National News
PM Modi to inaugurate Rs 2,548 crore urban development projects in Gujarat next week
New Delhi, Aug 23: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Gujarat on August 25 and 26, inaugurating and laying the foundation stones of urban development projects worth Rs 2,548 crore in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar.
The announcement comes as the state celebrates Urban Development Year and marks two decades of reforms initiated by PM Modi during his tenure as the Gujarat Chief Minister.
Of the total investment, development projects worth Rs 2,267 crore will be dedicated to Ahmedabad.
A key highlight will be the rehabilitation of 1,449 slums in Ahmedabad’s Ramapir Tekra under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) at a cost of Rs 133 crore.
The project promises amenities such as an anganwadi, health centre, solar rooftops, and PNG gas connections.
In the water sector, PM Modi will inaugurate a Rs 27-crore drinking water project under Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA), featuring a 15-lakh litre clear water pump, pumping station, and a 23-km trunk pipeline, ensuring safe water supply to 10 villages in Daskroi taluka of Ahmedabad district.
The foundation stones will also be laid for several civic works, including a stormwater drainage system in Shela, Manipur, Godhavi, Sanathal, and Telav, redevelopment of Law Garden and Mithakali precinct, new water distribution stations in Thaltej, Naranpura, and Chandkheda, and reconstruction of the Asarwa Railway Over Bridge.
Additionally, a mini sports complex at Sarkhej, to be built at a cost of Rs 56.52 crore, is expected to further Ahmedabad’s sporting infrastructure.
A major announcement will be the six-laning of the Sardar Patel Ring Road at a cost of Rs 1,624 crore.
Executed in two phases under hybrid annuity mode, the project will include service roads spanning 62 km, enhancing traffic flow and safety around Ahmedabad.
In Gandhinagar, projects worth Rs 281 crore will be launched — Rs 243 crore under the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation and Rs 38 crore under the Gandhinagar Urban Development Authority.
These initiatives focus on improving roads, sanitation, water supply, and flood management.
The Prime Minister will inaugurate a pipeline system from Charedi headworks to Pethapur and Rakheja, built at Rs 44 crore, which will deliver Narmada water to nearly 55,000 residents.
He will also inaugurate new sewage treatment plants and pumping stations at Dabhoda, benefiting around 17,000 people.
The foundation works include a Rs 72-crore road parallel to the Metro from Dholakuva to Pancheshwar Circle, a stormwater drainage line at Pethapur, and new water and sewer lines at Koba, Raysan, and Randesan.
With these projects, Gujarat aims to strengthen its infrastructure backbone and further enhance the ease of living for its citizens.
National News
Mumbai: Uddhav-Raj, Thackeray Family Pay Tribute To Balasaheb Thackeray On His Death Anniversary At Shivaji Park

Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray along with Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) Chief Raj Thackeray on November 17 paid tribute to Balasaheb Thackeray on his death anniversary at Dadar’s Shivaji Park. The Thackeray cousins were joined by Rashmi Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray along with other party leaders at the memorial at Shiv Tirth and paid their humble respects. Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray died of cardiac arrest in the 2012 at the age of 86.
Balasaheb, often called the Hindu Hridaysamrat (Emperor of Hindu Hearts), passed away on this day in 2012, never held a constitutional post, yet commanded the city’s pulse through the sheer power of his oratory.
Earlier in the day, his son, Uddhav, also took to his social media handle on X (formerly Twitter) and wrote, “Sir, How much you have done for us! It is because of you that even today the backbone of ours stands tall. As long as the power named ‘Hindu Hrudaysamrat’ is with us, we have no fear of anything!”
Eknath Shinde, who was part of the united Shiv Sena, split from the party in 2022 and formed his own party with the same name following the principle of Balasaheb Thackery. Taking to his social media, the Maharashtra Deputy CM also paid tributes to Thackeray and said that his thoughts and memories ‘will forever remain in our hearts.’
Paying his tributes, NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar said that Balasaheb unleashed a barrage of words on his opponents with his sharp Thackeray arrows and open-handed generosity.
“His satirical cartoons wounded many. Yet, throughout his life, he selflessly maintained friendships beyond politics without introducing any bitterness into them. Humble tribute on his remembrance day to the Shiv Sena chief, the late Balasaheb Thackeray, whose immense contributions to the state’s socio-political sphere make Maharashtra’s history incomplete without mention of him!,” he added.
Crime
Delhi Police arrest man, recover 16 stolen bicycles

New Delhi, Nov 17: In a successful operation, a Delhi Police team arrested a bicycle thief and recovered 16 stolen bicycles, officials said on Monday.
During the investigation, more than 300 CCTV cameras from areas near the theft sites were examined, and local informers were activated. Both technical and manual intelligence inputs were collected to trace the culprits. The bicycle thief was previously involved in four criminal cases.
According to a statement released by the Dwarka South Police Station, the officers became more concerned after the recent rise in bicycle thefts in the Dwarka South area. Recognising that for many residents a bicycle is an essential possession, the police resolved to identify the offender and restore the stolen bicycles to their rightful owners.
A dedicated team was constituted by Inspector Rajesh Kumar Sah (SHO, Dwarka South), under the close supervision of ACP Dwarka, Kishor Kumar Rewala. The team included HC Sudhir Kumar (987/DW), HC Manoj Kumar (828/DW), HC Gaje Singh (1030/DW), HC Surender (764/DW), and Ct. Tushar Yadav (1803/DW).
On October 28, at around 7:00 p.m., HC Manoj received secret information that the thief would arrive near DDA Park or Bhains Wala Park within a few minutes. He immediately alerted the team, and the officers reached the location and laid a trap near Bhains Wala Park.
After some time, a man was spotted riding a bicycle from the direction of Ganpati Chowk towards Bhains Wala Park. His behaviour appeared suspicious, and the police signalled for him to stop. Instead of complying, he attempted to flee towards DDA Park, Dwarka Sector 7, abandoning the bicycle.
The team chased and apprehended him. Upon inspection, the bicycle matched the description of one reported stolen in e-FIR 80101951/2025, registered under Section 303(2) BNS at Dwarka South Police Station.
During interrogation, the accused confessed that he had stolen the bicycle from Ramphal Chowk Road, in front of Instyle Salon, Sector 7, Dwarka. He further revealed that he had stolen several other bicycles. Based on his disclosures, the police recovered 15 additional bicycles from different locations after sustained effort.
National News
Saudi bus accident: CM Revanth Reddy expresses shock, Telangana sets up control room

Hyderabad, Nov 17: Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy expressed shock over the horrific accident involving a bus carrying Indian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.
The state government has also set up a control room in Hyderabad to provide information and assistance to the families of the accident victims.
The accident took place while the pilgrims were travelling from Mecca to Medina. According to media reports, Hyderabadis were also among them.
According to unconfirmed media reports, at least 42 Indian Umrah pilgrims are feared dead after a passenger bus travelling from Mecca to Madina collided with a diesel tanker early Monday.
The incident occurred around 1.30 a.m. IST at a location identified as Mufrihat,
The victims, including women and children, are reported from Hyderabad. The group was returning from Mecca after completing their rituals and was en route to Madina at the time of the accident.
Responding immediately, the Chief Minister directed Chief Secretary Ramakrishna Rao and Director General of Police to find out the full details. He enquired about the number of people from Telangana.
He suggested that they talk to the officials of the Union Ministry of External Affairs and the Saudi Embassy.
Chief Secretary Ramakrishna Rao alerted Resident Commissioner Gaurav Uppal in Delhi. He directed him to collect the details of the number of people from Telangana involved in the accident.
The state government has set up a control room in the Secretariat to provide appropriate information and assistance to the families of the bus accident victims in Saudi Arabia
The telephone numbers of the control room are: +91 79979 59754 and +91 99129 19545
Initial reports from Saudi Arabia suggest that around 20 women and 11 children were in the bus at the time of the tragedy.
Officials were still verifying the exact number of casualties and the condition of survivors. Emergency services were carrying out rescue and relief operations.
Meanwhile, officials of the Telangana State Haj Committee were also trying to get the details of the accident victims.
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