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G-20 delegates soak in Pune’s rich heritage, visit Aga Khan Palace

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Visiting G-20 delegates went around some of the historical and heritage sites of Pune including the Aga Khan Palace, learning about the history and importance of various locations, officials said here on Wednesday.

The G20 team went around the famed Aga Khan Palace where Mahatma Gandhi was incarcerated for nearly two years during the Quit India Movement (1942) along with his Kasturba Gandhi, and his secretary Mahadev Desai, besides Sarojini Naidu.

The delegates were provided information about Gandhiji and Kasturba’s childhood and their life, their pivotal role in the freedom struggle, etc, how Mahadev Desai passed away a few days after he was jailed here (August 15, 1942), and then the passing of Kasturba (February 22, 1944), and their ‘samadhis’ are there.

They went around the museum there, viewed the exhibits displayed there, learnt about Gandhiji’s legacy, the ‘Charkha’ and the ‘samadhis’ in the palace complex.

At the historical Lal Mahal, built by Shahaji Raje Bhosale in 1630, the delegates learnt about the history and life of his son and later the great Maratha warrior-king, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and viewed the statues of ‘Bal Shivaji’ who lived here for many years during his childhood along with his mother Rajmata Jijamata Bhosale, and saluted them.

The visitors were thrilled by the grandeur of the Shaniwar Wada built in 1732, an erstwhile fort complex with 5 imposing ‘darwazas'(gates) within which over a thousand people lived, but most of the fort was destroyed in fires and other calamities, though the remnants are still awe-inspiring.

The G20 delegation went around the Nana Wada, believed to be built around 1780 as the residence of the legendary Nana Phadnavis, the chief administrator of the Peshwas and labelled by the British as ‘the Maratha Machiavelli’ and learnt about his contributions to the state history.

The G20 delegates were accompanied at various locations by the Municipal Commissioner Vikram Kumar, top officials like Vikas Dhakne, Santosh Deshmukh, Supriya Karmarkar, Neelam Mahajan, Ajit Apte, Sandeep Godbole, Chandrakant Dalvi, and others.

An official coordinating the trip told IANS that the excited delegates learnt a lot about all these historical or heritage sites, asked many questions, clicked photos and selfies at different venues and returned feeling enriched by the outing.

Maharashtra

Navi Mumbai International Airport Set To Open In September, Staffing Approved For Immigration Operations

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Navi Mumbai: The most anticipated Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) is slated to launch in September, having received approval for 285 immigration staff from the Maharashtra home department. This includes a diverse team comprising 20 inspectors, 55 sub-inspectors, and various constables, forming a crucial administrative step before operations begin.

Designed to alleviate congestion at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), NMIA will boast four terminals, two runways, and a cargo terminal, aiming to accommodate 90 million passengers and 360 metric tonnes of cargo per year. The state has allocated ₹10.10 crore annually for immigration staffing and infrastructure.

The home department is also planning a police station at the airport with approximately 300 personnel to maintain law and order. The Navi Mumbai Police has been restructured to include a new Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) position for Panvel, while airport operations will fall under DCP Zone II. Currently, crimes at the existing international airport are managed by the Sahar police and the Airport Police Station, with a similar setup expected at NMIA.

The airport is anticipated to become a significant transit hub for Mumbai and surrounding areas, leading to proposed traffic divisions managed by 250 officers. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has coordinated plans for security at NMIA, with 2,000 personnel slated for deployment.

Recent Visuals Of The Navi Mumbai Airport

Presently, 95% of the airport’s construction is complete, with initial operations expected to commence with limited capacity by late September, following minor delays. The second phase is anticipated shortly thereafter. Additionally, the Maharashtra government boasts a high realization rate of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed with companies, signaling investment growth.

Terminal 1 at CSMIA is set for demolition, likely rerouting many domestic flights to NMIA, which is expected to handle 30 flights daily initially, scaling up significantly soon after. The airport’s facilities are described as state-of-the-art, with design elements aimed at creating a modern transportation hub for the region.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai Rains: City On High Tide Alert; Waves Anticipated To Reach 14 Feet As IMD Predicts Heavy Rainfall

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Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has released a high tide warning for Mumbai from July 24 to July 27, forecasting tide heights exceeding 4.5 meters. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert because of anticipated heavy to very heavy rainfall.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has announced a high tide alert for Mumbai from July 24 to July 27, expecting tide levels above 4.5 meters. The India Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for anticipated heavy rainfall, forecasting extreme tides of 4.67 meters on July 26 and 4.60 meters on July 27.

The IMD predicts a predominantly overcast sky with heavy rainfall expected in some parts of Mumbai and nearby areas on July 24, accompanied by strong winds of 40 to 50 km/h, resulting in an orange alert for the city and a red alert for the Konkan region.

Tide Times For Today

on July 25, mostly cloudy skies with a chance of heavy rain. Tides: High at 12:40 PM (4.66 m) and low at 6:46 PM (1.40 m). Residents, especially those in low-lying and coastal regions, are urged to take precautions during high tide times because of potential flooding and waterlogging. Emergency responders are prepared as the city experiences increased monsoon conditions.

Between July 24 and 31, 2025, Mumbai will witness two high and low tides each day. The highest tides will occur at 4.66 meters on July 26th at 1:15 PM, while the lowest will be 3.71 meters on July 28th at 2:34 AM.

Low tides will mainly be under 1.73 meters, reaching a low of -0.3 meters on July 24th at 5:07 AM. The peak low tide will reach 1.73 meters on July 31st at 9:40 AM. Sunrise will transition from 6:13 AM to 6:15 AM, and sunset will vary from 7:14 PM to 7:17 PM.

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Maharashtra

Maharashtra: MNS Workers Assault Attendant At Nanded Bus Stand For Refusing To Speak Marathi

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Nanded: In another instance of vigilantism over language, workers of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) allegedly assaulted a Hindi-speaking migrant worker at the state transport bus stand in Nanded on Wednesday. The attendant, posted outside the ladies’ toilet, was reportedly targeted for refusing to speak in Marathi when questioned by a local.

The incident came to light after multiple videos surfaced on social media. In one clip, a man is seen confronting the attendant for collecting Rs 5 from women for using the toilet, which is generally free. When asked to respond in Marathi, the attendant allegedly said, “I will not speak Marathi, do what you want to do.” The video was reportedly circulated among local MNS workers, including the party’s Nanded city chief.

Video Shows MNS Workers Assaulting Man

Soon after, another video showed a group of men wearing MNS scarves slapping and punching the attendant. They are heard berating him not only for refusing to speak Marathi but also accusing him of misbehaving with women and being rude.

Under pressure, the man was made to deliver a forced apology on camera, stating in Marathi: “I apologise to Marathi people and to Raj Thackeray. I will not repeat this mistake again.” Despite the videos going viral, no formal FIR had been registered till Wednesday evening.

Growing Incidents Of Violence Involving MNS Workers

This episode adds to a growing list of similar incidents involving MNS workers taking offense over language. Just earlier this month, MNS cadres had allegedly assaulted shopkeepers in Mira Road, Thane and Vikhroli for not speaking Marathi. The party has long positioned itself as a protector of Marathi identity, often using aggressive means.

Party chief Raj Thackeray had previously said he was “proud” of MNS workers for “defending Marathi pride,” while Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had condemned such vigilantism. “No one has the right to assault someone for not speaking a particular language,” Fadnavis had said.

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