Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday intervened to stay the demolition of the Hanuman Mandir temple at Dadar East railway station in Mumbai. The Mumbai temple had been slapped a demolition notice by the railways as it had been built on railway land which was required for the station’s redevelopment. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders Ashish Shelar and Mangal Prabhat Lodha met the Central Railway team, and after talking to them, requested Vaishnaw to stay the process. Following this, the minister intervened and stayed the process. The issue had been politicised with Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackery and his party organising a Maha Aarti at the temple on Saturday evening in protest of the proposed demolition by the Railways.
14 December,2024 04:08 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarA 27-year-old man died of severe health complications after reportedly being bitten by a stray dog and a cat in Thane district of Maharashtra, an official said, PTI reported. Bhagwan Mandlik, a resident of Kalyan town, died at a hospital in Mumbai on Thursday evening after his health deteriorated. According to Mandlik's family, he was bitten by a stray dog while strolling in the Golden Park neighbourhood two months ago and then by a cat a few days later, but he did not seek medical assistance for either incident, PTI cited. The civic authorities said in a release that Mandlik did not report both the incidents and did not take a rabies shot. Earlier this week, he began to have significant symptoms, such as headaches, body aches, and a dry throat. He was admitted to many hospitals before being sent to Kasturba Hospital in Mumbai, where he died, they added. Dr. Deepa Shukla, the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation's medical health officer, verified the man's death and released a statement advising locals to seek prompt medical attention following any animal bite, PTI cited. Thane: 249 dog-bite cases seen in Bhiwandi in two days Five-year-old Raiba Sheikh’s family in Bhiwandi had the worst two days of their lives, as their only daughter was admitted to Thane’s civil hospital after being brutally attacked by a rabid dog. Her uncle Imran Sheikh said the doctors had told the family she would have to undergo surgery. “Her father is an auto-rickshaw driver. It happened while she was near a municipal school in Shanti Wadi. Suddenly, she was attacked by the dog, which went on to bite more people, running all the way to a nearby masjid,” he said. In total, there were 45 dog-bite cases in this area on July 8, 2024. Out of the 45, hospital records show that more than 25 were children. The day prior, there were 60 dog-bite cases in Kamat Nagar in Bhiwandi. In just two days, the state-run Indira Gandhi hospital in Bhiwandi was overwhelmed with about 249 dog cases, which included cases from other areas. Mid-day verified the hospital records, which show victims as young as four years old and as old as those in their 70s. “There were a total of 135 cases on July 8 and 114 cases on July 7. Most of them were adults. There is one paediatric patient admitted here; the rest were discharged. Three more paediatric patients were referred to the civil hospital,” said Dr Madhvi, chief medical officer at Indira Gandhi Hospital. (With inputs from PTI)
14 December,2024 02:56 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentShiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday took a dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra, saying that they should take out a procession of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and take the decision to construct an EVM temple, reported news agency ANI. He said that during the first cabinet meeting, they should announce the construction of an EVM temple in front of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters in Nagpur. "First of all, the procession of the Chief Minister will be taken out there (in Nagpur). I think that before taking out the procession of the CM, they should take out a procession of EVMs and in the first cabinet they should make a decision to construct a temple of EVMs in front of RSS Headquarters," Raut said in a press conference, reported ANI. The Shiv Sena (UBT) MP further hit out at the newly formed government for not being able to decide on cabinet responsibilities. Raut said that there was anarchy in Maharashtra alleging that murders and rapes happening in the state. "It has been a month since the new government formed in this state but it is not known who has which department. Murders and rapes are happening in villages of Maharashtra every day, the CM is unable to answer this. Anarchy has spread in Maharashtra. This government has been formed with EVMs, they do not have a brain, they have EVMs in their brains," Raut added, reported ANI. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said that they had got higher numbers than they expected. Speaking at the India Economic Conclave hosted by Times Network. Fadnavis said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's slogan 'Ek hai toh safe hai' worked as a "magic" in the state." "I knew that they (Mahayuti) were going to win the elections but if we are expecting that I will say I knew that we (BJP) were going to win the 132 seats but this is wrong he did not know that we were going to win huge number of seats. We got higher numbers than we expected," Fadnavis said on winning 132 seats in the Maharashtra Assembly polls, reported ANI. On December 5, Fadnavis took oath as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra while Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar took oath as Deputy Chief Ministers. The Maharashtra Assembly Election 2024 witnessed a decisive victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti alliance, securing a landslide win with 235 seats. The results marked a significant milestone for the BJP, which emerged as the single-largest party with 132 seats. The Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party also made notable gains, with 57 and 41 seats, respectively. (With inputs from ANI)
14 December,2024 01:58 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe temporary suspension of BEST bus services following a fatal accident at Kurla railway station has left commuters stranded and vulnerable to exploitation by autorickshaw drivers. Over the past three days, passengers have been charged exorbitant fares, with many forced to pay R250-R300 for short distances, as alternative transport options remained unavailable. A mid-day investigation revealed a sharp rise in overcharging and refusal to ply by meter, pushing desperate commuters—including women and senior citizens—to chase shared autos or negotiate inflated fares. In a recent investigation by the mid-day team, reporters found that autorickshaw drivers were demanding exorbitant fares, ranging from R250 to R300, for a trip of just 4.2 kilometres, from Kurla to Kherwadi in Bandra East. One lane, dedicated to ‘metered autorickshaws,’ appeared deserted when the mid-day team visited the spot just before the resumption of BEST bus services on Friday morning between 8 am and 11 am. With no metered rickshaws in sight, passengers were left standing in a queue, waiting for transportation. In an effort to reach their destinations on time, commuters—including female passengers and the elderly—were seen chasing after shared three-wheelers, trying to secure a ride. This overcharging comes at a time when commuters are left with few affordable alternatives, as the suspension of bus services has limited transport options. The situation highlights the vulnerability of passengers in the absence of regular public transport, allowing unscrupulous drivers to take advantage of the circumstances. Such fare hikes raise concerns about the need for better regulation and enforcement to prevent exploitation and ensure fair pricing for commuters. Driver 1 Reporter: Will you go to Bandra?Auto Driver 1: 99.9 per cent of autorickshaw drivers will not go by meter. The rest depends on your luck. Where do you need to go in Bandra?Reporter: Near Chetana College, Bandra East. But why aren’t drivers willing to go by meter?Driver: There was a big accident early this week in which seven people died. The bus services are suspended (now resumed).Tell me the exact location near Chetana College, and I’ll charge a little more than the meter.Reporter: How much will you charge?Driver: Rs 250, because I’ll take you via a different route as the other roads are absolutely packed. But if you go by shared auto, you need to change two rickshaws to reach your destination. Also, they’ll charge you less. But I’ll charge Rs 250.Reporter: Then let’s go by meter…Driver: No, no, I won’t go by meter. Since I saw you contacting dozens of drivers, I thought to contact you if you want to ride in my auto.Reporter: Okay.[After 5 minutes, Driver 1 accosted the undercover reporters again]Driver: Okay, listen… let’s go for Rs 240.Reporter: No, no, that’s too much.Driver: Okay… I can reduce it by another Rs 10… let’s go for Rs 230 now. Driver 2 Reporter: Will you go near Chetana College, Bandra East? How much does a shared auto cost?Driver: A shared auto will cost either Rs 40 or Rs 50. But no one will go by meter.I can take you to your destination for Rs 250.Reporter: Rs 250 is too much!Driver: Then take a bus from LBS (Lal Bahadur Shastri) Marg. Driver 3 Reporter: I want to go to Lokmanya Tilak (Kurla) Terminus.Auto Driver: How many passengers are with you?Reporter: There are two of us.Auto Driver: Yes, I’m ready to go, but the fare will be Rs 180.Reporter: Does that mean you will run the auto on the meter?Auto Driver: No, we’re not using the meter rates.Reporter: I haven’t found a single auto in the last 30 minutes, and none of the drivers are willing to come here. How much will you charge to go to Bandra Terminus?Auto Driver: It will cost you Rs 250 to Bandra Terminus, without using the meter.Reporter: That’s too expensive.Auto Driver: Yes, but you’ll reach your destination in just 20 minutes. On the way back, I won’t find any passengers, so it’s a loss for me. Passengers Speak Besides these, many other drivers refused to ply rickshaws by meter. Many commuters, requesting anonymity, told mid-day that they can’t complain to the authorities, fearing their identities will be revealed among drivers, which could lead to further chaos. “These autorickshaw drivers have been exorbitantly charging passengers right under the noses of traffic police and RTO officials. The authorities concerned are mere mute spectators for reasons best known to everyone,” said a commuter, who had been waiting for a rickshaw to go to BKC. Another passenger, who preferred to remain anonymous, said, “We don’t want to indulge in unnecessary arguments with these drivers, who generally gang up to thrash you if you raise your voice. The passengers are not united, but in deep contrast, the drivers are united to loot daily commuters. If I file a complaint, I’ll waste my time and energy because the nature of these rogue drivers and policemen will never change.” A passenger, Komal Pawar, who was going to her job on her first day and waiting outside Kurla railway station, said, “I live in Ghatkopar, and today is my first day on the job at BKC. I’m already late because there are no buses available, and autorickshaws are overcharging. I’ve been waiting for an auto for the last 20 minutes but haven’t found a single one. None of the drivers are willing to go by meter. They are taking advantage of the temporary suspension of BEST bus services. I will be very late on my first day at work.” Passenger Sonu Vishwakarma said, “I live in Mulund and need to go to Vakola from Kurla station. I’ve been waiting for an auto for 45 minutes but haven’t found a single one. Not a single auto driver is willing to go by the meter. The bus was much cheaper, and now autorickshaws are overcharging. Auto drivers are taking advantage of the situation, charging Rs 250-300 for the distance from Kurla to Vakola. The police should take action against them.” Another passenger, Kiran Gaikwad, said, “I live in Sion and need to go near the Hyatt Hotel. I’ve been waiting for an auto for 15 minutes but haven’t found one. None of the auto drivers are willing to go by the meter. Earlier, they charged R30 for a shared ride, but today they are charging R50 per passenger in a shared auto. It’s blatant exploitation by the auto drivers. One driver told me that they would charge R50 for the fourth seat, and I would have to sit next to the driver; if I sit in the back, they would charge meR60.” Another passenger, Hitesh Pawar, said, “I live in Sion and want to go to Phoenix Mall. It’s only about 2.7 kilometres from Kurla railway station, but auto drivers are randomly charging R200. I’ve been standing in the queue for 20-30 minutes, but there hasn’t been a single auto available. In shared autos, the drivers are charging R50. It’s very challenging for us to get to work on time.” IT professional Rohan Harugade had been getting late to reach Vile Parle from Kurla, where he was seen struggling to get a rickshaw. “I’ve been waiting here for more than 30 minutes to get a rickshaw to Vile Parle. I was supposed to reach on time for a job interview, but now I’m getting very late,” Harugade said.
14 December,2024 01:01 PM IST | Mumbai | Diwakar Sharma | Shirish VaktaniaDespite opposition from various schools and teachers’ unions, the Maharashtra government has decided to implement a new academic calendar for schools starting from the 2026-27 academic year. Under the new system, the academic year will begin on April 1 and end on March 31, aligning with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) calendar. However, schools and teachers’ associations have stated that the decision is not final until a government resolution (GR) is issued. They remain steadfast in their opposition to adopting the CBSE calendar. The education department has deferred implementation to 2026-27. Representation pic/iStock This decision, proposed by a state-appointed steering committee, is part of the State Council for Educational Research and Training’s (SCERT) revised State Curriculum Framework for School Education (SCF-SE). Released in October, the framework aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and aims to enhance the holistic development of students. Initially, the state education department intended to implement the changes in the 2025-26 academic year. However, following objections raised by schools and teachers’ organisations during discussions with the school education minister, the department has deferred implementation to 2026-27. The education department has also decided to gradually familiarise schools and other stakeholders with the proposed changes under the revised SCF-SE. A senior official from the school education department stated, “The arrangement of concluding the academic year on March 31 and starting it on April 1 is expected to provide students with more time for studies. The state government will issue a final directive or GR closer to the implementation date.”Under the new academic calendar, summer holidays for state board schools will be scheduled from May 1 to June 14. SCERT Chairman Rahul Rekhawar said, “A GR will be issued soon with further details.” In addition to the academic calendar changes, the revised curriculum will align with the CBSE pattern and offer greater flexibility for students to select subjects based on their interests. The focus will shift from rote learning to fostering creativity, particularly in Mathematics and Science. “The new system aligns with the NEP 2020 and aims to redefine education for different age groups, ensuring holistic development,” the official added. The decision has been met with resistance from principals’ and teachers’ unions, who have expressed concerns over logistical challenges and the potential impact on school operations. Critics argue that the government must address these issues and provide adequate support to schools before enforcing the changes. Speaking to mid-day, Mahendra Ganpule, spokesperson for the Maharashtra School Principals’ Association, said, “We continue to oppose the proposed academic calendar that aligns with the CBSE board. Starting the academic year in April could pose significant challenges, especially in regions like Marathwada and Vidarbha. Unless a GR is issued, we will not take this decision seriously. We have already submitted our objections to the school education minister, not just to delay implementation to 2026-27 but to reject the proposal outright.” Mar 31Day academic year will end under new system
14 December,2024 01:01 PM IST | Mumbai | Dipti SinghThe Maharashtra government has awarded the contract to construct a new 60-foot-tall statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Rajkot Fort in Malvan to renowned sculptor Ram Sutar's firm, reported news agency PTI. Earlier this year, a 35-foot statue of the Maratha warrior king collapsed at the fort in Malvan taluka of Sindhudurg district on August 26, just months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled it on December 4 last year. Talking to PTI on Saturday, Anil Sutar, the son of the Padma Shri awardee sculptor, said the new statue made of bronze will be 60 feet in height and erected on a 10-foot pedestal, reported PTI. The statue will have Shivaji Maharaj standing with a sword raised in his hand, he said. "Around 40 tonnes of bronze and 28 tonnes of stainless steel will be used for the statue, and it will be completed in six months," he said, reported PTI. The collapse of the previous statue at Rajkot Fort triggered a political row, with the opposition parties accusing the ruling Mahayuti government of insulting the 17th-century Maratha empire founder by building the substandard statue, reported PTI. Following the collapse, the police arrested sculptor-contractor Jaydeep Apte, consultant Chetan Patil and the fabricator were arrested. The government had later constituted a committee for the construction of a grand statue. (With inputs from PTI)
14 December,2024 12:35 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentServices on all lines of Central Railway were delayed for over 30 minutes as all trains came to a standstill following a major power failure due to a snag in Tata's Netivali power plant near Dombivli on Saturday morning. On the Pune section, there was a power failure on both up and down lines between Shivaji Nagar and Malavli from 6:09 am - 6:12 am & 6:28 am from Dehu Road-Shelarwadi, Talegaon-Kamshet section, restored at 6:58 am. On the Nashik section, there was a power failure at Bhusawal, Igatpuri from 6:15 am to 7 am. On the Kalyan-Lonavala section on up and down lines between 6.05 am to 6.55 am and Kalyan-Igatpuri up and down lines from 6.08 am to 7.08 am. "Following the parting of conductor at the Tata's Netivali transmission plant, power supply to Central Railway's various sections, including Nashik line, Pune line and also at Kalyan was interrupted for about 30 minutes," Central Railway's chief public relations officer Dr Swapnil Nila said.
14 December,2024 12:25 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarThe police on Saturday said that the officials have rescued five child labourers and arrested two persons in raids at hotels in Maharashtra's Palghar district, reported news agency PTI. The police's anti-human trafficking unit (AHTU), along with labour officials, raided two hotels in Vasai on Thursday and rescued five boys in the age group of 13 to 17 years, an official said, reported PTI. The team arrested Moin Mobin Khan (20) and Faizal Khan Abutalha Muslim Khan (21), both hailing from Uttar Pradesh, for employing underage boys and forcing them to perform life-threatening and labour-intensive tasks against their will, reported PTI. A case has been registered under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act at Achole police station, the official said. Two history-sheeters held; stolen valuables worth Rs 1.90 lakh seized With the arrest of two history-sheeters, police in Maharashtra's Palghar district claimed to have cracked at least three criminal cases, and seized from them stolen items worth over Rs 1.90 lakh, an official said on Wednesday, reported PTI. The arrest was made by the Mira Bhayandar-Vasai Virar police. In a press conference held at Vasai, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-II) Poornima Chougule-Shringi said that a woman had lodged a complaint at the Valiv police station stating that two unidentified persons came on a motorcycle and snatched her mangalsutra (necklace) worth Rs 45,000 under the pretext of asking her an address in Vasai on November 28, reported PTI. A similar incident was reported from the Manickpur police station, she said. "The police finally tracked down one of the accused, Kannubhai alias Kanhaya Ramabai Solanki (45) in Gujarat's Himmatnagar, where he was chased on a motorcycle. The second accused, Mohammad Sharif Farid Khan (55), was arrested from Bhandup in Mumbai," Shringi said, reported PTI. During their interrogation, it came to light that Solanki was involved in seven incidents of crime registered at Khadia, Bayad, Paldi, Himmatnagar, Ghatlodia and Umra police stations in Gujarat, while cases were filed in Bandra and Surat against the second accused, the official said. (With inputs from PTI)
14 December,2024 12:07 PM IST | Palghar | mid-day online correspondentOne biker sustained injuries when a crane fell on him on the Eastern Express Highway near Vikhroli in Mumbai. The crane was being transported on a trailer from Alibaug to Bhandup along the Eastern Expressway. While descending the Ghatkopar bridge, the trailer's rope snapped, causing the crane to fall onto the road below. A motorcyclist was struck by the crane, resulting in the severing of his legs. He has been admitted to Sion Hospital for treatment. The Ghatkopar bridge has been closed to traffic for the past six hours, with vehicles being diverted via the service road. Previously, on December 9, seven people were killed after a bus rammed into pedestrians and vehicles at SG Barve Marg in Kurla West. The BEST (Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport) lost its control and rammed into multiple vehicles in Kurla. The bus collided with 30-40 vehicles over a 100-meter stretch before crashing into the RCC column of the Solomon Building, breaking its compound wall, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said earlier.
14 December,2024 11:37 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirish VaktaniaParts of Thane will experience a 15 per cent water cut on Saturday (December 14) and Sunday (December 15). According to Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), a sudden failure occurred at 1:00 AM on December 14 in the B-phase current transformer of the main transformer (No. 1) at the Pise Power Substation. As a result, six out of the 20 pumps operating at the substation were shut down. Repair work is scheduled to take place on Saturday, December 14, and Sunday, December 15. Due to this urgent repair work, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will reduce water supply to Thane by 15 per cent over this period. The affected areas in Thane include Naupada, Pachpakhadi, B-Cabin, Mahagiri, Kopri, Anandnagar, Gandhinagar, Hazuri, Kisannagar, Louiswadi, and Ambika Nagar in the Shakhapa region, the Thane's civic body said. The Thane's civic body has urged citizens to use water sparingly during this period as a precautionary measure.
14 December,2024 11:11 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMumbai, Thane, and Bhiwandi will experience a 15 per cent water cut on Saturday and Sunday. A sudden transformer failure at the Pise Power Substation has led to the shutdown of six out of the 20 booster pumps supplying water to Mumbai and surrounding areas. The incident occurred at 1:00 AM on Saturday, December 14, when the B-phase current transformer of the main transformer (No. 1) failed unexpectedly. As a result of this failure, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced a 15 per cent reduction in water supply to Mumbai city, its suburbs, Thane, and Bhiwandi areas. The reduction will be in effect from Saturday, December 14, through Sunday, December 15, 2024. According to a BMC official, a sudden breakdown occurred at midnight on Friday in the B-phase current transformer of the main transformer (No. 1) at the Pise Power Substation. As a result, six out of the 20 operational booster pumps at the Pise Booster Station have stopped functioning. Repair work is being carried out on a war footing. Mumbai, as well as Thane and Bhiwandi, where the BMC supplies water, will face a 15 per cent water cut. Repair work on the faulty transformer is currently underway and is expected to continue through the weekend. The BMC has urged residents to use water sparingly during this time to mitigate any inconvenience caused by the reduced supply.
14 December,2024 11:04 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
