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Union Minister Nitin Gadkari Turns Critic Of His Own Party; Questions Maharashtra’s Ladki Bahin Scheme Ahead Of Assembly Polls

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Mumbai: In a classic case of realpolitik, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has again turned critic of his own party, serving the Opposition on a platter as a talking point, neatly gift-wrapped for election. Gadkari, known for making discordant noises, has raised a red flag about the Maharashtra government’s Ladki Bahin scheme—an initiative aimed at providing financial assistance to women—that he feels might derail timely payments of subsidies in other sectors.

The irony is palpable as the opposition, with their well-trained radar for political missteps, has latched onto Gadkari’s comments. The Congress, the NCP (SP), and the Shiv Sena (UBT) wasted no time pointing out that if even those in power are admitting the state’s economy is in dire straits, perhaps we should all start panicking. Gadkari’s public take on the Ladki Bahin scheme and state finances is all the more significant considering the Maharashtra Assembly elections are slated after Diwali.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari Expresses His Views

Speaking at a public event in Nagpur on Monday, he laid it all out: “Will investors get their subsidies on time? Who knows? We have to fund the Ladki Bahin scheme too!” In other words, he fears that funds previously earmarked for other subsidies will now be diverted.

As the Ladki Bahin Yojana rolls out, he bluntly warned “My opinion is that irrespective of the government, belonging to any party, keep the government at bay. Government is like a ‘vishkanya’ (poison maiden); whosoever goes along with it will doom themselves. So do not get into that matter,” he said in a lighter vein.

He went on to add, “If you are getting a subsidy, take it, but again, it is not sure when one will get it. With the Ladki Bahin Yojana being started, they have to use the funds allocated for subsidies for that work,” Gadkari said.

About Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana

Under the state’s shining new ‘Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana,’ women aged 21-65, regardless of marital status, will receive a monthly stipend of Rs 1,500 — assuming their family income doesn’t exceed Rs 2.5 lakh. All this comes at a cool cost of Rs 46,000 crore to the state’s treasury, just in time for the Maharashtra Assembly polls. Naturally, the opposition is ecstatic.

Congress has seized the moment to slam the Mahayuti government for its apparent lack of fiscal responsibility, with General Secretary Jairam Ramesh noting that this Ladki Bahin Yojana looks like a desperate electoral ploy designed to distract from the state’s economic woes. He pointed out that Gadkari, a senior Union Minister, is now publicly acknowledging Maharashtra’s fiscal troubles, which is a twist worthy of a soap opera. Ramesh highlighted the “financial ruin” caused by what he termed the BJP’s “puppet” government.

After all, nothing says fiscal responsibility like cancelling aid for families of farmers who committed suicide due to “emergency fund shortages”—only to reinstate it when the opposition made a fuss. He also mentioned the 400+ contractors left unpaid for 15 months and a fiscal deficit soaring past Rs 1 lakh crore—while the state’s total debt now eclipses Rs 7 lakh crore, roughly 20% of its GDP. A real feather in the cap!

Maharashtra

Mumbai Weather: Keep Umbrellas Handy As City To Experience Cloudy Skies Today

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Mumbai: As per the IMD, Mumbai’s weather today will start with fog or mist in the morning, then become partly cloudy later in the day. Temperatures will vary from 25 to 32 degrees Celsius. Sunrise took place at 6:29 AM, with sunset is anticipated to happen at 6:24 PM.

According to Tide-Forecast.com, the initial high tide is expected at 00:38 AM with a height of 4.18 metres. The next high tide will occur at 12:34 PM, reaching a height of 4.04 meters, while the initial low tide is scheduled for 6:32 AM, when the water level will decrease to 1.19 meters. The next low tide is scheduled for 6:39 PM, with the water level dropping to 0.64 meters.

Yellow Alert In Maharashtra

The IMD has issued a yellow alert for various areas, cautioning about thunderstorms, lightning, and light to moderate rainfall. Strong winds blowing at 30-40 kilometres per hour are also forecasted in specific locations.

Dhule, Nandurbar, Jalgaon, Pune, Satara, Aurangabad, Jalna, Parbhani, Hingoli, and Nanded are the areas covered by this alert. Citizens in these regions should exercise caution, especially when engaging in outdoor pursuits, as thunderstorms and lightning could present dangers.

Mumbai Week Weather Forecast

On October 5, the morning will begin with fog or mist, and then become partly cloudy later in the day. Temperatures are forecasted to vary between 24 and 32 degrees Celsius.

On October 6, there is a possibility of rain or thunderstorms in the evening or at night. The temperature will vary from 24 to 33 degrees Celsius.

On October 7, like the previous day, rain or thunderstorms are anticipated in the evening or night. Temperatures will vary between 25 and 34 degrees Celsius.

On October 8, the forecast predicts partly cloudy skies all day. The temperature will vary between 26 and 35 degrees Celsius.

On October 9, expect partly cloudy skies and temperatures between 26 and 34 degrees Celsius.

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Maharashtra

Shiv Sena UBT Leader Aaditya Thackeray Raised Questions On Approved Projects Worth Over Rs 40,000 Crore By State Cabinet

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Shiv Sena UBT Leader Aaditya Thackeray Raised Questions On Approved Projects Worth Over Rs 40,000 Crore By State Cabinet

The tripartite Mahayuti government, which was by far on autopilot mode until recently, has lately become the buzzword for action, announcing a slew of projects — mostly infrastructure, seemingly blind to financial constraints and the red flags raised by the finance department. At the state cabinet meeting on September 30, infrastructure projects worth over Rs 40,000 crore were approved. Shiv Sena UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray raised a few questions on a project recently approved by the state cabinet on Thursday, Thackeray asked.

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) confirms the PMs presence at an event only after obtaining detailed information. In this case, what information had the PMO sought and had it verified whether all the necessary permissions had been obtained for the project, Thackeray wanted to know.

Speaking about the road concretisation project in Mumbai, he said though the project was launched two years ago, just nine per cent of the work had been completed, which was revealed through RTL How could the PM inaugurate or grace groundbreaking ceremonies for such projects, Thackeray queried.

The PM is going to perform the ground-breaking ceremony for the Thane-Borivli tunnel project though the contractor has provided a bank guarantee from a bank in the West Indies. Has the RBI allowed such a bank guarantee, Thackeray asked, raising the issue of the propriety of the PM in officiating such events.

Training his guns on Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) next, Thackeray said, though the ‘bhumi pujan’ for the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Smarak in the Arabian Sea was done in 2017, nothing had moved further, except cost escalation.

Similarly, many projects including metro works had either been delayed or stuck on various grounds. He warned that after the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government came to power, it would conduct a thorough probe and the administrative head of the agency would have to face inquiry.

Meanwhile, it is being said that the contractor for the Thane-Borivali project was asked to obtain bank guarantee from a national bank, which is under the jurisdiction of Indian courts and governed by Indian laws. Questions are also being raised over the cost escalation of the project, which was pegged at Rs 14,400 crore a few months ago but now, the state cabinet has approved Rs 18,800.40 crore for it.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai: Sion-Panvel Highway’s Shivaji Chowk To Mankhurd Section To Be Closed For Traffic During Night Hours Till Oct 18; Check Timings & Alternate Routes Here

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Mumbai: Sion-Panvel Highway's Shivaji Chowk To Mankhurd Section To Be Closed For Traffic During Night Hours Till Oct 18; Check Timings & Alternate Routes Here

Mumbai: The motorists in the eastern suburbs need to brace for another night traffic diversion to facilitate the Metro work. A crucial section of the Sion-Panvel Highway from Panjarpol junction (Shivaji Chowk) near Chembur to the Mankhurd Metro station will be closed for vehicular traffic from October 4 to October 18. The road closure will be implemented from 12 am to 5 am and the Mumbai Traffic Police have issued an advisory with the list of alternate routes.

The road closure will be on both bounds of traffic from Panjarpol Junction to Mankhurd Metro station (pillars 829 to 938).

Alternate routes as per Mumbai Traffic Police advisory:

1. From Panjarpol Junction- Waman Tukaram Patil Marg, Borba Devi junction- Govandi Brigde- IOC Junction- Right Turn- Ghatkopar Mankhurd Link Road (North Bound)- Mankhurd T Junction-Left Turn to Vashi, Navi Mumbai.

2. From Mankhurd T Junction- Right Turn- Ghatkopar Mankhurd Link Road (South Bound)- IOC Junction- Waman Tukaram Patil Marg- Left Turn- Govandi Brigde, Freeway Flyover, Panjarpol Junction- Right Turn to Maitri Park, Mumbai.

The above diversion will come into force from October 4 to Octobeer 18 only in night from 00.00 hours to 5.00 am, the Traffic Police advisory says.

About Metro 2B

In the jurisdiction of Trombay Traffic Division at Sion-Panvel Marg from Panjarpol Junction to Mankhurd Metro station work of 2B is carried out by RVNL company and big cranes will be used for OHE Mast work. As the work will affect the on-going traffic flow, it is necessary to divert traffic to prevent any danger, obstruction and inconvenience to public, the advisory says.

Metro Line 2B from D N Nagar to Mandale is 23.643 km, long elevated corridor with 20 stations. It shall provide connectivity between the Eastern and Western Suburban Mumbai. It will provide interconnectivity to Mono Rail and Metro 1 and other Metro and suburban railway stations including D. N. Nagar (Line 1), Bandra (Suburban), ITO junction (Line 3), Kurla East (Suburban & Line 4), Chembur (Monorail), Mankhurd Suburban, CST-Panvel fast corridor and Mumbai-Navi Mumbai Airport fast corridor.

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