Mumbai: Nearly a month after the first trial train coaches for Mumbai Metro Line 4 were lowered onto the tracks, trial runs on the 10.5-km Cadbury Junction–Gaimukh section in Thane are scheduled to begin on Monday.

The ceremony is expected to be attended by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, along with Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar.

The commencement of trials marks the first phase of operations for the 32.3-km-long Metro Line 4, also called the Green Line, and its extension, Metro 4A. The corridor will eventually connect Wadala to Kasarvadavali via Ghatkopar, providing a crucial link between Mumbai and the eastern suburbs. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has set itself a year-end target for opening passenger services.

According to MMRDA officials, civil work on the Cadbury Junction–Gaimukh stretch is nearly complete, with final touches underway at stations and track segments. The section includes 10 stations: Cadbury Junction, Kapurbawdi, Manpada, Tikuji Ni Wadi, Dongripada, Vijay Garden, Kasarvadavali and others leading up to Gaimukh in Ghodbunder. This alignment is expected to ease travel pressure along Thane’s arterial routes, where traffic congestion has long been a challenge for commuters.

A key hurdle for the project remains the absence of a fully functional depot. The designated depot at Mogharpada is still under construction, compelling the MMRDA to adopt temporary solutions such as inspection pits beyond Gaimukh station for stabling and technical checks. Officials stressed that this arrangement is sufficient for conducting trials until the permanent depot is ready.

The project reached a milestone on August 25, when the first set of trial coaches for Line 4 was lowered onto the tracks near Anand Nagar in Thane using heavy-duty cranes. While these trial coaches are meant primarily for testing, they have been built to the same dimensions as the final rolling stock. In February, the contract for Line 4’s rolling stock was awarded to a joint venture between Larsen & Toubro and Alstom.

The Thane stretch is one of the busiest transit zones in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, and the Metro 4 corridor is being seen as a critical addition to reduce road congestion and provide commuters with a reliable, fast alternative. Once fully operational, the line is expected to transform connectivity between Mumbai, Thane, and the eastern suburbs.

The Navi Mumbai police have arrested the driver of former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar’s father in connection with the road rage incident in which a truck driver was abducted last week, a senior official said on Saturday.

Puja Khedkar’s father, Dilip Khedkar, who is also wanted in the case, is still absconding, police said.

According to the police, the incident occurred on September 13 on the Mulund-Airoli Road in Navi Mumbai after a concrete mixer truck driven by Prahlad Kumar (22) brushed against a Land Cruiser car, leading to an argument between him and two occupants of the four-wheeler.

The investigation revealed that Dilip Khedkar and his driver, Praful Salunkhe, bundled Kumar into the SUV and took him to the Khedkar bungalow in Pune.

Police tracked the SUV to Pune based on technical analysis and rescued the truck driver from the bungalow even as Puja Khedkar’s mother, Manorama, obstructed their entry.

“We have arrested Khedkar’s driver Praful Salunkhe, who was involved in the abduction,” Deputy Commissioner of Police Pankaj Dahane said.

The Rabale police have registered a case under section 137(2) (kidnapping) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against the accused, including Dilip Khedkar, who is absconding.

The Pune police have also registered a case against Manorama Khedkar, the mother of Puja Khedkar, for allegedly obstructing the police and issued a notice.

Puja Khedkar is accused of misrepresenting facts in her application for the 2022 UPSC civil services examination to avail herself of reservation benefits. She has refuted all the allegations against her.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has initiated a series of actions against Khedkar, including lodging a criminal case for attempting to take the civil services exam by faking her identity. Delhi Police had lodged an FIR against her for various offences.

After the controversy erupted over Puja Khedkar’s appointment as a probationary IAS officer, a video surfaced last year in which her mother was seen threatening a farmer. Manorama Khedkar was subsequently arrested and later released on bail.

Mumbai: The Malad police on September 15 arrested a 34-year-old woman who had been wanted for the past four months in connection with a multi-crore overseas job fraud.

The accused, identified as Ekta Avinash Ayre, also known as Drishti or Manisha, allegedly set up a bogus company in a Malad shopping mall and cheated at least 38 unemployed men of around Rs 2 crore by promising them jobs abroad.

According to police officers, Ayre and her two absconding accomplices, Aman Kamlamiya Sheikh and Jigneshkumar Rathwa, opened an office in Malad and heavily advertised on social media, offering jobs in Gulf countries for positions such as kitchen staff, drivers, housekeeping staff, storekeepers and security guards in reputed hotels.

The gang posted fake positive reviews online and provided a link for applicants to register. Many job seekers from Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Pune and other cities applied online or in person, submitting their passports along with fees for registration, visas, medical tests and other charges.

Within days, the victims received appointment letters and visas by email. However, after verification, the documents were found to be fake. When some of the victims rushed to the Malad office, they discovered that the company had been shut down and the accused had fled. Each candidate had reportedly paid between Rs 4.5 lakh and Rs 5 lakh. Following complaints from about 38 victims, the Malad police registered a case of cheating and embezzlement against the accused.

Senior Police Inspector Drushyant Chavan said he directed the crime team to track down the absconding suspects. During a special operation, Ayre was located and arrested. Interrogation revealed that some of the defrauded money had been transferred to her bank account, confirming her direct involvement in the crime.

Ayre had earlier applied for anticipatory bail in the sessions court, but her plea was rejected. She was produced before the Borivali magistrate court and remanded to judicial custody. The case was filed in May 2025.