Connect with us
Thursday,19-September-2024
Breaking News

Maharashtra

Maharashtra Govt To Scrap Acquisition Process For Rs 86,300 Crore Shaktipeeth Highway Project Amidst Protests

Published

on

Mumbai: Amid strong protests from farmers, opposition parties, and also ruling party members, the MahaYuti government has taken a crucial decision to scrap the land acquisition process for the ambitious 802 km Shaktipeeth Highway connecting Nagpur-Goa, sources have said.

About The 802 KM Long Shaktipeeth Highway Project

The project entails an investment of a whopping Rs 86,300 crore which will pass through 12 districts and is expected to reduce the travel time to 8 hours from the present 13 hours. It aims to increase connectivity, tourism, especially religious tourism, and the general development of the region.

The expressway will cover Hindu pilgrimage places such as two jyotirlingas — one in Parli Vaijnath and the second in Aundh Naganath (Nageshwar) in Hingoli district. The Mahur Renu Devi temple, Tuljabhavani in Tuljapur, Vitthal Rakhumai temple of Pandharpur, Mahalaxmi temple of Kolhapur, and Goa’s Patradevi temple are other popular temples in both these states that the expressway will cover.

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde Directs Cancelation Of The Land Acquisition Process

In the wake of the raging protest, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde intervened and directed to cancellation of the land acquisition process. State government sources said, “The government will soon cancel the notification released for the land acquisition for the project. The government had appointed 27 land acquisition officers in 12 districts and it hoped to complete the land acquisition by December this year so that the state-run Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) could begin the bidding process. MSRDC is a nodal agency for the project implementation and it started the land acquisition in June. MSRDC has already forwarded its proposal to the state government for cancelling the land acquisition process.”

Why Did The Govt Put The Project On The Back Burner?

Protests from farmers, especially from Kolhapur, were the trigger for the state government to put the project on the back burner ahead of the Assembly election. Farmers had argued that nearly 27,000 acres of land would be lost due to the highway. This will make thousands of farmers landless. The farmers were joined by members from ruling and opposition parties arguing that the Shaktipeeth Highway would severely hit agriculture and it should be scrapped. They also demanded the realignment of the existing route.

Assurance Given By The Maharashtra CM

The Chief Minister has assured the farmers and the members from ruling and opposition that the government will not go ahead in project implementation in haste but pursue it only after considering their views and sentiments.

The government’s move comes a day after NCP(SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday strongly opposed the development of Shaktipeeth Highway saying that he would soon meet the Chief Minister in this regard.

Maharashtra

Thane: Fire Erupts In Dev Corpora At Cadbury Junction, 10 Rescued, Cooling Operations On

Published

on

Thane: A major fire broke out at the 16-floored Dev Corpora commercial tower near Cadbury junction, off Eastern Expressway in Thane. The blaze erupted on the 11th floor at the office of Jijau Foundation around 11.51 pm and total 10 people were evacuated by the firefighters. No injuries are reported in the incident.

The fire was doused at 4 am on Wednesday and cooling operations are underway, informed Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC). Of the people rescued, five are residents of Dombivali, four from Thane and rest from Mumbai city.

As per the disaster management of TMC, “A total of 10 persons who were trapped in the building due to the spread of fire and smoke at the incident site have been safely evacuated. One person was trapped on the 1st floor in Santanti Test Tube Baby Centre and nine persons were trapped in the Isha Netralaya on the seventh floor.”

The statement released by TMC said that the fire was reported at disaster management control room at 11.51 pm. The blaze was at Cadbury Junction, East Expressway side, at Siddheshwar, Khopat, Thane West. The fire broke out in the office of Jijau Foundation on the 11th floor of the building and a large amount of smoke spread throughout the building, it added.

Three Fire vehicles, One Rescue vehicle and One Branto along with Disaster Management Cell personnel with One Pickup vehicle and TDRF personnel were rushed to the spot. Chief Fire officer was also present on the spot.

Continue Reading

Maharashtra

Thane: 5 Arrested For Assaulting And Robbing 35-Year-Old Truck Driver On Mumbai-Pune Expressway

Published

on

Thane, Sep 17: Five persons have been arrested for allegedly assaulting and robbing a truck driver on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway in Maharashtra’s Thane district, police said on Tuesday.

The police on Monday arrested the accused in connection with the incident that occurred on September 9, an official said. The accused allegedly attacked a 35-year-old truck driver who had stopped on the side of the road. They threatened and assaulted him and stole two mobile phones and Rs 23,000 cash, he said.

The accused, Rohan Naik (24), Rohidas Pawar (23), Atish Waghmare (26), Bhanish Waghbhare (35), and Shankar Waghmare (18), were apprehended from the Khopoli area of Raigad district, the official said, adding that three more accused are absconding.

Stolen property worth Rs 48,000, including mobile phones and cash, were recovered from the arrested accused, he said.

Continue Reading

Maharashtra

Maharashtra: MLA Nawab Malik’s Son-In-Law Sameer Khan Injured In Kurla Car Accident; Visuals Surface

Published

on

Mumbai: Maharashtra MLA Nawab Malik’s son-in-law sustained injuries after his car met an accident in Kurla, said police, adding that Sameer Khan is undergoing treatment.

According to Mumbai police, the incident occurred when Nawab Malik’s daughter and son-in-law were returning after a routine check-up at a hospital.

Statement Of Mumbai Police

“When they were getting into the car, the car driver accidentally pressed down the accelerator, and the car hit a wall. Sameer Khan sustained injuries on his head and is currently in ICU,” informed Mumbai Police.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending