Maharashtra – Page 13 – SD NEWS agency

Sunetra Pawar Set to Become Maharashtra’s Deputy CM; Legislative Party Meeting Today

31Jan

By sd newsNo Comments

Maharashtra, Politics, State

Sunetra Pawar Set to Become Maharashtra’s Deputy CM; Legislative Party Meeting Today

Mumbai: Following the demise of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, his wife Sunetra Pawar is set to take over the role of Deputy Chief Minister in the MahaYuti government. She is expected to be administered the oath of office and secrecy on Saturday evening, which will make her the first woman Deputy Chief Minister of the state. Legislative Party Meeting to Decide LeadershipEarlier today, the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) convened a meeting of its legislative party at the Maharashtra Legislature to elect its leader. Sunetra Pawar’s name is reportedly the frontrunner for the position. Maharashtra NCP (AP) President and MP Sunil Tatkare said, “The legislative party meeting will be held at 2 PM on Saturday. All MLAs will be present. Discussions will be held with Sunetra Pawar, and...

100 New Local Trains in the Pipeline: Central and Western Railways Send Proposal to Railway Board

31Jan

By sd newsNo Comments

Maharashtra, State

100 New Local Trains in the Pipeline: Central and Western Railways Send Proposal to Railway Board

Mumbai: The Central and Western Railways have written to the Railway Board seeking approval to introduce 100 new non-AC local trains in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The move aims to ensure affordable suburban train services for the common commuter while accommodating growing passenger demand. The total development projects in the region are expected to cost around ₹18,364 crore. Expanding Capacity for CommutersFollowing the completion of multiple ongoing railway projects, the administration is taking steps to maintain cost-effective local services. The plan considers the life expectancy of existing local trains and the expansion of the suburban network under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP). Greater Mumbai is witnessing the development of 400 km of suburban railway projec...

Sunetra Pawar to Take Oath Today, Will Assume Deputy Chief Minister’s Responsibility

31Jan

By sd newsNo Comments

Maharashtra, State

Sunetra Pawar to Take Oath Today, Will Assume Deputy Chief Minister’s Responsibility

Mumbai: A significant political development is unfolding in Maharashtra’s MahaYuti government. Sunetra Pawar, wife of late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, is all set to assume the responsibilities of Deputy Chief Minister. She is expected to take her oath on Saturday evening, which will make her the first woman Deputy Chief Minister of the state. Final Decision to Be Taken in Legislative Party MeetingEarlier on Saturday, a meeting of the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) legislative party was convened. Senior NCP leader and Cabinet Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said that the meeting of all legislators—including both MLAs and MLCs—will discuss the post of legislative party leader. “Many leaders believe this responsibility should go to Sunetra Pawar. I see nothing wrong with this. The final decision ...

Thane Mayor and Deputy Mayor Posts Finalized After Over a Year of Talks Between BJP and Eknath Shinde

31Jan

By sd newsNo Comments

Maharashtra, State

Thane Mayor and Deputy Mayor Posts Finalized After Over a Year of Talks Between BJP and Eknath Shinde

Mumbai: The long-standing dispute over the mayoral post in Thane Municipal Corporation has finally been resolved. According to the formula agreed upon between Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) and the BJP, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor will serve for a term of one-and-a-quarter years (15 months) each. Over five years, this arrangement will allow four mayors and four deputy mayors to serve in Thane, with the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) holding the mayor’s post and the BJP holding the deputy mayor’s post throughout the term. Mayor and Deputy Mayor NomineesShiv Sena (Shinde faction) leader Sharmila Pimpolkar-Gaikwad has filed her nomination for the Mayor’s post, while BJP’s Krishna Patil has filed for Deputy Mayor. Both nominations were submitted on Friday in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Ekn...

Good News for Mumbai: Five New Bridges to Open This Year, Traffic Set to Get a Boost

31Jan

By sd newsNo Comments

Maharashtra, State

Good News for Mumbai: Five New Bridges to Open This Year, Traffic Set to Get a Boost

Mumbai: Commuters eagerly awaiting the opening of the Sion bridge can look forward to relief in the coming months. Not only will the Sion bridge be ready, but four more bridges across Mumbai are also set to open this year. With these five new bridges operational, traffic flow in the city is expected to improve significantly. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has set a deadline of 15 July 2026 to complete all works and open the bridges to traffic. Sion Bridge to Open by Mid-JulyThe long-pending construction of the Sion East-West bridge will be completed by 15 July 2026, after which it will be opened for public use. Additional Commissioner of BMC, Abhijeet Bangar, inspected the bridge on Friday and confirmed that it will serve Mumbaikars from July onwards. Five Major Bridge ...

Kavach System: Rail Safety Strengthened Between Virar and Vadodara, New ‘Kavach’ Commissioned; Suburban Section to Get It Soon

31Jan

By sd newsNo Comments

Maharashtra, State

Kavach System: Rail Safety Strengthened Between Virar and Vadodara, New ‘Kavach’ Commissioned; Suburban Section to Get It Soon

Mumbai: Travel between Virar and Vadodara has become significantly safer as the Western Railway has successfully commissioned the Kavach train protection system on this 344-kilometer section. This key route connects Mumbai’s suburban network with Gujarat and northern India and is used daily by hundreds of passenger and freight trains. Officials revealed that the project cost approximately ₹397 crore, and the Surya Nagari Express was the first train to operate under the new system. Mumbai Suburban Section to Be Upgraded SoonWork on the Vadodara–Surat–Virar section began in January 2023 and has now been completed. Earlier, the Kavach system was already implemented on the Vadodara–Ahmedabad section. With this, Western Railway now has a total of 435 kilometers covered under Kavach. Plans ar...

Sunetra Pawar Will She Become Maharashtra’s Deputy CM? CM Devendra Fadnavis Responds

31Jan

By sd newsNo Comments

Maharashtra, Politics, State

Sunetra Pawar Will She Become Maharashtra’s Deputy CM? CM Devendra Fadnavis Responds

Mumbai: Speculation has been rife over whether Sunetra Pawar, widow of late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, will be appointed Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister. On Friday, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis addressed the matter, stating that the BJP will support any decision taken by Ajit Pawar’s family and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Uncertainty in NCP After Ajit Pawar’s DemiseThe sudden demise of Deputy CM Ajit Pawar has stirred political activity within the NCP. Key questions now are: Who will lead the NCP, and who will assume the role of Deputy Chief Minister? Meetings are underway to decide these issues. NCP leaders have been emphasizing Sunetra Pawar, a Rajya Sabha MP and Ajit Pawar’s wife, as a potential candidate. This has fueled discussions that she could become the...

NCP Merger Unlikely for Now: Ajit Pawar Faction Prefers Delay, Sharad Pawar Camp Pushes for Unity

31Jan

By sd newsNo Comments

Maharashtra, Politics, State

NCP Merger Unlikely for Now: Ajit Pawar Faction Prefers Delay, Sharad Pawar Camp Pushes for Unity

Mumbai:The possibility of a merger between the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) appears uncertain for the time being, with the Ajit Pawar faction unwilling to take an immediate call, even as the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) presses for swift unification. The debate over reunification gained momentum following the tragic death of former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash, triggering renewed political churn within the party. However, party insiders indicate that a final decision on the merger has been deferred due to unresolved leadership concerns. Leadership Question at the Core Sources within the Ajit Pawar faction suggest that the group wants Sunetra Pawar to first consolidate her hold within the party before any merger talks progress. ...

Akola Mayor & Deputy Mayor: BJP Sweeps Both Posts, Uddhav Thackeray’s Candidate Defeated

30Jan

By sd newsNo Comments

Maharashtra, State

Akola Mayor & Deputy Mayor: BJP Sweeps Both Posts, Uddhav Thackeray’s Candidate Defeated

Nagpur, Maharashtra: In a significant political development in Akola, the BJP has secured victories for both the Mayor and Deputy Mayor posts in the Akola Municipal Corporation. In the elections held on Friday, Sharda Khedkar of the BJP was elected Mayor, while Amol Goge was chosen as Deputy Mayor. The contest saw Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress candidates losing out, with AIMIM councillors remaining neutral and NCP members extending support to the BJP. BJP Claims Decisive Victory:Sharda Khedkar won the Mayor’s seat with 45 votes against 32 votes secured by her rival candidate. BJP’s win was bolstered by support from councillors across party lines. The BJP candidate received backing from 38 BJP councillors, three from NCP (SP), one each from NCP Ajit and Shiv Sena, and...

Merger of NCP Factions ‘On Track’, Set to Alter Maharashtra’s Political Landscape

30Jan

By sd newsNo Comments

Maharashtra, State

Merger of NCP Factions ‘On Track’, Set to Alter Maharashtra’s Political Landscape

The proposed reunification of the two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) factions—one led by late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and the other by veteran leader Sharad Pawar—is reportedly “very much on course,” with negotiations already at an advanced stage even before Ajit Pawar’s sudden death in a plane crash on Wednesday. Sources say the merger, initially planned for February 8, is likely to significantly alter Maharashtra’s power dynamics. The NCP (SP) camp believes Sharad Pawar will now naturally resume a central role in guiding the unified party, while the ruling NCP is considering nominating Ajit Pawar’s widow, Sunetra Pawar, a Rajya Sabha MP, as deputy chief minister to preserve the family’s political legacy. Merger Talks Preceded Ajit Pawar’s DemiseAccording to party sources...