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Maharashtra

Maharashtra Budget: African Safari coming up in Nagpur

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In a significant step, Maharashtra plans to set up an African Safari Project in Nagpur with an outlay of Rs 100 crore, besides tiger and leopard safaris, Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar said here on Friday.

Presenting the state Budget 2022-2023 in the Assembly, Pawar announced a series of tourism-related projects in the state.

“The government intends to conduct the country’s first experiment to display wildlife from the African continent. For this, an African Safari is proposed at the Balasaheb Thackeray Gorewada International Zoological Park,” he said.

Besides, there are plans for a Tiger Safari on a 171-acre jungle in Chandrapur and a Leopard Safari in Pune, on a 90-hectare forest at a cost of Rs 60 crore, on the lines of similar ones in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka, and a Wildlife Rescue Centre in Chandrapur.

Pawar said detailed proposals are being sent to UNESCO to declare Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s forts and his guerrilla warfare as World Heritage.

On the tourism front, he announced a water tourism project of Rs 50 crore in the Shivsagar reservoir, Satara, near the Koyna Dam, with similar projects at Gosikhurd in Bhandara and Jayakwadi in Aurangabad.

Pawar announced an aintegrated development plan for the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Ajanta-Ellora Cave temples comprising a modern convention centre and other facilities.

Grants shall be provided for development of tourist sites in Jawhar in Palghar, Fardapur in Aurangabad, the popular hill-stations of Lonavala in Pune and Mahabaleshwar in Satara.

The government will provide Rs 100 crore during 2022-2023 for development of Raigad Fort and its vicinity, Rs 14 crore for Rajgad, Torna, Shivneri, Sudhagad, Sindhudurg, and Vijaydurg forts, and Rs 7 crore for the preservation of Sewri Fort and St. George Fort in Mumbai.

Giving a major boost to infrastructure development, the government will provide Rs 7,500 crore for 10,000 kms roads under the Mukhya Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-II, and launch 6,550 kms roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III.

The Hindu HridaySamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Super Expressway connecting Mumbai-Nagpur, which is 75 per cent complete, will be extended till Bhandara-Gondiya-Gadchiroli.

Pawar also announced sanction of the Rs 16,000 crore Nashik-Pune medium high speed railway project, and a network of more Metro lines in Pune.

The upcoming Mumbai Metro (3) from SEEPZ-Bandra-Colaba will be extended southwards to Navy Nagar.

Pawar said Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation will get 3000 new eco-friendly buses and modernise 103 bus stands.

A new airport is under consideration for Gadchiroli, besides making provisions for the airports at Shirdi, Ratnagiri, Amravati and Kolhapur.

The MVA partners including Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Eknath Shinde, Jayant Patil, Nana Patole and other leaders welcomed the budget as “growth and progress-oriented, all-encompassing and visionary” while the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party’s Leaders of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis and Pravin Darekar and others slammed it as “disappointing and direction-less”.

Maharashtra

Mumbai: Music banned at night on Shivaji Maharaj Road, temporary nighttime disruptions after residents were inconvenienced

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Mumbai: Shivaji Maharaj Road will now be closed at night because barriers have been erected here so that the citizens do not suffer due to noise and disturbance, while the decibel of the music is within the prescribed limit. Music has not been completely stopped, but barriers have been erected on this music road only at night. Mumbai Dharamveer, Swarajya Kakkar, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Kinari Road Project (South) Sangeet Marg (Melody Road) has not been closed or removed. Therefore, it has been decided to erect barriers on this 500-meter long road at night. Apart from this, regular traffic will continue on this road during the day as well. Apart from this, when the complaints of the residents of the area were verified, it was found that the noise decibel here is within the permissible decibel limit. Various media outlets are publishing and broadcasting news about the Melody Road on Dharmavir, Swarajyarakshak, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Coastal Road Project (South). This is the clarification given by the Municipal Corporation administration in this regard.

A 500-meter-long Melody Road has been constructed on the northern channel of Dharmavir, Swarajyarakshak, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Coastal Road Project (South) on the road leading out of the tunnel. This road has been developed with the aim that the citizens can enjoy the music produced on this road while driving and for entertainment.

However, the local residents had informed the concerned department about the noise generated during the movement of vehicles on this Melody Road. As per the demand of the local residents, it has been ensured that the noise generated on Melody Road is within the permissible decibel limit keeping in mind the possibility of disturbing the residents.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai: Impostor Ashok Kharat sexually abused 150 women, several sensational revelations in the SIT investigation.

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Mumbai: impostor Ashok Kharat has so far sexually assaulted more than 150 women, it has been revealed in the SIT investigation. When the victim was included in the SIT raid, more new revelations have emerged. The SIT has seized his mobile phone during the investigation. Two and a half thousand numbers were found in his mobile phone, which were in code form. Along with this, Ashok Kharat’s property worth crores of rupees has also been identified. New conclusions are also being made in the investigation related to Ashok Kharat. The SIT has also claimed to have collected several pieces of evidence related to sexual abuse in its investigation. The SIT has appealed to the victims of the impostor to file a complaint against Ashok Kharat and their names will be kept confidential. The police have also found important documents related to Ashok Kharat. Several medicine bottles and pills have also been seized from Kharat’s office and hideout. The SIT team is continuously conducting raids. A property belonging to Ashok Kharat was raided in Kond Corner area. During this raid, sexual abuse of more than 150 women has also been revealed and the SIT is also investigating whether he sexually abused the affected women and where the investigation is also underway. Today, the SIT seized medicine bottles during the raid. The SIT reached the above-mentioned hideout with the affected women. A case has been registered against Ashok Kharat in 8 cases of sexual abuse and two financial matters. Two mobile phones of Ashok Kharat have been seized in which the number of an influential person has been fitted as a dummy number. Several bank accounts of Ashok Kharat have also been frozen by the SIT. Other documents including mobile phones, laptops have been seized. The accused has been sent on remand till April 1.

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Crime

Navi Mumbai Crime: Police Arrest 24-Year-Old Man Accused Of Raping & Impregnating 13-Year-Old Girl

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Navi Mumbai: In a major breakthrough, Kharghar Police have arrested a 24-year-old man accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting a 13-year-old minor girl and impregnating her, after tracking him down near the India-Nepal border. The accused, identified as Vishal Babu alias Anwar Ali Imtiaz Ansari, had been on the run since the case was registered earlier this month. A court has remanded him to police custody till April 1.

According to police, the accused worked at ‘Jagdish Autoparts’ garage in Kharghar, where he allegedly lured the minor to the premises in October 2025 and raped her. He continued to sexually assault her multiple times, threatening to kill her if she disclosed the incidents. The crime came to light after the girl was found to be pregnant.

Following a complaint lodged by the victim’s parents on March 7 at Kharghar Police Station, a case was registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (2023), including Sections 65(1) and 351 (3), along with Sections 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 of the POCSO Act, 2012.

However, the accused fled Kharghar soon after sensing police action and escaped to his native place in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh. Acting under the guidance of Senior Police Inspector Sanjay Joshi, a team led by Police Sub-Inspector Suraj Jadhav camped in Uttar Pradesh to trace him. The accused had switched off his mobile phone, creating hurdles in the technical investigation.

“We faced significant challenges due to the ongoing Ramzan period and lack of cooperation from the accused’s relatives. However, after taking them into confidence, the we carried out a continuous 13-day search operation across Kushinagar, Gorakhpur, and areas along the Nepal border,” a police officer said.

Finally, on March 25, the police apprehended Vishal Babu near the Nepal border. He was subsequently brought to Navi Mumbai on transit remand. The operation was carried out by PSI Suraj Jadhav, along with Police Naik Khedkar and Constable Kadam, under the supervision of Senior Inspector Sanjay Joshi.

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