Lucknow: Homebuyers and landowners in Uttar Pradesh have a new reason to take note—property circle rates will now be determined based on the location of the land. Plots closer to main roads will carry higher rates, while those farther away will be priced lower. The Stamp and Registration Department has implemented a uniform standard for calculating circle rates across the state, making the process more transparent and reflective of actual land utility. End of Old SystemEarlier, circle rates were divided into 14 categories, with interpretations varying from district to district. The new system simplifies this to 15 universal categories, which will be applicable across all districts. A software tool is also being developed so citizens can easily calculate their property value online by en...

Lucknow: With temperatures expected to drop in the coming days, District Magistrate Visakh Iyer reviewed winter preparedness measures for the city, focusing on night shelters, hospitals, and gaushalas (cow shelters). He emphasized that no citizen, especially the poor or needy, should have to spend nights in the cold, and directed officials to ensure all shelters are fully operational with essential facilities such as beds, blankets, clean water, toilets, and adequate lighting. During a key meeting held at the Collectorate Auditorium on Tuesday, DM Iyer instructed that all permanent and temporary shelters be repaired and readied for public use. Separate arrangements for men and women were also ordered. According to P.O. Duda, currently eight shelters are operational under the Duda initia...

Greater Noida: Panic erupted on Tuesday evening when an under-construction wall at Felix Hospital in Sector Gamma-1 suddenly collapsed, trapping seven laborers under the debris. All the workers were promptly rescued and admitted to a nearby hospital, with two reported to be in critical condition. No fatalities were reported. According to police, the incident occurred while basement work was underway at the hospital site. A JCB machine was being used to dig a water tank when the boundary wall unexpectedly gave way, burying the seven workers beneath the rubble. Immediate rescue operations were launched by local police and the fire brigade, who cleared the debris and ensured all workers were safely removed. The injured workers—Samresh, Lakhiram, Sanjay Mishra, Sewalal Manjhi, Sunil Bask...

Ballia: In a drive against noise pollution, Ballia police have taken action against the unauthorized use of loudspeakers in several mosques across the district. FIRs have been registered against 17 clerics and mosque custodians for violating Supreme Court and state government directives on noise control. Superintendent of Police Omveer Singh told the media on Tuesday that mosque authorities and clerics had been repeatedly warned. Despite these warnings, complaints continued to pour in about loud broadcasts. Consequently, legal action was initiated under Sections 223(A) and 293 of the Indian Penal Code, as well as Section 15(1) of the Environment Protection Act, 1986. According to police reports, an FIR was filed against Maulvi Mohammad Shahjahan of Gothhuli Mosque following a complai...

Gazipur: A female constable posted at the city police lines has filed a formal complaint against a male colleague, alleging harassment, intimidation, and interference in her personal life that led to the break-up of her engagement. The accused constable, stationed on jail security duty in Gazipur, reportedly obtained her phone number from the duty roster and began contacting her, initially under the pretext of routine discussion. According to the complainant, after discovering that she was engaged—with her wedding scheduled for March 2026—the male constable began issuing threats. When she refused to engage in conversation, he allegedly went to the extent of repeatedly banging on the gate of her quarters at night. The female constable claims that the colleague spread false rumors and plo...