The Western Railway on Thursday said that it has collected over Rs 80.56 crore as fines during ticket checking drives from April to October 2024. In an official statement, the Western Railway said that in order to ensure hassle-free, comfortable travel and better services to all bonafide passengers over Western Railway, intensive ticket checking drives are being carried out continuously over Mumbai suburban local services, Mail/Express as well as passenger trains and holiday special trains so as to curb the menace of ticketless/irregular passengers. It said that the highly motivated ticket checking team under the supervision of senior commercial officers of Western Railway organised several ticket checking drives during the months of April to October 2024, thereby recovering an amount to the tune of Rs 80.56 crore, which also includes Rs 26.60 crore from Mumbai Suburban section. According to a press release issued by Vineet Abhishek – Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, during the month of October 2024, an amount of Rs. 12.10 crore was recovered through detection of 2.09 lakh ticketless/irregular passengers, including unbooked luggage cases. Also, in the month of October, Western Railway collected fines amounting to Rs. 3.90 crore through detection of 93 thousand cases over Mumbai Suburban section. "To prevent unauthorised entry in Mumbai AC local trains, frequent surprise ticket checking drives are carried out. As a result of these drives almost 34,800 unauthorised passengers have been penalised from April to October 2024 and over Rs. 115 lakh collected in fines," the Western Railway said. Indian Railways sets new record: Over 3 crore passengers travelled in a single day on 4th November Meanwhile, during this year's festive season from October 1 to November 5, 2024, Indian Railways achieved a remarkable feat by transporting 65 lakh passengers on 4,521 special trains in last thirty six days, an official statement said. It said that these additional services have played a crucial role in facilitating smooth travel during the ongoing Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath Puja celebrations.These special efforts of Railways ensured lakhs of passengers could reach their destinations comfortably. This achievement shows Indian Railways' commitment to meeting the increased demand during peak festival times, making travel easier and more accessible for all. To meet the increased travel demand during the festive period from October 1 to November 30, Indian Railways announced a total of 7,724 special trains, marking a 73 per cent increase compared to last year’s 4,429 special train services. This substantial expansion aims to ensure seamless travel during the peak festival season. The statement said that the Indian Railways has operated an average of 175 special trains per day over the past four days to carry passengers to their destinations for Chhath Puja.
07 November,2024 03:42 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMumbai Police have registered a case after Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan received a threatening call from a youth identified as Faizan. The call was made to the Bandra Police Station's landline on November 5. Following the incident, police teams were dispatched to Raipur, Chhattisgarh, after tracing the location linked to the caller’s phone number. The case has been registered at Bandra Police Station under Sections 308(4) and 351(3)(4) of the BNS Act. Mumbai Police constable Santosh Ghodke (32) received a threatening call on the Bandra Police Station’s landline on November 5 at around 1:21 pm. The call was made from a mobile number, and later that evening, around 9 pm, an FIR was registered. The investigation revealed that the phone was registered under the name Faizan Khan and that the call originated from Raipur. “Bandra Police Station received a call threatening actor Shah Rukh Khan and demanding ₹50 lakh. An offense has been registered at Bandra Police Station. No arrests have been made yet, and the investigation is ongoing,” said Zonal DCP Dikshit Gedam. The threat to Shah Rukh Khan follows a series of threats issued to actor Salman Khan. Bollywood actor Salman Khan has received a fresh threat, as reported by a police official on November 5. The threat, which was sent to the Mumbai traffic police helpline, has left authorities concerned for the actor's safety. According to the police, the message was read around midnight by an officer who was monitoring the helpline. In light of this new threat, the police have initiated an investigation to trace the origin of the message. They have also increased security measures around Salman Khan to ensure his safety. The police are looking into potential links between this threat and Lawrence Bishnoi, who is currently incarcerated on a range of serious charges, including attempted murder and extortion. This incident is not isolated, as Salman Khan has faced threats in the past, primarily linked to the Bishnoi gang. The Bishnoi community has a longstanding feud with the actor, dating back to a 1998 incident involving the alleged poaching of endangered blackbucks during the filming of "Hum Saath-Saath Hain." This has made Salman Khan a target for threats from members of this community. The police are taking this situation seriously, and the increased security for Salman Khan is a precautionary measure amid the ongoing investigation. The actor's fanbase and the wider public are now on alert as they await further developments regarding this concerning situation. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, as threats against high-profile individuals like Salman Khan highlight the serious nature of gang-related violence in India. The police urge anyone with information about the threat to come forward and assist in the investigation, reinforcing their commitment to ensuring the safety of the actor and addressing the ongoing challenges posed by organised crime in the region. (With inputs from PTI)
07 November,2024 02:34 PM IST | Mumbai | Faizan KhanThe Mumbai Crime Branch has arrested two more suspects in the Baba Siddiqui murder case, raising the total number of arrests to 18. The two suspects, both residents of Pune, were arrested in Pune and were reportedly in contact with accused Praveen Lonkar, who allegedly supplied them with around 50 bullets. The suspects were brought to Mumbai on Thursday and are scheduled to be presented in court today. A 23-year-old man, who was allegedly part of the conspiracy to kill NCP leader Baba Siddique, was on Wednesday arrested from Pune, police said, making him the 16th accused to be held in connection with the high-profile murder. Gaurav Apune, a resident of Karvenagar in Pune city, is an important catch in the case as he was in direct contact with wanted accused Shubham Lonkar and arrested accused Ram Kanouji. Apune, the 16th person to be arrested in the case, was part of the conspiracy to kill the former Maharashtra minister in Mumbai last month. He was produced before a local court which sent him to police remand till November 13. A team of the Mumbai crime branch, probing the case, detained Apune after questioning some of the arrested accused and revealed he was involved in the conspiracy to attack Siddique. The 23-year-old had a firearm and bullets with him, which he gave to one of the wanted accused. A search was on for the weapon which was in his possession. Siddique (66) was shot dead by three gunmen in Mumbai's Bandra area on October 12.
07 November,2024 02:17 PM IST | Mumbai | Faizan Khan'Wake up Canada government' was the message at a Wednesday afternoon protest near the gate of the IndiaBulls International Centre on Senapati Bapat Marg, near Prabhadevi station. The protesting group led jointly by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bajrang Dal gathered at the site, which also saw significant police presence, to condemn the recent attack on a Hindu temple in Canada. Brothers, please While placards were held up, citing slogans and creating awareness, asking the Canadian government for action against attackers, Shriraj Nair, national spokesperson, VHP, said, “Let this be clear, the Sikhs and Hindus are one. We are brothers. We have nothing against the Sikhs. This is against fringe elements that are intent on pushing the Khalistan narrative, stoking divisions between the two communities.” “There are thousands of Hindus living and working in Canada in a peaceful way and contributing to society and the economy. If they are involved in crime, it is extremely negligible, or 0.0 per cent. We know that the Consulate General of Canada office is closed here and nobody is present, but this is a symbolic protest. Our Hindu brothers in Canada told us to do something here so that voices reach Canada,” Nair said. He added that they were not against the Canadian government, “yet we want all those involved in these attacks to be arrested.” False narrative Mohan Salekar, Prant secretary, VHP, said, “It is good that we heard some condemnation for the first time from Canadian PM Justin Trudeau. What were these Hindus doing? They were attacked while praying at the temple. That is why this protest was important.” At a Diwali meet ’n’ greet just two hours prior to the protest, Salekar stated, “The upcoming elections are not just the Maharashtra state Assembly elections but a compass that will show us which direction the country is heading. We want more people to come out and vote, especially the elite in their high rises.” He added, “During the general elections, there was organisation and logistics for the Bharat Jodo Yatra from certain foreign-funded NGOs. There was a false narrative spread that the Constitution was under threat. At that time, perhaps some sections were laid back in countering this false narrative, but lessons have been learnt and there are robust counters against attempts to spread lies and malicious, misleading claims.” No division The entire VHP top brass reiterated unity between Hindus and Sikhs and pointed out that the 1984 riots, which took place after PM Indira Gandhi’s assassination, also saw incendiary speeches by Congress leaders. Senior VHP functionary Dinesh T said, “There are no schisms between Hindus and Sikhs. They are our brothers, and the assassination was also highly politicised.” All the speakers pointed out that trouble is being fomented, and ‘we want Khalistan divisions’ are being given oxygen by those who believe in ‘tukde tukde Bharat’ and ‘todo Bharat’. The protest was well regulated, it saw curious onlookers asking about the issue. The gathering dispersed to shouts of ‘Jai Shree Ram’ rising above the blare of vehicle horns at the buzzing intersection.
07 November,2024 01:38 PM IST | Mumbai | Hemal AsharThe Mumbai district election officer has said all establishments, businesses and other workplaces within the Brihanmumbai limits are mandated to grant leave to their employees for voting in the Maharashtra assembly elections 2024 on November 20, reported news agency PTI. Violations to this directive by employers will result in action under the Election Commission's guidelines, district election officer and Brihanmumbai Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani said in a release issued on Wednesday. Aiming to enable all eligible voters in Mumbai Suburban and Mumbai City districts to exercise their voting rights, Gagrani has implemented various initiatives to boost the voter turnout, reported PTI. The release said employers must grant leave to their employees for voting on November 20 in their constituencies and the rule applies to all industrial sectors, corporations, companies and other establishments, ensuring that no wage deductions occur due to this leave, reported PTI. In cases where a full-day leave is not feasible due to exceptional circumstances, at least a four-hour leave may be granted with prior approval from the district election officer, it said. As per section 135(B) of the Representation of the People Act, employees whose absence would endanger the public or their establishment will not be penalised, reported PTI. Employers are directed to follow these guidelines strictly, ensuring all employees are able to exercise their voting rights on the election day, the release said. EC updates Maharashtra voter list Maharashtra has more than 9.7 crore voters of which 22,22,704 are in the age group of 18-19 years, an Election Commission (EC) official said on Tuesday, citing updated electoral rolls, ahead of the Maharashtra assembly elections 2024. As per the electoral rolls updated on October 30, the state has 9,70,25,119 voters, including 5,00,22,739 men and 4,49,96,279 women. The state has 6,101 transgender voters, 6.41 lakh divyang (persons with disabilities) and 1.16 lakh service electors, said Maharashtra's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) S Chockalingam. He said there are 22,22,704 voters in the age group of 18-19 years. According to figures provided by the poll body, there are 4,140 candidates in the fray for the total 288 assembly seats for which voting will take place on November 20. The Shahada seat in Nandurbar district has only three candidates -- the lowest -- while Nanded North has 33 contestants -- the highest. Chockalingam said in order to boost voter turnout, the poll body will set up 1,181 polling stations in high-rises and residential complexes in Mumbai, Thane and Pune. Similarly, 210 polling stations will be established in slums, the CEO said. There are enough EVMs in the state. For 1,00,186 polling stations, there are 2,21,600 ballot units, 1,21,886 control units and 1,32,094 VVPATs, he informed. The CEO said for the state's 288 assembly seats, there are 142 general observers, 41 police observers and 71 expenditure supervisors. Counting of votes will take place on November 23. (With inputs from PTI)
07 November,2024 12:48 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentControversial Shiv Sena leader from Kalyan in Thane district, Mahesh Gaikwad, and nine other members of the ruling outfit have been suspended for "anti-party" activities during the ongoing Maharashtra assembly election process, reported news agency PTI. Mahesh Gaikwad hit headlines in February this year when he was shot at by BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad inside a police station in Ulhasnagar town of Thane district over an old enmity. A statement issued on Wednesday by Shiv Sena's Kalyan district chief Gopal Landge said members of the outfit, including Mahesh Gaikwad, engaged in "anti-party" activities and did not abide by directives of the leadership in the current elections, reported PTI. The Shiv Sena and the BJP are part of the ruling Mahayuti alliance along with the NCP. In another development, the BJP has suspended for six years Kalyan mandal president Varun Patil, who is contesting as an independent candidate from the Kalyan West constituency in the November 20 state assembly polls. NCP expels leader for contesting against Chandrakant Patil The Nationalist Congress Party led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Wednesday expelled Vijay Dakle, a local party functionary, for anti-party activities. Dakle, head of the NCP's social cell, is contesting as an independent candidate from the Kothrud assembly constituency in the city against BJP leader Chandrakant Patil, the ruling Mahayuti coalition's official candidate and sitting MLA. He is also a member of the state NCP's executive committee. A letter issued by NCP city unit president Deepak Mankar said he was being expelled as despite repeated instructions to withdraw from the fray, he chose to contest against the alliance's candidate. (With inputs from PTI)
07 November,2024 12:41 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondent
As Maharashtra heads into the most evenly poised assembly elections in recent memory, voters are grappling with an issue that has come to dominate the political landscape of the state over the past few years – politicians switching parties and alliances. Several politicians have jumped ship based on who they felt had the edge in the general and state polls in 2014 and 2019. The chaos and confusion increased after Eknath Shinde in 2022 staged a rebellion and walked away with a large number of legislators from the Shiv Sena, then headed by Uddhav Thackeray, sending shockwaves to Maharashtra. His rebellion sparked a series of defections within Shiv Sena, leading to the splitting of the party into two factions – one led by Shinde and the other by Thackeray. He took oath as the Chief Minister and formed the government along with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and also claimed the Shiv Sena’s symbol and name on the grounds that he had the maximum number of legislators with him. The Election Commission of India also decided that his faction was indeed the ‘real’ Shiv Sena. A year later, the story repeated, but this time, the party that split was the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), founded by Sharad Pawar in 1999 after he left the Congress, which was then headed by Sonia Gandhi. Pawar’s nephew Ajit, who had caused a stir in 2019 too when he briefly aligned with the BJP-led coalition, walked away with a large number of legislators and party workers. Unlike 2019, when he ended his rebellion in three days, this time, Ajit continued to fight the state polls in alliance with the BJP and Shinde-led Shiv Sena. There is a lot of criticism over these two developments in the state, which was one of the reasons why Thackeray and Pawar’s parties, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP), did well in the Lok Sabha elections, held earlier this year. Now with the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 scheduled for November 20, this issue is likely to come to the fore. Ahead of the state polls too, several leaders have switched parties after they were denied tickets. Voters have repeatedly questioned how politicians can join parties or alliances that have diametrically opposite views to what they believed in for years. Party hopping: Impact on voter Voters are not thrilled about the frequent party-hopping witnessed in recent years. For many, it raises questions about loyalty, principles, and the integrity of politicians. "I have always voted for Shiv Sena, but seeing leaders such as Eknath Shinde and other rebels leave for personal gains makes me question their intentions," says Nilesh Patil, a 45-year-old resident of Mumbai's Ghatkopar area. "We feel betrayed when politicians switch sides. Do they care about ideology? It's all about power and position for them." Patil’s sentiments are shared by many who feel that these political manoeuvres undermine the trust of the electorate. “It’s disheartening. Shiv Sena has always been a party of the people, but now it seems like it’s just another political game," says Priya Deshmukh, a 38-year-old homemaker from Mankhurd. "Politicians don't care about us. They care only about what benefits them." However, Swapnil Tele, an IT professional from Kalyan, believes that Shinde’s faction is the real Shiv Sena. “The Shiv Sena and Congress had exactly opposite ideologies. How could Uddhav Thackeray ally with the Congress, a party that his father, the late Balasaheb Thackeray, opposed throughout his lifetime? When Shinde and the other legislators felt that the core ideologies of the party were being compromised, they went with their original ally: the BJP. We have traditionally been Shiv Sena voters and the CM has done good work. We’ll continue to back him,” said the 28-year-old. Sudha Shankar Deshpande, a 56-year-old Pune resident, said, “When you change sides so frequently, it shows you don't have a true commitment to the people or the cause you once stood for. While we despise politicians jumping ship, the fact is that there are other issues also that need to be taken into consideration before we cast our vote." Strategy or greed: Why has the state seen so many political diversions For political leaders, party-hopping is often seen as a strategic move. Some argue that shifting parties allows them to align with more powerful or dominant political forces, ensuring political survival and access to resources. It is also a reflection of the changing dynamics of Maharashtra’s political landscape. “The shifting allegiances of these leaders are often a result of the changing dynamics within the state’s political ecosystem. Leaders frequently move to parties they think will help them secure power,” says Anand Deshpande, a political analyst from Pune. Manish Ranjan, a political analyst from the national capital, says that Maharashtra’s political landscape is very different from the rest of the country and it is difficult to call the election outcome here. “Even after the BJP and Shiv Sena had allied in 2019 before the polls, Thackeray took a U-turn and demanded the chief ministership after the BJP failed to secure a majority on its own. While individual politicians leave parties for ticket or ministerial berths, alliances are also broken for the same reasons as Thackeray later became the CM with the help of the Congress and NCP. This is a very difficult election to predict. And after the predictions went wrong in the Lok Sabha and Haryana polls, no one can say with certainty on which alliance will the voter stand with. Party or ideology? Is the voter loyal? Despite the widespread dissatisfaction with party-switching, there remains a large base of voters who continue to follow their leaders. Voter loyalty, in many cases, transcends party affiliation and is tied to the personal popularity of individual politicians. “Voters in my constituency support Eknath Shinde because of his long-standing relationship with the people, especially in the Thane area. His popularity isn’t based on the party but his work on the ground,” says Santosh Patil, 63, a retired government employee. "Voters tend to follow their local leaders, not the party they belong to. This is why leaders who switch parties often manage to retain their support base." “I still support Shinde, even though he left Shiv Sena. He’s a local leader who understands our issues. The ‘Ladki Bahin Yojana’ will help him come back to power,” says 42-year-old Shreekala Prabhakar, a resident of Malad. As Maharashtra moves closer to election day, the big question remains: Will all these defections impact the electoral outcome? Ranjan adds, “Voters will consider the ‘double engine’ factor where a National Democratic Alliance government in the Centre and a Mahayuti regime in the state would be beneficial for Maharashtra’s development. Voters are smart. Most voters believe that loyalties to parties and individuals mean nothing if they do not deliver. Especially for cities such as Mumbai and Pune, infrastructure development is of prime importance. Accessibility to funds from the Centre is crucial for such projects. I also do not believe that the NDA or Mahayuti failed to put up a good performance in the Lok Sabha polls owing to diversions. They just could not manage the narrative mechanisms that the Opposition had tactfully shaped. They also lacked on-ground campaigning, whereas MVA (Maha Vikas Aghadi) workers went to several villages across the state for the campaigns. If this time the Mahayuti works on these issues, it will be too tight an election to call.”
07 November,2024 12:28 PM IST | Mumbai | Divya NairShiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday unveiled party's manifesto for the Maharashtra elections 2024, assuring free education for male students, stabilising prices of essential items and scrapping of the Dharavi redevelopment project, reported news agency PTI. Thackeray said most of the poll promises are part of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi's (MVA) overall assurances, but there are some points that need special attention. The MVA, which comprises the Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP), will also launch its manifesto for the Maharashtra elections 2024, he said, reported PTI. Thackeray assured that the way female students in the state were getting free education under a government policy, it will be implemented for male students as well if the MVA comes to power, reported PTI. The MVA will also keep stable the prices of essential commodities, he said. On the Dharavi redevelopment project, the former chief minister said it will be scrapped as the project will have ramifications on Mumbai, reported PTI. Maharashtra and Mumbai will also have a housing policy keeping the rapid urbanisation in mind, he said. Thackeray said if the MVA comes to power, it will scrap cluster development of Koliwadas and Gaothans and it will be done after taking the residents into confidence. The Sena (UBT) head also said his party will work towards creating jobs. Ajit Pawar's NCP releases manifesto; promises to raise Ladki Bahin scheme aid to Rs 2,100 The NCP led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Wednesday unveiled its manifesto for the state assembly polls, promising to raise the amount of Ladki Bahin scheme's monthly financial assistance to Rs 2,100 from the present Rs 1,500. For farmers, the party promised to raise the Shetkari Sanman Nidhi scheme amount from Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000 per year. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is contesting the November 20 assembly elections as part of the ruling Mahayuti alliance, which also comprises the Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The NCP, which is fighting the elections from 52 constituencies, also unveiled constituency-specific manifestos for all the assembly seats it is contesting. The manifesto was unveiled separately by party president Ajit Pawar in Baramati, by its state unit president Sunil Tatkare in Mumbai, and working president Praful Patel in Gondia. NCP candidates and local leaders also released the poll manifestos in their respective constituencies. (With inputs from PTI)
07 November,2024 11:30 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe rush hour to board long-distance trains for Chhath Puja at Mumbai’s train termini has now become a playground for railway touts. In light of the recent stampede at Bandra Terminus, mid-day conducted a reality check on whether there was any improvement in the security system since the incident. On Wednesday, mid-day reported on the chaotic conditions at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT), where commuters faced long queues and hours of waiting. Today, we bring you the other side of the story: touts fleecing commuters with promises of securing seats in the general compartment. Reporters talking to the scalpers to obtain a train ticket; Agent Jeet Singh; Man who introduced himself as manager; Agent Amjad Our investigation found that some ticket counter employees appear to be involved in a racket, bypassing queues to issue tickets to touts. These agents charge Rs 700 per passenger against the actual cost of Rs 415 for a second-class general ticket from LTT to Gorakhpur but vanish two hours before the journey. Posing as passengers, mid-day reporters attempted to board the Kushinagar Express from LTT to Gorakhpur on Friday, November 1. While standing in line to purchase tickets, a group of 5-6 touts approached them, offering confirmed seats in the second-class compartment on the Kushinagar train. One agent issued tickets within a minute at counter number 4, bypassing the queue, and assured the reporters that their colleagues would help secure seats in the general compartment. However, by 10 pm, these agents had disappeared from LTT. The reporters arrived at LTT around 9 pm on November 1, posing as passengers travelling to Gorakhpur on the Kushinagar Express, scheduled to depart at 12.35 am on November 2. Approached by touts offering confirmed seats, the following conversation ensued: Agent Amjad: Where do you want to go?Reporter: We want to go to Gorakhpur on the Kushinagar train. Agent Amjad: We can get you tickets and confirmed seats in the general compartment for Rs 700 per passenger.Reporter: How much is a single ticket?Agent Amjad: R480 per ticket. Reporter: Can we get a discount? Agent Amjad: The ticket costs R480; the ticket counter employee takes Rs 100, and we keep Rs 100-120. Reporter: We’ll pay R700, but we want assurance of getting a seat in the general compartment.Another agent, Jeet Singh, joined to convince the reportersAgent Jeet Singh: You won’t get a ticket from any counter for another two to three hours. We have connections with ticket counter staff and can get you tickets ahead of others. With these tickets, you can go to the station and stand in line.Reporter: We need assurance of a seat in the general compartment. Agent Jeet Singh: We are providing you with tickets. With these tickets, you can stand in line before other passengers, and you will easily get a seat on the train. It’s 9.15 pm; you won’t get tickets from any counter until after 10.30 pm.Agent Amjad then assured the reporters, saying, “Our person will come on platform number 2-3 around 11 PM and will help you get a seat in the general compartment.”Assured by the agents, the reporters paid Rs 2,100 for three passengers, capturing the transaction on video.The reporters observed that queues at ticket counters had more than 30-40 passengers each. Jeet Singh bypassed the queue, purchased three tickets in under a minute at counter 4, and handed them to the reporters.Agent Jeet Singh: “Here are your tickets. Go to platform 3, stand in line, and you’ll be first or second in the queue, securing a seat easily.”Upon checking the tickets, the reporters noticed the rate was Rs 415 each. When asked about the markup, the agents explained that Rs 100 went to the ticket counter employee and the remainder was their profit.Reporter: “We have the tickets, but it’s your responsibility to secure us seats in the general compartment.”Assuring the reporters, Jeet Singh gave them his mobile number to build trust.Agent Amjad: “Don’t worry. Go to platform 3. Our colleague will be there at 11 pm to help you find a seat. We can also provide AC and sleeper tickets. This is our daily work.”Several more agents appeared, asking how much Jeet Singh had charged. One of them, claiming to be the touts’ manager, inquired how much the reporters had paid, but they declined to answer.When the reporters finally reached platform 3, they encountered a crowd of thousands. They waited until midnight, but no touts arrived to help them secure seats in the general compartment. Rs 700Amount that touts charge each passenger
07 November,2024 10:43 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah Khan | Shirish VaktaniaMaharashtra Cyber, the cyber wing of state police, has issued a notice to BookMyShow, asking it to implement strict measures including sale of name-based tickets for the concerts of British band 'Coldplay' in January and other shows. The notice was issued to prevent exploitation of fans who buy tickets from online platforms, an official said on Wednesday. There are increasing number of complaints across online forums and social media about problems faced in booking tickets of such high- profile concerts and events through online platforms, he said. Many people reported unresponsive websites during critical booking period, he said, adding that it leads to black-marketing of tickets at exorbitant prices, sometimes as high as ten times the original price. Maharashtra Cyber found that the measures taken by the platforms to avoid such situations are insufficient, said the official. 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
07 November,2024 10:07 AM IST | Mumbai | PTIAfter mid-day highlighted the plight of 40 women daily-wage workers who were stranded at a Mumbai hotel after their flight to Kathmandu was cancelled on November 3, Royal Nepal Airlines arranged alternative flights to and from Nepal’s capital for the passengers. The women had been informed that the flight, which was to take off at 3.45 pm, was delayed. At 8.30 pm, they were told it had been cancelled. Though airline staff promised to arrange for an alternative travel option the next day (Monday, November 4), they failed to do so, prompting the women to sit outside the Mumbai office in protest on Tuesday morning. That night, after mid-day spoke to the relevant authorities, an alternative flight was finally arranged, allowing the group to travel to Kathmandu on Wednesday morning. Sheeja Pillai, a member of the group The women, all of whom work in Mumbai households as domestic helpers, had saved Rs 40,000 over two years for the trip. Excitement turned to frustration, however, as flight RNA202 was cancelled just before boarding, with the airline citing technical issues involving an Airbus A320 in need of repairs. Despite assurances that they would be accommodated on another flight the following day, the group was left waiting for over 59 hours without concrete information on the rescheduled flight. The airline finally agreed on providing an alternate flight to Kathmandu and has also rescheduled the group's return tickets from November 8 to November 11 and 12. Women affected sat outside the Royal Nepal Airlines’ office on Tuesday. Pics/Kirti Surve Parade Words of gratitude Sheeja Pillai, a member of the group, thanking this newspaper, said, “We had almost lost hope about vacationing in Kathmandu. Thank you, mid-day, for highlighting our issue and bringing us back on track. As domestic workers, we cannot afford to take such trips regularly. The airline had promised us some credit notes, saying that they would allow us to travel some other day but that is not possible for us. We cannot afford to book hotels and also lose the money put in to make hotel reservations now.” Asked about rescheduling the hotel bookings, Pillai said, “Our tour organiser and guides accompanying us spoke to the hotel managers and rescheduled our bookings without any added costs.” Rahul Divedi, tour organiser; (right) Vaibhavi Tawade, a group member Speaking about the return journey to Mumbai, Vaibhavi Tawade, another member of the group, said, “mid-day offered us tremendous support during our ordeal. The airline has shifted our return journey from November 8 to 11. The return tickets have been a bit scattered according to the availability of aircraft seats. Some of us will board the return flight on November 11 while others will do so the following day.” Rahul Divedi, the tour organiser, also thanked mid-day while recounting the difficulties faced since the flight cancellation. “After being informed of the cancellation, the group had to wait for hours before the airline arranged for accommodations at the Hotel Le Grande. Delays continued, as transportation was provided inconsistently. Although an airline representative had promised to stay in contact with updates on the rescheduled departure, no airline staff was available at the hotel.” Repeated calls to the airline’s Mumbai office, messages to the airline’s CEO and complaints to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Ministry of Civil Aviation went unanswered. Divedi, along with the stranded passengers, sought fair compensation, especially given the impact on the women’s finances as daily-wage workers. Finally, late at night, on November 5, Royal Nepal Airlines arranged an alternative flight, allowing the group to travel to Kathmandu on November 6.Divedi added, “We were having dinner at the hotel when the hotel staff received a call from the airline’s office to inform us to check out and proceed towards the airport. Transport was also made available for us. After clearing immigration and other formalities, the flight to Kathmandu took off at 3.30 am on Wednesday. We landed at Kathmandu airport around 8 am and moved to our hotel.” 3.30 amTime on Wednesday when flight to Kathmandu took off
07 November,2024 09:54 AM IST | Mumbai | Prasun ChoudhariADVERTISEMENT
