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Tuesday,16-September-2025
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Maharashtra

Bombay High Court Orders BMC To Complete RSIIL Contract Termination Hearing By January 31

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The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner to appoint a senior officer to give a hearing to Roadway Solutions India Infra Limited (RSIIL), whose contract for concretising South Mumbai roads was terminated last November.

The court directs to complete the hearing by January 31

A division bench of Justices Gautam Patel and Kamal Khata also directed to complete the hearing and decide on the matter by January 31, and meanwhile continued the stay on the firm’s termination. The court has asked the senior civic officer to hear the reply filed by RSIIL on the termination notice issued to it and also on the show cause notice as to why a nearly ₹52 crore penalty cannot be imposed on it for not complying with the contract terms. 

The bench noted that although the corporation, while issuing notice, had called for a hearing, however, no such hearing was given. The same is “unacceptable”, the bench said.

The court granted an interim stay on the BMC’s operations 

The HC, while hearing RSIIL’s plea challenging the termination notice, had granted an interim stay on its operation and proceeded further with the BMC’s fresh tender issued on December 4, 2023, observing that there was “no emergency” in the concretisation work. 

BMC counsel Ranjit Thorat informed the HC that the corporation had cancelled the said tender. 

BMC issued a fresh tender 

The BMC had issued the tender for ₹1033.11 crore for concretisation of 297 roads in the city. The work was to be completed in 24 months, minus the monsoon season. The civic body has awarded contracts for the concretisation of 397 roads to five firms totalling over Rs 6000 crore.

The contract was awarded to RSIIL on January 4, 2023, but the same was terminated on November 9, stating that the contractor has not commenced the work even after 8-10 months of awarding the contract. RSIIL had challenged this before the HC, which, on November 30, restrained the BMC from taking any coercive action against the firm. 

The judges took note of the fact that on November 2, the BMC had conceded to RSIIL’s request to hear its reply on the termination notice and had asked the contractor to attend the hearing the next day. The firm’s director could not attend as he was busy before the GST authority and sought adjournment to November 8 or 9. However, the same was rejected and the termination notice was issued on November 9. The termination notice proposed certain consequences, including forfeiture of contract deposit of over ₹30 crore and other costs, taking the total penalty to the tune of nearly ₹52 crore. The HC has disposed of RSIIL’s plea.

Crime

Thane: 27-Year-Old Man Thrashed By Mob For Objecting To Public Urination In Kalyan

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Thane: A 27-year-old man was brutally assaulted by a group of around 15 people after he questioned a drunk man for urinating in a public place near Murbad Road in Kalyan. The shocking incident occurred around 10:30 pm on Friday near Mhaskar Hospital Chowk.

The victim, Kaustubh Mahendra Yerpude, a resident of Murar Bagh, sustained serious injuries after one of the attackers struck him on the head with a beer bottle, causing heavy bleeding.

Kaustubh, who works at an insurance company in Mumbai, was returning home from Kalyan railway station on his two-wheeler along with his friend Sachin Dombe. When their bike stalled near Bhagwan Medical, they pushed it to a nearby repair shop. Exhausted and sweating, Kaustubh stepped into a dark corner near Rohit Wine Shop.

There, he encountered a 35-year-old drunk man urinating in public. When Kaustubh questioned the man’s behaviour, the man became aggressive and slapped him. An argument followed, but the drunk individual left shortly after, only to return with around 15 men, some reportedly under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The group surrounded Kaustubh, verbally abused him, and then began beating him. One man smashed an empty beer bottle on Kaustubh’s head during the attack, as reported. Bleeding and injured, Kaustubh tried to fight back, but was overwhelmed by the mob. The attackers fled the scene after the assault.

This disturbing incident has sparked concern among residents, who are urging the Mahatma Phule Police to take swift and strict action. Citizens are demanding that police immediately check CCTV footage from the surrounding area, identify the attackers, and ensure their arrest without delay.

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Maharashtra

Traffic Update: Attention Commuters! Mumbai-Pune Expressway To Be Shut Today Near Bhatan Tunnel; Check Out Timings & Alternate Routes

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Mumbai: Due to essential work by the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) on the Mumbai-Pune expressway near the Bhatan tunnel, vehicular movement will be completely halted on both carriageways for one hour on Tuesday from 2 PM to 3 PM.

The deputy engineer of MSEDCL, Motiram Rakh, clarified that the task involves installing a feeder and transmission line between the distances of 9.600 km and 9.700 km near Kon village, in Panvel taluka. To facilitate motorists during this interruption, alternative routes have been arranged.

Vehicles traveling from Mumbai to Pune will be redirected from Kalamboli Circle towards JNPT road to reach D-Point at Palaspe junction along NH-48. Additionally, vehicles will be diverted at the Khalapur toll plaza (32.200 km) and at Magic Point (41.200 km).

Vehicles heading from Pune to Mumbai will be rerouted from Shedung exit, allowing them to connect to the Mumbai-Pune highway (NH-48) at the Khopoli exit, enabling continued travel toward their respective destinations.

The traffic notification from the Office of the Additional Director General of Police (Traffic) confirms that all vehicular movement, encompassing both light and heavy vehicles, will be banned between KM 9.500 and KM 10.000 near Kone Bridge during the specified timeframe. The closure will affect traffic in both directions, from Mumbai to Pune and from Pune to Mumbai.

To alleviate anticipated congestion, specific diversions have been proposed:
– For vehicles heading from Mumbai to Pune:
– Utilize the route via Konkanbhumi Circle → JNPT Road → D Point → Palaspe Phata to merge onto NH-48.
– Alternatively, exit at Shedung (KM 20.200) and join NH-48.

– For vehicles from Pune to Mumbai:
– Exit at Khopoli (KM 39.900) and proceed on NH-48 towards Mumbai.
– Exit at Khalapur Toll Plaza (KM 32.500) and use the Pali Bridge route to connect to NH-48.

Re-entry onto the expressway will be allowed at Khalapur Toll Plaza (KM 32.200) and Majik Point (KM 41.700). This advisory, enforced under the Motor Vehicles Act, will remain effective until the completion of the scheduled electricity work, as confirmed by Additional Director General of Police (Traffic) Praveen Salunkhe.

Additionally, on September 16, 2025, another traffic block in the Hadapsar–Dive Ghat segment will occur from 11 AM to 2 PM, necessitating further alternative routes for that section due to road widening activities involving blasting. Commuters are encouraged to plan their journeys to avoid delays during these periods.

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Crime

Mumbai: 62-Year-Old Man Arrested For Molesting 19-Yr-Old Woman At Dadar Railway Station

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Mumbai: The Dadar Railway Police arrested a 62-year-old man for allegedly molesting a 19-year-old woman while she was alighting at Dadar railway station.

The incident occurred on Saturday at 12.30 p.m. The accused has been identified as Darshankumar Makhan, a resident of Delhi.

According to the police, the victim was travelling with a male friend on a Kalyan–CSMT fast local train in the fourth general compartment from the Kalyan side. As they were getting off at platform number 12, Makhan allegedly touched the woman inappropriately, leaving her scared. She later filed a complaint with the Dadar Railway Police Station.

The police registered an FIR against Makhan under Section 74 (assault or use of criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita the same day and subsequently arrested him.

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