Maharashtra

Mumbai: In a major anti-encroachment drive on Monday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) undertook large-scale demolition and clearance operations across Mohammed Ali Road and nearby streets in South Mumbai. Unauthorized stalls, structures, and street vendors occupying footpaths were removed to ease pedestrian and vehicular movement. Targeted Areas and LeadershipMohammed Ali Road and Ibrahim Merchant Road, two of the busiest commercial corridors connecting Bhindi Bazaar, Masjid Bandar, Byculla, Nagdevi, and Mandvi, were at the center of the operation. Unauthorized occupations on footpaths had long hindered smooth movement for pedestrians and traffic. The drive was conducted under the directions of Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Dr. Ashwini Joshi, led by Deputy Commis...

Mumbai: The Union Railway Budget 2026–27 has sanctioned ₹23,926 crore for Maharashtra, covering multiple projects across the state, including two high-speed rail corridors. Key initiatives include doubling the existing single-line track between Mumbai and Goa, upgrading suburban networks, expanding AC local trains, constructing new tracks, and completing the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. MUTP 3 and Local Network UpgradesUnder the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) 3, five major suburban projects are underway, receiving an allocation of approximately ₹462 crore. These include quadrupling the Virar-Dahanu track under Western Railway, developing the Panvel-Karjat corridor on Central Railway, constructing the Airoli-Kalwa elevated double line, introducing 238 AC locals with up to 12 coach...

Mumbai: The long-awaited Versova-Dahisar Coastal Road project is set to accelerate, with the Forest Department granting the necessary permissions for work in the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ). This approval clears the way for construction to begin in sensitive areas, ensuring a smoother and faster commute along Mumbai’s western corridor. Route and DesignMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is working on a 22-km stretch between Versova and Dahisar, which will feature a combination of double-elevated roads and tunnels beneath creeks. The project will also connect to the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road, providing relief to commuters on the Western and Eastern Expressways. The entire Coastal Road project will be executed in six phases, with an estimated cost of ₹16,621 crore. BMC UpdateAccording...

Mumbai: Following the untimely death of Ajit Pawar, calls are growing within the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) to appoint his wife, Sunetra Pawar, as the party’s national president. More than 30 office-bearers from various NCP cells have written to Executive President Praful Patel and Maharashtra State President Sunil Tatkare, formally proposing her candidature. Sunetra Pawar was recently sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Context of the ProposalThe letter comes a day after Praful Patel denied reports suggesting he had been appointed as the new NCP chief, calling the speculation baseless. Ajit Pawar, 66, NCP leader and Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, tragically died in a plane crash in Baramati on January 28. Details of the LetterThe signatories, represent...

Mumbai: Ahead of the coronation of the new mayor, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued strict rules to keep India’s financial capital clean and orderly. Under the BMC’s new Solid Waste Management Sub-Rules 2025, hefty fines will be imposed for littering, spitting, and other violations of public hygiene norms. According to the BMC, individuals caught spitting in public will be fined ₹250, while littering will attract a penalty of ₹500. The rules are part of the city’s initiative to ensure proper management and handling of solid waste across public and private spaces. Key Fines under the BMC Rules: Spitting in public: ₹250 Littering in public spaces (streets, lanes, footpaths, gardens): ₹500 Bathing in public areas: ₹300 Open urination: ₹500 Open defe...

Pune:In a significant development in the Mundhwa land deal case, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s son, Parth Pawar, has received major relief after the Pune Police Economic Offences Wing (EOW) stated that no evidence of his involvement has been found so far. The EOW has filed an 1,886-page chargesheet in connection with the alleged irregularities in the 40-acre Mundhwa land transaction, Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar confirmed on Monday. No Evidence Against Parth Pawar Addressing queries regarding Parth Pawar, Commissioner Amitesh Kumar said that the investigation has not revealed his involvement in the case. Notably, Parth Pawar’s name does not figure in the FIR, though he is a partner in Amedia Enterprises LLP, the firm linked to the land deal. According...

Mumbai, Feb 2:Afcons Infrastructure Limited, a leading Indian construction and engineering company, has announced that it has secured a major road infrastructure project in Uganda, Africa, valued at over €100 million. The project, funded by a multilateral development agency, marks a significant milestone in Afcons’ continued efforts to expand its presence across the African continent. The company stated that the contract involves the design, construction, and enhancement of key road networks in Uganda, aimed at improving connectivity, reducing travel time, and boosting trade and economic activity in the region. The project is expected to contribute significantly to local infrastructure development while creating employment opportunities for the region’s workforce. Afcons’ CEO comment...

Satara/Pune/Mumbai: While investigations continue into the plane crash that claimed the life of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, political debates around the incident are intensifying. Following questions raised by NCP leaders Amol Mitkari and Sanjay Raut, Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar has now joined the discussion, demanding answers and pointing to widespread public concerns. On Monday, Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar visited Satara to meet the family of Ajit Pawar’s personal security officer (PSO), Vidip Jadhav, who also died in the crash. Overcome with grief herself, Sunetra Pawar held Jadhav’s wife’s hand and offered her condolences, visibly moved by the tragedy. Prior to this, she paid homage at the memorial of Maharashtra’s first Chief Minister, Yashwantrao Chavan. Spea...