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Maharashtra

Likely pitfalls that could derail the Shinde-Fadnavis combination

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After hijacking the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) 3-party �auto-rickshaw, new Chief Minister Eknath Shinde converted it into a �two-wheeler with an over zealous pillion-rider in Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Over 3 weeks after they were sworn-in, instead of zooming off, the government is still �parked’ on the road, but is busy clearing the route ahead by yanking off the MVA’s decisions, policies, schemes and projects.

Relegated to the pavement, the Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress looked on gleefully as Fadnavis once snatched the microphone as a startled Shinde cast a brief bewildered stare at the audacity.

Many in the Opposition are wondering aloud �how soon’ before the Bharatiya Janata Party heavyweight Fadnavis grabs the reins of power to jump into the driving seat sidelining the ex-autorickshaw driver Shinde.

The challenges before the new regime are both daring and daunting, starting with the much-awaited Cabinet expansion, amid a storm raised by Shinde’s 40-strong band of restless rebel Shiv Sena MLAs.

Then, the Independents or fringes like the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) to ensure a �Thackeray’ on board and the frightful prospects of humouring the BJP legislators, with many bigwigs ready to draw first blood at the first slight.

All these would test the best of Shinde’s balancing skills and Fadnavis’ claimed �Chanakya-esque’ mastery to ensure a turbulence-free ride for the new regime.

Among the secret worries are whether the Brobdingnagian BJP with 106 MLAs looking down, would try to grab the cake and leave only crumbs for the rebels, with at least 20 prime portfolios up for grabs and coveted by all.

The next concern for the breakaway group would be the Supreme Court verdict which could make or break the new government, with both sides of the Shiv Sena proclaiming they are the �real’ party.

While winning the trust vote in the House was easy, the next formidable challenge for Shinde would be to win the confidence of the masses and establish his own credibility — a dismaying proposition as many in the past, like Raj Thackeray of the MNS, and others who revolted in different parties all over India have experienced.

A major battle – legal and political – waiting to erupt between the Thackeray and Shinde sides, is over who will ‘conquer’ the Shiv Sena Bhavan (the party headquarters), bag its �Tiger’ logo, the iconic Bow and Arrow election symbol, the well oiled 56-year-old party apparatus, and most important, convincingly delink it from the magical Thackeray surname�

Shinde would have to prove his supremacy over the Thackeray side in the upcoming civic body elections but hurdles are already cropping up with a section of his group reportedly against allying with the BJP.

Retaining the CM’s traditional stronghold of Thane may be a cakewalk, but dislodging the MVA hold over many other civic bodies like Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad, Nanded, etc could pose problems, with or without the BJP’s overbearing shadow.

Top MVA leaders like Thackeray, Sanjay Raut (Sena), Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar (NCP), Nana Patole, Balasaheb Thorat (Congress), have already predicted that the �E.D.’ (Eknath-Devendra) government could fall on its own and the state would be pushed to a mid-term election in a few months.

After Shinde-Fadnavis clear these teething hurdles, they have a table-full of major governance issues like the OBC quotas, handling Covid better than the MVA did, and fast-track or complete several big ticket ongoing projects, estimated to cost over Rs 5 lakh crores.

They are the Mumbai-Nagpur Super Expressway, the Borivali-Thane Tunnel, the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, the Mumbai Coastal Road, the southern and northern extension to the Worli-Bandra Sea Link, the Navi Mumbai International Airport, and more than 375-kms of Metro Rail spanning the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

Other mega projects are the Pune Ring Road, Marathwada Water Grid, the Jalna-Nanded corridor linking the Mumbai-Nagpur Super Expressway, augmenting the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, kickstarting the Konkan Expressway, the Sagari (coastal) Highway, Palghar-Raigad Multimodal corridor, and the long pending Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in the Arabian Sea and the Dr B. R. Ambedkar Memorial in Dadar.

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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