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Maharashtra

Uttan-Virar Sea Link Gets Approval From Maharashtra Coastal Zone Authority; Project Affects 17.89 Hectares Of Mangroves & Forest Land

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Mumbai: The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) has approved the Uttan-Virar sea link project, initiated by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). This project, part of the BJP-led Mahayuti government’s agenda, aims to enhance connectivity to the Vadhavan port mega-project in Palghar.

The sea link proposal, featuring three connectors in Uttan, Vasai, and Virar, was submitted on April 9 and cleared on July 11. State Environment Secretary Jayashree Bhoj stated that the department will now seek approval from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change.

The project will impact forest land, including 15.39 hectares of mangroves, and 2.5 hectares of reserved forest within the eco-sensitive Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary. MMRDA anticipates acquiring 208.6 hectares of private land, with documents indicating that 9,075 trees will be affected by the connectors: 1,868 will be cut down, 1,612 will be transplanted, and 5,595 will be retained. Mangroves will be particularly affected, with 8.71 hectares impacted by the Uttan connector and 6.68 hectares by the Virar connector, necessitating the diversion of existing utilities.

Originally, the Versova-Virar sea link was planned from Versova to Virar, but with BMC implementing alternative coastal routes, the effective connection will be from Uttan to Virar. The sea bridge will extend 24.25 km parallel to the coast, with three connectors: a 9.32 km Uttan connector linking to the Dahisar-Bhayandar Link Road, a 2.5 km Vasai connector, and an 18.95 km Virar connector connecting to the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway.

CM Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde recently reviewed a revised, economically viable plan for the Uttan-Virar Sea Link (UVSL). CM Fadnavis emphasised its connection to the Vadhavan Port and the Samruddhi Mahamarg, reinforcing its importance for regional economic development. MMRDA presented six cost variants, ultimately selecting a ₹52,652 crore option as it was deemed the most financially viable and efficient.

Key cost reductions stemmed from several optimisations like lane design adjustments, future integration planning, reduced land acquisition, structural improvements, and cuts in preliminary costs. The project will be crucial for linking Mumbai’s northern suburbs with Vadhavan Port and the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, unlocking significant economic potential. CM Fadnavis also mandated the formation of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to expedite project implementation and approvals. Senior officials attended the review meeting to facilitate the project’s progress.

Maharashtra

Two youths drown in Mumbai’s Mahim creek

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Mumbai: Two people jumped into the Mahim creek in Mumbai, due to which they drowned. The search for them is on. Today at around 12:20 pm, Irshad Asif Sheikh, a transgender, aged 22, residing at Lal Mati, Nargis Dutt Nagar, Bandra (West), Mumbai, and Qalander Altaf Khan, aged 20, residing at Lal Mati, Nargis Dutt Nagar, Bandra (West), were standing between a bridge in Bandra. During this, they had an argument and one jumped into the creek while the other also jumped into the water to save him.

During the argument, Irshad jumped into the water and Qalander Khan jumped after him to save him. However, both drowned in the water.

The search operation is on, so far no trace of both has been found. Teams are searching for both.

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Maharashtra

Sameer Wankhede targeted in The Baddest of Bollywood; Delhi High Court orders removal of objectionable content from controversial series in defamation case

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Mumbai: The Mumbai-Delhi High Court has strongly criticized Red Chillies Entertainment Shah Rukh Khan, Gauri Khan and others in the defamation case against NCB Zonal Director IRS officer Sameer Wankhede and said that artistic freedom does not mean mocking a person. After this, the High Court has ordered that the controversial footage related to Sameer Wankhede be removed from the controversial Netflix series The Bads of Bollywood. Sameer Wankhede had filed a petition in the High Court and pleaded that his character has been killed in The Bads of Bollywood and this series has been made to target him. The purpose is to humiliate and mock Sameer Wankhede. After watching some parts of this series, the High Court has ordered the removal of the controversial parts from the film.

Sameer Wankhede’s lawyer had told the court that the character portrayed in the film is a comparison to Sameer Wankhede and that this series has been created with the intention of tarnishing Wankhede’s image. The Bads of Bollywood is malicious, therefore, the above-mentioned controversial scenes and objectionable dialogues should be deleted from the series, on which the court has issued an order to delete the controversial and objectionable content and content. Earlier, while hearing Sameer Wankhede’s petition, the court had sent notices to Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies, Netflix, Meta, and social media platforms and directed them to file a response. To this, Red Chillies had called the film and series a drama and made it clear that it had nothing to do with the facts. However, despite this, the Delhi High Court inquired whether a film drama does not mean that someone’s character is killed and said this, it reprimanded Shah Rukh Khan and the film company. Sameer Wankhede tried to prove through his argument that the character portrayed in the film resembles Sameer Wankhede and that this character has been portrayed in a negative way to target him and in this, an attempt has been made to make fun of Sameer Wankhede through this character, which has humiliated Wankhede, which the court has accepted and issued a directive to delete the objectionable and controversial content. This is a big success for Sameer Wankhede, while Shah Rukh Khan has suffered a huge setback.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai arms supplier arrested from Ghatkopar depot

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Mumbai: Police has claimed to have arrested an arms supplier from Ghatkopar Bus Depot who had come here to supply arms to Mumbai. The Mumbai Police Ghatkopar Anti-Gang Squad received information about this. The police laid a trap and took the accused into custody and recovered two country-made pistols and four live cartridges from his possession. During the investigation, the police asked him his name and he revealed his name as Ajay Kailash, a resident of Ujjain. The police have registered a case in this matter and started the investigation. Pantnagar Police has started the investigation in this matter to find out from where the accused had brought the arms to supply arms. This action was taken by DCP Rakesh Ola on the instructions of Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti.

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