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PM Modi to visit Maharashtra on Oct 8-9, inaugurate Navi Mumbai airport, host UK PM

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Mumbai, Oct 7: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Maharashtra for two days, from October 8 to 9. During this time, he will inaugurate Navi Mumbai International Airport, launch and dedicate various projects in Mumbai, and host UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

The Prime Minister will reach Navi Mumbai on Wednesday, and at around 3 p.m., will undertake a walkthrough of the newly built Navi Mumbai International Airport. Thereafter, at around 3.30 p.m., he will inaugurate Navi Mumbai International Airport and also launch and dedicate various projects in Mumbai. He will also address the gathering on the occasion.

PM Modi, on October 9, will host the UK Prime Minister in Mumbai. At around 1.40 p.m., the Prime Ministers of both countries will attend the CEO Forum at Jio World Centre, Mumbai. Thereafter, at around 2.45 p.m., both of them will attend the 6th edition of the Global Fintech Fest. They will also deliver keynote addresses at the Fest.

Phase 1 of Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), which will be inaugurated by PM Modi, has been built at a cost of around Rs 19,650 crore in line with his vision of transforming India into a global aviation hub.

The Navi Mumbai International Airport is India’s largest Greenfield airport project, developed under a Public–Private Partnership (PPP). As the second international airport for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, NMIA will work in tandem with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to ease congestion and elevate Mumbai into the league of global multi-airport systems. The airport, designed to be among the most efficient in the world with 1160 Ha area, will eventually handle 90 million passengers annually (MPPA) and 3.25 million metric tonnes of cargo.

Among its unique offerings is an Automated People Mover (APM), a transit system planned to connect all four passenger terminals for smooth inter-terminal transfers, as well as a landside APM linking the city-side infrastructure. In line with sustainable practices, the airport will feature dedicated storage for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), solar power generation of approximately 47 MW, and EV bus services for public connectivity across the city. NMIA will also be the first airport in the country to be connected by Water Taxi.

PM Modi will inaugurate Phase 2B of the Mumbai Metro Line-3, stretching from Acharya Atre Chowk to Cuffe Parade, constructed at an estimated cost of around Rs 12,200 crore. With this, he will dedicate the entire Mumbai Metro Line 3 (Aqua Line) — to the nation, built at a total cost of over Rs 37,270 crore, marking a major milestone in the city’s urban transport transformation. As Mumbai’s first and only fully underground metro line, this project is set to redefine commuting across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), offering a faster, more efficient, and modern transit solution for millions of residents. The Mumbai Metro Line–3, spanning 33.5 km from Cuffe Parade to Aarey JVLR with 27 stations, will cater to 13 lakh passengers daily.

The final Phase 2B of the project will provide seamless connectivity to South Mumbai’s heritage and cultural districts, such as Fort, Kala Ghoda, and Marine Drive, along with direct access to key administrative and financial hubs, including the Bombay High Court, Mantralaya, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), and Nariman Point. The Metro Line-3 has been designed to ensure efficient integration with other modes of transport, including railways, airports, other metro lines, and monorail services, thereby enhancing last-mile connectivity and reducing congestion across the metropolitan region.

PM Modi will also launch ‘Mumbai One’ – Integrated Common Mobility App for 11 Public transport Operators (PTO) across Metro, Monorail, Suburban railways and Bus PTOs. These include Mumbai Metro Line 2A & 7, Mumbai Metro Line 3, Mumbai Metro Line 1, Mumbai Monorail, Navi Mumbai Metro, Mumbai Suburban Railway, Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST), Thane Municipal Transport, Mira Bhayander Municipal Transport, Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Transport and Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport.

Mumbai One App offers commuters a range of benefits, including integrated mobile ticketing across multiple Public Transport Operators, elimination of queueing by promoting digital transactions, and seamless multimodal connectivity through a single dynamic ticket for trips involving multiple transport modes. It also provides real-time journey updates on delays, alternative routes, and estimated arrival times, along with map-based information on nearby stations, attractions, and points of interest, and an SOS feature to ensure commuter safety. Together, these features enhance convenience, efficiency, and security, transforming the public transportation experience across Mumbai.

The Prime Minister will also inaugurate the Short-Term Employability Program (STEP), a pioneering initiative by the Department of Skill, Employment, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation in Maharashtra. The programme will be rolled out across 400 Government ITIs and 150 Government Technical High Schools, marking a major step in aligning skill development with industry requirements to enhance employability. STEP will establish 2,500 new training batches, including 364 exclusive batches for women and 408 batches in emerging technology courses such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Electric Vehicles (EV), Solar, and Additive Manufacturing.

On October 9, PM Modi will host UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. This will be Starmer’s first official visit to India.

During the visit, the two Prime Ministers will take stock of progress in diverse aspects of the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in line with ‘Vision 2035’, a focussed and time bound 10-year roadmap of programmes and initiatives in key pillars of trade and investment, technology and innovation, defence and security, climate and energy, health, education and people to people relations.

Both leaders will engage with businesses and industry leaders on opportunities presented by the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) as a central pillar of the future India-UK economic partnership. They will also exchange views on issues of regional and global importance. The leaders will also engage with industry experts, policymakers and innovators.

Prime Minister Modi and UK PM Starmer will also participate in the 6th edition of the Global Fintech Fest at Jio World Centre, Mumbai and deliver keynote addresses on the occasion.

Global Fintech Fest 2025 will bring together innovators, policymakers, central bankers, regulators, investors, academicians, and industry leaders from around the world. The conference’s central theme, ‘Empowering Finance for a Better World’ – Powered by AI, Augmented Intelligence, Innovation, and Inclusion, highlights the convergence of technology and human insight in shaping an ethical and sustainable financial future.

This year’s edition is expected to attract a footfall of over 1,00,000 participants from more than 75 countries, making it one of the world’s largest fintech gatherings. The event will feature participation from around 7,500 companies, 800 speakers, 400 exhibitors, and 70 regulators representing both Indian and international jurisdictions.

Among the participating international institutions are renowned regulators such as the Monetary Authority of Singapore, the Deutsche Bundesbank of Germany, Banque de France, and the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA). Their participation underscores GFF’s growing stature as a global forum for financial policy dialogue and cooperation.

National News

‘Chief Minister should contest election from here’: Akhilesh Yadav’s dare to Adityanath in Ayodhya

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Ayodhya, Oct 8: Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, during his visit to the holy city on Thursday, issued a direct challenge to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to contest the upcoming UP Assembly elections from Ayodhya.

Akhilesh Yadav’s dare to the Chief Minister ignites public interest because the BJP, having championed the cause of the Ram Mandir movement, was vanquished by the SP candidate in the previous elections.

The SP chief, who refrained from visiting the Ram Temple despite his third trip to the holy city since its inauguration in 2024, said that the BJP was struggling to find a candidate in Ayodhya and its “internal surveys are hinting at another rout”.

“If the Chief Minister who makes tall claims and remains so confident, he should contest the election from Ayodhya,” the SP leader mockingly said, eliciting cheers from the supporters.

“Ever since we announced our candidate for Ayodhya, the BJP has been conducting survey after survey. In every single survey, it is falling behind. There is growing buzz that the party is unable to even find a suitable candidate for Ayodhya,” he further said, adding that their ‘false prestige’ will be stripped away.

Reiterating the party’s poll pledge, Akhilesh Yadav said that womenfolk in the state, including mothers and sisters, will be provided with Rs 40,000 monetary assistance every year, and this will bring “real change” in their lives.

Outlining the party’s plans for reviving Ayodhya’s glory and identity, he said that when the socialist government is formed in the state, it will work to accelerate development, bringing international recognition to the city, the birthplace of Lord Ram.

“In the coming times, when a socialist government will be in power, there will be no discrimination against you, nor will your shop or house be demolished,” he said, in a direct reference to the “bulldozer justice” under the incumbent Yogi Adityanath government.

Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state, is bracing for high-stakes Assembly elections early next year, and the ruling as well as the Opposition parties have already started outreach and mass mobilisation programs to woo the electorate.

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National News

NHRC seeks report from Delhi Police over women journalists’ sexual harassment allegations

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New Delhi, Oct 8: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report regarding the alleged sexual harassment of three women journalists by Delhi Police personnel during a protest at Jantar Mantar on October 3.

Observing that the contents of the media report, if true, raise serious issues of violation of human rights, the NHRC has issued a notice to the Delhi Police Commissioner, seeking a detailed report on the matter within two weeks.

According to the media report, three women journalists alleged that they were subjected to sexual misconduct by police personnel while being detained during the protests at Jantar Mantar.

The NHRC said the press report, carried on October 5, stated that the New Delhi District Police had received complaints regarding the alleged incidents and transferred them to the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police for an enquiry.

The Delhi Police said that the complaints were being transferred to the Crime Branch for a “fair and impartial enquiry”.

In a post on X, the Delhi Police said that on October 3, during the protest in the New Delhi area, allegations of sexual harassment were made by three female journalists against police officers.

“New Delhi District has received their complaints, and the same have been transferred to Crime Branch for fair and impartial enquiry,” it said.

The protests were being held at Jantar Mantar despite prohibitory orders, with protesters demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Meanwhile, amid the allegations, Vivek Bhagat, Assistant Commissioner of Police, voluntarily requested that he not be allowed to continue with his temporary current duty charge assignment until a full enquiry into the alleged harassment of the women journalists was conducted and satisfactorily concluded.

Following his request, the Delhi government modified an October 5 order assigning additional charge to senior police officers. The revised order excluded Bhagat and covered the remaining 11 officers.

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Crime

‘Punched, kicked and assaulted’: Delhi Police Constables recount ordeal during Cong protest

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New Delhi, Oct 8: A couple of Delhi Police personnel who allegedly came under attack from the Congress workers and supporters during the INDIA bloc stir in the national capital a day before, narrated the ordeal that they underwent while trying to contain the surging crowd.

A couple of Delhi Police Constables, including women personnel spoke to media, recounting the physical attack inflicted on them while the Congress-led INDIA bloc protested against the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

They claimed that they were kicked and punched by the mob while doing their duty.

Deependra Sandhu, a Delhi Police Constable, said that he was assaulted while trying to control the unruly protesters on Wednesday.

“They (protesters) deliberately targeted us because we were informing everyone that Section 163 was in force in the area and that they could not protest here. Suddenly, they went behind us and pulled us from behind. They then pushed us to the ground and started kicking and punching us. We somehow managed to protect ourselves and get away,” he recalled.

The Constable also told media that he saw the attacker running from the protest site after assaulting him from the behind.

“The man who pulled me down from behind and kicked me was wearing white clothes,” he said.

Head Constable Bhupendra Ahlawat had a similar tale to share. He, too, was attacked allegedly by Congress workers while he was in police uniform.

He called it a planned attack as the attacker was allegedly given a “cover and escape route” by the protesting party workers.

“I am the one who was kicked. They intentionally and deliberately pulled me from behind by my waist and made me fall. When I turned around to see who it was and whether I recognised him or not, as soon as I made eye contact with him, the Congress workers hid him. They took him to the green area in the middle of the roundabout and deliberately made him leave after asking him and hiding him,” he said.

Seema, a woman Constable said that she was assaulted during the INDIA bloc protest on Tuesday.

“It is our duty to follow the instructions given by our officers. At that time, we do not pay attention to whether we are getting injured. I realised only later that I had been injured. This happened at Akashvani Bhavan, when we were detaining the legislators.”

“They were the MLAs who were sitting with Priyanka Gandhi,” she added.

According to reports, the Delhi Police have lodged multiple FIRs over alleged misbehaviour, manhandling and assault of its personnel by the Opposition workers, while they adhered to security protocols and strived to maintain order amid difficult circumstances.

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