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Maharashtra

‘360 KM Of Bullet Train Project Complete,’ Says Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw; Blames Uddhav Thackeray For Delay

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Ahmedabad: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday said that 360 km of the Bullet Train project has been completed, with significant progress on the Maharashtra section that got a setback due to a delay in permissions by the Uddhav Thackeray government.

“The Bullet Train project is progressing well, with 360 km completed and track laying underway… The project aims to create economic hubs along the route, boosting growth in cities like Mumbai, Thane, Vapi, Surat, Vadodra, Anand and Ahmedabad, making them interconnected as a single economic zone,” Vaishnaw told mediapersons.

He said all these cities will see huge economic activities. “A Bullet Train should not be seen just as a transportation project but it a project for the growth of the entire area,” he said.

He said that the Maharashtra section of the Bullet Train project is advancing well, with “almost 2 km of the undersea tunnel completed.”

He criticised Uddhav Thackeray alleging that his government delayed the project by two-and-a-half-years. However, he stated, work is now moving at full speed and will greatly benefit future generations.

The Railway Minister also highlighted the growth patterns related to the first Bullet Train in Japan between Tokyo and Osaka.

The six big stations between Osaka and Tokyo – Nagoya, Kyoto, Atami, Shinagawa, Shin-Yokohama and Odawara – have become big industrial hubs, he said.

Vaishnaw said similar gains, in terms of growth, will be made on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train corridor.

“In the morning, a person would be able to have a breakfast of fafda-dhokla in Ahmedabad and attend to work in Mumbai during the day before returning home and spending time with kids in Ahmedabad,” he said.

Similarly, a person in Mumbai would begin the day with a breakfast of poha and complete his work in Surat during the day and return to Mumbai to spend time with the family in the evening, he said.

During his visit to Ahmedabad’s Kalupur Railway Station, the Minister attended an event organised by the Rail Line Development Authority.

Speaking about the Ahmedabad Kalupur Railway Station redevelopment project, Vaishnaw emphasised that it is a four-year initiative designed to be a major gift for the city.

The Minister highlighted that the station’s new design has been planned while keeping Ahmedabad’s cultural heritage in mind. The project has also received significant inputs from Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He said the station has been designed with special stress on strength of material used in girders to manage pressure zone developed around a train moving at a speed of 350 kmph.

“The roof of the platform is also left open to manage the pressure generated,” Vaishnaw said, during the inspection of the station.

The station’s design is unique, he said, highlighting its three-levels. “The ground level, concourse level and platform level. Passengers will wait on the concourse level and the platform level,” he said.

Trains on Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Corridor will operate at a speed of 320 kmph covering a distance 508 Km and 12 Stations. There will be 35 trains per day/one direction, with a frequency of 20 minutes in peak hours and 30 minutes in non-peak hours.

With a limited stop (in Surat and Vadodara) service, it will cover this distance in 1 hour and 58 minutes and all stops service will take 2 hour 57 minutes. Operational Control centre for MAHSR corridor will be located at Sabarmati.

Crime

Mumbai Crime: Police Constable Among 4 Arrested In ₹25 Lakh Andheri Robbery Case

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Mumbai: In a shocking incident, a serving Mumbai Police constable has been arrested along with three others in connection with the alleged robbery of Rs 25 lakh in Andheri East. The incident took place on Friday afternoon at around 1:40 pm near Teli Galli Cross Road.

The four accused, including the Mumbai Police constable, allegedly threatened the victim and fled with Rs 25 lakh in cash that he was carrying in a blue sack. The victim, identified as Shailesh More, was carrying the amount in Rs 500 notes.

During the investigation, the constable, who was serving at Amboli Police Station, was nabbed along with the three others and has been remanded in custody till April 7. Moreover, the Police also recovered the entire stolen amount of Rs 25 lakh.

Meanwhile, in another similar case, two police constables were arrested for allegedly kidnapping a forex company executive and robbing him of $10,000 (Rs 8.65 lakh) in Juhu. Sandeep Shinde, 33, posted at the BKC police station, and Gajendra Rajput, 40, attached to the Jogeshwari police station, were among five persons who allegedly carried out the abduction on Wednesday afternoon. The incident unfolded when the 30-year-old delivery executive travelled to Juhu to hand over foreign currency to a client.

Not just this, in Akola, an Assistant Police Sub-Inspector (ASI) was recently suspended for allegedly demanding sexual favours and asking a woman in custody to send her daughter to him. The woman was arrested in the case about an Rs 80 lakh fraud, where two accused were arrested, two from Palghar, and kept in the Civil Lines police lockup. Assistant Police Sub-Inspector allegedly asked the arrested woman and said, “Give me your daughter, I will give you Rs 10,000 and make efforts to save you from the criminal charges”.

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Entertainment

Mumbai: Pan-India Hawala Trail Exposes Chilling Conspiracy Behind Rohit Shetty House Firing Case

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Mumbai: A breakthrough has emerged in the investigation into the firing incident outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s residence in Mumbai, with Crime Branch sources indicating that the attack was financed entirely through hawala channels.

According to investigators, the accused involved in recruiting the shooters, identified as Golu Pandit, received funds via an illegal hawala network rather than through formal banking systems. The money was allegedly routed through multiple locations, including Nepal, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh.

Sources further revealed that the financial operations were orchestrated by Arju Bishnoi, an operator linked to the Bishnoi gang. The gang reportedly used its network to channel funds and execute the plan.

Golu Pandit is said to have played a crucial role in the conspiracy. He not only recruited the shooters but also arranged shelter, logistics, and other support required for carrying out the attack. Preliminary findings suggest that the incident was not spontaneous, but the result of a well-planned operation executed over a period of time.

‘Maintain Silence’ Instructions Before Arrest : Crime Branch sources also disclosed that Golu Pandit had been instructed in advance to remain silent if apprehended by the police. Following the arrest of shooters in Haryana, the gang anticipated that Pandit could be the next target of law enforcement action.

It is alleged that jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi conveyed a message through Arju Bishnoi, directing Golu Pandit not to reveal any information about other members of the syndicate under any circumstances. As a result, despite nearly 12 days of police custody, investigators have reportedly been unable to extract significant additional information from him.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai: Elphinstone Bridge Demolition Triggers Train Delays, Heavy Crowds At Railway Stations

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Mumbai’s lifeline was thrown into disarray on Sunday morning as the demolition of the old Elphinstone railway bridge disrupted Central Railway services, leaving thousands of commuters stranded and struggling to reach their destinations.

Train Services Hit Across Key Routes

The demolition work, taking place between Parel and Prabhadevi, has led to the cancellation of several local and express trains. Many others have been short terminated or operated on altered routes, creating a ripple effect across the network.

Train movement between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Dadar has been particularly affected. Services towards Kurla, Thane, and nearby stations have also faced delays and irregular operations, adding to the confusion among passengers.

Overcrowded Platforms and Long Waits

With fewer trains running, railway stations witnessed heavy crowds during the morning rush. Platforms were packed with commuters, many of whom were seen sitting on floors or standing in long queues, waiting for updates.

Regular passengers described the situation as chaotic, with announcements being delayed or unclear. Many were forced to seek alternative transport options, while others chose to wait it out despite the uncertainty.

Authorities Work to Restore Normalcy

Railway officials acknowledged the disruption and stated that efforts are underway to restore services at the earliest. Additional staff have been deployed at key stations to manage crowds and assist passengers. However, officials also warned that services may continue to remain affected until the demolition work is completed and tracks are cleared for smooth operations.

For Mumbai’s daily commuters, the disruption once again highlighted the fragile balance of the city’s transport network, where even planned infrastructure work can bring routine life to a standstill.

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