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Thane Court Rejects Central Railway’s Plea To Ban Shoeshine Workers At Thane, Mumbra Stations, Cites Livelihood Concerns

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Thane: The Principal District Judge of the Thane court has rejected the appeal filed by the Divisional Commercial Manager (DCM) of Central Railway, which sought to prevent nine shoeshine boys from working at Thane and Mumbra railway stations. This appeal was filed in the absence of any shoeshine societies successfully securing tenders for performing shoe polishing on railway platforms.

The court held that since the livelihoods of the shoeshine boys depend on this work, it would not interfere with the trial court’s order. However, it granted the railways the option of approaching the trial court for a modification of the order if a new tender is floated and approved.

Principal District Judge S.B. Agarwal, in a six-page order, stated: “No doubt, the arrangement (of allowing nine shoeshine boys to work on the railway platform without any tender) was temporary in nature until the tender was issued and granted. As per the order of 2007, these nine were permitted to work. The trial court observed that the tender awarded to Bhima Shoeshine was rejected and that no new tender had been invited by the railways. The situation remains unchanged to this day. In view of this, a strong prima facie case for continuation is clearly made out since the livelihood of the plaintiffs is involved, and no interference is warranted in the impugned order.”

However, the court granted the railways the liberty to approach the trial court for a modification of the order as and when a fresh tender is allotted, regarding the continuation of the nine shoeshine boys working without tenders.

These shoeshine boys, who are the plaintiffs in this case, had filed the suit arguing that they had been carrying out shoe polishing and repair work at Thane and Mumbra railway stations for 20 years with railway permission.

However, by way of a letter dated November 1, 2023, they were directed to surrender their ID cards and badges, despite having paid their license fees. This development occurred after the railways invited tenders in 2023.

However, the societies that submitted tenders failed to comply with the required terms—including Bhima Shoeshine, which had initially been selected but later failed to meet the criteria. A few of the nine shoeshine boys were members of Bhima shoeshine society, and hence Bhima shoeshine society is also one among the plaintiffs who has been fighting against the mighty railways.

In these circumstances, the railways filed a suit along with an application for a temporary injunction. The railways, i.e., the appellant-defendant in the suit, contended that tenders were invited through a press notification dated October 21, 2001, and were awarded to M/s. Shramik Leather Equipment and Handgloves Industrial Co-op. Society Ltd. for three years. The contract was later extended but eventually canceled in 2007.

Subsequently, M/s. Magasvargiya Boot Polish Workers Society was given the option to operate at Thane and Mumbra until a new tender was finalized. This arrangement included some of the plaintiffs who had previously worked with M/s. Shramik Leather Equipment and Handgloves Industrial Co-op. Society Ltd., allowing them to continue their work at the railway stations. However, this was always subject to the finalization of a tender and was considered a temporary arrangement.

Umesh Dularchand Ram, president of Bhima Shoeshine Workers Co-operative Society, while speaking on the matter, said, “I was the one who secured the tender and immediately deposited ₹15 lakh with the railway office in 2023. Now, the railways have canceled my tender, claiming it failed to meet some criteria, while these nine men are allowed to work in the absence of any tenders. In such a situation, where do I go to get my deposited money back?”

A new policy was framed on February 27, 2018, and further tenders were invited. However, these tenders were later canceled as Bhima Shoeshine did not have the required workers. On a second occasion, the tender was again awarded to Bhima Shoeshine Society, but the temporary arrangement was discontinued. As a result, the railways sought the rejection of the temporary arrangement for the ten shoeshine workers.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) denies, there is no truth in the allegations of alleged irregularities in the tender for removing silt from Mithi river and sewers

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March 8, 2025

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Mumbai: Irregularities have been committed in the tender being done by Mumbai Municipal Corporation for removing garbage from a major drain. There is no truth in this. The following facts are being clarified to avoid any misunderstanding in the public.

For the year 2025 and 2026, Mumbai Municipal Corporation has invited six tenders for removing garbage from major drains for the remaining six zones except zone one. Bids of eligible bidders were opened on 28 February 2025 and 01 March 2025. The documents of the bidders who submitted the tender were examined. The documents submitted by the bidders prove that they are eligible to bid.

It was found that the said bidders had bid at a rate of more than 3.90 plus 10%. Subsequently, the high rates were reduced from 3 per cent to minus 20 per cent through negotiations with the respective bidders on March 6, 2025. Tenders have been accepted at lower rates after the auction.

The Municipal Corporation has maintained complete transparency in the work of removing silt from the drains and the Municipal Corporation administration is committed to maintain it.

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Business

₹122-Crore New India Co-op Bank Scam: EOW Issues Blue Corner Notice Against Ex-Chairman Hiren Bhanu & Wife

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2 days ago

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March 8, 2025

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Mumbai: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has intensified its crackdown on Hiren Bhanu and his wife Gauri, the absconding couple in the Rs122 crore scam at New India Cooperative Bank.

Blue Corner Notice Issued

The EOW has issued a Blue Corner notice against Hiren, the alleged mastermind and former chairman of the bank, and Gauri, who was the acting vice-chairman. Investigators have traced Hiren to Abu Dhabi and Gauri to Thailand, leading to the issuance of the notice. The EOW had initially issued a lookout circular.

Now, with confirmed foreign locations, the alert has been issued. The Blue Corner notice will help track Bhanus’ locations, monitor their activities, and facilitate their arrest.

According to EOW sources, the duo fled abroad just before the scam was exposed. As per the probe, Hitesh Mehta, the bank’s general manager, executed the fraud under the instructions of the Bhanu couple.

Reports indicate that they received Rs28 crore from the embezzled funds. Hiren fled to Dubai on January 26, while Gauri left for Thailand on February 10 just before the scam was uncovered on February 12.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai Local Train Update: CR To Operate Special Traffic & Power Blocks On March 8 & 9 At Kasara Station; Check Details Inside

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2 days ago

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March 8, 2025

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Mumbai: The Central Railway will carry out special traffic and power blocks at Kasara station on March 8 and 9, 2025, for the launching of a Road Over Bridge (ROB) girder (Phase I). The first block is scheduled for March 8 from 11:40 am to 12:10 pm, affecting both Up and Down North East lines within Kasara station limits. On March 9, two more blocks will be implemented—one from 11:40 am to 12:10 pm and another from 4:00 pm to 4:25 pm—impacting the same railway lines.

Due to these blocks, some suburban train schedules will be altered. The Kasara local (N-11), departing from CSMT at 9:34 am on both days, will be short-terminated at Asangaon. Similarly, the Kasara local (N-19), leaving CSMT at 1:10 pm on March 9, will be short-terminated at Kalyan.

Additionally, the CSMT-bound local (N-16), scheduled to leave Kasara at 11:10 am on both days, will short-originate from Asangaon. Likewise, the CSMT-bound local (N-26), set to depart Kasara at 4:16 pm on March 9, will short-originate from Kalyan.

Mega Block On March 9

Meanwhile, on March 9, 2025, Central Railway’s Mumbai Division will operate a Mega Block for essential engineering and maintenance work across its suburban network.

Matunga–Mulund UP and DN Fast Lines (11:15 am to 3:45 pm)

– DN Fast Line: Trains departing CSMT between 10:56 am and 3:10 pm will be diverted to the DN Slow Line at Matunga, stopping at all stations between Matunga and Mulund before rejoining the Fast Line beyond Thane. These trains will reach their destinations about 15 minutes late.

– UP Fast Line: Trains departing Thane between 11:03 am and 3:38 pm will be diverted to the UP Slow Line at Mulund, stopping at all stations until Matunga, before returning to the Fast Line. These trains will also run about 15 minutes late.

UP & DN Harbour Lines Between CSMT and Chunabhatti/Bandra (11:10 am to 4:40 pm)

– DN Harbour Line: Services from CSMT to Vashi/Belapur/Panvel (departing between 11:16 am and 4:47 pm) and to Bandra/Goregaon (departing between 10:48 am and 4:43 pm) will be cancelled.

– UP Harbour Line: Services from Panvel/Belapur/Vashi to CSMT (departing Panvel between 9:53 am and 3:20 pm) and from Goregaon/Bandra to CSMT (departing Bandra between 10:45 am and 5:13 pm) will also be cancelled.

– Special services will be available between Panvel and Kurla during the block period. Harbour Line passengers can use the Main Line and Western Line between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm.

These maintenance blocks are crucial for infrastructure safety and reliability. Passengers are requested to cooperate with the railway authorities during this period.

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