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Stalin announces 5 new schemes to mark DMK government’s 1st anniversary in Tamil Nadu

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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Saturday visited the memorials of DMK founder and former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai and his father Kalaignar Karunanidhi on the first anniversary of his government in the state.

He also took a surprise ride in a bus to check the efficiency of free travel for women scheme.

The Chief Minister also announced five new schemes on Saturday by making a statement under Rule 110 in the state Legislative Assembly.

The first scheme, according to the Chief Minister, is to provide nutritious morning tiffin on all working days to government school students from Class 1 to 5. Initially, the scheme would be implemented in certain municipal corporations and remote villages.

Under the second new scheme, Medical assistance and nutrients would be provided to students under the age of six for setting right the nutrient deficiency in these children.

The Chief Minister said that 25 higher secondary schools run by the state government and municipal corporations will be upgraded under the third scheme as schools of excellence and an amount of Rs 150 crore is earmarked for the same. These schools, according to the Chief Minister will be upgraded in line with the model government schools in Delhi.

To provide health care to the people, the government intends to open urban health centres in line with primary health centres under the fourth scheme announced by the Chief Minister.

The government, according to the Chief Minister, will establish 708 urban hospitals in 21 municipal corporations and 63 municipalities. These hospitals will function from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. to treat outpatients. The buildings for these schemes will be constructed at a cost of Rs 180.45 crore.

The fifth scheme will be to extend the already existing scheme of ‘Chief Minister in your constituency’ to all the 234 constituencies and long-pending needs of the people will be fulfilled in consultation with the local MLAs. The scheme would be implemented under the direct supervision of the Chief Minister.

While speaking in the Assembly, Stalin said that he has implemented 60 to 70 per cent of the promises made in the election manifesto in its first 365 days. He said that while he does not have the speaking or writing prowess of his father and former Chief Minister late Kalaignar Karunanidhi, he works hard like his father.

While leaders of several political parties greeted the Chief Minister on the occasion of the first anniversary of the government in the assembly, the AIADMK lashed out against the Chief Minister and the government.

Opposition leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami blamed the Stalin government for deterioration of law and order situation in the state and cited the examples of lockup murders in the state.

Maharashtra

Mumbai’s Bandra Worli Sea Link Toll Rates To Go Up By 18% From April 1

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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.

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National

After LS nod, Amit Shah to move Immigration and Foreigners Bill in RS today

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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.”

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Maharashtra

Three lakh pilgrims visit Haji Ali in Mumbai on Eid

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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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