the Mahayuti will form the next government, dismissing the possibility of the MVA coming to power, and said the opposition bloc was plagued by “internal rifts”. “The people of Maharashtra have given a clear mandate. The Chief Minister will be from the Mahayuti, not the MVA, and certainly not the Congress,” he asserted. 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
23 November,2024 07:52 AM IST | Mumbai | AgenciesSana Malik (holding phone) and father MLA Nawab Malik, NCP (Ajit Pawar) candidates from Anushakti Nagar and Mankhurd respectively, enjoy lunch time with family. Pic/Kirti Surve Parade Amin Patel (Congress) candidate from Mumbadevi Constituency chills (literally) with an ice cream cone at Mohammed Ali Road on Friday. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi Amit Thackeray, MNS candidate from Mahim, relaxes with his wife Mitali and son Kian at his residence, Shivthirth, Shivaji Park, on Friday. Pic/Rane Ashish Shaina Nana Chudasama, Shinde Sena candidate from Mumbadevi, winds down with some yoga a day before counting day. Pic/Kirti Surve Parade
23 November,2024 07:46 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-dayBJP National General Secretary, Vinod Tawde has sent a legal notice to senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Supriya Shrinate, seeking an apology for their allegations in the cash-for-votes row, failing which he has demanded damages of R100 crore from them for defaming him. Sharing the notice with the media persons and on social media, Tawde said the allegations were false, baseless and made with mala fide intentions. Tawde was accused of distributing the money by the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi leaders earlier this week in Palghar. The leader was confronted by the BVA workers and leaders. Tawde and BVA leader Hitendra Thakur had addressed a joint press conference later, indicating that the matter was resolved. Tawde posted on X, “The Congress’s only agenda is to spread lies. I have filed a defamation case against Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and their party spokesperson Supriya Shrinate for their baseless allegations in the Nallasopara case. Despite their attempts to tarnish my image and that of the BJP, the truth is clear. The alleged R5 crore was never recovered in the investigation by the Election Commission and the police.”
23 November,2024 07:36 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentTwo door-to-door bed sheet sellers were detained by the Sakinaka police on November 20 for tailing senior Congress leader Arif Naseem Khan, who is contesting the Assembly election from the Chandivli constituency. According to the police, the suspects, who hail from Noida, had started selling bedsheets in Mumbai after experiencing financial difficulties. Neither have a criminal record, the cops said. During the investigation, the police found that one of the men was mentally unstable. He had started a cutlery business in Noida two years ago but suffered significant losses. He wanted to start a new business and was seeking financial assistance. On election day, he followed Arif Naseem Khan to Powai after receiving information from Khan's office. Senior Inspector Sanjay Hajare of the Sakinaka police station said, “The mentally unstable man was seeking financial assistance from Khan as he wanted to start a new business. He spoke to a close aide of Khan, who informed them that he was busy with the elections. When he asked for the leader’s contact details, the aide refused to disclose them, suggesting that he turn to Google.” “Referring to information found on Google, the man went to Khan’s office, but he was unavailable. He returned later after selling bedsheets nearby but still could not meet Khan because he was attending rallies. On election day, the man visited the office yet again only to learn that Khan was at Powai. The man then went there, hoping to have a word with the leader. After spotting the man lurking around, a close aide of Khan alerted a constable on security duty,” Hajare added. “The constable took the suspect into custody and informed the Sakinaka police. After learning about the possible involvement of another person who lived in a Govandi slum along with the suspect, we visited the spot and detained the second person, who sells bedsheets. We checked their mobile phones and found nothing suspicious. They were released with a warning,” he said. The Sakinaka police have not registered an FIR in the matter.
23 November,2024 07:31 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirish VaktaniaThe Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has taken strong action against the city’s top 20 property tax defaulters, who collectively owe Rs 822 crore. The BMC needs to collect R3,178 crore in the next four months to meet its financial target. According to a BMC official, notices have been issued to the top 20 defaulters owing Rs 822 crore. The seizure notices were issued under Article 203 of the BMC Act, 1888. This article gives defaulters a 90-day period to pay their property tax. If the payment is not made within this period, a final 21-day notice is issued, after which the process of property attachment begins, the official explained. The official further stated that around Rs 800 crore in dues are pending from the G South ward, which includes Worli, Mahalaxmi, and Prabhadevi. For example, Raghuvanshi Mill in Lower Parel’s Senapati Bapat Marg owes Rs 158.06 crore. When mid-day visited the Raghuvanshi Mill compound to contact the party concerned, a security guard informed them that the property manager was unavailable and refused to share contact details. J Kumar Infrastructure Limited owes Rs 139.50 crore for its Bandra East property. Attempts by mid-day to contact the company via email received no response. Similarly, Omkar Developers Private Limited owes Rs 104.78 crore. However, the company’s spokesperson declined to provide an official comment. The BMC has set a target of collecting Rs 4,550 crore in property tax for this financial year. So far, Rs 1,372 crore has been collected. To meet the target, the BMC must collect an additional Rs 3,178 crore by the end of March 2025. “Normally, taxpayers tend to pay their property taxes towards the end of the financial year. We are also confident of achieving our target this year,” the official added. Property tax is the third-largest revenue source for the BMC, following state government aid as compensation for Octroi and contributions from the Development Plan department.
23 November,2024 07:15 AM IST | Mumbai | Sameer SurveA golden Jackal that had wandered off the forest area and entered a residential area last week had bitten a nine-year-old boy in Trombay. According to the eyewitnesses, the incident occurred on the evening of November 14, at around 4.30 pm, when the jackal suddenly appeared from behind and bit Mohammad Ayan Mastan Shaikh on his thigh. Barkat Nisha Shaikh, the boy’s mother, said, “My son was playing outside in our neighborhood when a neighbor came to our house and informed us that he had been bitten by a dog. We rushed to the location, where a girl explained that it wasn't a dog but a jackal. We then quickly took my son to the BMC-run Shatabdi Hospital. So far, he has received three injections, including an anti-rabies shot, and will be given one more injection on December 11." Speaking with mid-day, she said that she did not believe at first that it was a jackal. Honorary Wildlife Warden of Thane and NGO RAWW President Pawan Sharma confirmed the incident and said that a Golden Jackal had entered the residential area from nearby mangroves in Trombay and had bitten a child last week. He said that the forest department has since been searching for the animal. Sharma said, “Soon a team of 15 members from the Mumbai Range of the Forest Department and RAWW reached Pailipada-Trombay, where the jackal was sighted, with a wildlife ambulance and equipment to initiate a combing and search operation to capture the animal, which could not be found.” Locals have been made aware of the situation and provided with all necessary information and helpline numbers, he added. On October 28, mid-day did a story—‘Forest dept to investigate the rise in jackal deaths in Chembur’—which highlighted how, in a concerning series of events, five jackals had died in the Trombay-Chembur belt over the past month, prompting investigations by the forest department. While the reason behind their deaths is unknown, sources from the forest department told mid-day that the sick jackals that were rescued showed behaviours indicative of a potential rabies infection. On October 30, mid-day carried another story—Mumbai: Rabies may be cause of jackal deaths—in which it was stated that the jackal that died recently in Mumbai tested positive for rabies infection, making this incident probably the first case of a rabies-infected death of wildlife in Mumbai.
23 November,2024 07:08 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavA day before the results, BJP-Mahayuti and MVA reached out to prospective winners from among independents and fronts. Of these, Parivartan Mahashakti said it was approached by both alliances. Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi said it will support the alliance that can form the government. The BJP which has the highest number of rebels (about 40) has deputed half a dozen leaders to deal with the winners. Senior leaders will directly negotiate with the fronts that win multiple seats. In MVA too, the leadership has taken upon itself to be in touch with those who they want to support the Opposition's number game. The Congress has the second-highest number of rebels (about 32), followed by the Sena (UBT-8), NCP (SP-5) and Shinde Sena (1). Not all are expected to win, but whoever wins will be a prize catch for those who get him/her to support. DCM Devendra Fadnavis, CM Eknath Shinde, and DCM Ajit Pawar at a press conference. File pic/Shadab Khan In Maharashtra’s 288-member Assembly, 145 MLAs are needed to form the government. However, a strength of more than the half mark is considered best for stabilising the government. In the past five years, the BJP and undivided Sena had together won more than 145 MLAs in 2019. The subsequent short government fell because it did not garner a majority. The MVA came into existence to form a government with almost 170 MLAs. It also collapsed because of the revolt in Sena. The Shinde-Fadnavis combine also managed the MVA’s number, which was further strengthened by the NCP splinter’s inclusion in 2023. In the current Assembly, there are 13 independents. The existing coalitions have some small parties with them in their respective pre-poll pacts, but some have stayed away from the principal parties. The small parties/fronts that have been winning a couple of seats every election are on the radar of the ruling and Opposition parties. Parivartan Mahashakti constituent Bacchu Kadu is one such sitting MLA. Kadu’s Prahar Janashakti Party has one more MLA in the outgoing House. Kadu and his other candidates are in the fray this election. Farmers’ leader Raju Shetti’s Swabhimani Paksha has fielded two candidates. Currently, it has one MLA. Kadu said he was contacted by both alliances, but he had not taken any decision yet. “We will decide once the (result) trends start coming in tomorrow,” he said, adding that he would rather make his government rather than supporting others. Kadu said he was also in touch with others because his party was likely to win four-five seats. “Our third front will win at least 10-15 seats. The workers are very much excited,” he added. MVA leaders Nana Patole, Sharad Pawar, and Uddhav Thackeray at a press conference. File pic/Satej Shinde Kadu was a minister in the MVA government and later supported Eknath Shinde’s rebellion. He was among the MLAs who were taken to Gujarat and Assam in the wake of the Sena split in 2022. However, he distanced himself from Mahayuti in the Lok Sabha elections and caused a defeat of BJP’s Navneet Rana in Amravati. He formed a third front with Shetti and Chhatrapati Sambhaji’s Maharashtra Swarajya Party for the Assembly elections. Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi leader Prakash Ambedkar said on social media that his party would support the party (alliance) that can form the government. “If VBA gets the numbers tomorrow to support a party or an alliance to form the government in Maharashtra, we will choose to be with one who can form the government. We will choose power! Hum satta me rahna chunenge!” he posted on ‘X’ on Friday. VBA is contesting 200 of a total of 288 Assembly seats. It hasn’t managed to win a single Lok Sabha or Assembly seat ever since its inception in 2018. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena which is contesting 125 seats, already made its intentions of supporting the BJP very clear, though it has fought against Mahayuti. AIMIM, which has two sitting MLAs, has candidates in 17 constituencies. Barring the Bahujan Samaj Party (contesting 237 seats), all others are likely to win a couple of seats each. AIMIM has always been with the non-BJP alliance in the House. Hitendra Thakur-led Bahujan Vikas Aghadi that has three MLAs currently, and if it wins the same number or even less in 2024, will also play a crucial role in a neck-to-neck situation. 'No tussle over CM' Congress in-charge General Secretary Ramesh Chennithala played down a verbal war between his party colleague, Nana Patole and Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Sanjay Raut, over the CM's post. "There is no dispute over the CM post. We all will decide after the results," he said, adding that MVA was all set to win a clear majority to form the next government. "There is no question of a hung House because the people have supported us. The increased voter turnout is an indication of massive support. The unrest between certain leaders of Congress and Sena came to the fore Thursday night when the state Congress President Nana Patole skipped the meetings with Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar. The backdrop was Patole-Raut verbal duel over claiming the CM's seat. Patole had said the Congress would be the single largest party and hence would also have its CM. Raut countered it with a remark that, in such a case, the Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and others in the high command should declare Patole's name for the top job. Statements regarding the CM's job also came from the ruling alliance partners. Shiv Sena leaders rooted for Eknath Shinde, while BJP's state President Chandrashekhar Bawankule said his party workers wanted Fadnavis to get the job again.
23 November,2024 07:04 AM IST | Mumbai | Dharmendra JoreThe world is our playground Children hop onto an abandoned vehicle near Badhwar Park in Colaba during their playtime Mediterranean hop in Santacruz The rooftop bar at the restaurant in Santacruz Mumbai’s culinary scene is all set to get a Mediterranean addition, courtesy the opening of Mirage, a Santacruz-based restaurant that will showcase a Middle-Eastern-meets-Eurasian menu. Chef Bobby Recto and Chef Maher Ramzi “Each dish is a celebration of the Mediterranean’s vibrant culture. Mumbai’s palate is dynamic, and it reflects in its openness to global cuisine. Patrons will resonate with the freshness of our fare,” chef Maher Ramzi revealed to this diarist. For Filipino chef Bobby Recto, it is also about finding a balance in flavours, “I’ve focused on maintaining the authenticity of my culture, but also adapted the dishes so that they complement Mumbai’s taste palate.” This Punekar loves mid-day This diarist was pleasantly surprised when Muhammad Yamin (inset), a mid-day reader from Pune, shared a doodle-noted version of this tabloid’s frontpage (above) on social media yesterday. “It is my ‘Thank You’ note to the newspaper that has kept me informed all these years,” Yamin revealed. The photographer has been doodle-noting — a technique that blends doodling and taking notes — as a way to keep himself busy between work. “When I moved to Pune in 2018, I set out to find a distributor that supplied the tabloid here. The digital version is convenient, no doubt. But nothing beats having a physical copy in hand,” he added. It is readers like Yamin who remind us that print, indeed, will never die. Everybody loves a holiday Khyati Mehta vacations in Switzerland Kandivali-based entrepreneur and runner Khyati Mehta is putting the happy in ‘happy holidays’ for Mumbai’s persons with disabilities (PwD) community. Dream2Holiday, Mehta’s new venture, will take flight early next year on a fully accessible, disability-friendly tour to Dubai. “Accessibility doesn’t end at providing a wheelchair. More often than not, pushing a self-propelled wheelchair becomes tiring and takes away from the holiday experience. Living with a prosthetic leg, I relate to these concerns deeply,” Mehta shared. To that end, vacationers will be given an electric wheelchair, in addition to other facilities like a sign language interpreter and accessible accommodation and transportation. Those interested in joining, can call 7021884878 to know more about this initiative. Climate change is for real A previous session at the Columbia Global Center at Nariman Point The repercussions of an increasingly changing climate are familiar to the average Mumbaikar but its far-reaching, overarching consequences across multiple ecosystems, needs to be deliberated as well. The Columbia Global Center Mumbai in collaboration with Columbia Climate School is bringing an insightful online discussion on climate change and food systems with Columbia professors, Jessica Fanzo and Ruth DeFries on November 25. (From left) Ruth DeFries; Rachna Tahilyani “The session will explore the intersection between climate change and food systems in addressing the global climate crisis. It is relevant for Mumbai as the city is not only a densely populated urban hub but also linked with regional agricultural systems that are vulnerable to climate change. Professor DeFries’ research on the ecological challenges faced by central India is also something that deeply resonates with the environmental and social concerns in Maharashtra,” Rachna Tahilyani, director, Columbia Global Center Mumbai, told this diarist. To register, readers can log on to globalcenters.columbia.edu. Calling birders to Hanging Garden Eurasian hoopoe. Pic courtesy/ DARSHAN KHATAU Early birds will catch not the worm but the walk tomorrow morning. A guided bird-identification trail from 7 am to 9.30 am in the Hanging Garden (Malabar Hill) precinct, by members of the Save Hanging Garden campaign, promises plenty of winged wonder moments. The trail will be led by avian expert Adesh Shivkar. This diarist has learnt that his walks are full of trivia, natural history and anecdotes, interspersed with his amazing skill to mimic bird calls. The meeting point of the walk is Gate no 1, Hanging Garden, Malabar Hill. To register, send a message to: adesh.shivkar@gmail.com.
23 November,2024 06:57 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-dayIn a move that could transform commuting dynamics on the Prabhadevi-Parel axis, Western Railway (WR) has said that it’s working on two new foot overbridges (FOB) and exploring the feasibility of a new platform on the west side of Prabhadevi station. While one bridge will be built in the middle of the station, another one in the works at the south end will be linked to Parel station’s circulating area, improving connectivity between the stations. Central Railway (CR) has independently started redevelopment works at Parel station at the cost of Rs 9.41 crore, which involves creating more circulating area, shifting a booking office and creating a large walking space for entries and exits. It is on this side, near the approach road of Parel station, that the new foot overbridge linking Prabhadevi station will be coming up. The existing road overbridge over Prabhadevi and Parel stations is also being reconstructed as a double-decker bridge as part of the Sewri-Worli connector, which will link the Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link (MTHL) and Bandra-Worli Sea Link. mid-day had highlighted a few weeks ago how stalls and utilities at the station had been streamlined in the wake of complaints from commuters. The Railways have said two new foot overbridges are under work and they will also study building an additional platform to decongest Prabhadevi station. Replying to the original complainant, WR, said the construction of a 12-metre-wide foot overbridge had been proposed in the middle of Prabhadevi station, which will connect platforms 1 and 2 to the west side of the station. The construction work will start soon. “A foot overbridge at the south end of the station, which will connect the east and west circulating areas, is also under construction. While the WR portion is complete, the CR part is being built and will be completed soon,” an official said. The newly opened escalator at the Dadar railway station. Pics/RAJENDRA B. AKLEKAR As far as an additional double-discharge home platform is concerned, WR officials said the feasibility of constructing an additional platform will be explored and action will be taken accordingly. Commuters had complained that there was a single platform at Prabhadevi station and during peak hours of morning and evening, there are trains from both Borivli bound and Churchgate bound that halt at almost the same time. This situation was creating a stampede-like situation at the north and south ends of the bridges. Considering that Prabhadevi railway station has one of the highest average daily footfalls on WR—78,000—the area is highly insufficient, compromising the safety of railway passengers at large. “We are thankful to Railways for initiating action and look forward to more positive developments like these,” Devendra Tandel, president of Akhil Maharashtra Macchimar Kruti Samiti, who had originally petitioned the railways with a complaint about the congestion at the station, said. The partially built bridge at the Churchgate end of Prabhadevi station “The problem is with the narrow staircase to the south (Churchgate) end of the bridge. Railways need to build one more staircase here along with a lift. This will help decongest the bridge in the morning and evening peak hours,” another commuter, Pushkar Jain, said. Dadar station escalator opens As highlighted by mid-day, platform 8 of Dadar station was widened and opened for the public recently. The platform has been widened from seven metres to 10.5 metres. Following a series of articles by this newspaper on how the railway police had been struggling to manage the crowd at platform nos. 1 and 2, CR’s Mumbai divisional railway manager (DRM) Rajneesh Goyal had promised not just to widen the platform but had also drawn up a master plan of the station to create more space for passengers, including other platforms. The escalator at the station, which had been under construction for several months, was finally opened to the public on Friday.
23 November,2024 06:56 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarADVERTISEMENT
