Thane: Daily commuters on the Gaimukh to Fountain Hotel stretch via Godbunder Road have raised serious concerns over worsening traffic and extremely poor road conditions. This route, a key connector between Thane, Mira Road-Bhayandar, and Vasai-Virar, is now infamous for long delays and daily frustration.

The issue came into focus after X (formerly Twitter) user @VaruMehul shared a post with a screenshot from Google Maps showing traffic congestion and commented: “Daily traffic from Gaimukh to Fountain Hotel, very bad road conditions, wastage of time, money, fuel every day!”

The Gaimukh-Godbunder stretch is one of the busiest corridors in the region, serving as a crucial link between Thane and the western suburbs. Despite its importance, the area suffers from poor traffic management, resulting in massive delays and increasing fuel consumption, as highlighted by local commuters.

Authorities have acknowledged these concerns, with representatives from the traffic control department, Mira-Bhayandar Vasai-Virar Police Commissionerate, Mumbai Police and the Thane City Police stating that steps are being taken to address the situation.

The post quickly caught the attention of authorities and was acknowledged by several departments. Thane City Police responded: “Thank you for contacting the Thane City Police. Your information has been forwarded to the Traffic Control Room, Thane, for necessary action.”

Mira-Bhayandar Vasai-Virar Police Commissionerate replied: “Your information has been forwarded to the Senior Police Inspector, Kashimira Traffic Branch, for necessary action.”

The Mumbai Traffic Police further amplified the post by tagging @ThaneCityPolice, urging cross-jurisdictional coordination.

Following the death of Bhiwandi doctor Naseem Ansari in a pothole-related accident at Vanjarapatti Naka on the night of August 22, the Thane Traffic Department has implemented a new directive prohibiting the entry of heavy vehicles into the city.

Bhiwandi serves as a vital transit route for vehicles travelling between Gujarat and Mumbai. Owing to its strategic location, the city experiences a high volume of heavy vehicle traffic from both regions. Additionally, Bhiwandi is a major centre for powerloom and textile industries, housing numerous small-scale manufacturing units and warehouses, making it a key logistics hub adjacent to Mumbai.

Home to approximately 1.3 million residents, Bhiwandi also contains a dense concentration of offices, educational institutions, hospitals, banks, and schools. With around 4.5 lakh registered vehicles, including a significant number of heavy trucks, the city faces chronic traffic congestion and a high risk of road accidents.

For the convenience of passengers and with a view to meet the travel demand, especially during the festive season, Western Railway has extended the trips of Special Train on Special Fare between Bandra Terminus & Ajmer on existing timings, halts & composition.

Train No. 09622/09621 Bandra Terminus – Ajmer (Weekly) Special [18 Trips]

Train No. 09622 Bandra Terminus – Ajmer Special departs from Bandra Terminus every Monday at 09:35 hrs and reaches Ajmer at 08.50 hours the next day. The trips of this train have been extended from 06th October to 1st December, 2025. Similarly, Train No. 09621 Ajmer – Bandra Terminus Special departs from Ajmer every Sunday at 06.35 hrs and arrives at Bandra Terminus at 04.15 hours the next day. The trips of this train have been extended from 05th October to 30th November, 2025.

En route, this train will halt at Borivali, Vapi, Valsad, Surat, Vadodara, Ratlam, Vikramgarh Alot, Bhawani Mandi, Ramganj Mandi, Kota, Sawai Madhopur, Jaipur, and Kishangarh station in both directions.

This train comprises AC 2-Tier, AC 3-Tier, AC 3-Tier (Economy), Sleeper Class, and General Second Class coaches.

The booking for the extended trips of Train No. 09622 will open from 04.09.2025 at all PRS Counters and on the IRCTC website. For detailed information regarding timings of halts and composition, passengers may please visit  www.enquiry.indianrail.gov.in.

Virat Kohli penned down an emotional note for RCB fans and people who lost their lives in the Bengaluru Stampede on June 4th. Royal Challengers Bengaluru shared message on their social media handle in which Kohli said, “Nothing in life really prepares you for a heartbreak like June 4th. What should’ve been the happiest moment in our franchise’s history… turned into something tragic. I’ve been thinking of and praying for the families of those we lost… and for our fans who were injured. Your loss is part of our story now. Together, we will move forward with care, respect and responsibility.”

11 people were dead and 47 others were injured in the stampede near the city’s M. Chinnaswamy cricket stadium, where the players were parading the trophy for fans. Kohli’s statement on the incident is a part of the team’s ‘RCB CARES’ initiative to ensure better crowd management in the future to avoid untoward incidents such as the June 4 stampede.

Recently, RCB made their first social media post 84 days after the tragic stampede incident in Bengaluru. In a post shared on Thursday, the franchise says they have launched RCB Cares in response to the tragedy that unfolded a day after the franchise won their maiden IPL title.

Here’s the full statement,” Dear 12th Man Army, this is our heartfelt letter to you. It’s been close to three months since we last posted here.The Silence wasn’t Absence. It was Grief.”

“This space was once filled with energy, memories and moments that you enjoyed the most.. But June 4th changed everything.That day broke our hearts, and the silence since then has been our way of holding space.” The franchise announced a financial compensation of ₹25 lakh to families of stampede victims

Meanwhile, the Chinnaswamy Stadium has been deemed ‘unsafe’ to host large-scale gatherings, as part of the findings of the report submitted by the Commission to the Karnataka Government. ESPN Cricinfo reported that the venue’s design and structure are ‘unsuitable and unsafe’ for mass gatherings.

As a result, the venue was also ticked off as one of the hosts of the upcoming Women’s ODI World Cup. It has been replaced by the D.Y. Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.