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Maharashtra

Mumbai’s first underground Metro-3 line trials commence

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Marking a breakthrough, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis flagged off the trial runs on the city’s first fully subterranean Mumbai Metro 3 line, here on Tuesday.

The work on the 33.50 kms long Metro 3 corridor started in 2016 and the first phase is likely to be completed by end-2023.

Shinde, Fadnavis and Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL) officials waved the green flag for the trial run at Sariputnagar in Aarey Colony temporary car-shed inside a 3 kms tunnel till the Marol Naka Station.

Speaking on the occasion, Shinde said that nothing will stop the progress of Mumbai and Maharashtra after the new government took office on June 30, 2022.

Fadnavis said that the opposition to the Metro car-shed in Aarey Colony was more political than environment-related and indirectly flayed the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress government for delaying the much-needed project.

MMRCL officials informed that the test runs of the metro rakes over the next three-six months would comprise various parameters like speed, emergency brakes, oscillation in the tunnel – a first for Mumbai.

The Metro 3 line will connect Colaba in south Mumbai to SEEPZ in north-west, via Bandra with the first phase likely to be operational by Dec. 2023 and the next phase by June 2024, said the officials.

As per original plans, the line was slated for completion in December 2021, but was bogged down due to the car-shed row coming inside the Aarey Colony and the MVA government had shot down the proposal in November 2019, to shift the car-shed to a new site in Kanjurmarg.

After coming to power two months ago, the Shinde-Fadnavis government spiked the MVA’s move and restored the car-shed location from Kanjurmarg back to Aarey Forest, attracting howls of protests from the Sena-NCP-Congress and environmentalists.

The delays have led to a cost escalation from the original estimates of Rs 23,000-crore to now around Rs 37,000-crore, and the complete project is now slated for completion only by mid-2025.

The current status of the project is nearly 99 per cent of the tunnel digging works are completed, 84 of the civil works, giving an overall project execution of around 70 per cent.

The 33.50 kms Metro 3 will have 27 stations en route, including 26 underground and one at ground-level, with a portion of the line running under the Mahim Creek and the Mithi River.

Maharashtra

Mumbai: SIM card used in cyber fraud, case registered against SIM card agents from Nagpara and Andheri

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Mumbai: The Cyber ​​Cell of the Mumbai Crime Branch has now claimed to have registered a case against such SIM card sellers whose SIM cards were used in fraud. The Crime Branch has registered a case against five SIM card sellers. During the investigation of the Mumbai Crime Branch in the fraud case, it was found that the accused used to procure SIM cards through agents and shopkeepers for cyber fraud and these numbers were used for fraud. These SIM card sellers used to misuse the documents of the customers from their shop and if the customer asked for a SIM card, they would get one, two or three SIM cards issued on his document and then these people used these SIM cards for their own benefit and provided them to the absconding accused in cyber crimes. The Cyber ​​Cell has registered a case against the accused Muhammad Sultan Muhammad Hanif, Zeeshan Kamal, who sold SIM cards from Nagpara under other sections of the ID Act. Similarly, a case has been registered against Daya Shankar Bhagwan Shukla, Pradeep Kumar Burnalwala, Neeraj Shivaram for illegally selling SIM cards. This action has been taken by DCP Cyber ​​Cell Parshottam Karad on the instructions of Mumbai Police Commissioner Devin Bharti. The Cyber ​​Cell has appealed to the public to check their mobile number on the Sanchar Saathi app. If they find any other number in their name, they should report it and in this matter, the public can also file a complaint on the Sanchar Saathi app.

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Maharashtra

Large-Scale Land Record Irregularities in Maharashtra Spark Statewide Audit

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Mumbai: ( By Kamar Ansari )

A major irregularity involving land records has surfaced in Maharashtra, raising serious concerns about the misuse of legal provisions and the security of property ownership across the state. The issue is believed to have affected a significant number of families, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas.

The controversy centers around the alleged misuse of a provision under the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code that is meant strictly for minor corrections in official land records, such as clerical or typographical errors. Instead, this provision was reportedly used to make substantial and unauthorized changes to land ownership entries.

Officials suspect that in several cases, land ownership details were altered without proper verification or legal procedure, leading to disputes and possible illegal transfers. These actions have caused anxiety among landowners, many of whom fear losing their rightful property due to manipulated records.

In response to the situation, the state government has ordered a comprehensive audit of land record changes carried out under the concerned provision over the past few years. Authorities across districts have been directed to review mutation entries and verify the authenticity of all such changes.

Preliminary assessments indicate that the issue may not be limited to isolated incidents, but could point to a wider pattern of administrative lapses or deliberate manipulation. The audit aims to identify the scale of the problem and fix accountability.

Government officials have assured that strict action will be taken against those found responsible, including possible disciplinary and criminal proceedings. Efforts are also expected to be made to restore original ownership records wherever irregularities are confirmed.

The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have stated that protecting the rights of affected citizens and ensuring transparency in land administration will remain a priority.

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Maharashtra

Maharashtra Infra Update: JNPT Linked Expressway Connecting Mumbai-Pune -Goa Routes Moves Ahead, Bids Open April 16

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The proposed Pagote Chouk Expressway in Maharashtra has moved a step closer to execution, with the National Highways Authority of India initiating the process for Coastal Regulation Zone clearance. The development marks a key milestone for the greenfield infrastructure project aimed at strengthening connectivity between Jawaharlal Nehru Port and major national highways.

At the same time, construction bids for the project are scheduled to open on April 16, 2026, signalling progress in the pre-construction phase.

The 29.3 kilometre six lane expressway is designed to provide a direct, access controlled route between JNPT Port and key arterial roads including NH48, the Mumbai Pune Expressway, and the Mumbai Goa highway. The corridor is expected to ease congestion on existing routes and streamline the movement of goods and passenger traffic.

The project is particularly significant for freight movement from the port, offering faster and more efficient connectivity to inland regions.

The expressway will include a mix of complex engineering structures to navigate the terrain. Plans include six major bridges, five minor bridges, four viaducts, and two tunnels measuring 1.9 kilometres and 1.57 kilometres respectively.

These elements are aimed at ensuring seamless travel while maintaining speed and safety standards across the corridor.

The project has a targeted completion timeline of 30 months from the start of construction. Once operational, it is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Mumbai and Pune.

Motorists travelling from Pune will be able to exit the Mumbai Pune Expressway shortly after the Khalapur toll plaza and reach the Chirle interchange of Atal Setu in around 20 minutes. The development is likely to bring both cities closer while boosting regional connectivity and economic activity.

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