Politics
Ministry of Home Affairs asks Jammu and Kashmir’s government to complete development projects within stipulated time

The Ministry of Home Affairs has asked the Jammu and Kashmir government to complete the ongoing developmental projects as per deadline, sources in the Union Territory administration said.
Delay in completion of the project debars the benefits to the people and also escalates the cost of the projects, the sources said quoting the MHA directives. They also said that the Centre has asked the UT administration to set up a mechanism which will monitor the progress periodically and inform the Union Home Ministry.
The Centre’s move came just ahead of the indication that the Delimitation Commission on J&K is to submit its report on redrawing the Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies in the Union Territory shortly which has led to the speculation of holding Assembly polls in J&K.
The sources in the government set up said that the Commission will submit its report before May 6 when its tenure comes to an end.
According to the Union Home Ministry’s data, a total of 1,41,815 new works, projects have been taken up under various sectors/schemes in the UT since 2019. Funds amounting to Rs 27,274 crore have been provided for the completion of these projects.
The MHA officials also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced a Reconstruction Plan for J&K involving an outlay of Rs 80,068 crore in November 2015, also known as the ‘PM’s Development Package-2015.
Under this package, the progress of projects being implemented in J&K has accelerated wherein 53 projects pertaining to 15 Ministries are being implemented at a cost of Rs 58,477 crore in various sectors such as Roads, Power, Health, Education, Tourism, Agriculture and Skill Development. Out of these, 25 projects have been completed or getting completed substantially, the officials further said.
The Union Home Ministry also said that under the languishing projects programme, 1193 projects worth Rs 1984 crore were completed, including five projects which were incomplete for more than 20 years, 15 projects for more than 15 years and 165 projects for more than 10 years.
Once the Delimitation Commission submits its report, the Assembly polls could be held earliest in October this year, the officials said.
Maharashtra
Mumbai’s Bandra Worli Sea Link Toll Rates To Go Up By 18% From April 1

Mumbai: The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation has announced an 18% increase in toll charges for Mumbai’s Bandra Worli Sea Link from April 1. According to media reports, this hike in toll rates is limited to-one way travel.
After the implementation of the surge rates, cars and jeeps, from Monday, will have to pay Rs 100, up from the current Rs 85.
On the other hand, minibus, tempos, and similar vehicles will have to pay Rs 160. Earlier, these vehicles paid Rs 130.
While two-axle trucks currently pay Rs 175, they will have to spend Rs 210 for a one-way trip from tomorrow.
The old rates were put in place in April 2021. The new rates will be in effect for three years – from April 1 to March 31, 2027.
The report added that the MSRDC officials announced a rebate of 10% for motorists and 20% on the purchase of booklets carrying 50 and 100 toll coupons in advance, respectively.
The Bandra-Worli Sea Link was opened to the public in 2009. The cable-stayed bridge was named after former Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi. It connects Mumbai’s Worli and Bandra, making it easy for commuters to avoid congestion in Dadar, Mahim, Prabhadevi, and Worli neighbourhoods.
In a big relief to commuters, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde inaugurated the Mumbai coastal road. The 9.6-km high-speed corridor also connects Worli with Marine Drive.
The coastal road has been constructed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
It proposes to connect the Marine Drive area in south Mumbai to Kandivali, a western suburb, via the existing Bandra Worli Sea Link and is expected to ease Mumbai’s northbound traffic.
National
After LS nod, Amit Shah to move Immigration and Foreigners Bill in RS today

New Delhi, April 2: The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday will discuss the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025 which has already been passed by the Lok Sabha.
As per the business list of Upper House, Union Minister Amit Shah will move that the Bill “to confer upon the Central Government certain powers to provide for requirement of passports or other travel documents in respect of persons entering into and exiting from India and for regulating matters related to foreigners including requirement of visa and registration and for matters connected there with or incidental thereto, as passed by Lok Sabha, be taken into consideration.”
He will also seek the passing of the bill after a discussion is held by the members of the House.
A key aspect of the Bill is the implementation of enhanced surveillance and security protocols. The Union Home Minister while speaking about the importance of the bill in the Lok Sabha had said, “It will strengthen the country’s security and economy, pave the way to make our education system and universities global, lay a strong foundation for research and investigation in the country and make India number one in the world in every field by 2047.”
He said that immigration was not an isolated issue but many issues of the country were directly or indirectly linked with it. He said that it was very important for the security of the country to know who is entering our borders, when they are entering, for how long they will stay and the purpose for which they are here.
Also to be tabled in the Rajya Sabha is the Boilers Bill, 2024, returned by Lok Sabha with Amendments. Union Minister Piyush Goyal will move that the amendments made by Lok Sabha be taken into consideration.
Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar will make a statement regarding the “Status of implementation of the recommendations contained in the Tenth Report (Seventeenth Lok Sabha) of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Housing and Urban Affairs on ‘PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi)’ of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.”
Upper House members Sushmita Dev, Rekha Sharma and Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya will present the “366th Report (in English and Hindi) of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports on ‘Demands for Grants (2025-26)’ pertaining to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.”
Maharashtra
Three lakh pilgrims visit Haji Ali in Mumbai on Eid

Mumbai: Eid-ul-Fitr passed off peacefully in Mumbai. Muslims celebrated Eid with simplicity and protested against the Waqf Bill by offering namaz with black bands on their arms. After Eid-ul-Fitr, a huge crowd of pilgrims thronged Haji Ali and Mahim dargahs. Three lakh pilgrims visited Haji Ali, for which the police had made tight security arrangements.
More than 300,000 pilgrims visited Haji Ali Dargah on the occasion of Basi Eid 2025. As per the preparations made with the Haji Ali Dargah Trust
200 volunteers
25 swimmers
78 CCTV cameras, CCTV camera operators, public announcement were arranged on the main road as well as in the dargah premises. First aid facilities were available on the main road as well as in the dargah premises. Heavy police force was deployed for search, barricades and ropes were also arranged. Eid and Basi Eid passed off peacefully in Mumbai and no untoward incident took place. On the instructions of Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Panchalkar, the police had made additional security arrangements at dargahs and mosques.
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