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Maharashtra

Maharashtra Budget: African Safari coming up in Nagpur

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In a significant step, Maharashtra plans to set up an African Safari Project in Nagpur with an outlay of Rs 100 crore, besides tiger and leopard safaris, Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar said here on Friday.

Presenting the state Budget 2022-2023 in the Assembly, Pawar announced a series of tourism-related projects in the state.

“The government intends to conduct the country’s first experiment to display wildlife from the African continent. For this, an African Safari is proposed at the Balasaheb Thackeray Gorewada International Zoological Park,” he said.

Besides, there are plans for a Tiger Safari on a 171-acre jungle in Chandrapur and a Leopard Safari in Pune, on a 90-hectare forest at a cost of Rs 60 crore, on the lines of similar ones in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka, and a Wildlife Rescue Centre in Chandrapur.

Pawar said detailed proposals are being sent to UNESCO to declare Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s forts and his guerrilla warfare as World Heritage.

On the tourism front, he announced a water tourism project of Rs 50 crore in the Shivsagar reservoir, Satara, near the Koyna Dam, with similar projects at Gosikhurd in Bhandara and Jayakwadi in Aurangabad.

Pawar announced an aintegrated development plan for the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Ajanta-Ellora Cave temples comprising a modern convention centre and other facilities.

Grants shall be provided for development of tourist sites in Jawhar in Palghar, Fardapur in Aurangabad, the popular hill-stations of Lonavala in Pune and Mahabaleshwar in Satara.

The government will provide Rs 100 crore during 2022-2023 for development of Raigad Fort and its vicinity, Rs 14 crore for Rajgad, Torna, Shivneri, Sudhagad, Sindhudurg, and Vijaydurg forts, and Rs 7 crore for the preservation of Sewri Fort and St. George Fort in Mumbai.

Giving a major boost to infrastructure development, the government will provide Rs 7,500 crore for 10,000 kms roads under the Mukhya Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-II, and launch 6,550 kms roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III.

The Hindu HridaySamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Super Expressway connecting Mumbai-Nagpur, which is 75 per cent complete, will be extended till Bhandara-Gondiya-Gadchiroli.

Pawar also announced sanction of the Rs 16,000 crore Nashik-Pune medium high speed railway project, and a network of more Metro lines in Pune.

The upcoming Mumbai Metro (3) from SEEPZ-Bandra-Colaba will be extended southwards to Navy Nagar.

Pawar said Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation will get 3000 new eco-friendly buses and modernise 103 bus stands.

A new airport is under consideration for Gadchiroli, besides making provisions for the airports at Shirdi, Ratnagiri, Amravati and Kolhapur.

The MVA partners including Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Eknath Shinde, Jayant Patil, Nana Patole and other leaders welcomed the budget as “growth and progress-oriented, all-encompassing and visionary” while the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party’s Leaders of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis and Pravin Darekar and others slammed it as “disappointing and direction-less”.

Maharashtra

Mira Bhayander: Drugs worth Rs 32 crore seized Two Nigerians including an Indian woman arrested, used to sell drugs by creating groups on social media

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Mumbai: Mira Bhayander police have claimed to have arrested two foreign drug peddlers including an Indian woman. The Mira Bhayander Crime Branch had received information that Shabina Sheikh’s house in Kashi Mira had a stash of drugs and that she was also involved in drug trafficking. The police raided it and recovered 11 kg 830 grams of cocaine. A case has been registered against her in the Nowghar police under the NDPS. The arrested accused told the police during interrogation that she used to buy these drugs from a foreign national named Ende and lives in Inder Mira Road. She was also arrested and drugs were seized from her possession and a Nigerian note of 1000 was recovered and 14 notes of 100 US dollars were also found in this case.

After investigation, two Nigerians and an Indian woman were arrested. Drugs worth Rs 23 million have been seized from their possession, in addition to 14 US dollar notes, four mobile phones, and drugs worth Rs 223 million have also been claimed to have been seized. This operation was carried out by a team of the Crime Branch including Mira Bhayandar Police Commissioner Madhu Karpande, Additional Commissioner Dattatreya Shinde, Avinash Ambore. The Crime Branch said that this cocaine was brought here by Nigerians hiding it in their stomachs. This cocaine is manufactured in South America. This cocaine is brought by plane by hiding it in human bodies. First, it is delivered to the Mumbai airport and then sold in various areas through the roads in Mumbai. The accused sell drugs by creating several groups on social media.

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Maharashtra

Two arrested in Powai theft cases: Accused committed the crime a stolen motorcycle

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Mumbai: Mumbai Police has claimed to have arrested two accused in two theft cases within 48 hours. On the morning of April 5, two thieves snatched a gold chain from a woman in the limits of Powai police station in Mumbai. A 30-gram gold chain was also recovered from their possession. The second incident took place in front of II Marg Gate in Powai area, in which the accused had inquired where the medical was and then threw a dirty cloth on the complainant’s face and escaped with a 15-gram gold necklace.

The matter was seriously investigated. The next day, at 8:30 am, the accused snatched two gold necklaces weighing 20 grams from the neck of a 45-year-old woman near Hiranandani guard and fled on a motorcycle. To solve all these thefts, the police examined more than 100 CCTV footage during the investigation. It was found that The accused fled towards Bahram Bagh. Then both the accused were arrested and 30 grams of gold ornaments were recovered from their possession. The motorcycle used by the accused for the crime has also been seized. Pappu Gajendra Mishra, 20, and Sunil Ganga Mohte, 20, have been arrested from Andheri. A case of theft has also been registered against the accused Pappu Mishra at Rabori police station 6 months ago and he had stolen a motorcycle six months ago and it was used in this theft as well. This information was given here today by DCP of Mumbai Zone 10, Sachin Kanjal.

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Maharashtra

Strict action against contractor for negligent road concrete work; Ban on tendering for next 2 years, fine also imposed

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Mumbai: Construction of cement concrete roads is going on at a fast pace in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) with the aim of making the roads free from potholes. The BMC administration is stressing on ensuring that the work is of the highest standard.
Strict action is being taken against those who are substandard or negligent.

In this regard, the contractor who caused unacceptable delay in the road concrete work in the Aarey Colony area has been debarred from participating in the tender process of all BMC departments for the next 2 years, and a fine of Rs. 5 lakh has also been imposed.
Similarly, the registration of 2 ready mix concrete (RMC) plants has been cancelled and they have been debarred from supplying concrete mix for any BMC project for 6 months.
In addition, a fine of Rs. 20 lakh each has also been imposed on 2 road contractors.
All these actions have been taken on the directions of BMC Commissioner Shri Bhushan Gagrani. He has made it clear that *no negligence or lapse in the road concrete work will be tolerated* and strict action will be taken against the guilty.

Specific Incidents:

  1. *Aarey Colony – Dinkar Rao Desai Road*:
  • The quality of work was found to be poor in the inspection by Additional Commissioner (Projects) Shri Abhijeet Bangar.
  • The contractor was issued a notice, fined Rs. 5 lakh and directed to rectify immediately.
  • Delay in repairs also resulted in a ban on participation in tenders for 2 years.
  1. *Dr. Neetu Mandke Road, M-East Ward – 20 March 2025*:
  • During a surprise inspection, a difference was found in the slump test (160mm at the plant, 170mm at the site).
  • The concrete load was rejected, the vehicle was sent back, the RMC plant was fined Rs. 20 lakh and banned for 6 months.
  1. *Karagroh Road, B Ward – 1 April 2025*:
  • Slump was found to be 65mm at the plant while 180mm at the site.
  • Notice was given to the contractor and RMC plant, despite admitting the mistake, a fine of Rs 20 lakh and a supply ban of 6 months were imposed.

Importance of Slump Test:

Slump test is done to check the “workability” of concrete. It shows the ratio of cement to water.
If the water is too much, it has a negative impact on the quality.
That is why BMC has made slump test mandatory at both ready mix plants and sites.

Additional Commissioner Mr. Abhijeet Bangar said that BMC officers are inspecting the work themselves, and if any flaw is found, strict action will be taken against the responsible individual or institution. All contractors have to be careful, because no compromise with quality will be accepted.

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