News Analysis India

Tag: Maharashtra

  • Maharashtra: Rahul Gandhi visits gurdwara, resumes march

    By PTI

    DEGLUR: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited a gurdwara in Nanded district of Maharashtra before resuming his Bharat Jodo Yatra foot march on Tuesday.

    The Congress MP visited Gurdwara Yaadgari Baba Zoravar Singh ji Fateh Singh ji on the occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti a few hours after the yatra entered Maharashtra Monday night from Telangana.

    At the gurdwara, Gandhi prayed for harmony and equality, the party tweeted.

    On Tuesday morning, the march will proceed from the gurdwara to Atkali in Biloli district of Nanded.

    Gandhi is scheduled to halt at Godavari Manar Sugar Factory ground in Biloli for night stay, a party functionary said.

    Small and medium businesses suffered due to the Centre’s wrong policies like demonetisation and poor implementation of the Goods and Service Tax, Gandhi said Monday night as he entered Maharashtra holding a ‘flaming torch’ (mashaal).

    Gandhi said during his stay in Maharashtra over the next 15 days, he will listen to the voice of the state and also its pain and asserted no force can stop his 61-day-old yatra that began on September 7 from Kanniyakumari (Tamil Nadu) and will culminate in Srinagar.

    The 3,570-km-long yatra led by the Congress MP reached Deglur in central Maharashtra’s Nanded district from neighbouring Telangana.

    During his stay in the state, Gandhi will address two rallies as part of the cross-country march aimed at reviving the party.

    Gandhi said the march started two months back from Kanniyakumari and it will stop only at Srinagar after hoisting the tricolour.

    “No force can stop this yatra,” asserted the former Congress president, whose party was a strong political force in Maharashtra for several decades and was a constituent of the three-party ruling coalition till June this year.

    Gandhi said the aim of the yatra is to bind the country together and highlighted major issues before the country.

    “The reality of India is that the country cannot give employment to its youth, even if it is willing. On one hand there is unemployment, on the other hand there is inflation,” he said, attacking the Modi government.

    The Congress MP said the main aim of his cross-country foot march is to raise voice against hatred, anger and violence that is being spread.

    Gandhi will address two rallies during his yatra in Maharashtra – the first on November 10 in Nanded district and on November 18 at Shegaon in Buldhana district.

    The march led by the Wayanad Lok Sabha MP will traverse through 15 Assembly and 6 parliamentary constituencies in Maharashtra during its sojourn.

    It will cover a distance of 382 kms across five districts before entering Madhya Pradesh on November 20.

    The yatra will proceed through Nanded district for four days and enter Hingoli district on November 11, Washim on November 15, Akola on November 16 and Buldhana on November 18, according to the schedule.

    The Congress has invited Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, both allies of the party, to take part in the foot march.

    Pawar had earlier said he would join the yatra.

    However, senior Congress leader Ashok Chavan has said the participation of Pawar in the yatra in Maharashtra will depend on his health condition.

    Pawar (81) was recently hospitalised in Mumbai for fever and other health issues. The NCP chief on Saturday flew to Shirdi from Mumbai with doctors and addressed a party convention briefly in the temple town in Ahmednagar district.

    Sachin Ahir, a legislator of the Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena, said former minister Aaditya Thackeray may join the Maharashtra leg of the 150-day-long yatra.

    DEGLUR: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited a gurdwara in Nanded district of Maharashtra before resuming his Bharat Jodo Yatra foot march on Tuesday.

    The Congress MP visited Gurdwara Yaadgari Baba Zoravar Singh ji Fateh Singh ji on the occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti a few hours after the yatra entered Maharashtra Monday night from Telangana.

    At the gurdwara, Gandhi prayed for harmony and equality, the party tweeted.

    On Tuesday morning, the march will proceed from the gurdwara to Atkali in Biloli district of Nanded.

    Gandhi is scheduled to halt at Godavari Manar Sugar Factory ground in Biloli for night stay, a party functionary said.

    Small and medium businesses suffered due to the Centre’s wrong policies like demonetisation and poor implementation of the Goods and Service Tax, Gandhi said Monday night as he entered Maharashtra holding a ‘flaming torch’ (mashaal).

    Gandhi said during his stay in Maharashtra over the next 15 days, he will listen to the voice of the state and also its pain and asserted no force can stop his 61-day-old yatra that began on September 7 from Kanniyakumari (Tamil Nadu) and will culminate in Srinagar.

    The 3,570-km-long yatra led by the Congress MP reached Deglur in central Maharashtra’s Nanded district from neighbouring Telangana.

    During his stay in the state, Gandhi will address two rallies as part of the cross-country march aimed at reviving the party.

    Gandhi said the march started two months back from Kanniyakumari and it will stop only at Srinagar after hoisting the tricolour.

    “No force can stop this yatra,” asserted the former Congress president, whose party was a strong political force in Maharashtra for several decades and was a constituent of the three-party ruling coalition till June this year.

    Gandhi said the aim of the yatra is to bind the country together and highlighted major issues before the country.

    “The reality of India is that the country cannot give employment to its youth, even if it is willing. On one hand there is unemployment, on the other hand there is inflation,” he said, attacking the Modi government.

    The Congress MP said the main aim of his cross-country foot march is to raise voice against hatred, anger and violence that is being spread.

    Gandhi will address two rallies during his yatra in Maharashtra – the first on November 10 in Nanded district and on November 18 at Shegaon in Buldhana district.

    The march led by the Wayanad Lok Sabha MP will traverse through 15 Assembly and 6 parliamentary constituencies in Maharashtra during its sojourn.

    It will cover a distance of 382 kms across five districts before entering Madhya Pradesh on November 20.

    The yatra will proceed through Nanded district for four days and enter Hingoli district on November 11, Washim on November 15, Akola on November 16 and Buldhana on November 18, according to the schedule.

    The Congress has invited Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, both allies of the party, to take part in the foot march.

    Pawar had earlier said he would join the yatra.

    However, senior Congress leader Ashok Chavan has said the participation of Pawar in the yatra in Maharashtra will depend on his health condition.

    Pawar (81) was recently hospitalised in Mumbai for fever and other health issues. The NCP chief on Saturday flew to Shirdi from Mumbai with doctors and addressed a party convention briefly in the temple town in Ahmednagar district.

    Sachin Ahir, a legislator of the Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena, said former minister Aaditya Thackeray may join the Maharashtra leg of the 150-day-long yatra.

  • Maharashtra govt not taking concrete steps to help rain-hit farmers, says Pawar

    By PTI

    PUNE: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Monday said the Eknath Shinde-Bharatiya Janata Party government in Maharashtra has failed to take concrete measures to help cultivators who have incurred heavy losses due to rains in parts of the state.

    The former Union agriculture minister interacted with farmers in his home district of Pune to understand their grievances and losses faced by them due to heavy rainfall.

    Talking to farmers in Purandar tehsil, Pawar rued the state government was not ready to take concrete measures for cultivators who incurred heavy losses due to downpour.

    Pune has received unusually high amount of rains in October. During the interaction, the NCP leader empathized with farmers and told them he understood their pains and problems, and assured to make efforts to get relief.

    “Farmers have incurred losses because of heavy rains. The government should take some concrete steps to steer them out of this situation. However, the present government is not ready to take these kinds of measures. The Centre has also been apprised of the situation on ground, but no concrete decision has been taken,” Pawar said.

    He further said the state government recently announced a complete waiver for farmers who have taken loans from Bhuvikas Bank, but sought to know how many agriculturists have availed of credit from the lender.

    The state government has announced a loan waiver of Rs 964 crore from Bhuvikas Bank among other measures taken for development of the agriculture sector.

    “Two to three days ago, the state government announced a complete waiver for farmers who have taken loans from Bhuvikas Bank.

    Tell me in the last 10 years, has anyone here (referring to farmers present at interaction) taken a loan from Bhuvikas Bank? Do you even know whether Bhuvikas Bank exists?” Pawar said.

    “The bank used to be there, but its loans had been defaulted for the last 25 to 30 years. Nobody goes for recovery of loans. So, after realising that loans cannot be recovered, they have waived them,” he said.

    The NCP chief further said if help needs to be given to farmers who are in crisis, the rules must be kept aside and people in power should prioritise cultivators who have lost their crops due to heavy showers.

    “While the groundwater levels have increased because of heavy rainfall and it will remain so for another two years, the state government should pay for the current losses. We will take efforts for the same and if needed, we will agitate,” Pawar said.

    PUNE: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Monday said the Eknath Shinde-Bharatiya Janata Party government in Maharashtra has failed to take concrete measures to help cultivators who have incurred heavy losses due to rains in parts of the state.

    The former Union agriculture minister interacted with farmers in his home district of Pune to understand their grievances and losses faced by them due to heavy rainfall.

    Talking to farmers in Purandar tehsil, Pawar rued the state government was not ready to take concrete measures for cultivators who incurred heavy losses due to downpour.

    Pune has received unusually high amount of rains in October. During the interaction, the NCP leader empathized with farmers and told them he understood their pains and problems, and assured to make efforts to get relief.

    “Farmers have incurred losses because of heavy rains. The government should take some concrete steps to steer them out of this situation. However, the present government is not ready to take these kinds of measures. The Centre has also been apprised of the situation on ground, but no concrete decision has been taken,” Pawar said.

    He further said the state government recently announced a complete waiver for farmers who have taken loans from Bhuvikas Bank, but sought to know how many agriculturists have availed of credit from the lender.

    The state government has announced a loan waiver of Rs 964 crore from Bhuvikas Bank among other measures taken for development of the agriculture sector.

    “Two to three days ago, the state government announced a complete waiver for farmers who have taken loans from Bhuvikas Bank.

    Tell me in the last 10 years, has anyone here (referring to farmers present at interaction) taken a loan from Bhuvikas Bank? Do you even know whether Bhuvikas Bank exists?” Pawar said.

    “The bank used to be there, but its loans had been defaulted for the last 25 to 30 years. Nobody goes for recovery of loans. So, after realising that loans cannot be recovered, they have waived them,” he said.

    The NCP chief further said if help needs to be given to farmers who are in crisis, the rules must be kept aside and people in power should prioritise cultivators who have lost their crops due to heavy showers.

    “While the groundwater levels have increased because of heavy rainfall and it will remain so for another two years, the state government should pay for the current losses. We will take efforts for the same and if needed, we will agitate,” Pawar said.

  • Eknath Shinde govt restores general consent to CBI to probe cases in Maharashtra

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government has reversed the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) dispensation’s decision of withdrawing the general consent to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate cases in the state.

    The Shinde government restored the general consent given to the central probe agency, an official said.

    CM Shinde cleared the proposal of the home department headed by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to reverse the decision of MVA government to withdraw the general consent to the CBI to probe cases in the state, the official from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) told PTI.

    With the reversal of this decision, the CBI will no longer require permission of the state government to step in, he said.

    On October 21, 2020, the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government had withdrawn the general consent to the CBI under the contention that the central government was misusing central probe agencies to settle political scores.

    MUMBAI: The Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government has reversed the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) dispensation’s decision of withdrawing the general consent to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate cases in the state.

    The Shinde government restored the general consent given to the central probe agency, an official said.

    CM Shinde cleared the proposal of the home department headed by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to reverse the decision of MVA government to withdraw the general consent to the CBI to probe cases in the state, the official from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) told PTI.

    With the reversal of this decision, the CBI will no longer require permission of the state government to step in, he said.

    On October 21, 2020, the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government had withdrawn the general consent to the CBI under the contention that the central government was misusing central probe agencies to settle political scores.

  • Assembly bypoll: HC asks BMC to accept resignation of Team Uddhav’s candidate

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Thursday directed the Mumbai civic body to accept the resignation of Rutuja Latke, paving the way for her to file nomination for the Andheri (East) byelection as the candidate of the Shiv Sena faction led by Uddhav Thackeray.

    The last date for submitting nominations is October 14.

    Latke had on September 2 submitted a letter to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), with which she was employed as a clerk since 2006, requesting that it relax certain service conditions so that she can contest the November 3 byelection.

    After the BMC rejected her request on September 29, Latke on October 2 submitted her resignation.

    But the BMC did not take any decision.

    She then moved the court alleging that the corporation was delaying its decision deliberately so as to stop her from contesting the election.

    As per the Election Commission’s rules, a government employee can not file nomination to contest an election until her or his resignation is accepted.

    A division bench of Justices Nitin Jamdar and Sharmila Deshmukh on Thursday said the use or non-use of discretion by the BMC commissioner in this case was “arbitrary and malafide (done in bad faith)”.

    “The municipal commissioner has the discretionary power to accept the resignation and waive the notice period. According to us, discretion is to be used for bonafide purposes. The use or non-use of discretion, in this case, is arbitrary and malafide,” the court said.

    The bench asked the concerned BMC official to accept the resignation and issue appropriate letter by 11 am on Friday.

    “She is your employee. You should be helping her out. If an employee wants to resign and contest elections what is the difficulty? The petitioner is a clerk. Why is the municipal commissioner not using his discretion and taking a decision?” Justice Jamdar said.

    “It is a clerk who wants to resign, just say yes or no. Don’t give it so much importance. Don’t burden us, we already have many matters pending,” the court added.

    The bench also asked the municipal body to file an affidavit and adjourned the matter to October 20.

    This dispute should not have landed in the court in the first place as it was just an “employer-employee dispute”, the judges remarked.

    Earlier, the HC had asked the BMC’s counsel Anil Sakhare to inform if the corporation was willing to take a decision on the resignation.

    After taking instructions from the BMC, Sakhare said the civic body could not take immediate decision as it had received a complaint accusing Latke of corruption, bribery and “liaison.”

    “We will have to enquire into this complaint and only then we can take a decision,” the lawyer said.

    But the court noted that this complaint was filed on October 12, only a day earlier.

    Latke’s lawyer Vishwajeet Sawant questioned the intentions behind the filing of the complaint.

    “The BMC is not supposed to be partisan and take political sides. But they are now doing exactly the same,” advocate Sawant said.

    Latke had no pending dues nor was she facing any enquiry, and in the normal course her resignation would have been accepted by the Joint Commissioner, he said.

    Due to political circumstances it was pending for decision by the commissioner, he claimed.

    Latke’s petition alleged that the delay in the acceptance of her resignation seemed to be deliberate so as to prevent her from contesting the byelection.

    The election in suburban Mumbai was necessitated by the death of Latke’s husband and sitting Shiv Sena MLA Ramesh Latke.

    She also said that she will contest the bypoll with the ‘mashaal’ (flaming torch) symbol.

    The petition did not mention the political party but the symbol had been granted to the Thackeray-led Sena.

    The Andheri (East) byelection is the first electoral test of the Shiv Sena faction led by Uddhav Thackeray after the party split in June.

    It will also be the first election it will contest on its new symbol.

    The Congress and Nationalist Congress Party, the other two members of the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition, have pledged support to the ‘Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray’ party.

    The BJP is likely to field Murji Patel.

    Its ally, the `Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena’, the splinter faction of the Sena led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has not made its stand clear yet.

    Speaking to reporters outside the court, Latke welcomed the decision and said she had got justice.

    She would be fighting for the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, she said.

    MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Thursday directed the Mumbai civic body to accept the resignation of Rutuja Latke, paving the way for her to file nomination for the Andheri (East) byelection as the candidate of the Shiv Sena faction led by Uddhav Thackeray.

    The last date for submitting nominations is October 14.

    Latke had on September 2 submitted a letter to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), with which she was employed as a clerk since 2006, requesting that it relax certain service conditions so that she can contest the November 3 byelection.

    After the BMC rejected her request on September 29, Latke on October 2 submitted her resignation.

    But the BMC did not take any decision.

    She then moved the court alleging that the corporation was delaying its decision deliberately so as to stop her from contesting the election.

    As per the Election Commission’s rules, a government employee can not file nomination to contest an election until her or his resignation is accepted.

    A division bench of Justices Nitin Jamdar and Sharmila Deshmukh on Thursday said the use or non-use of discretion by the BMC commissioner in this case was “arbitrary and malafide (done in bad faith)”.

    “The municipal commissioner has the discretionary power to accept the resignation and waive the notice period. According to us, discretion is to be used for bonafide purposes. The use or non-use of discretion, in this case, is arbitrary and malafide,” the court said.

    The bench asked the concerned BMC official to accept the resignation and issue appropriate letter by 11 am on Friday.

    “She is your employee. You should be helping her out. If an employee wants to resign and contest elections what is the difficulty? The petitioner is a clerk. Why is the municipal commissioner not using his discretion and taking a decision?” Justice Jamdar said.

    “It is a clerk who wants to resign, just say yes or no. Don’t give it so much importance. Don’t burden us, we already have many matters pending,” the court added.

    The bench also asked the municipal body to file an affidavit and adjourned the matter to October 20.

    This dispute should not have landed in the court in the first place as it was just an “employer-employee dispute”, the judges remarked.

    Earlier, the HC had asked the BMC’s counsel Anil Sakhare to inform if the corporation was willing to take a decision on the resignation.

    After taking instructions from the BMC, Sakhare said the civic body could not take immediate decision as it had received a complaint accusing Latke of corruption, bribery and “liaison.”

    “We will have to enquire into this complaint and only then we can take a decision,” the lawyer said.

    But the court noted that this complaint was filed on October 12, only a day earlier.

    Latke’s lawyer Vishwajeet Sawant questioned the intentions behind the filing of the complaint.

    “The BMC is not supposed to be partisan and take political sides. But they are now doing exactly the same,” advocate Sawant said.

    Latke had no pending dues nor was she facing any enquiry, and in the normal course her resignation would have been accepted by the Joint Commissioner, he said.

    Due to political circumstances it was pending for decision by the commissioner, he claimed.

    Latke’s petition alleged that the delay in the acceptance of her resignation seemed to be deliberate so as to prevent her from contesting the byelection.

    The election in suburban Mumbai was necessitated by the death of Latke’s husband and sitting Shiv Sena MLA Ramesh Latke.

    She also said that she will contest the bypoll with the ‘mashaal’ (flaming torch) symbol.

    The petition did not mention the political party but the symbol had been granted to the Thackeray-led Sena.

    The Andheri (East) byelection is the first electoral test of the Shiv Sena faction led by Uddhav Thackeray after the party split in June.

    It will also be the first election it will contest on its new symbol.

    The Congress and Nationalist Congress Party, the other two members of the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition, have pledged support to the ‘Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray’ party.

    The BJP is likely to field Murji Patel.

    Its ally, the `Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena’, the splinter faction of the Sena led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has not made its stand clear yet.

    Speaking to reporters outside the court, Latke welcomed the decision and said she had got justice.

    She would be fighting for the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, she said.

  • Five MLAs, two MPs from Uddhav group to join Shinde-led faction: Shiv Sena leader

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Shiv Sena Lok Sabha member Krupal Tumane on Wednesday claimed two MPs and five MLAs from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena faction will join the group headed by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at the latter’s Dussehra rally in the evening.

    The two MPs could be from Mumbai and Marathwada region, Tumane, who is part of the Shinde group, told a news channel. “You will see in the evening,” he added.

    Those who believe in the Shinde faction’s ideology are themselves calling up and joining it, said Tumane, the MP from Ramtek in Maharashtra. At present, the Shinde faction comprises 40 MLAs, including the CM, and 12 Lok Sabha members.

    The Thackeray faction is left with 15 MLAs and six Lok Sabha members. Before the split in June this year, the Shiv Sena had 18 Lok Sabha members from Maharashtra and one from Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

    The rebel group led by Shinde will hold its Dussehra rally on Wednesday evening at the MMRDA ground at Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai.

    The Thackeray faction will hold its rally at the historic Shivaji Park in Dadar in central Mumbai, a venue associated with the Shiv Sena since its inception in 1966. Shinde and 39 other Sena legislators had rebelled against the party leadership in June, following which the Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government collapsed.

    On June 30, Shinde was sworn in as the CM along with BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis as his deputy.

    MUMBAI: Shiv Sena Lok Sabha member Krupal Tumane on Wednesday claimed two MPs and five MLAs from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena faction will join the group headed by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at the latter’s Dussehra rally in the evening.

    The two MPs could be from Mumbai and Marathwada region, Tumane, who is part of the Shinde group, told a news channel. “You will see in the evening,” he added.

    Those who believe in the Shinde faction’s ideology are themselves calling up and joining it, said Tumane, the MP from Ramtek in Maharashtra. At present, the Shinde faction comprises 40 MLAs, including the CM, and 12 Lok Sabha members.

    The Thackeray faction is left with 15 MLAs and six Lok Sabha members. Before the split in June this year, the Shiv Sena had 18 Lok Sabha members from Maharashtra and one from Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

    The rebel group led by Shinde will hold its Dussehra rally on Wednesday evening at the MMRDA ground at Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai.

    The Thackeray faction will hold its rally at the historic Shivaji Park in Dadar in central Mumbai, a venue associated with the Shiv Sena since its inception in 1966. Shinde and 39 other Sena legislators had rebelled against the party leadership in June, following which the Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government collapsed.

    On June 30, Shinde was sworn in as the CM along with BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis as his deputy.

  • Next generation Vande Bharat trains will be able to attain maximum speed of 200 kmph: Vaishnaw

    By PTI

    AURANGABAD: The Marathwada Rail Coach Factory at Latur in central Maharashtra will manufacture nearly 1,600 coaches for the upgraded version of Vande Bharat Express trains in the coming years and each of them will cost Rs 8 crore to Rs 9 crore, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said.

    He said the advanced version of Vande Bharat trains will be able to attain maximum speed of 200 km per hour (kmph).

    Vaishnaw was addressing the ‘Destination Marathwada’ event, organised by the Chamber of Marathwada Industries and Agriculture (CMIA), in Aurangabad on Monday evening.

    “The next version of Vande Bharat trains will be manufactured in Marathwada. Nearly 1,600 coaches will be manufactured at the facility in Latur. Each coach will cost Rs 8 crore to 9 crore. The project will create opportunities for companies located in radius of 400 km to 500 km,” he added.

    Talking about the next generation of Vande Bharat Express, Vaishnaw said, “The maximum speed of these trains will be 200 kmph as compared to 180 kmph now. First coach of this version will be rolled out in the next 15 to 16 months.”

    On challenges in manufacturing the semi-high-speed trains, the minister said, “We succeeded in bringing down the noise level inside them to 60-65 decibels which is less than an aircraft (85-90 decibels).”

    The speed of laying railway tracks has gone up since 2014, he said. “The speed of laying railway tracks was 4 km per day prior to 2014. This has now reached 12 km per day and the government intends to scale this up to 20 km per day,” Vaishnaw said.

    Aurangabad will get 5G internet facility before March 31, 2023, he said. The Aurangabad Industrial City (AURIC) will be projected as an investment destination by the railway ministry, Vaishnaw said.

    AURANGABAD: The Marathwada Rail Coach Factory at Latur in central Maharashtra will manufacture nearly 1,600 coaches for the upgraded version of Vande Bharat Express trains in the coming years and each of them will cost Rs 8 crore to Rs 9 crore, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said.

    He said the advanced version of Vande Bharat trains will be able to attain maximum speed of 200 km per hour (kmph).

    Vaishnaw was addressing the ‘Destination Marathwada’ event, organised by the Chamber of Marathwada Industries and Agriculture (CMIA), in Aurangabad on Monday evening.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “The next version of Vande Bharat trains will be manufactured in Marathwada. Nearly 1,600 coaches will be manufactured at the facility in Latur. Each coach will cost Rs 8 crore to 9 crore. The project will create opportunities for companies located in radius of 400 km to 500 km,” he added.

    Talking about the next generation of Vande Bharat Express, Vaishnaw said, “The maximum speed of these trains will be 200 kmph as compared to 180 kmph now. First coach of this version will be rolled out in the next 15 to 16 months.”

    On challenges in manufacturing the semi-high-speed trains, the minister said, “We succeeded in bringing down the noise level inside them to 60-65 decibels which is less than an aircraft (85-90 decibels).”

    The speed of laying railway tracks has gone up since 2014, he said. “The speed of laying railway tracks was 4 km per day prior to 2014. This has now reached 12 km per day and the government intends to scale this up to 20 km per day,” Vaishnaw said.

    Aurangabad will get 5G internet facility before March 31, 2023, he said. The Aurangabad Industrial City (AURIC) will be projected as an investment destination by the railway ministry, Vaishnaw said.

  • Next generation Vande Bharat trains will be able to attain maximum speed of 200 kmph: Vaishnaw

    By PTI

    AURANGABAD: The Marathwada Rail Coach Factory at Latur in central Maharashtra will manufacture nearly 1,600 coaches for the upgraded version of Vande Bharat Express trains in the coming years and each of them will cost Rs 8 crore to Rs 9 crore, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said.

    He said the advanced version of Vande Bharat trains will be able to attain maximum speed of 200 km per hour (kmph).

    Vaishnaw was addressing the ‘Destination Marathwada’ event, organised by the Chamber of Marathwada Industries and Agriculture (CMIA), in Aurangabad on Monday evening.

    “The next version of Vande Bharat trains will be manufactured in Marathwada. Nearly 1,600 coaches will be manufactured at the facility in Latur. Each coach will cost Rs 8 crore to 9 crore. The project will create opportunities for companies located in radius of 400 km to 500 km,” he added.

    Talking about the next generation of Vande Bharat Express, Vaishnaw said, “The maximum speed of these trains will be 200 kmph as compared to 180 kmph now. First coach of this version will be rolled out in the next 15 to 16 months.”

    On challenges in manufacturing the semi-high-speed trains, the minister said, “We succeeded in bringing down the noise level inside them to 60-65 decibels which is less than an aircraft (85-90 decibels).”

    The speed of laying railway tracks has gone up since 2014, he said. “The speed of laying railway tracks was 4 km per day prior to 2014. This has now reached 12 km per day and the government intends to scale this up to 20 km per day,” Vaishnaw said.

    Aurangabad will get 5G internet facility before March 31, 2023, he said. The Aurangabad Industrial City (AURIC) will be projected as an investment destination by the railway ministry, Vaishnaw said.

    AURANGABAD: The Marathwada Rail Coach Factory at Latur in central Maharashtra will manufacture nearly 1,600 coaches for the upgraded version of Vande Bharat Express trains in the coming years and each of them will cost Rs 8 crore to Rs 9 crore, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said.

    He said the advanced version of Vande Bharat trains will be able to attain maximum speed of 200 km per hour (kmph).

    Vaishnaw was addressing the ‘Destination Marathwada’ event, organised by the Chamber of Marathwada Industries and Agriculture (CMIA), in Aurangabad on Monday evening.

    “The next version of Vande Bharat trains will be manufactured in Marathwada. Nearly 1,600 coaches will be manufactured at the facility in Latur. Each coach will cost Rs 8 crore to 9 crore. The project will create opportunities for companies located in radius of 400 km to 500 km,” he added.

    Talking about the next generation of Vande Bharat Express, Vaishnaw said, “The maximum speed of these trains will be 200 kmph as compared to 180 kmph now. First coach of this version will be rolled out in the next 15 to 16 months.”

    On challenges in manufacturing the semi-high-speed trains, the minister said, “We succeeded in bringing down the noise level inside them to 60-65 decibels which is less than an aircraft (85-90 decibels).”

    The speed of laying railway tracks has gone up since 2014, he said. “The speed of laying railway tracks was 4 km per day prior to 2014. This has now reached 12 km per day and the government intends to scale this up to 20 km per day,” Vaishnaw said.

    Aurangabad will get 5G internet facility before March 31, 2023, he said. The Aurangabad Industrial City (AURIC) will be projected as an investment destination by the railway ministry, Vaishnaw said.

  • Shinde’s fiat to ministers: ‘No one should speak to media unless told’

    Express News Service

    MUMBAI: In view of negative publicity, Maharashtra Chief  Minister Eknath Shinde reprimanded his minister and asked them not to make any controversial statements. Maharashtra CM had a meeting with his faction’s ministers and MLAs where he told them to not skirt any controversy.

    “I am chief minister of Maharashtra still I am not making any statements on sensitive issues. But you people are making all sorts of statements that are creating negative perceptions about our factions among people. Unless I say, no one should speak with the media. You should avoid speaking with the media about every issue,” Shinde told his ministers.

    Shinde further told his ministers that they are fighting the long legal battle against Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and their one statement can change the scenario. “Shinde wants to win the perception battle against Uddhav Thackeray. At present, there is a lot of public sympathy towards Uddhav Thackeray, and Shinde has been perceived as the villain who snatched the chair of Thackeray. Shinde wants to change this perception by winning many hearts and close associates of Uddhav Thackeray, but his ministers are continuously stoking the controversy and diverting the agenda,” said a senior leader close to Shinde. 

    Tanaji Sawant, the health minister who belongs to Shinde camp apologized for his objectionable comment against the Maratha community. Sawant during his speech said that the Maratha community had developed an “itch” for reservations. Earlier also, he made several controversies. The Opposition demanded sacking of Sawant for his controversial remarks against the Maratha community.

    Earlier, a photo of CM Shinde’s son Shreekant Shinde sitting in the chief minister’s chair had gone viral. Later, Shreekant Shinde clarified that it was not the CM chair, but their office chair where the chief minister board was by mistakenly kept in the background.  

    Tanaji trolledMeanwhile, Tanaji Sawant was trolled on social media for his alleged goof-ups in his meeting schedule. Sawant became the subject of various memes as the schedule only mentioned his travel from his private office to his home and back. 

    The document went viral and became the topic of jokes, after which Sawant’s office revised the schedule. 

    Rashmi Thackeray visits Shinde’s stronghold in ThaneThe wife of Uddhav Thackeray, Rashmi Thackeray, visited Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde’s stronghold Thane on Thursday. Rashmi visited the Tembhi Naka Navratri Mandal in Thane. Rashmi was accompanied by Shiv Sena Lok Sabha MP Rajan Vichare and former Mumbai mayor Kishori Pednekar among others. Earlier, Shiv Sena shared an image of Rashmi  congratulating the party workers after Bombay High court granted permission to Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena to hold its annual Dusshera rally at Shivaji Park. Sources in Shiv Sena said that Rashmi has always been the tacit support to Uddhav, but of late she has been more vocal and visible within the Sena circle and telling her party workers that she is very much there even though it is a long political battle against Maharashtra CM and the BJP in Maharashtra. ENS

    MUMBAI: In view of negative publicity, Maharashtra Chief  Minister Eknath Shinde reprimanded his minister and asked them not to make any controversial statements. Maharashtra CM had a meeting with his faction’s ministers and MLAs where he told them to not skirt any controversy.

    “I am chief minister of Maharashtra still I am not making any statements on sensitive issues. But you people are making all sorts of statements that are creating negative perceptions about our factions among people. Unless I say, no one should speak with the media. You should avoid speaking with the media about every issue,” Shinde told his ministers.

    Shinde further told his ministers that they are fighting the long legal battle against Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and their one statement can change the scenario. “Shinde wants to win the perception battle against Uddhav Thackeray. At present, there is a lot of public sympathy towards Uddhav Thackeray, and Shinde has been perceived as the villain who snatched the chair of Thackeray. Shinde wants to change this perception by winning many hearts and close associates of Uddhav Thackeray, but his ministers are continuously stoking the controversy and diverting the agenda,” said a senior leader close to Shinde. 

    Tanaji Sawant, the health minister who belongs to Shinde camp apologized for his objectionable comment against the Maratha community. Sawant during his speech said that the Maratha community had developed an “itch” for reservations. Earlier also, he made several controversies. The Opposition demanded sacking of Sawant for his controversial remarks against the Maratha community.

    Earlier, a photo of CM Shinde’s son Shreekant Shinde sitting in the chief minister’s chair had gone viral. Later, Shreekant Shinde clarified that it was not the CM chair, but their office chair where the chief minister board was by mistakenly kept in the background.  

    Tanaji trolled
    Meanwhile, Tanaji Sawant was trolled on social media for his alleged goof-ups in his meeting schedule. Sawant became the subject of various memes as the schedule only mentioned his travel from his private 
    office to his home and back. 

    The document went viral and became the topic of jokes, after which Sawant’s office revised the schedule. 

    Rashmi Thackeray visits Shinde’s stronghold in Thane
    The wife of Uddhav Thackeray, Rashmi Thackeray, visited Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde’s stronghold Thane on Thursday. Rashmi visited the Tembhi Naka Navratri Mandal in Thane. Rashmi was accompanied by Shiv Sena Lok Sabha MP Rajan Vichare and former Mumbai mayor Kishori Pednekar among others. Earlier, Shiv Sena shared an image of Rashmi  congratulating the party workers after Bombay High court granted permission to Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena to hold its annual Dusshera rally at Shivaji Park. Sources in Shiv Sena said that Rashmi has always been the tacit support to Uddhav, but of late she has been more vocal and visible within the Sena circle and telling her party workers that she is very much there even though it is a long political battle against Maharashtra CM and the BJP in Maharashtra. ENS

  • BJP makes gain in Maharashtra local body elections

    Express News Service

    MUMBAI:  In the local body elections of gram panchayat, the BJP has emerged as the single largest party. While the NCP bagged second most seats, the Maha Vikas Aghadi as an alliance together, got the highest numbers of gram panchayats in Maharashtra.

    After the change of power in the state, for the first time there were local elections. The local body elections shows that the BJP still has a stronghold in Maharashtra with its bagging the highest numbers of gram panchayats that is 125, while the NCP continues to dominate its influence in the rural part of  the state with winning the second largest gram panchayats that is 118. 

    The performance of Congress, Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde-led factions and Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena’s performance in local elections turned out to be poor. Interestingly, if all three parties of the Maha Vikas Aghadi won gram panchayats, that is 181, while the BJP and Shinde camp has won 153-gram panchayats in the state. It shows that the Maha Vikas Aghadi together can still outperform the new political alignment in the state.

    In Pune district, the NCP continued its dominance in local body elections. Out of 61 gram panchayats, the NCP won the highest 30 while BJP won three, Shinde camp won the three and Shiv Sena won the two while the remaining gram panchayat were won by the local alliances. Interestingly, in Yavatmal district, Congress party bagged the highest 33 gram panchayats out of 71 while NCP won the nine, BJP won the two, Shiv Sena won the three gram panchayat and remained by local alliances.

    In Jalgaon district, the NCP won four while BJP, Shinde camp and Shiv Sena won the three seats in local body elections. On the other hand, in Dhule district, BJP out of 32 gram panchayats out of total 33 gram panchayats. It shows the BJP’s dominance in Dhule district in local body elections. 

    MUMBAI:  In the local body elections of gram panchayat, the BJP has emerged as the single largest party. While the NCP bagged second most seats, the Maha Vikas Aghadi as an alliance together, got the highest numbers of gram panchayats in Maharashtra.

    After the change of power in the state, for the first time there were local elections. The local body elections shows that the BJP still has a stronghold in Maharashtra with its bagging the highest numbers of gram panchayats that is 125, while the NCP continues to dominate its influence in the rural part of  the state with winning the second largest gram panchayats that is 118. 

    The performance of Congress, Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde-led factions and Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena’s performance in local elections turned out to be poor. Interestingly, if all three parties of the Maha Vikas Aghadi won gram panchayats, that is 181, while the BJP and Shinde camp has won 153-gram panchayats in the state. It shows that the Maha Vikas Aghadi together can still outperform the new political alignment in the state.

    In Pune district, the NCP continued its dominance in local body elections. Out of 61 gram panchayats, the NCP won the highest 30 while BJP won three, Shinde camp won the three and Shiv Sena won the two while the remaining gram panchayat were won by the local alliances. Interestingly, in Yavatmal district, Congress party bagged the highest 33 gram panchayats out of 71 while NCP won the nine, BJP won the two, Shiv Sena won the three gram panchayat and remained by local alliances.

    In Jalgaon district, the NCP won four while BJP, Shinde camp and Shiv Sena won the three seats in local body elections. On the other hand, in Dhule district, BJP out of 32 gram panchayats out of total 33 gram panchayats. It shows the BJP’s dominance in Dhule district in local body elections.
     

  • Moderate risk of flash flood in parts of Maharashtra’s Vidarbha, warns IMD

    By PTI

    NAGPUR:  The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday warned of “moderate flash flood risk” in the next 24 hours in a few areas in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra.

    Talking to PTI, Dr Praveen Kumar, scientist, Regional Meteorological Centre (Nagpur) – a unit of the IMD – said there is a possibility of “moderate flash flood risk” in the next 24 hours in a few places of Nagpur, Amravati, Gadchiroli, Gondia, Chandrapur and Bhandara districts of Vidarbha.

    Due to a well-marked low-pressure area over central parts of Madhya Pradesh, heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected over the adjoining state and moderate to heavy showers over a few districts of Vidarbha, which may cause moderate flooding, he said.

    According to the latest IMD bulletin, a thunderstorm with lightning is likely to occur at isolated places over Nagpur and Wardha.

    Light to moderate rainfall is likely to occur at most places over Wardha, many places over Nagpur, at a few areas over Yavatmal and at isolated places over Akola, Amravati, Chandrapur and Washim districts of Vidarbha, it said.

    There is a possibility of an intense spell of rainfall with the gusty wind (speed 40-50 kmph) at isolated places over Nagpur, said the bulletin.

    NAGPUR:  The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday warned of “moderate flash flood risk” in the next 24 hours in a few areas in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra.

    Talking to PTI, Dr Praveen Kumar, scientist, Regional Meteorological Centre (Nagpur) – a unit of the IMD – said there is a possibility of “moderate flash flood risk” in the next 24 hours in a few places of Nagpur, Amravati, Gadchiroli, Gondia, Chandrapur and Bhandara districts of Vidarbha.

    Due to a well-marked low-pressure area over central parts of Madhya Pradesh, heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected over the adjoining state and moderate to heavy showers over a few districts of Vidarbha, which may cause moderate flooding, he said.

    According to the latest IMD bulletin, a thunderstorm with lightning is likely to occur at isolated places over Nagpur and Wardha.

    Light to moderate rainfall is likely to occur at most places over Wardha, many places over Nagpur, at a few areas over Yavatmal and at isolated places over Akola, Amravati, Chandrapur and Washim districts of Vidarbha, it said.

    There is a possibility of an intense spell of rainfall with the gusty wind (speed 40-50 kmph) at isolated places over Nagpur, said the bulletin.