Mumbai: In a major boost to India’s urban transport infrastructure, the country’s operational metro rail network has now crossed the 1,000-kilometre mark, excluding the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS). This achievement was made possible with the full opening of Mumbai Metro Line 3, also known as the Aqua Line, on 8 October 2025.

With the complete rollout of Metro Line 3, Mumbai’s total operational metro length has reached 80.43 km, making it the city with the third-longest metro network in the country. This development pushes Mumbai ahead of cities like Chennai and Hyderabad in terms of active metro corridors.

Mumbai is not slowing down. Several new lines are set for phased inaugurations by the end of 2025, including Line 2B, Line 4, and Line 9. Once operational, these additions are expected to take Mumbai to the second position nationally, just behind Delhi in terms of metro rail length.

India’s expanding metro rail network reflects a broader push towards modern, sustainable urban transport. Over the past decade, metro projects have gained momentum across various cities, with improved funding, streamlined approvals, and growing public support. Excluding the RRTS corridors, this 1,000 km milestone signifies a shift towards cleaner and more efficient city mobility.

With several cities including Pune, Bhopal, Indore, and Patna progressing rapidly on their metro phases, the national operational network is expected to cross 1,200 km in the coming year. As metro systems become integral to easing congestion and reducing pollution in India’s urban centres, the focus now shifts to timely execution, last-mile connectivity, and affordability.

Vasai: The suicide of two teenagers in Virar has taken a significant turn. While it has been confirmed that one of the teenagers committed suicide due to a broken heart, the mystery surrounding his friend’s death persists. Police have suggested two possibilities: that he either took his life in solidarity with his friend or that he lost his balance and fell while attempting to save him.

The incident occurred on Monday night when two friends, Sham Ghorai (20) and Aditya Singh (21), jumped from the 16th floor of an under-construction building in Bolinj, Virar. The two were close friends who resided in Achole, Nalasopara, and were studying at Rahul International College. The case initially became more complex due to allegations of murder from the parents, who claimed that their sons were pushed off the building.

During the investigation, police found a suicide note written by Sham inside a book at his home. In the note, he revealed that he was in love with a girl who was in a relationship with someone else, and that this was the reason for his depression and subsequent suicide.

With Sham’s motive confirmed, the question of why Aditya also jumped has been raised. Police have not yet found a concrete reason for Aditya’s death. According to Deputy Commissioner of Police Suhas Bawche, there are two possibilities: that he may have taken his own life out of loyalty to his friend, or that he might have fallen while trying to save Sham. Bawche has clarified that foul play has been ruled out and no third party is believed to be involved.

New Delhi, Oct 9: The Supreme Court has expressed shock at the status of criminal trials in Maharashtra, having found that hundreds of cases have been pending for framing of charges for over a decade — some dating back as far as 2006.

“Registrar General of the High Court of Judicature at Bombay has filed an affidavit annexing certain documents which we have perused. To say the least, it is a reflection of a very shocking state of affairs, insofar as the conduct of trials before different Courts in the State of Maharashtra is concerned,” observed a Bench of Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh, taking note of the affidavit filed by the Registrar General of the Bombay High Court.

The Justice Kant Bench said that despite the filing of charge sheets, trials in at least 649 cases across Maharashtra have not proceeded beyond the stage of framing charges.

“The said affidavit reveals that there are at least 649 cases in which charges are yet to be framed, despite filing of the charge sheets, in certain cases, way back in the year 2006, 2013, 2014 and onwards till the year 2020. The reasons assigned for delay are multiple, including, and most significantly, in almost every trial, either non-production of the accused or non-appearance of the advocate, be it the prosecutor or the defence,” it observed.

Noting that the petitioner has been languishing in jail for over four years without charges being framed, though the charge sheet in his case was filed in July 2021, the apex court said: “The petitioner has been in jail for more than 4 years since 11.04.2021, and today his status remains the same as it was on day one of his incarceration. Charges would have to be framed, the process of trial would take its own time, and by the time a final conclusion is reached, he would have remained behind bars for many years on end.”

The Supreme Court has directed the Registrar General of the High Court to obtain detailed reports from each District and Sessions Judge regarding the steps taken to ensure the timely framing of charges and compliance with earlier circulars on the production of undertrial prisoners either physically or virtually, as per the stage of trial.

The matter will now be heard next on October 17, with the Supreme Court seeking a comprehensive compliance affidavit. “The Registrar General shall also apprise the learned Chief Justice of the High Court of the passing of this order,” it said.