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Tuesday,11-August-2026
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Mumbai News: Amenities Still Out of Bounds on Samruddhi Mahamarg

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Mumbai: Seven months after Mumbai-Nagpur Super Communication Expressway or Samruddhi Mahamarg was inaugurated, wayside amenities and food courts remain out of public reach. Having such passenger-friendly amenities helps in ensuring overall accident cases are reduced.

A senior Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) official confirmed that there has been a delay in rolling out amenities for expressway users. “Already a few iterations were made to the tender document,” the official shared. The plan is to have 16 food courts along the Hindu Hruday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg, eight on each side of the corridor.

On an average, there will be a food court every 80-90km. Gradually, the number may be increased in the years to follow depending on the increase in vehicular traffic.

Just one agency filled tender yet

In December, such facilities would take six months to be established on the 701km long expressway connecting the western coast of the country with Central India. Earlier this year, the MSRDC had invited bids to set the ball rolling. However, only one agency has shown its willingness to provide food courts, public conveniences and auxiliary facilities.

With only one private agency showing interest, the response will be tabled in front of the chaired by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. “The Board will decide whether to go ahead with the only bid received or go in for re-tendering,” said another MSRDC official. Through such facilities, MSRDC is looking at earning a minimum of Rs235.40 crore, the reserve price as ‘Highest Upfront Lease Premium’ from the private player who will be given the rights to manage the facilities.

According to transport experts, having such facilities at regular intervals helps motorists take break while driving long distances, which in turn results in them re-fueling their respective vehicles and adjusting tyre pressure. Additionally, the stopover also leads to a break from the monotony of driving on the expressway that barely has any turns. Otherwise, it leads to driving road hypnosis, which can prove fatal. Until these come up, the motorists will have to exit the expressway in between and scout for the best available eatery or dhabas and re-enter to continue the remainder of the journey.

Since its inauguration in December up to April 30, 39 people have lost their lives and 143 suffered various degrees of injuries in the 358 accidents, as per the statistics available with State Highway Police. They have blamed road hypnosis as one of the prime causes of these mishaps.

In December, 520km between Nagpur and Shirdi was made open. In May, another 80km was inaugurated. Now, only 10km stretch between Bharvir and near Thane is left, which is likely to be ready later this year.

POINTS:

Inaugurated in Dec 2022

Food courts still out of public reach

Plan to have 16 food courts

Eight on each side of corridor

Food court at every 80-90km

Maharashtra

40 rain shelters, 08 unauthorized shops, 30 hawkers, 06 vehicular paths removed, joint action by ‘T’, ‘S’ and ‘N’ departments of Mumbai Municipal Corporation

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The Mumbai Municipal Corporation is implementing the ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign in the Mumbai region (Mumbai city and suburbs). Under this, 40 rain shelters, 08 unauthorized shops and 30 hawkers obstructing footpaths were removed today (August 11, 2026) in the Milind area. This action was taken jointly by the ‘T’, ‘S’ and ‘N’ divisions of the Municipal Corporation. As per the directions of the High Court, the Mumbai Municipal Corporation under the guidance of Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide is effectively implementing the ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign to immediately remove unauthorized hawkers and encroachments on footpaths and to make the footpaths free from obstructions.

In this regard, a joint campaign was conducted under the leadership of Assistant Commissioner (T Division) under the guidance of Deputy Commissioner (Zone-6) Santosh Kumar Dhonde. Assistant Commissioner (S Division) Samrin Syed, Assistant Commissioner (N Division) Jaideep More
The operation was carried out in the areas of Ram Ratan Trivedi Marg, Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, Sivaram Lalwani Marg, Ratanji Hirji Bhograj Marg, Jhaveer Marg and Ganesh Gawde Marg as well as Lokmanya Tilak Marg (West) in the ‘T’ zone of the Municipal Corporation. In this, 40 rain shelters built on the footpaths, 08 unauthorized shops, 30 hawkers and 06 carriageways that were obstructing the footpaths were removed. Apart from this, the material obstructing the footpaths was also seized.

The operation was carried out with the help of 10 vehicles, 05 dumpers, 05 JCBs and other equipment along with 13 secondary engineers, 07 licensing inspectors, 66 workers working in Zone 6. Adequate police security was deployed at that time.

Meanwhile, the municipal administration is committed to providing barrier-free and easy footpaths for pedestrians. However, no one should create obstacles on the footpath or carry out unauthorized constructions. The municipal administration is telling that strict action will be taken if this happens.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai Mankhurd ATM card fraud two accused arrested

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Mumbai: The Mumbai Police has claimed to have arrested two accused who committed fraud by changing ATM cards. On August 5, the complainant had gone to the ATM center at Mangal Murthy Junction to withdraw money. While withdrawing money from the ATM, an unknown person standing behind her saw the PIN of the card. After that, she cleverly changed the ATM rod and withdrew Rs 19,000. The police have registered a case of fraud in this matter and started investigating it. The police had seen three suspicious people from the CCTV footage of the scene who were found withdrawing money from the ATM card. After that, the police identified the accused with the help of CCTV footage. Later, they were arrested. The accused have been identified as Qasim Ali Barkat Ali, 30, and Parvez Akbar Ali Sheikh, 38, both residents of Kalyan. The police are investigating further regarding both of them. Along with this, the police are also finding out how many people they have cheated before. This action was taken by DCP Sameer Sheikh on the instructions of Additional Commissioner Dhananjay Kulkarni.

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Maharashtra

7 accused arrested in cyber fraud case of over Rs 1 crore in Mumbai

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Mumbai: The Cyber ​​Police Station has claimed to have solved the mystery of a cyber crime in which the complainant was threatened with digital arrest on WhatsApp from April 2 to April 18, 2026, and was involved in a money laundering case and was defrauded of Rs 16.74 crore online by sending fake electronic documents. During the technical investigation, the police have arrested 7 accused, identified as Sanjay Hiralal, 57, who used to generate OTPs, the 32-year-old female accused used to hide the fraudulent money, Rishi Ramchandra Meena, 38, who used to transfer the fraudulent money to bank accounts, Naushad Ali, 31, who digitally arrested the complainant and the victim and worked in this gang digitally, Muhammad Khalid Hafeezuddin Saif, 27, a digital expert, Jogesh Mehta, 43, and Zubair Hussain, 27, who helped them deposit the fraudulent money in their accounts. 613 mobile phones, 2 laptops, 5 digital sign devices were recovered from the possession of the accused. SIM cards of several companies, 10 cheque books, 2 passbooks and 2 ATM cards have been seized. DCP Bajrang Bansode told the press conference that there is no such thing as digital arrest and in such a situation, do not keep in touch on unknown social media accounts. If someone threatens digital arrest, do not believe them.

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