Do you know what the stars hold for you in terms of love life, career, business and personal wellness today? Well, read on to know your astrological predictions as per your zodiac sign for November 14. Aries March 21 – April 20An unexpected financial change takes you unawares (it’s not something good, but not spectacularly bad either). New beginnings are welcome. Cosmic tip: Listen to advice given even if unsolicited). TaurusApril 21 – May 20Career enters a satisfying time of projects/assignments being signed when promised. A fund invested in moves ahead quicker than expected. Cosmic tip: Keep various ID cards safely. GeminiMay 21 – June 21Giving up a habit after thinking about it for sometime makes you feel good. A pile of work is completed quickly.Cosmic tip: Be aware of how the relationship gradually evolves into a better one. Cancer June 22 – July 23Some decide to update the present vehicle, buying another one soon. Cosmic tip: Consciously and systematically clear clutter from personal spaces to attract positive energy. Leo July 24 - Aug 23Though a situation seemed opaque and difficult to understand, but there’s clarity as time goes by. Cosmic tip: Be aware everyone has different karmas to work through, having nothing to do with your decisions made. Virgo Aug 24 – Sept 23Three trips for business negotiations keep you occupied. Keep allergies in mind when sampling a new delicacy. Cosmic tip: Make a well thought out decision after considering two options. Libra Sept 24 – Oct 22Make time to have regular conversations with your children (if any), as this is how family ethics are imbibed by them. Cosmic tip: Responsibly complete work set out for the day. Scorpio Oct 23 – Nov 22Business/career moves onto a better path. Health is better since there’s thought going into food, exercise and sleep. Cosmic tip: Send messages that come from the heart, revealing true feelings. Sagittarius Nov 23 – Dec 22Considering pursuing another career may sound good, but is impractical. Do you have the knowledge and tools? Cosmic tip: Follow your dreams, listening to intuition and good sense. Capricorn Dec 23 – Jan 20Some have even more responsibilities to take care of, plus business travel soars. Don’t be stoic about aches and pains in the body. Consult your doctor. Cosmic tip: Enjoy this different karmic cycle of life. Aquarius Jan 21 – Feb 19An important deal is finally closed and inked (it feels so good). Receiving a pat on the back from the boss is vindication for extended negotiations. Cosmic tip: Maintain a pattern and habit of healthy eating. Pisces Feb 20 – March 20The universe has great plans lined up for you, which can be termed as receiving karmic justice. A friend may need some advice.Cosmic tip: Deal with one issue at a time, resolving them systematically.
14 November,2025 02:17 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirley BoseInternal conflicts within Maharashtra’s “triple-engine government” have reached their peak, but all allies continue to cling to power for their own interests, said Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Harshvardhan Sapkal in a statement on Thursday. “Ajit Pawar, leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Deputy Chief Minister, is desperate for power. He cannot stay without being in power, so there’s no question of him stepping down,” Sapkal remarked. The two-day meeting at the Tilak Bhavan of the State Election Committee of the Congress was attended by Legislature Party Leader Vijay Wadettiwar, Legislative Council Group Leader Satej alias Bunty Patil, co-incharge BM Sandeep, Congress Working Committee member and former minister Naseem Khan, state vice-presidents Mohan Joshi and Wajahat Mirza, state general secretaries (organisation and administration) Advocate Ganesh Patil, Siddharth Hattiambire, Sachin Naik, and other party members. After the meeting, Sapkal told the reporters that the process of finalising candidates for the upcoming municipal and nagar panchayat elections had been completed. “Candidates have been selected after consultations with local leadership. Each district has its own political dynamics. Alliances have been formed with like-minded parties such as Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, Shetkari Sanghatana, RSP, and Shetkari Kamgar Paksha in some districts. No proposal for an alliance with MNS has been received from any district,” he said. Some BJP office-bearers also joined the Congress. Junaid Khan, BJP Minority Morcha’s Maharashtra General Secretary and a close aide of BJP MLA Bunty Bhagdia, joined the Congress in Chandrapur district. He added that growing dissatisfaction within the Mahayuti coalition has led many office-bearers from all three ruling parties to feel deceived. “In the coming days, several prominent leaders from the ruling alliance will join the Congress,” Sapkal said. Meanwhile, Dr Satyendra Bhusari, former president of Chikhli Taluka Congress in Buldhana district, passed away tragically in an accident. The State Election Committee meeting began with members observing a moment of silence to pay tribute to him. 'Still no plans to include MNS in MVA before civic polls' With less than three months left for the BMC and 28 other municipal corporations to hold elections, it is still unclear whether Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) will be part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance. Congress state president Harshwardhan Sapkal stated that there is no formal proposal to include MNS as the new partner in the MVA. A day after MVA and MNS announced to stay united for local polls to fight BJP and its allies, the MVA leaders from Maharashtra briefed the media in Mumbai about their plans. “The Congress alone cannot decide on the inclusion of the MNS. All stakeholders of the INDIA bloc parties will sit together and decide on the issue,” Sapkal added. On November 1, all Opposition parties (MVA), including the MNS, had organised a protest rally in Mumbai against the irregularities in the electoral rolls. However, Sapkal’s absence from the rally had become a talking point as many in the Opposition, on condition of anonymity, claimed that the Congress was reluctant to have any proximity with the MNS for the latter’s tirade against the non-Marathi speaking people in Maharashtra, especially Mumbai.
13 November,2025 11:06 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFor the upcoming municipal council and nagar panchayat elections, the Shiv Sena on Thursday announced the list of election in-charges. The announcement was made by the party head and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde. The party has declared in-charges for 31 districts across the state, entrusting responsibilities to Shiv Sena Ministers and Members of Parliament. “As per Shinde’s directives, meticulous planning has been undertaken to ensure that neither the Shiv Sena nor the Mahayuti (grand alliance) suffers any setbacks in the Maharashtra local body elections,” a press release issued by the party stated on Thursday, adding that senior leaders have been assigned special responsibilities to strengthen the party organisation in every district. These in-charges have been tasked with coordinating with local workers, conveying the party’s policies, development initiatives, and the Mahayuti government’s "pro-people schemes" to the public. The list announced today includes ministers, Members of Parliament (MPs), and legislators. List of election in-charge leaders Sindhudurg: MLAs Nilesh Rane and Deepak Kesarkar Ratnagiri: Minister Uday Samant, former MLA Sadanand Chavan, Minister Yogesh Kadam, MLA Kiran Samant, former MLA Rajan Salvi Raigad: Minister Bharat Gogawale, MLA Mahendra Thorve, MLA Mahendra Dalvi Buldhana: Union Minister Prataprao Jadhav, MLA Sanjay Gaikwad, and former MLAs Sanjay Raymulkar and Shashikant Khedekar Yavatmal: Minister Sanjay Rathod, former MLAs Dushyant Chaturvedi and Vishwas Nandekar Washim: MLA Bhavanatai Gavli Akola: Former MLAs Gopikishan Bajoria, Narayanrao Gavhankar, and Viplav Bajoria Amravati: Abhijeet Adsul, Deputy Leader Preeti Band, former MLA Dnyaneshwar Dhane Patil, former minister Jagdish Gupta, former MLA Shashikant Deshpande Gadchiroli: Minister Ashish Jaiswal, Ashish Desai Chandrapur: Former MLAs Manohar Chandrikapure and Sahasram Korote, Harshal Shinde, Mukesh Jivatode Gondia: Minister Ashish Jaiswal, MLA Narendra Bhondekar Wardha: MLA Manisha Kayande, Raj Dixit Nagpur: Former Minister Dr Deepak Sawant, Kripal Tumane, Kiran Pandav Latur: MLAs Tanaji Sawant and Hemant Patil Dharsiv: Minister Pratap Sarnaik, MLA Tanaji Sawant, former MLA Dnyanraj Chougule Nanded: MLAs Balaji Kalyankar, Anand Bodarkar, Hemant Patil, and Baburao Kadam Hingoli: MLA Santosh Bangar Beed: MLAs Arjun Khotkar and Hikmat Udan Parbhani: MLA Arjun Khotkar, Deputy Leader Anandrao Jadhav Jalna: MLA Arjun Khotkar Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: MLA Sanjana Jadhav, MLA Vilas Bhumre, MLA Ramesh Boranare, MLA Abdul Sattar Kolhapur: Minister Prakash Abitkar, MP Dhairyashil Mane, former MP Sanjay Mandlik Solapur: Shahaji Bapu Patil, former MLA Siddharam Mehetre, former MLA Uttamprakash Khandare, former MLA Jaywant Rao Jagtap Sangli: MP Dhairyashil Mane, MLA Suhas Babar Satara: Minister Shambhuraj Desai, MLA Mahesh Shinde Pune: MP Shrirang Barne, MLA Vijay Shivtare, MLA Sharad Sonawane Ahilyanagar: MLA Vitthal Lange Patil, former MP Sadashiv Lokhande, MLA Amol Khatal, former MLA Bhausaheb Kamble Dhule: MLA Manjula Gavit Nandurbar: MLA Amshya Padvi, MLA Chandrakant Raghuwanshi, former MLA Girish Choudhary Jalgaon: Minister Gulabrao Patil, MLA Kishor Appa Patil, MLA Chandrakant Sonawane, MLA Amol Patil, MLA Chandrakant Patil, former MLA Girish Choudhary Nashik: MLA Suhas Kande, MLA Kishor Darade, former MLA Dhanraj Mhalse, former MP Hemant Godse, Deputy Leader Vijay Karanjkar.
13 November,2025 09:32 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA minor fire broke out at a commercial building on New Link Road in Mumbai's Andheri (West) area on Thursday evening, civic officials said. According to the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB), the incident was reported around 4:31 pm at the Trinity Studio located on the ground floor of Ravi Kiran Building, opposite City Mall. Fire officials said the blaze was confined to the studio’s loft area, affecting electric wiring, installations, a split AC unit, wooden furniture, computers, monitors, speakers, and other studio equipment. Fire tenders were rushed to the spot, and the flames were brought under control by 7:36 pm. "No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined," said an official. Meanwhile, in an another incident in Maharashtra's Pune district, at least eight people were charred to death in a horrific accident on Thursday evening at the Navale Bridge in Pune after two trucks caught fire following a crash, trapping a private car between them. The impact of the accident was such that the vehicles involved in the accident were completely damaged, sources said. The death toll may rise as rescue operations continue, official sources said. Following the incident, the fire tenders rushed to the spot immediately after the accident and managed to bring the blaze under control. However, eyewitnesses said that several passengers were trapped inside the burning vehicles before the fire brigade arrived. The incident also led to a massive traffic jam on the busy highway stretch, with some of the commuters claimed that they were stranded for hours. A car was trapped between the two containers, and all the passengers in the car were charred to death. The passengers travelling in a tempo traveller were injured in the accident. This is the second major accident near Navale Bridge in just two weeks. Earlier, a truck carrying tiles had lost control and crashed into three vehicles, leaving two drivers injured and causing heavy damage to the vehicles involved. Officials said an investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of Thursday’s crash and whether brake failure or speeding was responsible for the tragedy.
13 November,2025 08:54 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Enforcement Directorate (ED) has conducted searches at the premises of a Mumbai-based businessman and his associates for allegedly evading customs duty worth Rs 190 crore by creating fake export documents. According to officers, the searches were carried out in connection with a case involving M/s Titan Sea and Air Services Pvt Ltd and others, based on a first information report (FIR) registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Delhi, news agency PTI reported. The ED said raids were conducted on Wednesday at the residential and business premises of Vikas Garg, identified as a key figure in the alleged customs duty evasion, along with several of his employees. Investigations revealed that entities were incorporated outside India in the names of Garg’s employees to facilitate imports and exports, PTI reported. Officers alleged that fake export documents, including invoices and shipping bills, were created to falsely show that goods were being exported to Nepal and Bangladesh. However, the goods were actually sold in the domestic market, enabling the accused to evade customs duty running into crores, the agency claimed. The ED continues to probe the financial trail and identify beneficiaries involved in the large-scale customs duty evasion racket, PTI reported. ED raids 13 locations in Mumbai, Thane in Rajendra Lodha fraud case The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday reportedly conducted search operations at 13 locations across Mumbai and Thane — including Worli and Dombivli — in connection with an ongoing money laundering probe involving former Lodha Developers Ltd director Rajendra Lodha. The action reportedly stems from an FIR filed by Lodha Developers (now Macrotech Developers Ltd), which has alleged that Rajendra Lodha misused his position between 2013 and 2025 to defraud the company of around Rs 85 crore through unauthorised land transactions, undervalued plot sales, and bogus acquisitions. According to ED sources, the searches were aimed at tracing the alleged proceeds of crime and identifying entities suspected to be linked to the transactions under scrutiny. Rajendra Lodha was earlier arrested by the Mumbai Police Crime Branch in September in connection with the same case. A total of ten persons, including Rajendra Lodha, have been named as accused in the case. Sources said that the ED teams searched residential and business premises at multiple sites — including Worli, Dombivli, and Thane — until late evening. Officials said the investigation is being carried out in coordination with other agencies to trace the financial trail and locate assets allegedly purchased using diverted funds. (With PTI inputs)
13 November,2025 08:39 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Maharashtra Government launched an innovative initiative to train journalists in artificial intelligence (AI), Skill, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha said on Wednesday. The training workshop on AI was jointly organised by the Ratan Tata Maharashtra State Skills University and the Mantralaya and Legislature Reporters’ Association at the Mantralaya press room. Lodha attended the third-day session of the four-day programme and interacted with journalists participating in the training. The other dignitaries present at the event were Ratan Tata Maharashtra State Skills University Vice-Chancellor Dr Apurva Palkar, AI expert Kishore Jasnani, Deputy Secretary Rajendra Talware, and association office-bearers Dilip Sapate and Deepak Bhattose. A large number of journalists from print, electronic, and digital media attended the session. Expressing satisfaction over the enthusiastic response from journalists, Minister Lodha said, “It is heartening to see such participation. Every new technology leads to discussions about manpower, but AI will actually create more employment opportunities.” He added that the workshop would help journalists make their daily work more efficient and technology-friendly. Bhattose said the AI training initiative was highly beneficial and would prove useful for journalists in enhancing their reporting and writing skills. AI tools useful for effective news writing, says expert Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can significantly improve the quality and speed of news writing when used effectively, said expert Kishore Jasnani during the training session. He emphasised that proper prompting is key to getting the best results from AI tools and that these technologies are meant to enhance productivity rather than replace human input. Demonstrating the use of various tools, Jasnani explained that ‘Gemini’ is highly effective for English-to-Marathi translation, while ‘DeepSeek’ works well for generating headlines suited for print, digital and search engine optimisation (SEO)-friendly formats. He added that creating a prompt based on the ‘5Ws and 1H (who, what, when, where, why and how)’ remains essential for accurate news generation. Jasnani also showcased tools such as Ideogram, Leonardo, and Gemini for generating visuals, and Otter AI for transcribing recorded conversations into text. He demonstrated how to clean up noisy recordings and accurately transcribe them using the right prompts.
13 November,2025 08:06 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Congress on Thursday urged the State Election Commission (SEC) to permit offline submission of nomination forms for the upcoming Maharashtra local body elections, citing that the online process is cumbersome and could result in candidate disqualifications due to technical glitches, news agency PTI reported. Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar stated that the party delegation met State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare and requested that physical forms be accepted alongside online submissions. "The nomination form runs into about 20 pages and seeks details, such as votes polled and election expenses from the previous polls, information already available with the commission. The complicated process can result in last-minute disqualification of candidates if their online submissions face technical issues," he said. Wadettiwar said he and state Congress President Harshawardhan Sapkal had conveyed this concern directly to SEC. On political developments, Wadettiwar alleged that Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar would soon be forced out of power due to growing internal contradictions within the ruling Mahayuti alliance. He accused the Ajit Pawar-led faction of the NCP of playing a "pro-BJP role" in Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Satara, Sangli and parts of Marathwada, and said the Pune land deal case linked to the Deputy Chief Minister's son Parth had exposed the party's "weakness", PTI reported. "The situation is being created where Ajit Pawar will have to exit power. The first blow within the Mahayuti will be faced by his party," Wadettiwar claimed. On local alliances for the civic polls, the Congress leader said discussions were on and the picture would be clear by the last date for withdrawal of nominations. The last date of withdrawal for Maharashtra local body elections is November 17. The polls will be held on December 2 in municipal councils and nagar panchayats. The counting of votes will be held on December 3. No formal proposal to include MNS as new partner in MVA: Congress With less than three months left for the BMC and 28 other municipal corporations to hold elections, it is still unclear whether Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) will be part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance. Congress state president Harshwardhan Sapkal stated that there is no formal proposal to include MNS as the new partner in the MVA. A day after MVA and MNS announced to stay united for local polls to fight BJP and its allies, the MVA leaders from Maharashtra briefed the media in Mumbai about their plans. “The Congress alone cannot decide on the inclusion of the MNS. All stakeholders of the INDIA bloc parties will sit together and decide on the issue,” Sapkal added. On November 1, all Opposition parties (MVA), including the MNS, had organised a protest rally in Mumbai against the irregularities in the electoral rolls. However, Sapkal’s absence from the rally had become a talking point as many in the Opposition, on condition of anonymity, claimed that the Congress was reluctant to have any proximity with the MNS for the latter’s tirade against the non-Marathi speaking people in Maharashtra, especially Mumbai. (With PTI inputs)
13 November,2025 07:39 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn a routine inspection aimed at improving commuter amenities, Western Railway on Thursday sealed two food stalls at Borivali station after officials reported “unsatisfactory” food quality and hygiene conditions. According to railway sources, the action was taken against M/s Choleshchand Tea Stall, located on Platforms 4/5, and Dilip Dilhoud Stall on Platforms 6/7. Both units were ordered to cease operations immediately until they comply with mandated standards. Officials said the surprise checks are part of an ongoing drive across Mumbai's suburban network to ensure that vendors adhere to food safety norms, especially at high-footfall stations such as Borivali. Daily inspections, they added, help maintain accountability and address long-standing commuter complaints about inconsistent quality. Mumbai railway authorities are expected to review the stalls’ compliance reports before allowing them to resume service.
13 November,2025 07:34 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarMunicipal officials have assured significant improvements in patient services at Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)-run King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital within the next 15 days, including the establishment of 10 new registration counters and empanelment of private magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) centres at civic-approved rates, reported PTI. The century-old KEM Hospital, located in Parel, is one of Mumbai’s largest medical facilities, catering to thousands of patients daily from the city and across the country. The assurances came during a joint review meeting at the BMC headquarters on Wednesday, chaired by Maharashtra Cabinet member and Mumbai’s co-guardian minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha and Mumbai Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Satam. The meeting followed Lodha’s inspection visit to the hospital earlier this week. According to a release from Lodha’s office, civic officials confirmed that a tender will soon be floated to allow patients to access MRI scans at private diagnostic centres at BMC-approved rates while the hospital’s MRI machine is under repair. This move is expected to reduce the current six-month waiting period for MRI scans. The BMC also assured that 10 additional registration counters will be set up to ease patient flow. These measures are based on complaints and feedback raised by the minister during the meeting. Addressing concerns over medicine shortages, Lodha directed officials to maintain a two-year stock of essential medicines, which the civic body assured will be replenished promptly. A vigilance committee comprising citizen representatives will be formed under Lodha’s leadership to monitor patient grievances and service delivery at the hospital, reported PTI. Lodha, who holds portfolios for skill development, employment, entrepreneurship, and innovation in the Mahayuti government, emphasised that these steps are part of a broader initiative to improve services across civic-run hospitals in Mumbai. “The corrupt and ineffective system built over the past 25 years by previous BMC administrations will soon be dismantled under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ leadership,” Lodha asserted. Security to be heightened at Mumbai's civic hospitals In the aftermath of the recent security lapse at Cooper Hospital, wherein three doctors were assaulted by the kin of a patient after the latter was declared dead, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has initiated a system-wide review of safety protocols across all its hospitals. Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Public Health) Sharad Ughade, in a meeting conducted late on Monday, issued a formal communication to assistant security officers (officials responsible for security at civic hospitals) seeking detailed recommendations on security changes required at each hospital, from peripheral to major civic hospitals across the city. Hospital deans and medical superintendents have been directed to assess existing arrangements, identify vulnerabilities, and propose both immediate and long-term upgrades. “The objective is to develop hospital-specific security plans instead of a uniform model, acknowledging that infrastructure, patient load, and spatial challenges vary significantly across BMC establishments,” Ughade told mid-day. Parallel discussions are underway on whether Maharashtra Security Force (MSF) personnel can be deployed, if not at all, at least at larger peripheral hospitals. Currently, MSF has a presence only at three major BMC hospitals — KEM, Nair and Sion hospitals. “Extending its services is being considered as a measure to ensure trained and disciplined manpower at high-footfall facilities. Feasibility, cost implications, and deployment logistics are being discussed,” Ughade added. In addition, all BMC hospitals have been instructed to maintain a weekly log of security lapses and submit compiled reports to the deputy municipal commissioner every month. The move aims to create regular oversight, improve accountability, and enable data-driven decisions on security improvements. (With PTI inputs)
13 November,2025 06:06 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentUber on Thursday announced a partnership with Mumbai Metro Line-3 to make daily travel more seamless and connected. The collaboration will provide commuters with easy first‑ and last‑mile rides using the Uber app. Under the partnership with Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (MMRCL), Uber will offer Auto, Moto, and Cab rides from designated pickup zones outside major Line 3 stations, an official statement said. Signage at stations, in-app navigation, and geofenced pickups will guide riders from the platforms to Uber pickup points, helping reduce congestion and making transfers smoother, it said. Ashwini Bhide, Managing Director of MMRCL, said, “Our vision for Mumbai Metro is not just about moving people quickly but making every connection seamless. Uber’s last-mile pickup zones and clear signage turn stations into true mobility hubs and enhance the commute for lakhs of passengers.” The partnership builds on integrations with public transit systems, including Lucknow and the Delhi-Ghaziabad Rapid Rail. Uber is also expanding metro-ticketing services on its app, already available in Delhi, Chennai, and Mumbai Metro Line-1, with plans to extend to Line-3, Uber said. Shiva Shailendran, Director of Consumer Growth at Uber India and South Asia, added, “Mumbai’s commuters deserve travel that is simple and connected. We are proud to help commuters step out of the metro and into an Uber within minutes, reimagining city travel to be efficient and safe.” The recently inaugurated Metro Line-3, also known as the Aqua Line, has been registering a strong ridership performance. The increasing number of ridership throughout the month indicates a growing commuter confidence and the rising popularity of the city’s underground metro system. According to official data, the Aqua Line carried a total of 3,863,741 passengers between October 1 and October 31, showcasing consistent daily commuter traffic on the route connecting suburbs to South Mumbai. The Mumbai Metro Aqua Line 3 project spans approximately 33.5 kilometres with 27 stations. This project represents one of the largest urban transport infrastructure developments in Mumbai’s history.
13 November,2025 05:47 PM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentCentral Railway has collected fines worth Rs 141.27 crore in 23.76 lakh cases of unauthorised and ticketless travel between April and October in the ongoing financial year (2025-26). In a press release issued on Thursday, the Central Railway said that this marks an 8 per cent rise in the number of offenders compared to the 22.09 lakh cases reported during the same period last year. The total fine amount collected has also increased by about 14 per cent from Rs 124.36 crore in 2024-25. In October alone, ticket-checking teams apprehended 3.71 lakh passengers travelling without valid tickets, compared to the 3 lakh cases in October 2024, thereby recording a rise of nearly 24 per cent. Fines recovered during the month nearly doubled, with Rs 24.81 crore collected as against Rs 12.74 crore last year, which is an increase of around 95 per cent. Division-wise breakdown of fines collected between April and October Bhusaval Division: Rs 51.74 crore from 6.07 lakh cases Mumbai Division: Rs 40.59 crore from 9.63 lakh cases Nagpur Division: Rs 15.62 crore from 2.53 lakh cases Pune Division: Rs 15.57 crore from 2.67 lakh cases Solapur Division: Rs 6.72 crore from 1.41 lakh cases Headquarters: Rs 11.03 crore from 1.45 lakh cases. Central Railway said it has adopted a multi-pronged strategy to check unauthorised travel, including station checks, ambush and fortress operations, and large-scale ticket inspection drives. These efforts are being conducted across mail/express, passenger, special, and suburban trains in Mumbai and Pune divisions. To curb irregular travel in Mumbai’s AC local services, Central Railway has also set up a dedicated air-conditioned (AC) local ticket-checking squad. The suburban network operates 1,810 services every day, including 80 AC local trains. The special squad uses a 24X7 WhatsApp helpline — 7208819987 — to respond to commuter complaints and recovers an average of Rs 1.19 lakh in penalties from around 368 cases daily. Central Railway appealed to commuters to travel with valid tickets, reiterating its zero-tolerance policy towards ticketless travel. “Passengers are requested to travel with dignity and responsibility to avoid inconvenience and penalties,” the Central Railway press release added.
13 November,2025 05:42 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
