Mumbai: Four of the five policemen held “responsible” for the custodial death of Akshay Shinde, an accused in the Badlapur sexual assault case, have approached the Bombay High Court (HC) seeking a copy of the magistrate’s inquiry report.

The officers have filed intervention applications in the petition by Shinde’s father, Anna Shinde, who has sought a probe into his son’s alleged “murder” and the registration of an FIR against the police personnel involved.

The bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Neela Gokhale questioned whether the State had taken a decision on registering an FIR based on the magisterial inquiry report and which investigating agency would probe the matter.

The magistrate’s report, submitted to the HC on January 20, found that the officers in the police van, which was used to transfer Shinde from Taloja Prison to Kalyan, were accountable for his death. Senior Police Inspector Sanjay Shinde of the Thane crime branch, Assistant Police Inspector Nilesh More, Head Constables Abhijeet More and Harish Tawade, and Police Constable Satish Khatal were named in the findings.

Of these, Sanjay Shinde, Nilesh More, Abhijeet More, and Tawade have approached the HC through Advocates Sayaji Nangre and Sameer Nangre.

Their counsel, Ashok Mundargi, submitted that they were filing an intervention application for a “limited purpose” — to obtain a copy of the inquiry report. The officers contended that since serious allegations had been made against them, they had a right to access the document.

“The Applicant has not been made a party respondent and various allegations are made against the applicant and reliefs are claimed against the applicant,” their petitions read. Denying the allegations, the officers have urged the court to furnish a copy of the inquiry report.

Anna Shinde’s advocate informed the bench that the family was being threatened and sought police protection. The bench has asked State Advocate Prajakta Shinde to take instructions on the threat perception and inform the court on the next hearing date, February 5.

The inquiry report emphasised that the situation could have been handled more effectively and suggested preventive measures for the future. It also questioned whether the use of force by the police was justified.

The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) findings revealed that Shinde’s fingerprints were not found on the pistol he allegedly snatched, nor was gunshot residue detected on his hands, the handcuffs, or his clothing, the report recorded.

Mumbai: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday announced plans to reduce the time gap between two moving local trains from the current 180 seconds to 150 seconds and eventually to 120 seconds. This reduction aims to ease overcrowding and allow more train services to operate efficiently.

To accommodate increasing passenger demand, nearly 10 per cent more local train services, around 300 additional services, will be introduced in phases. This will be in addition to the existing 3,000 services operated daily, following the completion of key infrastructure projects. The minister also stated that approximately 300 km of new tracks will be laid in Mumbai to support these enhancements.

Mumbai To See New Design Trains Soon

Addressing a press conference via video link from New Delhi, Vaishnaw highlighted that railway projects worth Rs 16,400 crore are at various stages of completion for Mumbai on both Central and Western Railway. He also assured that Mumbai’s suburban railway would soon see new-design trains equipped with improved features to enhance passenger comfort and reduce overcrowding.

“A plan for new design trains on the Mumbai suburban network will be announced soon,” the minister said. These upgraded trains will have better acceleration and enhanced ventilation systems, providing more oxygen content inside coaches to address overcrowding concerns. Additionally, improved suspension systems will enhance passenger comfort.

Mega Railway Budget Allocation For Maharashtra

Vaishnaw also stated the record-high railway budget allocation for Maharashtra, stating that Rs 23,778 crore has been earmarked for the state in the Union Budget 2025-26. This is 20 times higher than the allocations made under previous UPA governments, he noted.

To ensure seamless funding and expedited completion of railway projects, Maharashtra has signed a tripartite agreement with the central government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). This agreement is expected to facilitate a steady cash flow and accelerate the execution of crucial railway infrastructure projects.

New Delhi, Feb 3: The road transport ministry is working on a uniform toll policy to benefit national highway users, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Monday.

Gadkari also asserted that now India’s highway infrastructure matches that of the US. “We are working on a uniform toll policy. It will address the problem faced by the commuters,” he told media in an interview, without elaborating further.

Gadkari was responding to a question on simmering discontent among users of National Highways on account of high toll charges and sub-par road-user experience.

The longest-serving road transport and highways minister said that the ministry has decided to initially implement a barrier-less global navigation satellite system (GNSS)-based toll collection system on national highways.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Gadkari said, has been taking the complaints made by commuters on social media very seriously and is taking strong action against contractors involved.

At present, while private cars constitute about 60 per cent of the traffic on national highways, the share of toll revenue from these vehicles is barely 20-26 per cent.

Toll charges have increased on highways even as more and more stretches have come under the tolling system over the past 10 years, often leading to rising user discontent.

Total toll collection in India touched Rs 64,809.86 crore in 2023-24, a 35 per cent rise over the previous year. The collection was Rs 27,503 crore in 2019-20.

All user fee plazas on National Highways are established as per the provision of National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008 and the respective Concession Agreement.

Gadkari expressed confidence that in the current financial year, the highways ministry will surpass the previous record of 37 km per day highways construction in 2020-21 financial year.

Around 7,000 km highways been constructed so far in the current financial year. Traditionally, the pace of highways construction is higher in the February-March period.

The pace of highways construction in the country has touched a record 37 km per day in financial year 2020-21. The highways ministry had constructed 13,435.4 kilometres in 2020-21; 10,457.2 km in 2021-22; 10,331 km in 2022-23, and 12,349 km in 2023-24.

Gadkari also said this financial year, the ministry will award highways projects of 13,000 km. The ministry had awarded highways project of 8,580.5 km in 2023-24. The pace of highway project awards has slowed down considerably in the absence of a new scheme to replace the Bharatmala Pariyojana.

According to Gadkari, under the Bharatmala Pariyojana, the ministry had the power to award highway projects of up to Rs 3,000 crore, now the ministry cannot approve any fresh projects under the Bharatmala Pariyojana.

“For any project worth above Rs 1,000 crore, now we need to take the approval of the Cabinet. So, we have sent projects worth Rs 50,000-Rs 60,000 crore to the Cabinet for approval,” he said. “Once we get clearance, we will start working on those projects,” the minister added.

With an aim to reduce delay cost overrun and disputes, an inter-ministerial panel that appraises major highway projects has told the ministry to accept bids only after acquiring 90 per cent of the land required for the projects and getting all statutory projects such as forest and environment.

“This condition has affected the pace of award of highway projects,” Gadkari said. The government approved Bharatmala Pariyojana in 2017, covering a length of 34,800 km to improve connectivity and reduce logistic costs in the country.

As of October 31, 2024, projects covering a total length of 26,425 km have been awarded and 18,714 km has been constructed. India has the second largest road network and its National Highways span a total length of 1,46,195 km, forming the primary arterial network of the country.