After Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Ajit Pawar released the manifesto for the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 on Wednesday, Member of Parliament (MP) Sunil Tatkare assured that the state government will work ahead on the principles of secularism."Maharashtra is a progressive state and its economic condition in good...The state govt has given a lot of benefits to women and also to farmers...I assure you that the Maharashtra government will work ahead on the principles of secularism," Tatkare told the media.Meanwhile, NCP also unveiled constituency-specific manifestos for all the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 seats it is contesting. The manifestos were released simultaneously in different cities, stated news agency ANI. While Pawar led the release in his home constituency Baramati, Tatkare, who is the party's state president, released the manifesto in Mumbai. Meanwhile, NCP's Working President Praful Patel released the manifesto in Gondiya. The party's candidates and local leaders released the poll manifestos in their respective constituencies across all the assembly constituencies.After unveiling the party's state-level manifesto and constituency manifesto for Baramati, Pawar said "We will present the 'New Maharashtra Vision' within 100 days of government formation."According to ANI, in its manifesto, NCP has promised to increase the amount disbursed under the 'Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana' from Rs 1,500 per month to Rs 2,100. 11 new promises in NCP manifesto This initiative will be the largest monthly Direct Benefit Transfer in Maharashtra's history, providing benefits of Rs 25,000 per year to more than 2.3 crore women.The manifesto also consists of 11 new promises: increasing the old age pension from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,100 per month, reported ANI. For farmers, the party has promised to raise the Shetkari Sanman Nidhi from Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000 per year, combining support from both the central and state governments.Pawar has also promised to waive the farmer's loan and give a 20 per cent additional subsidy for all crops sold under the minimum support price (MSP). Besides this, NCP has also given an assurance of Rs 25,000-per-hectare bonus for paddy farmers.The other commitments included in the manifesto are the creation of 2.5 million jobs and the provision of a monthly stipend of Rs 10,000 to 1 million students through training, Rs 15,000 monthly salary for Anganwadi and Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers, a reduction in electricity bills by 30 per cent while prioritising solar and renewable energy.The Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 are set for November 20, with the counting of votes for all 288 constituencies scheduled three days later. (With ANI inputs)
06 November,2024 05:27 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe redevelopment of Mumbai's Andheri Station is set to transform the area into a major transport and commercial hub. Five towering commercial buildings will rise on the east side of the bustling Andheri station, transforming Andheri’s skyline with a modern look. This redevelopment aims to create a structure similar to the ones in Navi Mumbai, combining retail, commercial, and railway operations above the station. Once complete, the new station complex, alongside the upgraded Gokhale bridge, will serve as a major hub for inter-modal connectivity. Western Railway officials said the station redevelopment includes five towers with three basement-level parking, interconnected office buildings, and multimodal integration with Blue Line 1 Metro passing through here. Andheri station serves 700,000 passengers during peak hours, and the redevelopment aims to manage the anticipated growth, especially with the future expansion of the Metro. The project will include: 1. Five commercial towers: The five commercial towers will cover 53,160 sqm with a dedicated railway offices tower covering 11,755.52 sqm. The commercial towers will include space set aside for railway offices and will be constructed on the east side of the station, giving the skyline a more modern look with a focus on retail, office space, and connection with the railway network. 2. The Architect: The Rail Land Development Authority has chosen Stapati Architects for the station’s design, to be built in two phases. 3. The station complex will be redeveloped in two phases: Phase 1: A 2.42 lakh sq ft station area, including a concourse and foot overbridge.Phase 2: A larger 5.78 lakh sq ft commercial development with three levels of underground parking. 4. Integration with Metro: The station will be integrated with the Blue Line 1 Metro and feature multimodal connectivity. 5. Concourse: The new complex will include a 22,050 sqm concourse connecting east and west for seamless interchange between different transit modes, including segregated ticketed and non-ticketed foot over bridges. 6. Parking: The three-level parking will be spread across 60,958.89 sqm. As reported by mid-day earlier, Western Railway has embarked on a station decongestion programme to upgrade infrastructure to sync with the future growth of the Metro network.
06 November,2024 03:49 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAhead of the upcoming Maharashtra elections 2024, Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Wednesday alleged that Congress MP Rahul Gandhi is opposed to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's ideology and does a "drama" of protecting the Constitution, reported news agency PTI. Bawankule also claimed that several "urban Naxals" were trying to incite people against the country, and asked why Rahul Gandhi's 'Samvidhan Samman Sammelan', scheduled in Nagpur on Wednesday ahead of the Maharashtra elections 2024, was a "closed door" event, reported PTI. The Congress denied the charge, saying the BJP was spreading a "false narrative" about Gandhi's event. Notably, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis has in a recent interview stated that Gandhi is surrounded by "urban Naxals", reported PTI. To a query on it, Bawankule said, "More than 165 urban Naxal organisations are creating anger against the country among people and in the society and are spoiling the atmosphere," reported PTI. "Rahul Gandhi is opposed to Babasaheb Ambedkar's ideology and does a drama of protecting the Constitution," he claimed, reported PTI. The BJP leader sought to know why Gandhi was scheduled to hold a "closed door" event in Nagpur and not allow media in the programme. "On one hand, they talk about protecting the Constitution and on the other hand, they are suppressing rights given to the media by the Constitution," Bawankule said, reported PTI. He also said the BJP has suspended 40 office-bearers for six years for anti-party activities and similar action will be taken against more people if they are found indulging in such activities during the poll campaign. Countering BJP's allegations, Congress state spokesperson Atul Londhe said Rahul Gandhi's speech at the 'Samvidhan Samman Sammelan' event will be streamed live for everyone and that media could not be accommodated due to space constraints in the programme hall, reported PTI. Leader of opposition in the assembly Vijay Wadettiwar said, "It is not a political event, but a social programme organised by various social organisations. The BJP is spreading a false narrative about the event," reported PTI. The Maharashtra assembly elections 2024 will be held on November 20, with the counting of votes for all 288 constituencies scheduled for November 23. The opposition MVA coalition, comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Nationalist Congress Party (SCP), aims to reclaim power in the state, challenging the Mahayuti alliance, which includes Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Ajit Pawar-led NCP. In the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, Shiv Sena secured 56, and Congress 44. In 2014, the BJP won 122 seats, Shiv Sena 63, and Congress 42. (With inputs from PTI)
06 November,2024 02:39 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondentThe NCP led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Wednesday unveiled its manifesto for the Maharashtra assembly elections 2024, promising to raise the amount of the 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 Maharashtra assembly elections 2024 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. Pawar unveiled both the party's state-level manifesto and constituency-specific manifesto for Baramati. Speaking on the occasion, he said, "We will present the New Maharashtra Vision within 100 days of government formation." In the manifesto, the party promises to increase the amount given to eligible women under the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana from the existing Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,100 per month. This initiative will be the largest monthly DBT (direct benefit transfer) in Maharashtra's history providing benefits of Rs 25,000 each per year to over 2.3 crore women, it said. The manifesto, which gives 11 promises, talks about increasing the old age pension from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,100 per month. For farmers, the party has promised to raise the Shetkari Sanman Nidhi from Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000 per year, combining support from both the central and state governments. It also talks about waiving the farm loan and giving a 20 per cent additional subsidy for all crops sold under the Minimum Support Price (MSP). Besides this, the NCP also gave an assurance of Rs 25000 per hectare bonus for paddy farmers. "We have resolved to build more than 45,000 'panand' roads in rural parts of Maharashtra. This is the biggest plan to develop the rural agricultural infrastructure," the manifesto reads. The party's other promises include a commitment to create 2.5 million jobs and provide monthly stipends of Rs 10,000 to 1 million students through training. It also promises Rs 15,000 monthly salary for Anganwadi and ASHA workers, to reduce electricity bills by 30 per cent while prioritising solar and renewable energy. "We vow to implement measures that will curb the prices of essential commodities, making them more affordable for everyone," the manifesto document said.
06 November,2024 02:30 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAhead of the Maharashtra elections 2024, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Keshav Upadhyay emphasised that the BJP would campaign for Eknath Shinde's candidate Suresh Patil in Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar and would have no association with Nawab Malik, reported news agency ANI. NCP's Mahayuti's alliance partners, BJP and Shiv Sena have expressed their opposition to Malik's candidature. Nawab Malik has expressed confidence in winning the upcoming Maharashtra elections 2024 from the Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar assembly seat. Keshav Upadhyay said, "I have made our role clear concerning Nawab Malik. We have said that we won't campaign there. We will campaign for Eknath Shinde's candidate in that constituency. We will not campaign for Nawab Malik and we will not have any association with him. He has been out on bail and he has not been proven innocent. The case is going on," reported ANI. BJP's Mumbai chief Ashish Shelar already clarified that the party would not be campaigning in support of Nationalist Congress Party's (Ajit Pawar) Nawab Malik. Keshav Upadhyay also strongly objected to Arvind Sawant's remarks on BJP leader Shaina NC and Sunil Raut's remarks against Shiv Sena Shinde faction's Vikhroli assembly candidate Suvarna Karanje. He further said, "It shows the mental bankruptcy of the leaders of Maha Vikas Aghadi. Yesterday in Kolhapur when a woman candidate tried to take back her nomination a Congress leader asked that if she did not have the courage then why did she fill the form. Mahayuti is thinking about women empowerment while MVA leaders are showing how low they can stoop to," reported ANI. Earlier in a no-holds-bar-attack on Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sunil Raut over his alleged comment on a women candidate, Shiv Sena candidate from Mumbadevi seat, Shaina NC on Tuesday said that it is time that the women in Maharashtra wake up and raise their voice against such "regressive" comments. Reportedly, Sunil Raut while addressing an election rally called the Shiv Sena Shinde faction's Vikhroli assembly candidate Suvarna Karanje a "goat". Reacting to the remark made by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader, Shaina NC said, "This is the most regressive comment coming from Sunil Raut, on one hand, they call us 'Bakri' and used the word 'Maal'. Look at the mind and thought process. On one hand, we have a PM who respects women...you have a CM who has empowered us with the 'Ladki Bahin' scheme and on the other hand, we have 'Maha Vinas Aghadi' where you have somebody referring to us as objects," reported ANI. Meanwhile, an FIR has been registered against Sunil Raut, the Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate from Vikroli constituency and brother of Sanjay Raut for his reported objectionable comments against a woman candidate of chief minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. The Maharashtra elections 2024 will be held in a single phase on November 20 with counting of votes held on November 23. In the 2019 assembly elections in Maharashtra, the BJP won 105 seats, the Shiv Sena 56, and the Congress 44. In 2014, the BJP secured 122 seats, the Shiv Sena 63, and the Congress 42. (With inputs from ANI)
06 November,2024 01:56 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentCommuters relying on long-distance mail and express trains passing through Kasara station are likely to experience delays today due to the derailment of a banker engine near the station. Railway authorities are working swiftly to restore normal operations, with restoration work already underway at the site of the incident. The Central Railway said that the Kasara-bound suburban train services remain unaffected. "Due to the derailment of the banker engine near Kasara Station, some Mail express trains are likely to run behind the scheduled time. Restoration work is in progress. No impact on Suburban Services. Kasara-bound suburban services are running as per schedule," said the Divisional Railway Manager of Central Railway's (CR) Mumbai division on 'X' (formerly Twitter). Due to the derailment of the banker engine near Kasara Station, some Mail express trains are likely to run behind scheduled time. Restoration work is in progress.No impact on Suburban Services. Kasara-bound suburban services are running as per schedule. — DRM Mumbai CR (@drmmumbaicr) November 6, 2024 Banker engines, generally in sets of two or three, push the goods and passengers train from behind while ascending a 'ghat' (mountain pass) section. Near Mumbai, the banker engines are used only in the Kasara (Mumbai to Nashik route) and Bhor (Mumbai to Pune route) ghat sections. Local train derails at Kalyan station, no injuries reported Last month, a local train derailed at Kalyan station platform number two 2 when one coach went off the track. In the incident that happened on October 18 night, no injuries were reported. Central Railway Spokesperson said, "The incident occurred at Kalyan station platform number 2 when one coach went off the track and derailed. The train was heading to CSMT when one coach went off the track and derailed. There were no injuries." Kalyan station booking staff protest after assault on ticket clerk Ticket-booking clerks at Kalyan station staged protest after a clerk was assaulted by a commuter following an argument over spare change, on Friday afternoon. Railway officials said the ticket-booking clerk, Roshni Patil, was posted at the ticket counter. During her duty, the accused, Ansar Shaikh, arrived to buy a local train ticket, and an argument ensued between them over spare change. During the argument, Shaikh allegedly entered the ticket cabin and assaulted the railway employee. He also allegedly hurled abuses at her. In the melee, Patil fell unconscious, and her gold necklace was purportedly stolen during the attack. Patil is currently undergoing treatment in a hospital. The railway police have registered a case in the incident. The railway staff demanded better security protection so that there is no repeat of such an incident. (With inputs from Agencies)
06 November,2024 01:34 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarA hotel and restaurant owners' body on Tuesday objected to the Maharashtra government's directive of mandating AI-based CCTV systems at licensed hospitality establishments across the state, citing privacy concerns besides being costly. The Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India) - HRAWI, raised objections to the state government's recent directive that requires establishments to install advanced CCTV surveillance capable of real-time AI and machine-learning monitoring at entry points, a move HRAWI said is excessive, costly and intrusive without a proven efficacy for enhancing public safety, according to a statement. In a representation to the Maharashtra government submitted to Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik, HRAWI said, the order has been issued without any consultation with the industry stakeholders and is unreasonable, and arbitrary and seeks to impose an onerous burden on hotels and restaurants. HRAWI said the association is willing to participate and suggest alternative ways of dealing with the security apprehensions of the state in order to avoid the implementation of the CCTV order. "The CCTV order also infringes on the privacy rights of patrons and could negatively impact hospitality businesses, as customers visit hotels and restaurants to relax in private settings. The mandated surveillance, including live feeds, real-time alerts and stored footage, could drive customers away, undermining the core of the hospitality experience," HRAWI honorary secretary Pradeep Shetty said. HRAWI also pointed out that the application of the order itself comes with potential legal and ethical issues surrounding data security and customer privacy. The Association favours non-intrusive security measures as more appropriate. "Privacy is a fundamental right. The mandated storage of customer data raises significant concerns, potentially breaching the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, which requires customer consent for data use and the right to be forgotten... Under the circumstances, we request the state to consider our objections and concerns and defer the implementation of the order pending addressing all concerns of the hospitality industry," Shetty added. Issued by the Home Department’s Deputy Secretary Ravindra Aute on October 11, the notification under the Maharashtra Prohibition Act, 1949, is called: ‘Maharashtra Installation of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) System Based on the Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) At The Licensed Premises Order, 2024’. 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
06 November,2024 12:05 PM IST | Mumbai | AgenciesLarge crowds are a familiar sight at Mumbai’s Bandra Terminus (BDTS) and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) during festival season, but recent scenes of chaos and the stampede at BDTS have raised urgent concerns. In response, mid-day conducted a ground-level investigation to uncover the factors behind these dangerous crowds and the conditions that make travelling especially hazardous for general coach passengers. While railway authorities have introduced some preventive measures after the Bandra incident, our findings at LTT in Kurla reveal that overcrowding and disorganised queues persist, particularly among those travelling to UP and Bihar for Chhath festivities. Tickets procured by mid-day’s reporters after paying a tout in advance Amid a surge in passengers, many were left stranded in long lines, with some denied tickets as touts profited by exploiting desperate travellers. Joining the queues and riding along with passengers, mid-day reporters witnessed first-hand the struggles commuters face, from endless waits to unsafe boarding conditions, showing how overcrowded platforms remain a ticking time bomb for another stampede. To understand the ground reality of UP-Bihar trains departing from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT), mid-day conducted an investigation on November 1. The mid-day reporters arrived at LTT at exactly 9.30 pm on Friday and planned to travel on the Kushinagar Express, scheduled to depart at 12.35 am on Saturday, November 2. Outside the station, thousands of passengers waited with their families in tents. RPF (Railway Protection Force) and GRP (Government Railway Police) personnel were present at the station. RPF constables stationed at a help desk provided information on train statuses and restricted passengers carrying large drums from entering. mid-day reporters travelled alongside these passengers to better understand their challenges, arriving at LTT at 9.30 pm on Friday. Passengers attempting to buy tickets at the counter were often turned away and told that tickets would only be available two to two and a half hours before departure. Meanwhile, touts were able to book tickets for various trains from select windows, charging passengers inflated prices and defrauding them. The mid-day team went to purchase tickets from the counter and, upon entering LTT, headed straight to the ticket counters, where long queues had formed. As the reporters waited in line, 5-6 touts approached them, offering tickets and even guaranteeing seats in the general compartment of the Kushinagar Express. The touts explained that ticket counter employees wouldn’t issue tickets for this train until two hours before departure. Several passengers also shared their experiences of being turned away until the two-hour mark. Although the actual ticket price from LTT to Gorakhpur was R415, the touts claimed the price to be R480 and charged R700 per passenger, which included a “guaranteed” seat in the general compartment. The reporters paid R2,100 for three tickets. By 10.30 pm, these touts had disappeared from LTT. For those waiting on the platforms, the queues seemed never-ending. As reporters reached the counters to secure tickets for the general compartment, staff informed them that tickets would only be available two hours before the train’s scheduled departure. However, agents standing by the window managed to obtain tickets much earlier through backdoor channels, charging commissions. One of the touts bypassed the queue, approached counter number 4, and obtained three tickets for the reporters within a minute. Upon inspecting the tickets, the reporters noticed the printed price was R415. When questioned about the R700 charge, a tout explained that they paid R100 to the ticket counter staff and kept the rest as their income. The tout assured the reporters that they would have first priority in the queue at platforms 2-3 for boarding the general compartment. He also promised that a colleague would meet them there at 11 pm to assist with boarding and securing seats. The real struggle for commuters begins on the platforms. Reporters, carrying luggage, observed a mass of people moving aimlessly on the platforms awaiting the Gorakhpur Express, scheduled for 12.35 am on Saturday. Roughly 1,000 commuters stood in a half-kilometre-long queue managed by RPF officials equipped with lathis. The reporters enter platforms 2-3 with their luggage, only to be shocked by the long queues for general compartments for the UP-Bihar trains. They reached the south end of the platforms and joined the queue for the Kushinagar Express, realising the touts had misled them with false information. Pics/Anurag Ahire Many had been waiting on the platform since the afternoon, already having missed several trains. Some individuals tried to bypass the line but were held back by the presence of police. After nearly three hours of waiting, as the Khushinagar Express train approached, the platform turned chaotic, with commuters—who had seemed disciplined minutes earlier—breaking all order. Any fear of police presence vanished, as commuters ignored lathi blows. The constables, who had held their ground against the crowd until the train arrived, now feared for their lives amidst the risk of a stampede. With no other choice, the officers moved away from the mob, leaving the crowd to fend for themselves. After almost 45 minutes of jostling, only about 10 per cent of the crowd—approximately a few hundred commuters—managed to enter the coach. Some, desperate to board, clung to the doors, hoping for space inside once the train departed. Disheartened passengers who couldn’t board lined up again for the next Gorakhpur Express, scheduled five hours later at 5.35 am on Saturday. Since railway regulations restrict photography on platforms, we provide an illustration to help understand why there’s no assurance that the Bandra stampede won’t happen again. Oct 27Day stampede occurred at Bandra Terminus 10No. of people injured in the stampede 10per cent of crowd manged to board 9.45 pm multiple queues build up before the train arrives At platforms 2 and 3, a massive crowd gathered in multiple queues for various UP-Bihar-bound trains. Over 1,000 passengers waited in line for the Kushinagar Express. RPF personnel tried to manage the queues. The reporters noticed many passengers attempting to cut the line, resulting in skirmishes. RPF constables resorted to using lathis to maintain order and discipline. The reporters joined the long queue for the Kushinagar Express, hoping to secure a seat in the general compartment. 11.49 pm but rogue passengers break the queue when the train arrives The Kushinagar Express arrived at 11.49 pm on Platform 2. RPF personnel had set up rope barricades. As the train approached, the crowd surged forward, breaking the queue and rushing toward the moving train to board the general compartment. The RPF personnel seemed overwhelmed and became spectators. Many passengers, including those with large drums, managed to board, while others climbed over each other to secure a spot. Only 200-300 passengers succeeded in boarding, while the majority remained in line. 5.30 am more passengers join the queue for another long wait Due to overcrowding, the reporters were unable to board the Kushinagar Express. Their only remaining option was to catch the next train to Gorakhpur, scheduled for 5.30 am. They checked the queue for the 5.30 am train and found that 200-300 passengers were already waiting in line at platform 2. Illustrations/Uday Mohite
06 November,2024 11:52 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah Khan | Shirish VaktaniaFollowing the unexpected removal of Maharashtra’s first woman Director General of Police (DGP), Rashmi Shukla, by the Election Commission of India (ECI), the latter has appointed 1990-batch IPS officer Sanjay Kumar Verma as the new DGP of the Maharashtra Police. In a letter to the state chief secretary, ECI Secretary S K Das stated, “I am directed to convey that the commission has considered the panel and approved the name of Shri Sanjay Kumar Verma, IPS (MH:1990), for posting as DGP Maharashtra.” However, it remains unclear whether Verma’s appointment is only for the duration of the elections in Maharashtra or if he will continue in the role afterward. Sources indicate that the final decision will rest with the new government, which will determine whether to reinstate Shukla or allow Verma to continue. Shukla has been placed on compulsory leave by the ECI. Verma, a 1990-batch IPS officer from Uttar Pradesh, holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He was serving as the DGP of Legal and Technical for the state police before this appointment. Verma has also held the position of Inspector General (IG) of the Kolhapur range and served as Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) of the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) during Devendra Fadnavis’s tenure as chief minister, holding that post for four years. Shukla’s removal followed complaints from opposition leaders led by Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole, who accused her of being biased toward the ruling Mahayuti alliance and acting as a BJP campaigner. Verma who took charge on Tuesday evening said, “First of all, I would like to thank the Election Commission for entrusting me with such a significant responsibility. Conducting free and fair elections is our duty, and we will ensure everything is done impartially. The police must also act with complete neutrality so that no one has any reason to raise questions.” 1990IPS batch Sanjay Verma was part of
06 November,2024 11:50 AM IST | Mumbai | Faizan KhanFive towering commercial buildings will rise on the east side of the bustling Andheri station, transforming Andheri’s skyline with a modern look. This redevelopment aims to create a structure similar to the ones in Navi Mumbai, combining retail, commercial, and railway operations above the station. Once complete, the new station complex, alongside the upgraded Gokhale bridge, will serve as a major hub for inter-modal connectivity, including the Metro. How the inside of Andheri station is expected to look The Rail Land Development Authority has chosen Stapati Architects for the station’s design, to be built in two phases. The first phase includes a 2.42 lakh sq ft station and concourse area along with a foot overbridge. Phase two will add a 5.78 lakh sq ft commercial transit-oriented development, complete with three levels of underground parking. The commercial buildings will have three levels of parking Western Railway officials said the station redevelopment includes five towers with three basement level parking, interconnected office buildings, and multimodal integration with Blue Line 1 Metro passing through here. The planned 22,050 sqm concourse connecting east and west side station buildings seamlessly will play a role as a bustling interchange between various modes of transit. There will be segregated ticketed and non-ticketed foot-over bridges. The three-level parking will be spread across 60,958.89 sqm. Artist’s impression of the façade of the commercial buildings The five commercial towers will cover 53,160 sqm with a dedicated railway offices tower covering 11,755.52 sqm. Sources said, the passenger statistics at the Andheri station are extremely high with a crowd of about seven lakh passengers during rush hours. As reported by mid-day earlier, Western Railway has embarked on a station decongestion programme to upgrade infrastructure to sync with the future growth of the Metro network. “The existing Metro trains are four-coach trains, but the platforms and infrastructure are meant for six coaches. With existing four coaches, we are getting so much influx and it is expected to go up as Metro expands in the near future and WR is working ahead of time to prepare for this,” an official said. 2.42 lakh sq ftArea of the redeveloped station complex in phase 1
06 November,2024 11:06 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarTwo men who were close to the late NCP leader Baba Siddique said they received threat calls from unknown numbers. The alleged harassment began just days after the political heavyweight was assassinated by three shooters linked to jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi in Bandra East on October 12. An officer attached to Khar police station said, “The unknown callers apparently belong to Bishnoi’s gang.” One of the men, Iqbal Shaikh, an eyewitness in the murder case, on October 31, registered an FIR at Khar police station after a caller demanded R5 crore as protection money. Another victim, Shoaib Khan, approached the Nirmal Nagar police, who registered a non-cognisable (NC) offence. According to the FIR registered under section 308A (Extortion) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, Shaikh received the extortion call from an unknown number and the caller told him, “Tu paanch khoka ready kar le, nahi to tere ko bhi tere boss [Baba Siddique] ke paas pahucha denge…thik hai na! Tera case bhi usi crime branch ke pass investigation ke liye jaega jaha tere boss ke case ka investigation chal raha hai.” The complainant has submitted the following transcript of the extortion call to the authorities. Unknown caller: Tera details aaya hai mere paas… tera address, family ka… tera bada bhai Shakeel police ka khabri hai… chhota bhai, saara tere family me kaun hai, kiddar rehta hai, kya karta hai, kis car me jata hai… saara mere pass pada hai! (I have got the entire details of your address and family. Your elder brother is a police informer. I have the details of your younger brother, too. I know who all are there in your family members…I have everything) Iqbal Shaikh: Acchha! (Ok) Unknown caller: Kya kaam dhandha karta hai, thik hai na? Baat ye hai ki tu paanch khoka ready kar le, nahi to tere ko tere boss ke paas pahucha denge, thik hai na? (I know what business you are in, okay! So, keep R5 crore ready, else you will meet the same fate as your boss Baba Siddique, okay?)Shaikh: Acchha acchha achha, thik hai! (Okay!) Unknown caller: Abhi mere ladke dekh pehle tere boss ko marne aaye the, jiska tu paisa manage karta hai na..Baba Siddique ka? (See, earlier my shooters were sent to kill your boss, and you manage his money, right?) Shaikh: Haan (Yes) Unknown caller: Uska kaam kiya abhi, tu matt soch tu bach jaega….abhi teri baari hai. Abhi tere liye bhi ladke bej dunga, thik hai na, sahi hai? Jo karna hai kar le, apne bhai ko bol le ki police ke jitne link hai laga le…thik hai na? Cr****l mall ke bahar baithe hote ho na tum log? Abhi tere ko bata dia, thik hai? Tujhe police ke paas jana hai, chala ja.. apne bhai ko bol de, uske paas jaa ke meri baat karwa diyo…pata karwa liyo kaun bol raha hai, kaha se bol raha hai… sab pata chal jaega. (You have managed his money, so don’t think that you will be spared. Now, it’s your turn. I will send my shooters for you, okay? Do whatever you want… tell your brother to use his all police contacts… I am aware that you guys sit outside Cr****l mall… I have told you everything, okay? If you want to go to the police, go; if you want to tell your brother, tell him… connect me when you go to your brother… get my details like who and from where I am; you’ll get everything) Shaikh: Kaha se bol rahe ho aap? (From where you are calling?) Unknown caller: Number dekh le tru****** pe, daal ke dekh le, chahe police ke paas jaake… tera bhai police ka khabri hai na? Bol usko pata kar lega kaun bol raha hai, thik hai? (Check this number on tru******, you will get to know everything. Or, you can go to police, your brother is their informer… tell your brother to get the details who I am, okay?) Shaikh: Thik hai (Okay) Unknown caller: To abhi paanch khokha ready kar le, thik hai? Nahi to tere ko bhi boss ke paas pahucha denge, thik hai na? Tere case ka bhi investigation wohi chalela crime branch me jaha tere boss ka chal raha hai… abhi tere ko iske baad ek aur call karunga, dubara call nahi aega meri, thik hai? (So, now, you keep R5 crore ready, okay? Else you will also meet the same fate as your boss and your case will also be investigated by the same crime branch whose officers are probing into your boss’s murder case, is that okay? After disconnecting, I will call you once more and then I will not call again, is it okay?) Shaikh: Thik hai (Okay). Sources in the Khar police station told mid-day that a police constable has been deployed to Shaikh’s building where a few suspects were seen clicking photographs a few days ago. “The caller seems to be associated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Since it’s an extortion case, we have handed over the matter to the crime branch for further investigation,” said the officer at Khar police station requesting anonymity.
06 November,2024 10:28 AM IST | Mumbai | Diwakar SharmaADVERTISEMENT
