Mumbai: On September 30, 2024, The Airport Commissionerate, Mumbai, Zone-III, on profiling intercepted a passenger who arrived from Bangkok and seized 1346 grams of suspected Ganja (Marijuana) with an estimated provisional value of ₹1.34 Crore.

The contraband was ingeniously packed in vacuum-sealed packets and further concealed inside food packets, which were placed inside a trolley bag carried by the passenger.

This diligent effort culminated in the arrest of the passenger under the NDPS Act, 1985, for possession and attempted smuggling of narcotic substance.

The Airport Commissionerate remains committed to maintaining stringent security measures and ensuring the safety and well-being of the citizens by curbing such illegal activities.

The Maha Mumbai Metro Operation Corporation Ltd (MMMOCL) has announced an extension of its metro train services during the Navratri Festival. The announcement was made by Dr. Sanjay Mukherjee, Metropolitan Commissioner of MMRDA, who emphasized the importance of enhancing transportation services to accommodate increased demand during the festive period.

To support late-night commuters attending Navratri celebrations, additional metro services will be provided between October 7 and October 11, 2024. During these dates, 12 extra trips will be operated daily, with a headway of 15 minutes, to ensure that citizens attending midnight festivities can travel conveniently and economically.

Dr. Sanjay Mukherjee, Chairman Of MMMOCL Speaks On The Decision

Speaking on the decision, Mukherjee, who is also Chairman of MMMOCL stated, “Navratri is a festival that brings people together, and it is our responsibility to provide efficient and safe transportation for all devotees and citizens. By extending the metro train services, we are ensuring that commuters have an easy and comfortable travel option during late-night celebrations.”

Statement Of Rubal Aggarwal, Managing Director Of MMMOCL

Rubal Aggarwal, Managing Director of MMMOCL added, ”We are committed to meeting the needs of our commuters, and the decision to extend train timings during the Navratri Festival reflects our dedication to enhancing commuter experience. The additional services will ensure safe and reliable travel for those participating in the festivities.”

From October 7 to October 11, the existing daily trips will be 282, with an additional 12 trips scheduled for Navratri, resulting in a total of 294 trips.

Extended Timetable:

Additional trips are planned past 23:00 hrs, with the following timings:

Andheri West to Gundavali:
23:15 PM – 00:24 AM
23:30 PM – 00:39 AM
23:45 PM – 00:54 AM
00:00 AM – 01:09 AM
00:15 AM – 01:24 AM
00:30 AM – 01:39 AM

Gundavali to Andheri West:
23:15 PM – 00:24 AM
23:30 PM – 00:39 AM
23:45 PM – 00:54 AM
00:00 AM – 01:09 AM
00:15 AM – 01:24 AM
00:30 AM – 01:39 AM

Mumbai: Congress has launched a ‘Laapataa Ladies’ campaign, inspired by the Kiran Rao-directed film of the same name, to highlight the Eknath Shinde government’s performance on women’s safety in the lead-up to the Maharashtra elections.

Posters featuring the words ‘Laapataa Ladies’ have reportedly appeared across the state, accompanied by the alarming statistic, ‘64,000 women missing in a year,’ in Marathi. These posters also include silhouettes that resemble Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, along with Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar.

The movie Laapataa Ladies, released last year, received widespread praise for its critique of patriarchy delivered through a comedic lens. It has since been selected as India’s official entry for the Oscars. Congress’ use of the film’s title shows the party’s message about the government’s inability to protect women.

Campaign Specifically Targets Devendra Fadnavis

This campaign follows the recent case of sexual abuse of two schoolgirls in Badlapur, which has sparked outrage across the state. Congress’ campaign specifically targets Devendra Fadnavis, who is responsible for the Home portfolio in the state government. During an Assembly session in August of the previous year, Fadnavis acknowledged that 10 percent of the women who go missing in Maharashtra do not return home.

He stated, “Women’s safety is a cause of concern for the country. In Maharashtra, around 64,000 girls and women go missing every year. During the Covid years of 2019 and 2020, the number was consistent, and in 2021, 61,000 cases were registered. While 87 percent of them returned home in 2021, in 2022, the percentage was 86%. We are working to reduce these numbers further.” The Congress has seized upon these figures to criticize the current government’s record on women’s safety.

Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana Introduced For Women

In response to the growing focus on women’s safety and to appeal to female voters, the state government has launched the ‘Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana’. This program offers financial assistance of ₹1,500 per month to eligible women aged 21-65, provided their family’s income is less than ₹2.5 lakh annually.

Tough Fight In Crucial Upcoming Polls

The upcoming election is expected to be a challenging battle between the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP alliance and the Opposition’s Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), composed of Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and Sharad Pawar’s NCP faction. In the recent Lok Sabha elections, the MVA performed strongly, winning 30 of Maharashtra’s 48 seats, and will aim to build on this momentum. Meanwhile, the ruling coalition will seek to regain ground in the upcoming state elections.