Keyword : Maharashtra

Mumbai will be transformed into global financial hub

More space, more funds and a time-bound programme will turn Mumbai, the financial capital of the country, into global financial hub. Speaking at Mumbai Next, an ideas exchange platfo

No surprises in byelections, huge win for ADMK in Jaya’s seat

As anticipated the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) won the assembly by-election to the prestigious Srirangam constituency of Tamil Nadu, earlier held by the party chief J J

Maharashtra goes for public gyms to promote healthy lifestyle

Maharashtra government has taken some innovative steps in its budget to make health an important issue in daily life Most of the aliments (blood pressure, diabetes and heart diseases

Advancing monsoon and cyclonic storm bring rainfall to west coast

The deep depression in the Arabian Sea has intensified into cyclonic storm `Ashobaa`. It may develop into a `super cyclonic storm` in next 24-36 hours. However, the landfall of the cyclonic storm m

Maharashtra to have regulator for real estate sector

Recognising the unique needs of Maharashtra, especially that of Mumbai, the centre has approved formation of a regulatory body to safeguard interests of home buyers. The regulatory a

Maharashtra’s Bhujbal, raided by ACB, has house with helipad

Maharashtra’s former minister Chhagan Bhujbal is facing corruption heat. Maharashtra’s anti-corruption bureau conducted searches on Tuesday at 6 properties belonging to Bhujbal and his

Maharashtra minister Munde in a sweet controversy

The sweet jaggery is becoming bitter for Maharashtra minister Pankaja Munde. A major portion of Munde’s purchase scam involves ‘chikki’ an inexpensive nutrition bar made of jagger

Maharashtra again suspends encounter specialist Daya Nayak

Maharashtra government has suspended its `encounter specialist` Daya Nayak from service for the second time in his career. No official notification is available and a possible reason for suspension

Cisco to transform orange city Nagpur into smart city

The orange city of India will be a smart city soon. Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Cisco in San-Fransisco to make his home town a s

Muslims see sinister move in Maharashtra schools survey

Saturday (July 4) was a big day for the education department. The Maharashtra government undertook a massive survey, ostensibly to count the number of out-of-school children. The department of scho

Maharashtra minister Munde’s chikki fit for consumption

Now the taste will be sweet. The controversial `chikki` supplied to Ahmednagar district schools has been found unadulterated and fit for consumption by two government labs and this news brings reli

Shiv Sena takes up of Ganesh mandals’ problems with Maharashtra CM

Ganesh utsav is a very popular community event in Maharashtra and over the years the 11-festival has generated many controversies. This year the festival begins on September 17 and the Shiv Sena pr

A Coin for Mumbai cops to tackle cyber crimes

Mumbai police can now use COIN to detect cyber crimes. Launched with the help of Asian School of Cyber Laws the collaborative online investigation network (COIN) will be a boon for the law enforcem

Acute water shortage hits Marathwada, CM takes stock of monsoon failure

With many parts of Maharashtra witnessing drought like situation, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis embarked on tour of affected areas of Marathwada. He also visited Ahmednagar and Solapur districts

Maharashtra panel wants govt to set up agri risk fund

As the Marathwada region of Maharashtra reels under drought like conditions due to failure of monsoon, a panel constituted by state government has recommended moratorium on debt recovery and establ

Maharashtra goes for single licence concept for industries

The Maharashtra cabinet on Monday decided to relax rules for promoting investment in the state. It gave investors virtually one ticket for industrial licence. Accordingly, those who have availed pe

Meat ban spreads: After Mumbai, Rajasthan says no and J&K court bans beef

India is witnessing food politics. When more than 30% of the population cannot afford one full meal a day, communities are out to ban food items. Amid the controversy in Mumbai over

Mumbai train blasts case accused held guilty, sentencing on Monday

A special court in Mumbai today convicted 12 of the 13 accused for their role in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts that killed 188 people and injured more than 800. Special judge Yatin D Shinde of Mahar

Maharashtra plans to urge companies to up spending

For better management and to make a difference in the society, the Maharashtra government plans to meet 100 private companies’ representatives in October to encourage them to invest more in c

Drought surcharge imposed in Maharashtra to mop up funds for farmers

The Maharashtra government has introduced a `drought surcharge` on a host of items ranging from fuel and liquor to cigarettes and jewellery to raise Rs 1,600 crore. The new taxes came into effect f

Maharashtra gets top billing in travel list

In an evaluation carried out for 30 states over the last few months, Maharashtra has been ranked number one in this year`s survey on for tourism, travel and leisure. The state`s rank

Sena now targets Maharashtra CM Fadnavis, calls him pro-Pakistan

Pakistan has generated havoc and bitterness in Indian polity without lifting a finger. In Maharashtra ruling alliance partner Shiv Sena has hit back at BJP leader and chief minister Devendra Fadnav

Maharashtra goes for stock limit of pulses

The Maharashtra government has set stock limits to regulate prices of pulses across markets in the state. The stock limit and regulation provisions would continue till September 2016.  The pri

Maharashtra govt doubles festival advance for employees

The Maharashtra government has decided to increase the festival advance of non-gazetted employees to Rs 10,000. This change follows guidelines issued the central government. Earlier, the advance am

Evening digest: Kerala CM writes to PM Modi against crackdown on beef

Kerala government has dismissed the charges that beef curry was served at Kerala House in Delhi. The Kerala government has filed a complaint over entry of activists without permission. Kerala Chief

Housing regulator for Maharashtra by year-end

Maharashtra will soon have a housing regulatory authority. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said that the housing regulator would be established within a month. The housing regulator will be a

Make in India: Rs 15.20 lakh crore investment promised

The just concluded Make In India Week has garnered business commitment of Rs 15.20 lakh crore in investment from global and domestic companies – of which  close to Rs 8 lakh crore will g

Maharashtra’s development pattern alien to Vidarbha and Marathwada: Shrihari Aney

There is conflict of duty and absolute absence of clarity on the powers of an advocate general’s post. Government has enough lawyers called government pleaders. Advocate general is a constitu

Has anyone read the drought management guidelines?

A number of districts in the country, especially in Maharashtra, have been reeling under drought for several months. Though water is a state subject, there have been a number of guidelines released

Maharashtra drought: Two children die in three days

In a span of just three days, two children were killed by the intense heat wave in Maharashtra’s drought-hit Marathwada region. A 12-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy, both belonging to Be

Technical teams to visit drought-hit areas, suggest water management

Several states are facing water crisis, with Maharashtra being the worst hit. Now, the technical teams of Central Water Commission and Central Ground Water Board will now study water situation in d

Centre to allow states to impose stock limits on sugar

In an attempt to curb the trend of rising sugar prices, the Centre has decided to allow states to impose and enforce stock holding limits on dealers of sugar. The move has been brought about after

Now, a data bank of traffic violations across India

 An e-challan software would now be providing a comprehensive enforcement solution for state transport enforcement cells and traffic police. Developed by the national informatics centr

Time for a water law

Fifty-two-year-old Shanti Devi from Sarkhadi village in Uttar Pradesh’s Bundelkhand region walks 12 km every day to fill two earthen pots with water, that lasts for two days. Then she fetches

Water scarcity: It’s the crop pattern

“The world has enough for everyone’s needs, but not everyone’s greed.”                

Scary scarcity of water

One billion people will be facing severe water shortage in India and neighbouring areas by 2050 thanks to climate change and expansion of economic growth, according to a projection made by the rese

There is a water emergency now: Rajendra Singh

Are you aware of the MIT study which projects acute water stress in India 35 years from now? Why wait for 35 years? Even now 11 states are facing a water eme

Take your kids out to Nainital lake this summer...

Here is no water but only rock, Rock and no water and the sandy road. The road winding above among the mountains, Which are mountains of rock without water.

All’s not well as wells end

Of the many thought-provoking stories by literary legend Premchand, there is one about a landlord’s arrogance and water scarcity. It is titled ‘Thakur ka Kuan’ (the landlord&rsquo

Thirsty world stares at limp economy

India along with the rest of the world is facing an acute water scarcity, a crisis that is deepening with each passing year and now posing a threat to the world economy. A World Bank

Maharashtra staring at water famine: Yogendra Yadav

 “In Maharashtra the water scarcity has already turned into a water crisis and is fast progressing towards a water famine,” said Yogendra Yadav of Swaraj Abhiyan after completing 1

A calamity bigger than drought

For the past two months Ghaneshwar Yadav, a native of Bihar, has been working as a daily wage labourer in New Delhi’s Okhla area. With a few clothes tucked into a tattered plastic bag, Yadav

All government services to be online in Maharashtra

 "I am looking at a day when people will not have to visit government offices because the government will be available on their mobile phones," said Fadnavis while talking about Apne

AAP demands probe in shops’ allocation in Maharashtra’s Jalna city

 AAP national spokesperson Preeti Sharma Menon has accused Khotkar, who is Maharashtra minister of state for textiles, animal husbandry, dairy development and fisheries, of corruption to the t

Efforts on to conserve bunker found in Maharashtra Raj Bhavan

A committee of experts will prepare a comprehensive conservation plan for the 150 metre long colonial bunker that was discovered under the governor’s office-cum-residence at Malabar Hill in&n

Maharashtra horror: 740 tribal students died in last 10 years

 As many as 740 students of residential schools in tribal areas have died in Maharashtra in the past 10 years, revealed an internal report of the state tribal development department.

How tribal infants are dying of malnutrition in Palghar

On a cloudy afternoon in the last days of September, a five-watt bulb hangs inside a kuchha hut in Kalamwadi village, somewhere deep in a tribal area of Palghar district, Maharashtra. The flickerin

NHRC issues notice to women and child development ministry

 The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of the condition of crèches in the country and has issued a notice to the ministry of women and child developm

Convenient coalition vs. aspirational alliance

 It is that time when contesting parties take the road less travelled, woo their voters with dream schemes and swear by their promises. Each party attempts to gerrymander vote share and appeas

NPCIL inks MoU with French public utility for n-reactor

 The French government in January 2016 communicated that French public utility Electricite de France (EDF) was designated to take control of AREVA NP and would be the single point for Indian s

NHRC issues notice to Karnataka and Maharashtra govt over unusually large number of hysterectomies

    The National Human Rights Commission has issued notices to the governments of Karnataka and Maharashtra for an unusual large number of Hysterectomy procedures being perf

BHEL unveils two thermal units in Maharashtra

State-owned enterprise, BHEL has commissioned two units of 270 MW capacity at RattanIndia Nasik Power Limited’s thermal power project at Nasik in Maharashtra.  

Need to bring down power cost in Maharashtra

The electricity charges in Mumbai are the highest in entire Maharashtra and experts are wondering why the prices have not come down despite the fall in coal prices. For consumption b

Maharashtra, UP, Gujarat saw significant investments in real estate

Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat together account for over half of the total investments attracted by real estate and construction sector in India as of December 2016, noted a study by ASSOCH

CAG detects shortcomings in Maharashtra PSUs

The Comptroller and Auditor General has noticed shortcomings in Maharashtra PSUs and said that the Maharashtra Airport Development Company Limited even after 14 years of its existence could not dev

Farmers are incensed and a fast won’t calm them

There are different arguments for the farmers’ agitation which first caught Maharashtra in its octopus grip and then spread to Madhya Pradesh where six people were killed in police firing. Un

Farm loan waiver: Maharashtra mulls hiking non-tax revenue

 The Maharashtra government’s decision to waive its farmers loans is estimated to set back the state government by Rs30,000-Rs32,000 crore. The state’s overall debt is likely to ba

Must empower trafficking victims: Fadnavis

 Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has said that human trafficking is a crime against humanity and “the victims lose their dignity and die every day”.  Sp

Why this should not be an ISOlated case

Sitting in his office on the fifth floor of the Mantralaya building in Mumbai, Sudhir Mungantiwar is all smiles. The minister of finance and planning, Maharashtra, has achieved something which ot

Stories you must not miss this weekend

There are many surmises: was she killed because she was anti-establishment? Was she killed because of the rise of that right-wing that disliked her anti-Hindutva stance? Was she killed because she

Decline in tobacco consumption in Maharashtra: Survey

 Tobacco use among adults has come down in Maharashtra, showed the findings of the latest Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS2) . As compared to earlier report of GATS1 (2009-2010), th

Mumbai tense after caste violence in Pune

 Violence erupted in several parts of Maharashtra following the death of a 30-year old who was hit with stones when he was returning from office on Monday after a fight  broke out between

Why did a 200-year-old battle trigger violence

Maharashtra has been ravaged by violence that was triggered over a battle fought in 1818. Here’s why the 200 year old battle caused arson and rioting. What happened?

Can Shiv Sena provide a new template for regional parties?

The bickering between the BJP and the Shiv Sena has now become a regular feature. The Sena is seen to be progressively distancing from the BJP following its announcement that it will not contest th

How to make Mumbai green

In November 2015, Mumbaikars started an exciting experiment. Called Equal Streets, it was a citizen initiative to usher in equality at least in the usage of roads and streets. Thus, on Sunday morni

Trouble on the metro line

The storm is yet to die out over the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited`s (MMRC) taking over 30 hectares of the famed Aarey colony, a green belt of mumbai, when another application has come in f

Mumbai Development Plan annoys activists and experts

Approximately one-eighth of Mumbai’s existing landmass is proposed to be added for development works, especially for housing of low income groups. Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadn

“Only a sense of ownership will bring sustainability”

A practising orthopaedic surgeon, Dr Patil is a minister of state for home, urban development, law & judiciary, parliamentary affairs and skill development for the Maharashtra government. I

Saudi ARAMCO and ADNOC ink pact for India’s $44 bn refinery

State owned Saudi Aramco and Abu Dhabi national oil company (ADNOC) have signed a pact to jointly build a $44 billion integrated refinery and petrochemicals complex at Ratnagiri in Maharashtra. The

NHRC notice over Maharashtra farmer suicides

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports about the Maharashtra government informing the state assembly that 639 farmers had committed suicide in th

An elastic plastic ban

For a ban that arrived with a bang, it seems to be fading away even before it could take effect. The Maharashtra government has backtracted to allow groceries and general stores to continue to use

NHRC notice over rights activists’ arrest

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the Maharashtra government, taking note of the arrest of five human-rights activists from different cities. Maharash

6 percent reduction in tobacco use in India: GATS 2

Tobacco consumption in India has decreased by 6 percent among the adult population. As per the latest GATS 2 (Global Adult Tobacco Survey), tobacco consumption among adults aged 15 and above has co

The light turns amber

In a black salwar-suit and matching headscarf, Ruksana (name changed) listens carefully from a corner of the hall. Members of her support group are talking about their suffering, struggles, aspirat

Banking sector will now look at reaching poorest of poor

“The banking sector under the leadership of prime minister Narendra Modi has seen major announcements like the bold step of demonetization and PMJDY which were never seen before. We are now l

Prakash Ambedkar on why he wants other parties to mention the candidates’ community

Prakash Ambedkar, grandson of Dr BR Ambedkar and popularly known as Balasaheb Ambedkar, heads the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA). The three-time MP founded this new political party last year with

Ashish Shelar of BJP says, “We are very confident of victory”

Ashish Shelar, 47, was the president of the Mumbai city unit of the BJP, before he became the minister of school education, sports and youth welfare in the Maharashta government this year. He h

“If the oppn is weak you can’t blame the govt for that”

A three-term Rajya Sabha member, Sanjay Raut is the Shiv Sena spokesperson and its voice in parliament. He is also the executive editor of Marathi newspaper Samana, started by Shiv Sena founder

Manmohan Singh favours ‘time-tested measures’ for economy

The much hyped ‘double engine’ model of governance on which the BJP is seeking votes has utterly failed, and Mumbai and Maharashtra have had to face some of the worst effects of economi

All you wanted to know about Maharashtra, Haryana elections

Fact Sheet: Maharashtra assembly elections * Date of polling: 21 October * Date of counting 24 October * Assembly Constituencies: 288

Modi wave, it seems, shows no signs of stopping

The voters’ trust in Brand Modi is not a short-term affair – if anything, it is only increasing, or so it seems going by the numbers exit polls have given after the Maharashtra and Hary

BJP wins Maharashtra, nearly there in Haryana

Banking on the continued Modi wave, the BJP, along with the ally Shiv Sena, won the Maharashtra assembly elections in Haryana, it ran out of steam and could not achieve the simple majority.

BJP-Sena alliance will go by pre-decided understanding: Fadnavis

Though the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena got fewer seats in the next Maharashtra assembly than what the exit polls had predicted, the alliance has retained its edge over the opp

Shiv Sena set to form government in Maharashtra

The BJP’s oldest ally Shiv Sena is once again parting ways, putting their alliance behind and preparing to form government in Maharashtra with the support of the NCP and Congress.

Power struggle, stalemate lead to president’s rule in Maharashtra

Maharashtra has been placed under the president’s rule after the leading contenders failed to make a head start in government formation amid tussle for power. Governor Bhagat S

Maharashtra set to get first Shiv Sainik CM

The conundrum in Maharashtra is moving towards resolution, as the Shiv Sena has secured the support of the ideological opponents, the Congress and the NCP, to form the government, after the BJP, th

Fadnavis is Maharashtra chief minister, after all

In the latest development in the unusual roller-coaster of events in Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis of BJP was sworn in as chief minister Saturday morning, with Ajit Pawar of the NCP as deputy chie

Supreme court verdict on Maharashtra on Tuesday

Amid the high drama in Maharashtra politics, the supreme court has reserved its judgment on Tuesday, even as the Shiv Sena and NCP wrote to the governor, claiming they had the number to prove major

Fadnavis, Ajit Pawar quit after supreme court order on floor test

Devendra Fadnavis of BJP resigned as Maharashtra chief minister Tuesday afternoon, three after he was sworn in. Earlier in the day, Ajit Pawar of NCP resigned as deputy chief minister. The dramatic

Maharashtra finally has a govt: now for the difficult part

Maharashtra finally has a government in place that has enough numbers, but its longevity may be tested time and again, given the differing ideological commitments of the three parties that make it

End of ideology, coalition politics and popular mandate?

On November 29, Uddhav Thackeray, the 19th chief minister of Maharashtra and the leader of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), won the vote of confidence in the 244-member Vidhan Sabha of Maharashtra. Wit

Ambedkar home in Mumbai to become national monument

The chawl in Mumbai where Dr BR Ambedkar, the father of the Constitution, lived between 1912 and 1934 will be converted into a national monument. Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Th

Thackeray keeps home with Shiv Sena, NCP gets finance, Cong revenue

Two weeks after the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) came to power in Maharashtra on November 28 following a month-long political tug of war, chief minister Uddhav Thackerey has announced cabinet portfolios

Ajit Pawar returns as deputy CM – for the fourth time

Thirty-two days after taking oath as chief minister, Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has expanded his council of ministers by inducting 26 cabinet ministers and 10 ministers of state (M

You have to sometimes find your adversary No. 1: Prithviraj Chavan

Prithviraj Chavan, a senior Congress leader and former Maharashtra chief minister, is the key architect of the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance that came to power after the three-day gov

Maharashtra poll panel rolls out Electors Verification Programme

The Maharashtra State Election Commission has urged the residents to take advantage of the ongoing Electors Verification Programme (EVP) and register their names along with those of the members of

AAP to contest all Maharashtra local elections

Bolstered by Tuesday’s stupendous victory once again in Delhi assembly elections, the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has decided to contest all local elections in Maharashtra.

Most of India under lockdown as COVID-19 cases go up

India is making an all-out effort to save a billion-plus people from the outbreak of COVID-19, bringing most parts of the country under curfew and lockdown, as the number of people affected by the

Doctors, others continue to face vigilantism

Scare following the outbreak of Covid-19 has led some people to turn to vigilantism, harassing people at the frontline of fighting the disease and keeping the country running amid the lockdown.

India ramps efforts as COVID-19 cases rise

As COVID -19 cases continue to rise amid a 21-day lockdown, the centre and the states are proactively taking measures to provide aid to the underprivileged and the needy during this unprecedented s

COVID-19 demobilisation: Lessons for public governance

Demobilization, like its predecessor – demonetization, is another decision gone bad in implementation.  In both instances a careful public administrative action through its governance sy

Mumbai hospitals shut as more and more healthcare workers test positive

Maharashtra has emerged the epicentre of the Novel Coronavirus outbreak in the country with Mumbai reporting the highest number of cases in the state. With more and more healthcare providers gettin

In times of Corona, think twice before forwarding soc media posts

Amid exceptional circumstances of COVID-19 outbreak and the 21-day nationwide lockdown, authorities are trying to discourage spread of rumours and misinformation through social media.

Communication in the times of Corona

This article originally appeared on the ORF website: https://www.orf

Lockdown is not lockup, don’t worry: Thackeray

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has assured the large number of migrant labourers who are getting anxious to return to their homes that the fight against the Covid-19 virus is being fou

Allow wine shops, small hotels to open: Raj Thackeray

As the lockdown to halt the spread of Covid-19 continues into its second month, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray believes it’s high time some relief is granted, with precaut

Maharashtra to provide free test, treatment to Covid-19 patients

The Maharashtra government will provide free testing, treatment and meals to Covid-19 patients in civic and state government-run hospitals in the state.   With the number of Covi

Covid-19: Maharashtra, Gujarat under scanner

As India battles Covid-19, the centre is placing under scanner the two western states of Maharashtra and Gujarat which have an unusually high number of infections. Health minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan

Uddhav assures migrant workers of all help

As Maharashtra leads the country in the number of Covid-19 infections with the financial capital Mumbai remaining the most affected city, the state government has replaced the high-profile municipa

Maharashtra coop societies to hold virtual meets

In line with various notifications by the department of cooperation during the Covid-19 pandemic to maintain social distancing in cooperative societies the Commissioner, Co-operation and Registrar,

Mumbai medicos flag area of concern

In a letter to chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, Association of Medical Consultants (AMC) Mumbai, a body of specialist doctors in Mumbai, has said that unless the government controls the spread Covi

India is learning to live with Covid-19

As the world’s most extensive and arguably strictest lockdown completes 50 days, India remains in double mind: there are good arguments for and against extending the movement restrictions. Th

How Jeevan Raths have helped 52,000 migrants in Maharashtra

Before the novel coronavirus hit it, Mumbai about 10-12 lakh labourers from elsewhere had made it their home. The figure for the state of Maharashtra was another 18-20 lakh. As the pandemic spread

3,543 ‘Shramik Special’ trains transport 48 lakh people in 26 days

Close to 48 lakh migrant labourers have been able to reach home from the cities they were working in, as the Indian Railways have run a total of 3,543 “Sharmik Special” trains from May

He fought to save lives. Unfortunately, his own could not be saved

This is the story of a man who worked hard to improve the life of a metro which failed him when his own life was at stake. This is the story of a citizen activist whose life could not be saved due

No bar on domestic workers in housing societies, Maharashtra clarifies

Amid extra precautions to curb the spread of pandemic in Mumbai, the Maharashtra government has clarified that there has not be any ban on domestic helps, drivers and other service providers enteri

A place of local democracy in pandemic governance: The case of Mumbai

Democracy in India is now taken for a fact, with an unstated assumption that all our institutions are democratic and hence often our successes and more often failures are attributed to ‘democ

Mumbai opts for “most liberal Covid-19 testing” in the world

As part of the four T strategy of trace-test-track-treat, Mumbai – the most affected city in India – has decided to make Covid-19 tests accessible to all. The municipal c

BMC spells out numbers to counter Fadnavis’ claims

The BrihanMumbai municipal corporation (BMC) has countered Maharashtra leader of opposition Devendra Fadanvis’s suspicions of fewer Covid-19 tests, as it outlined various measures it has adop

Project Mumbai, with ‘Will do anything for my city’ spirit, wins UN SDG award

Project Mumbai, a volunteer-led non-profit, has been selected by the UN SDG Action Campaign as one of the global recipients for the Solidarity Award, a special call from the annual

Maharashtra power bills ‘unreasonable’, says Raj Thackeray

Amid the Covid-19 pandemic and its economic aftereffects, as people in Maharashtra face one more problem of high electricity bills, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Raj Thackeray has said th

"Mumbai Commissioner shameless in taking credit for Covid numbers"

Senior BJP leader Kirit Somaiya has blasted BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner IS Chahal for taking credit for reducing the number of coronavirus infections in the in the slum sp

Covid-19: Maharashtra tally ahead of all countries except four

If Maharashtra were placed on the worldwide tally of confirmed Covid-19 cases so far, it would rank fifth. In other words, its caseload is higher than every country except for the US, India, Brazil

`My Family, My Responsibility`: Mumbai campaign to spread Covid awareness

As coronavirus refuses to abate, Maharashtra has become the first state in India to cross 1 million mark in terms of confirmed cases and stares at shortage of medical oxygen. Every day 2,000-3,000

In free fall: Close to 1 lakh Covid-19 cases a day

India has been hitting upwards of 90,000 fresh cases of Covid-19 every day for some time now, as the virus continues to spread amid further Unlock. The recoveries, on the other hand, are also creat

Mumbai metro site at Aarey forest to shift

In a web address, Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackerey on Sunday announced that the controversial Aarey car shed for line 3 of Mumbai Metro (Colaba-Bandra-Seepz) on the western suburbs will

Uddhav shoots back at governor’s sarcasm

As Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari went sarcastic and wrote to chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, asking him if he had turned ‘secular’ – an epithet he hated, as the plac

Amid Covid, Mumbai to have a quiet Diwali

Aiming to curb pollution amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the BrihanMumbai municipal corporation (BMC) on Monday imposed a ban on the use of firecrackers and fireworks – during the festival of Diw

“Women and child dept the busiest during lockdown”

Maharashtra’s women and child development minister Yashomati Thakur of the Congress is a member of the legislative assembly, representing Tivasa in Amravati district. She comes from a fam

Mumbai on guard against new strain of Coronavirus

As a new strain of the Novel Coronavirus, several times more contagious, has started spreading rapidly in the UK, India wasted no time in responding to the threat, as it suspended the flights from

Mumbai air ‘very poor’, activist calls for tackling individual sources

On the New Year’s day, Mumbai, India’s financial capital, recorded the second worst air quality index (AQI) since 2016. On Thursday it worsened and dropped to `very poor` category.

Uddhav inaugurates largest tunnel boring machine for Mumbai Coastal Road

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has launched the largest tunnel boring machine (TBM) for the Mumbai Coastal Road project at Priyadarshini Park, in Malabar Hill area of South Mumbai.

Maharashtra to spend Rs 2,500 crore to augment, develop power infrastructure

The Maharashtra government has announced a spending of Rs 2,500 crore annually to develop infrastructure of state-owned distribution company Mahavitaran (MSEDCL).   Out of the to

“Proposed power amendments anti- people, favor licensees”

Maharashtra Veej Grahak Sanghatana, a state-level coordination committee of industrial associations and power consumers, has approached the state government for urgent intervention on key concerns

Mumbai local trains open for public during non-peak hours

Maharashtra has extended its lockdown restrictions till 28 February and also announced the reopening of local trains for general public. Soon after his review meeting on resumption o

BEST services to upgrade with command and control centre

Mumbai’s dependable mode of transport for its large number of population, the BMC-run BEST (Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport) bus service, is upgrading and going for a makeover.

Corona pressed pause button, made us take stock: Thackeray

Following is the rendering in English of Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray’s inaugural address during the webcast of ‘Colaba Conversation 2021: Creativity, Community and C

Maharashtra scaling up measures to help startups

In 2018 to preserve and build a cost-efficient supply chain for agro-produce and to empower rural women and farmers, the Maharashtra government entered into a pilot project with S4S Technologie

As Covid cases rise, stringent restrictions are back in Mumbai

With the surge in the number of Covid-19 cases over the past few days in several districts of Maharashtra as well as in the city of Mumbai, stringent measures are making a comeback.

Covid-hurt Maharashtra focuses on healthcare

Maharashtra, among the worst Covid-affected states, has allocated Rs 7,500 crore for construction and upgradation of health institutions over four years, and provided Rs. 5,000 crore for quality he

Oppn leaders pushing Mumbai to second lockdown: Mayor

Blaming the opposition leaders for flouting Covid-19 norms and leading to a resurgence of infection in Mumbai, Mayor Kishori Pednekar has said that they are setting bad examples and pushing the cit

Has second wave begun in India?

India seems to be entering a second wave of Covid-19, with the rising numbers of daily new cases and the return of lockdown in Nagpur. The authorities are keeping a close watch, though there is no

Daily new cases continue to spike in five states

In what looks like the building-up of a second wave of coronavirus infections in India, five states – Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu – continue to report a surge

Quick, decisive steps needed to prevent ‘second peak’: Modi

Amid the resurgence of daily numbers of new cases in a few states and fears of the ‘second wave’, prime minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday urged the chief ministers to take quick and dec

Testing mandatory in public places as Mumbai faces second wave

With Covid-19 infections on an upward spiral in the state of Maharashtra as well as the city of Mumbai, the BrihanMumbai municipal corporation (BMC) has tightened testing rules instructing ward off

Singh’s allegation has merit: intelligence report had flagged corruption

The political crisis in Maharashtra is turning murkier. As former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh has gone to the Supreme Court, seeking a CBI inquiry against home minister Anil Deshmukh

Mumbai ramps up testing, health infrastructure

As India continues to witness resurgence in fresh Covid-19 cases, Mumbai, one of the most affected cities, ramped up its efforts to halt the spread of the virus with increased testing while also in

Govt better equipped to tackle second wave: Sudhanshu Trivedi

As many states face a huge resurge of Covid-19 cases, Dr Sudhanshu Trivedi, MP, Rajya Sabha, and national spokesperson, BJP, has said the government is better equipped to handle the second wave com

Night curfew in Maharashtra from March 28

As the number of Covid cases continues to rise exponentially in Maharashtra, chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has announced night curfew across the state starting March 28, Sunday.  The curfew,

Night curfew in Mumbai till April 15

Struggling to contain the spread of Covid-19 infection, the Maharashtra government has imposed a night curfew from 8 pm to 8 am, starting Sunday night. Maharashtra on Saturday repor

In Mumbai, Covid-19 patients to be admitted through ward war rooms only

Straddled with the burgeoning cases in the city surpassing pervious numbers, Mumbai civic authorities on Monday sought to avoid chaos over allotment of beds and issued strict instructions to all go

Homecoming: How Swades helps reverse migration

Vishnu Jayaram Ghadse, 45, had to drop out of school and could not complete his tenth standard studies due to economic conditions. As a daily-wage labourer and paddy farmer he was able to earn Rs 6

At 72,000 new cases, Second Wave threatens to derail vaccine gains

The second wave of Covid-19 is moving ahead, with over 72,000 new cases reported in a day, and more than half of them are from Maharashtra. This trend threatens to nullify to an extent gains made b

Surge continues in Maharashtra, new restrictions under consideration

As the Second Wave of infections in India shows no sign of relenting, Maharashtra continues to report more than half the new cases, with 43,183 new cases and 249 deaths reported in the 24 hours to

NCP will never ally with BJP: Nawab Malik

Ruling out reports of NCP and BJP coming together to form an alliance, Nawab Malik, Maharashtra cabinet minister and president of the Mumbai unit of NCP, has said BJP has always made such offers to

As Covid cases jump in Maharashtra, Thackeray warns of lockdown

As Maharashtra continues to report an increasing number of Covid-19 cases, chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has said he is not ruling the possibility of a total lockdown and he will take the decisio

Maharashtra prepares for the second lockdown

With new Covid-19 infections crossing the peak of the last year, the Maharashtra government has imposed stringent restrictions on movement of people enforcing Section 144 and night curfew in the en

Maharashtra, centre trade charges as India reports highest ever cases

India recorded a new high of 1,15,736 daily Covid-19 cases with Maharashtra bearing nearly half of the load, as the state and the centre traded charges for the first time since the outbreak. State

Maharashtra, centre trade charges as India reports highest ever cases

India recorded a new high of 1,15,736 daily Covid-19 cases with Maharashtra bearing nearly half of the load, as the state and the centre traded charges for the first time since the outbreak. State

Mumbai allows 24x7 delivery of essential services

Amid tighter movement restrictions as the city and the state continue to battle a consistently rising trajectory of fresh Covid-19 cases, Mumbai civic authorities on Thursday allowed 24-hour home d

On vaccine shortage, Maharashtra hits back at centre

Maharashtra, suffering from a heavy number of fresh cases every day and complaining of vaccine shortage, has replied to the union health minister criticism and blamed the centre for the situation.

Probe agencies` credibility in doubt: Prithviraj Chavan

Raising concerns about the “leaks” of aspects of an ongoing investigation into incidents leading to political turmoil in Maharashtra, former chief minister and senior Congress leader Pr

Non-vaccinated staff allowed mandatory rapid antigen tests

Maharashtra has modified guidelines on restrictions imposed to curb the spread of Covid-19, and put out clarifications on do Do’s and Don’ts to be followed under its ‘Break the Ch

In Mumbai, nodal officers to streamline bed allocation at ward war rooms

With Covid-19 cases continuing to spiral upwards and public and private hospitals running to full capacity, the BMC has appointed nodal officers in all 24 ward war rooms and jumbo field hospitals w

Maharashtra goes under ‘Janata curfew’, restrictions from tonight

Striving to control the deadly second wave of Covid-19 infections, the Maharashtra government has imposed prohibition on the gathering of more than four people as well as night curfew from Wednesda

In Maharashtra, what’s allowed, what’s not

Essential services allowed: 1) Hospitals, diagnostic centres, clinics, vaccinations, medical insurance offices, pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies, other medical and healt

India’s Second Wave crosses 2-lakh milestone

The Second Wave in India seems unstoppable. The number of daily new cases crossed the 2,00,000 figure on Thursday morning, which is the highest ever anywhere in the world. Most of the burden &ndash

“Not appropriate to postpone Class XII CBSE exams”

Criticizing the postponement of the CBSE Class XII exams in the wake of the second Covid -19 wave across the country, Nupur Sharma, BJP national spokesperson, has said the decision will jeopardize

Remdesivir procured at high prices to save lives: BMC

Countering the opposition BJP’s allegations of corruption in the procurement of Remdesivir, a critical anti-viral injection often prescribed for Covid-19 patients, the BrihanMumbai municipal

Politicians trade charges as Covid breaks previous records in Maharashtra

A political war erupted between the centre and Maharashtra over supply of essentials including medicines and oxygen as the state struggles to control the raging Covid-19 amidst scarce health infras

In Mumbai, decline seems to have begun

Amid a virulent second wave, as Mumbai scrambles for hospital beds, the civic authorities have said there was no need for panic since 3,685 beds were still available in the city for Covid-19 patien

"Maharashtra opposition interested in politics, not public welfare”

Refuting any political instability in the state, Jayant Patil, Maharashtra cabinet minister and state president of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), has said the government is very stable and there

Thackeray orders probe in Nashik Hospital gas leak tragedy

The Maharashtra government has ordered a probe into the tragic incident of oxygen leak at the Zakir Hussain Hospital in Nashik district, in which 24 Covid-19 patients on critical life support have

Case fatality rate further declines to 1.11%

The ferocious second wave showed no signs of halting as India reported 3,79,257 new cases Thursday, but the good news was that the case fatality rate declined to 1.11%, and the cumulative number of

This Maharashtra district set up oxygen plants just ahead of the curve

Nandurbar, a tribal and hilly district in Maharashtra with a population of 20 lakh, is an unlikely contender for setting a precedent for the rest of India, but under the leadership of district coll

India records over 3 lakh recoveries, fresh cases down

India reported 3,68,147 new cases on Monday, a number lower than the 4 lakh-plus recorded in the weekend. Also, more than 29.16 crore Covid tests were conducted across the country.

BMC commissioner urges Mumbaikars to come forward for testing

To take preventive steps early and save lives, BrihanMumbai municipal corporation (BMC) commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal has urged citizens to come forward and get themselves tested.  

In Maharashtra, a wave of aid for the needy

In Maharashtra, the epicentre of India’s devastating second wave, several NGOs and civil society organisations have been at work to combat the pandemic – by spreading awareness about pr

Mumbai issues global tender for 10 mn vaccines

Struggling with rationing and prioritising available supplies amid the acute Covid-19 vaccine shortage, the BrihanMumbai municipal corporation (BMC) has floated a global tender for supply of 1 cror

Cyclone Tauktae forces Mumbai to reschedule vaccination

As Mumbai is on alert with Cyclone Tauktae predicted to cause very heavy rains, the civic authorities have suspended the vaccination programme for Monday, and the special drive would be now held fr

Covid-19: As focus shifts to countryside, tailor solutions to grassroots situation

As the second wave of Covid-19 seems to recede from the big cities, the focus is on the rural side. That is where more and more cases are coming up and that is where health infrastructure is especi

How yet another Maharashtra village became Covid-free

While the whole country is battling the second wave of Covid-19, Bhoyare Khurd, a small village in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra, has used the tools of widespread public awareness, following C

Mumbai receives 8 bids for global vaccine tender

The Mumbai civic authority has received eight bids for its global tender to procure vaccines, though it has also extended again the deadline, to June 1. Amid woeful shortages of vacc

From fighting graft to bringing water supply – with mobile videos

In the tribal village of Bilgaon in Dhadgaon taluka of Nandurbar district, Vangibai Natwar Pawar, 47, was caught unawares when she came to know her account balance in her ‘mini bank’ of

Maharashtra prepared if there’s third wave: health minister

Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope has said that even as the state is in the phase of gradually easing lockdown restrictions, it is already preparing for a possible third wave. Since it is spe

Maharashtra must do more to fight hunger, say activists

With the second wave of Covid-19 hitting migrant labourers hard, a delegation of the Working People’s Charter (WPC) met Maharashtra Food and Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal urging him to se

Mumbai eyes Sputnik, turns to Dr Reddy`s for supplies

Mumbai has turned to Dr Reddy Laboratories, the distributor for Russian Sputnik V vaccine, to augment supplies for the city after it scrapped the nine proposals it had received in response to its g

“BMC to continue Mumbai Model in future”

To reduce the gap between citizens and authorities BMC will continue its ward war room approach which has now come to be known as the Mumbai Model for addressing health or disaster related issues t

Maharashtra tightens relaxations amid rising threat of Delta Plus variant

In view of the novel coronavirus undergoing mutations in different geographies and displaying increased transmissibility and potential reductions in monoclonal antibody response, the Maharashtra go

Affordable housing in Mumbai: For whom and for how much?

An affordable home must be equal to (or more than) 300 sq ft carpet area. Today the lowest cost of MHADA tenement is Rs. 10,000/sq ft. Thus the MHADA cost of a 300 sq ft basic unit would cost Rs. 3

Deshmukh seeks copy of ECIR for appearance before ED

Citing non-supply of a copy of the ‘enforcement case information report’ (ECIR) and related documents, former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh on Tuesday did not make per

Ruckus in Maharashtra assembly; 12 BJP MLAs suspended for `manhandling` Speaker

Twelve BJP MLAs were suspended from the Maharashtra assembly on Monday, allegedly after they abused, misbehaved and manhandled presiding officer, Shiv Sena MLA Bhaskar Jadhav, in the Deputy Speaker

Maharashtra launches skills development programme for health sector

To provide skilled manpower in healthcare, nursing and paramedical, Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has launched the CM Maha Arogya Skills Development Programme that will prepare skille

Set up industrial task force; will be monitored by CM Secretariat: Uddhav to CII

With the looming danger of the possible third wave of Covid-19, Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has directed top state industry heads to ensure mass vaccinations of workers, safety of e

Maharashtra incentivises electric vehicles in new policy

To promote electric vehicles Maharashtra has announced its Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy 2021 specifically targeting six cities of Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Aurangabad, Amravati and Nashik. From April 2

Maharashtra starts admission to 1.36 lakh seats in 966 ITIs

Maharashtra has launched online admissions for 91 courses that candidates can choose for skills training so they are ready to take up jobs.   Minister of state for skill develop

As rains batter Maharashtra, state on red and orange alert

Severe rains battered Raigad, Thane, Ratnagiri, Kolhapur and Satara regions of Maharashtra with rains in Ratnagiri district breaking the 40-year record. As rivers in these districts crossed warning

Maharashtra partners with Climate Group to promote electric vehicles

Within days of announcing its new Electric Vehicle Policy 2021, Maharashtra Friday announced its partnership with Climate Group’s EV100 network to push and promote electric vehicles and reduc

Maharashtra flood situation grim, rescue works on

At least 79 people were killed and 56 were missing as the flood situation in Maharashtra remained grim on Saturday. Torrential rainfall in various parts of the state, coinciding with high tides and

Maharashtra floods: On-ground R&R hampered by VIP visits, say Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party president and senior leader Sharad Pawar has appealed to political leaders in the state not to visit the flood ravaged areas of Maharashtra as it diverts attentio

Thackeray, Pawar lay foundation stone for BDD Chawls redevelopment

Inaugurating the project to redevelop the famed BDD Chawls at Jamboree Maidan in Worli area of central Mumbai, Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray appealed to the residents not to sell thei

Maharashtra eases restrictions: All shops to remain open till 8 pm on weekdays

Starting Tuesday, Maharashtra has relaxed restrictions in 22 out of the 36 districts reporting low case positivity numbers of Covid-19. However, Level 3 restrictions will continue in

Maharashtra prevents 790 child marriages during pandemic

Maharashtra has been successful in preventing 790 child marriages during the Covid-19 pandemic. Building on that success, women and child development minister Yashomati Thakur has launched a state-

How PATH helps Maharashtra, Punjab ramp up Covid testing

India has come out of the devastating second wave, but to be prepared for any next wave, testing, along with Covid-appropriate behaviour (CAB), has to be the first line of defence. Given its vast p

Mumbai gets 35 electric and automated buses

Making public transport environment-friendly, Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has inducted 35 electric buses to Mumbai’s fleet under the central government’s FAME II project

SRA will take over 500 stalled projects: Jitendra Awhad

Thousands of slum dwellers are on the streets, not even getting rent for several years as many projects are stuck under the Slum Rehabilitation Scheme. Now the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) w

Maharashtra starts online suburban railway pass distribution

After announcing further relaxations from August 15 onwards including offline e-pass facility for travel on suburban local trains for fully vaccinated citizens, the Maharashtra government has annou

Thackeray launches e- Crop Survey across Maharashtra

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has launched an e-Crop Survey across the state, to be implemented jointly by the department of revenue and agriculture and Tata Trusts from August 15.

Maharashtra eases pandemic restriction with further unlocking

Maharashtra has further eased unlock guidelines and allowed shopping malls to remain open till 10 PM every day under specified conditions and children are also permitted there with age proof since

In flood-affected Maharashtra districts, soft loans to help businesses

Shopkeepers, businessmen and traders in Pune, Satara, Kolhapur,Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg district that were affected by devastating floods can look forward to some financial help from distri

Maharashtra construction workers campaign for easier registration

The Construction Workers Welfare Board in Maharashtra has made it mandatory for construction and Naka workers to get certificates from their respective contractors/employers for getting registratio

No Dahi Handi celebrations on Janmashtami in Maharashtra for second year

With the pandemic, Maharashtra will have muted Dahi Handi celebrations – the main attraction of the Janmashtami festival in the state – for the second year in a row. In a meeting held w

Action demanded for eco code violations by Thackeray’s PA

After Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray’s personal assistant Milind Narvekar demolished his illegally constructed bungalow at Dapoli-Murud seashore in Ratnagiri district on Sunday,

Rane arrested for ‘tight slap’ remark against Thackeray

Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Narayan Rane’s remark on Monday, that he would have given a ‘tight slap’ to Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray for

Thackeray announces Rs 100 Crore fund to Nair Hospital

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has announced a special fund of Rs 100 crore on the occasion of the centenary celebrations of the Topiwala Medical College and BYL Nair Hospital in Mumba

Mumbai Coastal Road: BJP alleges fraud, BMC refutes allegation

Alleging financial irregularities to the tune of Rs 1,000 Crore in the construction of the Coastal Road in Mumbai, Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Ashish Shelar has demanded an investigation, but the Br

Citizens Charter: How this less-known law empowers us

When consumer rights and RTI activist Mohammad Afzal was shifting to a new residence in a different area, he required changes in various documents. He decided to take the help of the Citizens Chart

Covid-19 antibodies found in 86.64% Mumbai citizens

As many as 86.64% citizens of the city of Greater Mumbai have antibodies, according to the fifth sero-prevalence survey. Among the people who are fully or partially vaccinated, the antibodies were

Mumbai think tank calls for climate action

Raising concerns over rising seawater levels and climate change, Mumbai First, a 25-year-old public-private partnership policy think tank, has written letters to Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav T

Mumbai to draft policy for homeless

On the occasion of World Homeless Day, BMC has announced that it is formulating a policy for the urban homeless for which it will start a survey soon. The policy will include efforts to provide tem

Centre misusing probe agencies for political gains: Pawar

Hitting back at the central government in a strongly worded attack, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar has said Bhartiya Janata Party is misusing central investigative agencies for

Covid norms relaxed; Mumbai restaurants, shops to remain open longer

After extending timings of shops and restaurants as well as the reopening of cinema halls and theatres under specified SOPs from October 22, in view of the festive cheer, the Maharashtra government

Remove unauthorized constructions without pressure: Thackeray to BMC

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has instructed the Mumbai civic authorities to take immediate action on unauthorized constructions on war footing. In a virtual meeting he

Thackeray launches three fast-track DNA units under Nirbhaya scheme

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has launched three state-of-the-art human DNA units under the Nirbhaya Scheme for efficiency in criminal investigations. A wildlife DNA unit in Nagpur ma

Maharashtra Congress to campaign against inflation

To protest against the rising fuel prices and inflation, the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) on Wednesday announced a week-long awareness campaign, beginning on November 14, the birth

Heavy footfall on railways’ Restaurant on Wheels in Mumbai

The ‘Restaurant on Wheels’, set up by the Central Railway Zone of Indian Railways at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSTM) last month, has turned out to be a big hit among peo

Why 40%? Priyanka should reserve 100% for women: Anila Singh

BJP spokesperson Anila Singh has ridiculed Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, general secretary of All India Congress Committee in charge of Uttar Pradesh, for promising 40% reservation for women and said that

Omicron forces Mumbai to delay school reopening

The looming threat of the new Covid strain B.1.1.529, known as Omicron, has pushed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to postpone the reopening of schools for classes 1-7 to December 15.

Omicron: Centre asks Maharashtra to follow uniform guidelines

With the threat of Omicron, the new variant of the coronavirus, looming large, the union health ministry has written to the Maharashtra government to align orders issued by the state with the minis

Omicron: Maharashtra revises travel guidelines

A day after the union health secretary wrote to it that its order on SOPs for air travellers was in divergence with guidelines issued by the MoHFW, GoI in view of the Omicron threat, the Maharashtr

Mumbai issues strict guidelines for home quarantine of all international passengers

In view of the emerging threat of the new coronavirus variant, Omicron, the BrihanMumbai municipal corporation (BMC) Saturday issued strict guidelines for surveillance of all international travelle

Omicron alert: BMC issues guidelines for festive season

With the festival and wedding season in full swing and a gradual increase in the number of Omicron cases, the Mumbai civic authorities on Saturday came out with new guidelines and instructions to b

No New Year celebrations in Mumbai as Omicron threat rises

With Maharashtra reporting a total of 108 Omicron cases over the last few days and witnessing an upward trend of Covid-19 cases over the past week, as more than 1,000 positive cases were registered

Mumbai records highest single-day surge since the start of the pandemic

Mumbai on Wednesday reported 15,014 new Covid-19 cases, the highest single-day surge since the start of the pandemic exceeding 11,163 cases last registered in April last year. Mahar

Mumbai records 20,971 new Covid-19 cases

Mumbai on Friday reported 20,971 new Covid positive cases and 6 Covid deaths. Among new cases, 84% (17,616) are asymptomatic patients. 1,395 patients were hospitalized today, and 88 of them were pu

Night curfew in Maharashtra, only essential services allowed

With the third wave of the pandemic breaking previous records of infections, Omicron is the driving variant with the highest numbers of cases in the country. On Saturday, India saw a single-day ris

47 lives saved on Mumbai suburban trains by Central Railways in 2021

Railway Protection Force personnel of the Central Railways saved 47 lives over Mumbai suburban system in 2021. As part of ‘Mission Jeevan Rakshak’, the lives of several n

16,420 new Covid cases in Mumbai

Mumbai has reported 16,420 new Covid -19 cases, adding nearly 5,000 cases in a day. Out of the total cases reported, 13,793 (84%) are asymptomatic. There were seven deaths, all reported to have com

Maharashtra to provide Rs 468Cr for WCD schemes from DPDC

The Maharashtra government has approved provision of 3% funds under the District Annual Plan for empowerment of women and children in every district through the Department of Women and Child Develo

Vistadome coaches on Central Railways a hit with passengers

The Vistadome coaches on Central Railways have received an overwhelming response from passengers. Not only have they boosted tourism and registered an occupancy of 20,407 passengers but also clocke

Aditya Thackeray launches 2 Oxygen cylinder recharge points

After the oxygen crisis faced during the second wave of Covid-19, the BrihanMumbai municipal corporation (BMC) has now set up its own medical oxygen cylinder recharge projects.  

Maharashtra cities dominate Smart Cities Mission #Streets4People Challenge

In a competition organised by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Nagpur and Aurangabad from Maharashtra are among the 11 cities selected for scaling up their

Maharashtra schools to reopen on January 24

Maharashtra has announced the reopening of schools for classes 1-12 from January 24 with Covid protocols. Education minister Varsha Gaikwad said on Thursday that the government will

Maharashtra NCC Directorate bags PM Banner at R-Day celebrations

For NCC, the Republic Day Celebrations (‘RDC’) this year – in the year of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ and ‘Swarnim Vijay Varsh culminated’ –with the PM

Maharashtra starts free hip and knee replacement surgeries in rural areas

The Maharashtra Public Health Departments’ Civil and Subdistrict hospital has conducted free hip and knee joint replacement surgeries in rural hospitals in the districts and sub-districts of

PM to launch 2 railway lines connecting Thane-Diva

Prime minister Narendra Modi will dedicate to the nation two additional railway lines connecting Thane and Diva via video conferencing on Friday. He will also flag off two suburban trains of the Mu

Bird flu in Thane, Maharashtra asks industry to remain calm

With more than 300 chickens found dead at a poultry farm in Vehloli village of Shahapur tehsil in Thane district, authorities have declared area within 1 km radius as contagious. As

ED arrests Nawab Malik in money laundering case

In a dramatic turn of events, Maharashtra minorities affairs minister Nawab Malik was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) Wednesday, becoming the second minister of the state’s MVA g

Fourth wave? "Nothing to worry if we follow strategies that worked”

BMC additional municipal commissioner (health), Suresh Kakani, has been at the heart of Covid management in Mumbai since the start of the pandemic, helming the health infrastructure and plannin

Have not visited IT office even once: BMC commissioner

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal has denied ever visiting the income tax office, after a “letter” appeared on social media, in which the IT depar

Chahal challenges accuser, seeks proof from BJP leader

BJP leader Mohit Kamboj on Saturday alleged that Brihanmumbai municipal commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal has a property in the USA and he is going to inform the income tax department about it. Calli

Mumbai to start pre-monsoon works immediately

In preparations of monsoons the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has approved proposals worth Rs 545 Cr for desilting of stormwater drains and reinstating trenching along roads.

Centre not releasing states` slice of Rs 26,000 crore GST: Arvind Sawant

Lok Sabha MP and Shiv Sena leader Arvind Sawant has said that prime minister Narendra Modi is passing the buck and not fulfilling his responsibility of governance towards the states.

Only 22% increase in STP cost in two years, BMC clarifies

After reports of cost escalation of its sewerage treatment plants (STPs) by 42% over its estimated cost of Rs 16,412 Cr in 2020, BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has come out with project-b

In a first, Maharashtra village to promote ‘honey tourism’

At a time when climate change, preservation of nature and ecological balance and reducing fertilizers and chemicals in agriculture and food are drawing huge attention, a forest village in Maharasht

Mumbai civil body refutes allegations of scam in tenement scheme

The BrihanMumbai municipal corporation (BMC) has rejected the Congress accusations of financial irregularities worth Rs 8,000 crore—9,000 croe in awarding contracts for getting project-affect

Exclusive Breastfeeding? Yes. Effective Breastfeeding? No. What to do?

Our hearts almost skipped a beat when we heard community health officer (CHO) Dr. Sandeep Kakuste’s success story with baby Pinki Lakhan Patil, who was born underweight in a brick kiln. Pinki

BMC administrator Chahal empanelled to the rank of GoI secy

Decorated IAS officer and BMC commissioner-administrator Iqbal Singh Chahal has been empanelled to the rank of Secretary to the Government of India. Chahal has been credited with con

BMC on stand-by as Covid cases surge in Mumbai

With a surge in Covid-19 cases in Mumbai, BMC commissioner-administrator IS Chahal has put his colleagues on alert.   Noting that daily new cases have tremendously increased in

As Covid numbers rise, Mumbai’s health infra on alert

With the sudden jump in Covid-19 cases in Mumbai over last week and the number of infected persons rising by 8% as well as the warning of a fourth wave sounded by medical experts, BMC has alerted a

Uddhav Thackeray resigns as chief minister of Maharashtra

Minutes after the Supreme Court ordered a floor test on Wednesday night, Uddhav Thackeray in a televised address resigned as the chief minister of Maharashtra and also as a member of legislative co

Metro 3 car shed to stay at Aarey, say new CM Shinde

Former Maharashtra chief minister Davendra Fadnavis stunned all at a press conference Thursday and named Eknath Shinde, the rebel MLA from Shiv Sena, as the next chief minister. Though Fadnavis sai

Who is Eknath Shinde, the auto driver who became CM?

Hailing from Satara district of Maharashtra, Eknath Sambhaji Shinde had to leave his education midway to financially support his family. He worked as an auto rickshaw driver, a lorry driver and als

NCP’s Ajit Pawar is LoP in Maharashtra assembly

After the Bharatiya Janta Party orchestrated rebellion in the Shiv Sena partly led by Eknath Shinde who took away with him a majority of MLAs, the Eknath Shinde-BJP government proved majority in th

‘Pune Police manages larger area with less force than Mumbai’

Pune police commissioner Amitabh Gupta has said that though the city with more than 1,000 square km in area is bigger than Mumbai, it currently has a police force of around 8000 policemen compared

‘BMC’s primary healthcare infrastructure inadequate for Mumbai’s population’

Praja Foundation’s latest report on the ‘State of Health in Mumbai’ finds an urgent need for the BMC to shore up and strengthen its primary healthcare centres and allocate towards

Orange alert in Mumbai with intense to very intense rain spells

A ‘red alert’ has been issued by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) for six districts – Satara, Palghar, Raigad, Nashik, Pune and Nanded – of Maharashtra, while Mumb

Rain batters Maharashtra, Mumbai on yellow alert today

An orange alert is issued in Palghar, Pune and Satara, while a yellow alert is issued for Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Nashik, Kolhapur, Akola, Amravati, Bhandara, Buldhana, Chandr

Mumbai`s stalled building projects: Is self-redevelopment the real solution?

Land in Mumbai city, which is surrounded by water on three sides, is scarce and has a premium. Property prices in certain areas of financial capital of the country are as much as Rs

BMC denies protocol breach in ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’

The BrihanMumbai municipal corporation (BMC) has rebutted a Shiv Sena leader’s allegation of breach of protocol in the implementation of the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign.

PM initiates Rs 38,800 crore projects in Mumbai

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated phase 2 of Mumbai Metro Rail Lines 2A & 7, worth around Rs 12,600 crore. He was in the city to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of pr

Uddhav joins hands with Prakash Ambedkar ahead of BMC polls

Ahead of the Mumbai civic polls, former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday announced an alliance with Prakash Ambedkar`s Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA). Addressing a

Modi flags off two Vande Bharat trains in Mumbai

Prime minister Narendra Modi flagged off Mumbai-Solapur Vande Bharat and Mumbai-Sainagar Shirdi Vande Bharat trains at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CST) in Mumbai on Friday.

EC recognises Shinde faction as real Shiv Sena

Ahead of the upcoming local body polls in Maharashtra including the prestigious BMC elections, the Election Commission of India has recognised the Eknath Shinde faction as the real Shiv Sena and al

Supreme Court refuses to stay EC order on Shiv Sena

The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to stay the Election Commission of India order recognising the Eknath Shinde faction as the real Shiv Sena, allowing Uddhav Thackeray, the former Maharashtra

Governance plunges new depths in Mumbai, Maharashtra

There has been a steady decline in governance in Maharashtra – sad for a state once known for its good administration. Political instability is only one of the factors. Nothing illustrates th

Sharad Pawar steps down as NCP president

Nationalist Congress Party supremo and senior Maratha leader Sharad Pawar on Tuesday said that he is stepping down as the president of the party. He announced his decision during the launch of seco

Compelled by party, Pawar takes back resignation

Three days after announcing at a public function that he was stepping down as president of NCP, party supremo and veteran leader Sharad Pawar on Friday withdrew his decision following hard hitting

Uddhav voluntarily resigned, cannot be reinstated as CM: SC

In a unanimous verdict on a clutch of pleas relating to the political crisis that led to the fall of Maharashtra’s Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government led by Uddhav Thackeray following a revol

Want to step down as LoP: Ajit Pawar

Making no bones about his desire to hold a party position, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar has said that he wanted to step down as Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra ass

Ajit Pawar splits NCP, is Maharashtra deputy CM for fourth time

In a huge blow to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), party supremo Sharad Pawar’s nephew, Ajit Pawar, Sunday switched loyalties once again, joined the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) alli

"I am NCP president," says Sharad Pawar as Ajit stakes claim to party

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) founder Sharad Pawar-led group on Thursday passed a resolution against the rebel faction led by his nephew Ajit Pawar during the National Executive meeting held

MoD empanels 6 new hospitals for cashless medical treatment to ex servicemen

The defence ministry has approved six hospitals for empanelment with the Ex Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) to offer cashless medical treatment to valiant veterans who selflessly serve

Performance of Maharashtra assembly worsening: Praja Foundation report

The average duration of the 14th Maharashtra assembly decreased by 60% to a mere six days as compared to 15 days in the 12th assembly, according to a new report by Praja Foundation. Consequently, t

Dy CM Ajit Pawar gets finance & planning in Maharashtra cabinet expansion

Nearly a fortnight after being sworn in as Maharashtra deputy chief minister, in a major cabinet expansion on Friday, Ajit Pawar was given the coveted finance and planning portfolios, while Dilip W

‘Rs 5654.62 crore transferred to PM-Kisan beneficiaries in Maharashtra’

Rs 5654.625 crore has been transferred to PM-Kisan beneficiaries during 2022-23 in Maharashtra, Union agriculture and farmers’ welfare minister Narendra Singh Tomar said on Tuesday.

CM Shinde launches ‘Meri Maati, Mera Desh’ from August Kranti Maidan

Launching ‘Meri Maati, Mera Desh’ campaign at the historic August Kranti Maidan in Mumbai Wednesday, Maharashtra chief minister Ekanath Shinde evoked sacrifices made by freedom fighters

511 Grameen Kaushalya Vikas Kendras launched in Maharashtra

To provide employment opportunities to rural youth of the country, prime minister Narendra Modi has launched 511 Pramod Mahajan Grameen Kaushalya Vikas Kendras in Maharashtra. The Gr

NGO calls for rethink over mist fountains to control air pollution

With air pollutions levels shooting up over the last few days and the city of Pune recording a PM 2.5 concentration currently, 6.4 times the WHO annual air quality guideline value, Parisar, a Pune-

NGO hails Maharashtra move to amend Insecticide Act

Hailing the Maharashtra government for introducing a bill to amend the Insecticide Act, 1968, Pesticide Action Network (PAN) India has called the amendments ‘very  focussed’ and ur

Speaker holds Shinde group as real Shiv Sena

Maharashtra assembly speaker Rahul Narvekar on Wednesday held that the chief minister Eknath Shinde led group is the real Shiv Sena political party and thus its MLAs cannot be disqualified.

“India will become 3rd largest economy during my govt’s third term”

Prime minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of eight AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) projects worth around Rs 2000 crores in Solapur, Maharashtra on Friday

How challenging ‘Just Energy Transition’ is for Maharashtra

With largest coal-based thermal power fleet and automobile manufacturing and the third largest number of factories directly dependent on fossil fuels in the country, Maharashtra accounts for 10% of

Mumbai Coastal Road opens for public

The right-hand side (RHS) of the Coastal Road, named ‘Dharmveer Swarajya Rakshak Sambhaji Maharaj Coastal Road’, linking Worli Sea Face and Marine Drive, has opened for cars and buses a

Reducing malnutrition numbers

When I sit and look back at data-driven policy, it makes me content and makes me uncomfortable at the same time. Content? Why? Because data would ultimately help me target the problem in a better m

Elections 2024: Why Mumbai and Maharashtra verdict is crucial

In the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, Maharashtra with 48 Lok Sabha seats is of crucial importance for the final outcome. In the 2019 election, the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance won 42 seats including six s

“This Act empowers citizens to demand notified services as a matter of right”

The Maharashtra Right to Public Services Act, 2015 (MRTPS Act) was enacted for transparent, efficient and timely delivery of public services to citizens and to bring in transparency and account

The Shinde Saga: From humble beginnings to union home minister

Five Decades in Politics By Sushilkumar Shinde (as told to Rasheed Kidwai) HarperCollins India, 240 pages, Rs 599.00

WEF, MMRDA ink deal to transform MMR into global fin hub

The World Economic Forum (WEF) will provide funds to Maharashtra government for making Mumbai Metroplolitan Region (MMR)  a global  financial hub. An MoU between MMRDA (Mumbai Metropolita

Mahayuti alliance needs to work on winnability: Fadnavis

Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has said that the Mahayuti government has reached a consensus for 80% seats to be contested in the upcoming assembly elections and discussions fo

Sanjay Raut gets bail relief after conviction in defamation case

A metropolitan magistrate court in Mumbai Thursday sentenced Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP and editor of party mouthpiece, ‘Saamna’, to 15 days imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 2

ECI reviews poll preparedness in Maharashtra

Ahead of the assembly elections in Maharashtra, chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar and two election commissioners, Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu met all the stakeholders including pol

Navi Mumbai airport: Runway trial successful

An Indian Air Force (IAF) transport carrier C295 landed at the southern runway 26, marking the formal launch of the new airport of Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) on Friday. The air

Maharashtra votes on Nov 20, result on Nov 23

Voting will take place on November 20 in Maharashtra and on November 13 and 20 in Jharkhand as the two states go for general assembly elections. The results will be announced on November 23. The El

What needs to be done control organised crimes

Question: During the past few months, it has been observed that the activities of convicted gangsters like Lawrence Bishnoi and his rivals are rising and the situation is similar to be

Maharashtra records 58.22% voter turnout, Mumbai lowest at 49.07%

Polling for the Maharashtra assembly elections witnessed a 58.22 percent voter turnout till 5 pm, after a slow start, on Wednesday. Voting for the state assembly started at 7 am con

Mahayuti sweeps Maharashtra, JMM wins Jharkhand

The BJP-Shiv Sena Mahayuti has won the Maharashtra assembly elections with a comfortable margin, while the Hemant Soren-led Jharkhand Mukti Morcha has emerged clearly victorious in Jharkhand.

Fadnavis takes oath as CM of Maharashtra

Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as chief minister of Maharashtra Thursday evening, ending days of uncertainty. Alliance partner and former CM Eknath Shinde, who had kept everyone guessing till the l

Visionary Talk: Amitabh Gupta, Pune Police Commissioner with Kailashnath Adhikari, MD, Governance Now


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