Mumbai: The Maharashtra cabinet has passed a resolution congratulating Divya Deshmukh on being the youngest chess player to win the Women’s Chess World Cup.

The resolution was moved on Tuesday in the cabinet, headed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and comprising Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar and other ministers.

Divya Deshmukh, the 19-year-old player from Nagpur, became the youngest to win the Women’s World Cup on Monday as she outwitted the seasoned Koneru Humpy in the tie-breaker of an all-Indian final in Batumi, Georgia.

CM Fadnavis on Monday announced the Maharashtra government will felicitate the newly crowned Grandmaster on her stellar achievement.

“It is a moment of great joy that Nagpur and Maharashtra girl Divya Deshmukh has won the Women’s World Cup and earned the Grandmaster title as well. She is the youngest chess player to win the prestigious international title,” he said.

In a statement on Monday, Fadnavis said Divya Deshmukh has inscribed the state’s name in golden letters on the international chess board.

It was a matter of immense pride that both players in the World Cup final were Indians, he added, while also congratulating Humpy.

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has appointed a 387-member jumbo committee five months after Harshwardhan Sapkal took charge as the new state unit chief.

The new body includes a 36-member political affairs committee, 16 senior vice presidents, 38 vice presidents, five senior spokespersons, 108 general secretaries, 95 secretaries, 87 executive committee members.

All India Congress Committee (AICC) Maharashtra in-charge Ramesh Chennithala is the chairman of the political affairs committee.

Dheeraj Deshmukh, former MLA and son of late chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, has been named a senior spokesperson for the first time.

Former chief ministers Sushilkumar Shinde and Prithviraj Chavan, Mumbai Congress chief and Lok Sabha member Varsha Gaikwad, Rajya Sabha members Rajni Patil, Imran Pratapgarhi, former state presidents Nana Patole, Manikrao Thakare are members of the political affairs committee.

Presidents of 13 district units of the party have also been named.

Party sources said 40 per cent of the appointees are Other Backward Classes (OBC) and adequate representation has been given to Muslim, Adivasi, Dalit communities from each region of the state.

Fresh faces from regions from where leaders have deserted the party have been given place, the sources added.

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) has approved the Uttan-Virar sea link project, initiated by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). This project, part of the BJP-led Mahayuti government’s agenda, aims to enhance connectivity to the Vadhavan port mega-project in Palghar.

The sea link proposal, featuring three connectors in Uttan, Vasai, and Virar, was submitted on April 9 and cleared on July 11. State Environment Secretary Jayashree Bhoj stated that the department will now seek approval from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change.

The project will impact forest land, including 15.39 hectares of mangroves, and 2.5 hectares of reserved forest within the eco-sensitive Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary. MMRDA anticipates acquiring 208.6 hectares of private land, with documents indicating that 9,075 trees will be affected by the connectors: 1,868 will be cut down, 1,612 will be transplanted, and 5,595 will be retained. Mangroves will be particularly affected, with 8.71 hectares impacted by the Uttan connector and 6.68 hectares by the Virar connector, necessitating the diversion of existing utilities.

Originally, the Versova-Virar sea link was planned from Versova to Virar, but with BMC implementing alternative coastal routes, the effective connection will be from Uttan to Virar. The sea bridge will extend 24.25 km parallel to the coast, with three connectors: a 9.32 km Uttan connector linking to the Dahisar-Bhayandar Link Road, a 2.5 km Vasai connector, and an 18.95 km Virar connector connecting to the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway.

CM Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde recently reviewed a revised, economically viable plan for the Uttan-Virar Sea Link (UVSL). CM Fadnavis emphasised its connection to the Vadhavan Port and the Samruddhi Mahamarg, reinforcing its importance for regional economic development. MMRDA presented six cost variants, ultimately selecting a ₹52,652 crore option as it was deemed the most financially viable and efficient.

Key cost reductions stemmed from several optimisations like lane design adjustments, future integration planning, reduced land acquisition, structural improvements, and cuts in preliminary costs. The project will be crucial for linking Mumbai’s northern suburbs with Vadhavan Port and the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, unlocking significant economic potential. CM Fadnavis also mandated the formation of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to expedite project implementation and approvals. Senior officials attended the review meeting to facilitate the project’s progress.