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Thursday,27-November-2025
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Maharashtra

Mumbai: BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani Reviews ₹13-Cr JJ Flyover Beautification Amid Traffic Police NOC Denial; Activists Slam Project

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Mumbai: The BMC’s Rs 13 crore beautification below JJ flyover has hit a road block with the traffic police confirming on Thursday that it has not given NOC. The project on a 2.1 km stretch below the flyover is embroiled in a major controversy with activists alleging that the it will only add to the acute congestion in the area. On Thursday, BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani visited the site below JJ flyover to review the situation.

Pradnya Jedge, deputy commissioner of police (traffic) confirmed to the media that the traffic department has not given its NOC for the project. “The BMC is carrying out the work without the mandatory NOC from us,” Jedge said on Thursday.

In a letter dated December 15, 2023, the then Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Pravin Padwal had written to BMC’s additional commissioner (projects) requesting him to obtain an NOC from his department.

“We would like to bring to your attention the necessity of obtaining NOC from the traffic control branch for such beautification projects. Ensuring proper traffic flow and safety of pedestrians is of utmost importance and obtaining a traffic NOC will help coordinate efforts to minimize any potential impact on vehicles and pedestrian movements,” the letter said.

Local activist Kamlakar Shenoy slammed the project calling it a waste of public money and risking citizens’ safety. “The corporation is violating its own order passed in 1999 prohibiting any new structures below a flyover. Thus the structures, including the dummy double-decker BEST bus below the flyover are totally illegal.”

Kamlakar also questioned the high-handedness of the BMC in carrying out the beautification work without traffic NOC. “The structures obstruct pedestrian movement and cause inconvenience to motorists. Installing new structures is not beautification,” he said.

Meanwhile, local MLA Congress’ Amin Patel has demanded an inquiry from the Economic Offence Wing of the police against the public funds spent on the so-called beautification. “I had proposed for beautification like landscaping below the flyover costing Rs 2 to 3 crore. However, BMC came up with a project, appointed a consultant and Rs 10 crore was given to the contractor to carry out the beautification. The contractor now claims that 80% of the work is completed, however, the work is not visible. It is nothing but minting money.”

Maharashtra

Shiv Sena wave in North Maharashtra, Dr. Shrikant Shinde takes charge of election campaign

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Mumbai Nandurbar: Shiv Sena is on a wave in North Maharashtra. A large number of “Ladli Bheenas” and youth are participating in the rallies of Shiv Sena youth leader Dr. Shrikant Shinde. Dr. Shinde launched his election campaign in North Maharashtra today. Addressing the gathering, he said that the Mahayoti government has taken strong steps to empower women and youth, which is why Maharashtra’s Ladli Behna Yojana is becoming self-reliant. Attacking the opposition, he said that many opposition leaders were opposing the “Ladli Behna Yojana” but under the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, this scheme was implemented and it will not be stopped under any circumstances. The opposition is only spreading confusion, Ladli Behna will respond with their votes. Dr. Shrikant Shinde explained that in the last three years, Shiv Sena has reached every corner of Maharashtra under the leadership of Eknath Shinde. Shinde Sahib is empowering his workers by holding eight meetings every day. He has an Urban Development Department, which has resulted in record-breaking funding for the backward villages of Maharashtra, paving the way for strong rural development.

Dr. Shrikant Shinde criticized UBT and said that some people are experts in criticizing, but they have never done any concrete work for the people. That is why today Mahayoti candidates are seen everywhere. The people are well aware of the state of the opposition.

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Maharashtra

Kalyan College Namaz Controversy: SIO Demands Action Against Perpetrators

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Mumbai: SIO has demanded strict action against the hooliganism of Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad on offering prayers in Mumbai’s Kalyan College. Here, State Secretary SIO Aziz Ahmed said that
The incident that took place at Ideal College of Pharmacy and Research in Kalyan is highly condemnable and unacceptable, where hooligans belonging to Bajrang Dal entered the college campus, threatened and harassed Muslim students for offering prayers and even tried to make them sit in front of the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. This incident is a direct attack on religious freedom and the sanctity of the educational campus.

SIO strongly condemns this incident and expresses complete solidarity with the affected students. We demand that strict action be taken against the accused at the earliest, the college administration ensure the safety of the students and take concrete steps to prevent such incidents in the future.

We appeal to the entire student community to maintain religious harmony and remain united against such sectarian attitudes and demonstrate strong solidarity.

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Maharashtra

Five-year-old kidnapped girl rescued from Vakola, five arrested, girl held hostage by uncle in Panol

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Mumbai: Police has claimed to have arrested five accused, including uncle Momani, on charges of kidnapping a five-year-old girl. The gang had planned to kidnap and sell the girl. A case of kidnapping of a minor girl was registered on November 22 under the limits of Vakola police station. Several teams were formed in Zones 8 and 7. During the investigation, it was revealed that a suspicious rickshaw had gone to Panvel and returned. A man, a woman, a rickshaw driver and the girl were in the rickshaw between 2 and 3 am. The kidnappers were identified as the girl’s uncle Lawrence Niconelis Fernandes, 42, and his wife Momani, who is a Mangal degree, both of them had gone to Panvel by rickshaw and were going to sell the kidnapped girl. The kidnapped girl was recovered from the possession of their acquaintance Sans. The Sans gave details about the wanted accused during the investigation, after which Windra Dinesh Chavan, 60, and Anjali Ajit Korgaokar, 57, were arrested from New Panvel, Raigad. The kidnapped girl was sold for Rs 1,80,000 and Vrinda Chavan was taken into custody from her house and the girl was safely brought to Vakola. This operation was carried out by DCP Manish Kalwaniya on the instructions of Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti and the girl was recovered safely. In this case, the police have arrested rickshaw driver Latif Abdul Majeed Sheikh, 52, a resident of Santa Cruz, Lawrence Nicholas Fernandes, 42, a laborer from Raigarh, Mangal Dagra Jadhav, 38, from Raigarh, Kiran Maruti Sons, 38, from Panvel, Vrinda Vanish Chavan, 60, from Raigarh and the investigation is underway.

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