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Maharashtra

RTI: Maharashtra LoP Devendra Fadnavis is a ‘Man of Letters’, 230-plus

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4 years ago

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 The Bharatiya Janata Party’s Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis — whose political bark is considered worse than his bite — also uses the pen, literally, to bulldoze the Maha Vikas Aghadi ‘auto rickshaw’ government, no-holds-barred.

Not content with regular jibes at the ruling Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress alliance in general and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in particular, Fadnavis also regularly pens his pricks and pains, at the MVA — quite frequently.

As per an RTI reply from the Maharashtra Chief Minister’s Office CMO, in around 22 months Fadnavis has shot off — on record — various issues to the CMO vide a whopping 231 letters.

“In the 22 month period from November 2019 – September 2021, this comes to roughly 10 letters every month or nearly three for a working week…” said RTI activist Prafful Sarda.

Sarda had penned the RTI query to the CMO, seeking, among other things, the number of letters sent by the Leader of Opposition (Fadnavis) to the Chief Minister (Thackeray), and got the revealing letter-in-reply.

“This is more than 7 times the number of published letters that Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had penned to his doting minor daughter Indira (Priyadarshini) Nehru while he was incarcerated in jails during the Independence Movement, later published as a literary masterpiece, ‘Letters From A Father To His Daughter’ (1929),” Sarda pointed out.

Sources say that usually Fadnavis writes about mostly state-related or political issues to the Chief Minister, and in the initial days, his letters rattled the fledgling MVA ministers and officials.

Later, the old economic theory came into play — ‘the more you have of something, the less you want, the more of it’, with Fadnavis’ letters averaging one-to-three pagers, becoming less awesome, plus the government’s response is not known.

With time Fadnavis’ painstakingly printed letters, both in email and hardcopy on the glittering ‘Leader of Opposition’ letterhead — where his name is proclaimed in larger size than the august post he holds — came to be treated as ‘routine’, not ruffling the officialdom.

Official sources wonder, if the Honourable Leader of Opposition has indeed written so many letters in such a short period, “it may be a record of sorts”, with each letter winking — “Mee Punha Yaeen (I will return)” – a la Fadnavis!

“In the past, at best we recall barely a handful of letters from any Hon.’ Leader of Opposition to the reigning Hon.’ CM… Usually a phone-call or a mere word was enough to get things moving… So many letters are unheard of… makes one wonder about the possible intentions,” said a senior former officer.

To Fadnavis’ credit, some of the letters he penned, mostly in Marathi, few even in English and Marathi for the larger audiences, many posted on social media, raised pertinent current issues and even garnered huge media publicity, ensuring he remained in the spotlight.

But, in some dark moments, he grabbed the limelight by unilaterally proclaiming – “I feel I’m still the CM” — to drive the entire state into splits, with MVA leaders urging the BJP to ensure proper treatment for mental problems, hallucinations, or trauma of his defeat two years ago which he still cannot digest, etc.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai: BEST Employees Receive ₹31,000 Diwali Bonus Credited Ahead Of Festival, Bringing Festive Cheer To 23,596 Staff

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5 hours ago

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October 18, 2025

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Mumbai: Bringing festive cheer ahead of Diwali, the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking has announced an ‘ Bonus ‘of Rs 31,000 (Rupees Thirty-One Thousand Only) to each of its 23,596 officers and employees. The bonus amount was credited directly into their bank accounts on Friday, October 17, 2025 (Vasu Baras), much to the delight of the workforce.

This year’s ex-gratia amount marks an increase compared to last year, and has created a wave of happiness among the employees. The timely credit of the Diwali bonus ahead of the festival has given employees the financial boost to make festive purchases on the occasion of Dhanteras.

BEST Workers Union office-bearers met with the newly appointed General Manager of BEST, Dr. Sonia Sethi recently, at the BEST Bhavan in Colaba. During the meeting, discussions were held regarding long-standing demands of the employees, including the Diwali ex-gratia. Dr. Sethi assured the union representatives that BEST employees would receive a Diwali bonus on par with their counterparts in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

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Maharashtra

Mumbai Metro Line-3 (Aqua Line) Fully Operational — A New Era of Urban Connectivity Begins

Published

23 hours ago

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October 17, 2025

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Mumbai, October 2025:
Mumbai has taken a major leap in public transportation with the full launch of the Mumbai Metro Line-3 (Aqua Line) — the city’s first underground metro corridor. Connecting the northern suburbs to South Mumbai, the 33.5-kilometre line aims to transform the way Mumbaikars commute, offering a fast, clean, and comfortable alternative to road and rail congestion.

Route and Connectivity

The Aqua Line runs from Aarey / JVLR in the north to Cuffe Parade in the south, covering 27 underground stations. The line passes through key business and residential areas such as Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), Dharavi, Siddhivinayak, Worli, Churchgate, CSMT, and Nariman Point.

One of its biggest highlights is direct connectivity to both terminals of Mumbai’s airport — the Domestic and International terminals — making airport travel smoother than ever before.

The entire north–south journey can now be completed in about 45 minutes, a major improvement over the two-hour average by road during peak traffic.

Station Highlights

Some of the prominent stations on the Aqua Line include:
Aarey / JVLR, Seepz, MIDC, Marol Naka, Airport Terminal 1, Airport Terminal 2, BKC, Dharavi, Siddhivinayak, Worli, Haji Ali, Churchgate, and Cuffe Parade.

Each station features modern facilities such as escalators, elevators, digital information screens, and air-conditioned platforms. Entry and exit points are designed for smooth passenger movement, including dedicated access for persons with disabilities.

Technology and Features

  • Fully underground corridor, ensuring minimal impact on road traffic.
  • 8-coach trains with advanced safety systems and automatic doors.
  • Platform screen doors at major stations for enhanced safety.
  • Real-time passenger information systems inside trains and stations.
  • CCTV surveillance, emergency communication systems, and modern fire safety equipment.
  • Energy-efficient operations, regenerative braking, and noise reduction design.
  • Seamless ticketing system* with QR code tickets, smart cards, and mobile app payments.

Fares and Timings

The fare structure has been designed to stay affordable and distance-based:

Distance (in km)Fare (₹)
0 – 3 km10
3 – 12 km20
12 – 18 km30
18 – 24 km40
24 – 30 km50
30 – 36 km60
36 – 42 km70
Beyond 42 km80

Metro services operate from 5:55 AM to 10:30 PM, with trains running every few minutes during peak hours to ensure minimal waiting time.

Benefits for the City

  • Time Saving: Travel from the northern suburbs to South Mumbai in less than an hour.
  • Reduced Traffic: Expected to ease road congestion and lessen dependence on private vehicles.
  • Environmental Impact: Cleaner, electric transit reduces carbon emissions.
  • Economic Growth: Improved access to commercial hubs like BKC, Fort, and Nariman Point will support business and real estate growth.
  • Passenger Comfort: Air-conditioned coaches, smooth rides, and high safety standards enhance the commuting experience.

A Step Toward a Smarter Mumbai

With Metro Line-3 now fully operational, Mumbai moves closer to a truly integrated transport network, connecting its suburban rail, metro, and bus systems. The Aqua Line is more than just a transport project — it’s a symbol of progress, promising faster, greener, and more efficient mobility for millions of daily commuters.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti public darbar on October 21 postponed due to Diwali

Published

24 hours ago

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October 17, 2025

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Mumbai Police Commissioner’s Janta Awami Darbar will not be held in the backdrop of Diwali. Please note that due to the Diwali festival, Tuesday’s meeting with Mumbaikars has been postponed to October 21, 2025.

Citizens are requested to meet the Police Commissioner on Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 3:30 PM with their complaints and suggestions.

No prior permission is required for this. This message has been shared by Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti on X.

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