Maharashtra is gearing up for the 2024 State Assembly elections, set to take place on 20th November. Voters in all 288 constituencies across the state will head to the polls in a single phase to cast their ballots. This crucial election will see a fierce battle between the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). The results will be announced on 23rd November, but as polling day approaches, it’s important to be aware of some key guidelines to ensure a smooth and fair voting process. Prohibited items and actions at polling stations To maintain the integrity of the election process, the Election Commission has laid down clear rules about what voters should avoid bringing to polling stations. It’s crucial to follow these guidelines to ensure security and fairness during voting. Mobile phones and electronic devices: Voters should not carry mobile phones, cameras, or any other electronic devices within 100 metres of a polling station. This is to prevent any disturbances, maintain confidentiality, and avoid misuse of technology during the voting process. Weapons and harmful items: As per Section 13(4) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, weapons, explosives, or any dangerous items are strictly prohibited at polling booths. These measures are in place to ensure a safe environment for all voters and prevent any untoward incidents during the election process. Intimidation or influencing voters: Any attempt to influence or intimidate voters, whether through coercion or inducement, is a punishable offense. This includes offering bribes, gifts, or any other form of enticement to sway a voter’s decision. These regulations are part of the broader effort to create a fair and transparent election process, so voters are encouraged to follow all instructions issued by the authorities. Minimum facilities at polling stations Maharashtra’s Election Commission has ensured that each polling station is well-equipped to facilitate a smooth and accessible voting experience. Some of the key facilities available to voters on 20th November include: Basic amenities: Voters can expect drinking water, clean toilets, seating arrangements, and waiting areas at all polling booths. These provisions are designed to make the voting experience more comfortable, especially for those who may have to wait in line. Assistance for disabled voters: Ramps, wheelchairs, and volunteers will be available to assist voters with disabilities. Additionally, free transportation will be provided for persons with disabilities to help them reach their polling stations. Safety and comfort: Polling booths will be equipped with shelters, fans, medical kits, and proper lighting to ensure the comfort and safety of all voters, no matter the weather or time of day. In Mumbai, 70 vehicles will be deployed in the city district, and 927 vehicles will be stationed in the suburban district to transport disabled voters. Election-related seizures Ahead of the elections, authorities have been working to curb illegal activities and maintain the integrity of the electoral process. Notable seizures include: Cash: Rs 45.6 croreLiquor: 42,185 litres, valued at Rs 1.23 croreDrugs: 224.43 kg, worth Rs 48.96 crorePrecious metals: Rs 245.64 crore worth of precious metalsFreebies: Rs 5.82 crore worth of election-related freebies These efforts are part of a larger initiative to ensure that the election remains fair, transparent, and free from malpractices. Law and order measures To ensure the safety of voters and polling staff, both the Election Commission and state police have implemented stringent security measures. These measures are designed to maintain order and prevent any disturbances or violence during the election process. Voters are encouraged to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities. As Maharashtra prepares for the assembly elections, it’s essential for voters to stay informed and adhere to these guidelines. By doing so, they can help ensure a smooth and successful election on 20th November.
19 November,2024 11:51 AM IST | Mumbai | Anisha ShrivastavaBharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kirit Somaiya a day before Maharashtra Assembly election, publicly condemned the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) in relation to a COVID centre scam in Mumbai, reported the ANI. Somaiya's remarks followed a special court's decision to reject the bail plea of Sujit Patkar, who is implicated in the alleged Rs 34 crore scam involving the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). In his post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, Somaiya highlighted the ongoing legal troubles faced by Shiv Sena members, stating, "Uddhav Thackeray Sena ki COVID ki Kamai. Court rejected Sanjay Raut's partner Sujit Patkar's bail in Rs 34 crore COVID centre scam of BMC. He was arrested by ED on July 19, 2023." Uddhav Thackeray Sena ki COVID ki Kamai Court rejected #SanjayRaut 's Partner #SujitPatkar 's Bail in ₹34 crores #COVID Center Scam of #BMCHe was arrested by ED on 19 July 2023@BJP4Maharashtra — Kirit Somaiya (@KiritSomaiya) November 19, 2024 The scam allegedly revolves around fraudulent activities related to a COVID-19 jumbo centre in Worli, for which Lifeline Hospital Management Services received a contract. According to ED investigations, Patkar is considered the kingpin of the operation, which involved laundering approximately Rs 22 crore through shell companies. The ED's investigations began with extensive raids in June 2023 at 15 locations across Mumbai. During these raids, officials seized substantial sums of cash and various documents. ED also carried out raids at the homes of IAS officer Sanjeev Jaiswal and Suraj Chavan, a core committee member of the Yuva Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction), stated ANI. During the raid, ED had seized Rs 68.65 lakh in cash, documents of 50 immovable properties located at various places in Maharashtra with a market value exceeding Rs 150 crore, fixed deposits and investments worth approximately Rs 15 crore and jewellery valued at Rs 2.46 crore was recovered. Additionally, the ED recovered several mobile phones, laptops, and incriminating documents. Notably, it was revealed that one company was supplying body bags for deceased COVID-19 patients to another company for Rs 2000. raising further questions about the legitimacy of the contracts awarded during the pandemic. That company was giving the same body bags to the Central Procurement Department for Rs 6,800 and this contract was signed by the then BMC mayor, reported ANI. The Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 will take place between 7 am and 6 pm on Wednesday, November 20 and vote count scheduled for November 23. (With inputs from ANI)
19 November,2024 11:37 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra is set to vote for all 288 Assembly seats in a single-phase election on Wednesday, 20th November. The Maharashtra government has declared the day a public holiday across the state to ensure maximum voter turnout for the Assembly elections. This year’s elections see a direct contest between the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). The Mahayuti alliance includes the BJP, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), and the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction), while the MVA is composed of the Congress, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction), and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction). The results of the Assembly elections will be announced on 23rd November. To help citizens plan for polling day, here is a breakdown of what will remain open and closed across Maharashtra. Public transport running smoothly Public transport services will run as usual on polling day. In Mumbai, Metro and BEST bus services will operate until midnight, ensuring that voters can travel conveniently to cast their votes. Hospitals and emergency services open Emergency services, including hospitals, pharmacies, and ambulances, will remain operational throughout the day. These essential services are unaffected by the public holiday. Banks closed statewide All public and private sector banks will remain closed on 20th November, as per the government’s directive. However, online banking services and ATMs will be functional, ensuring no disruption to digital transactions. Stock market takes a holiday The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE), both headquartered in Mumbai, will remain closed. Trading activities will resume on the following business day. Alcohol shops shut for the day Liquor shops across Maharashtra will remain shut on polling day, in line with standard election protocols. Government offices and private workplaces closed All government offices will be closed on 20th November. Employees of private companies in Mumbai have been granted a paid holiday to enable them to vote. For workers engaged in emergency services, a four-hour voting window has been allocated. Educational institutions closed Schools, colleges, and other educational institutions will also remain closed across Maharashtra. This closure ensures that all eligible staff and students have the opportunity to participate in the democratic process. Polling day is a vital moment in the democratic process. With several closures in place and essential services functioning as normal, voters are encouraged to plan ahead and make the most of their day to exercise their right to vote.
19 November,2024 11:23 AM IST | Mumbai | Anisha ShrivastavaVoters in Maharashtra are preparing to cast their votes as polling for all 288 Assembly seats in the state will take place in a single phase on 20th November. Similarly, the second phase of polling for the Jharkhand Assembly elections 2024 is scheduled for the same day. To vote, citizens must present their Electors Photo Identification Card (EPIC) or Voter ID at the polling stations. However, some voters may not possess a Voter ID. In such instances, individuals can still exercise their right to vote by presenting an alternative government-approved identity document. What is EPIC? The Electors Photo Identification Card (EPIC), commonly known as the Voter ID, plays a crucial role in the electoral process. It serves as the official proof of an individual’s identity, residential address, date of birth, and other relevant details. The Voter ID is essential for verifying the identity and information of its holder, allowing them to exercise their fundamental right to vote. According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), any person can register to vote if they meet the following criteria: they are an Indian citizen; have attained the age of 18 years on the qualifying date for the revision of the electoral roll; are ordinarily residing in the constituency where they wish to be enrolled; and are not disqualified from being registered as an elector. Alternative documents for Voter ID In line with the directives of the ECI, individuals must undergo the voter identification process at the polling stations to cast their vote. To facilitate this, voters are required to show their Voter ID or another authorised identification document. For those who do not possess a Voter ID but whose names appear on the official electoral list, voting is still possible. The ECI has provided a list of alternative documents that can be used for voter identification: Aadhaar Card MGNREGA Job Card Bank/Post Office Passbooks with photographs Health Insurance Smart Card issued under the Ministry of Labour’s scheme Driving Licence PAN Card Smart Card issued by the Registrar General of India (RGI) under the National Population Register (NPR) Indian Passport Pension document with photograph Service Identity Cards with photographs issued to employees of Central/State Governments, PSUs, or Public Limited Companies Official identity cards issued to MPs, MLAs, or MLCs Unique Disability ID (UDID) Card issued by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India Voters can use any of these alternative documents to validate their identity and exercise their right to vote.
19 November,2024 10:00 AM IST | MumbaiAfter witnessing low voter turnouts and long queues at polling centres during the recent Lok Sabha election, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has taken steps to make the voting process less taxing. According to officials, toilets and waiting rooms have been set up at polling centres. Bhushan Gagrani, the municipal commissioner and district election officer for Mumbai and the suburbs, at a press conference at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters on Monday, said that facilities would be provided to voters at polling booths. Sanjay Ramgude (centre), president of the Sukhant Antim Sanskar Seva Sansthan, has been visiting housing societies, schools, and corporate offices to raise awareness about the importance of voting in Wednesday’s state assembly election. Dressed as Lord Yama, Ramgude works with Mumbai’s newspaper vendors to deliver the message that voting is an important democratic right and that everyone in the city should exercise it Gagrani elaborated, “Facilities such as waiting rooms, drinking water, clean toilets and chairs will be provided and volunteers will be deputed to help voters. To accelerate the voting process, the BMC has introduced a new arrangement whereby four voters will be allowed to enter a polling booth simultaneously. Before, only one voter was allowed at a time.” Facilities for differently abled A special helpline number, 1950, has been created for Divyang (differently abled) voters and vehicles dropping off voters to centres will pick them up from 1,284 spots across the city and suburbs. “The centres are equipped with wheelchairs and ramps and volunteers are present to help Divyang voters,” said Gagrani. There had been complaints about uneven ramps during past elections. “We have taken measures to ensure Divyang voters can exercise their franchise easily,” Gagrani added. Meanwhile, mobile phones will not be allowed within a 100-metre radius of a polling centre even if switched off. “We had discussed allowing mobile phones at voting centres with the Election Commission. But there are some legal issues. So, they are not allowed even if they are switched off,” said Gagrani. Around one lakh people, including 60,000 BMC employees and 25,696 police officers, will be on election duty on November 20. In the Lok Sabha election, around 48,000 BMC employees were deputed on election duty. Gagrani said this would not affect the essential services as staff involved with essential services such as medical and fire brigade officers were not assigned election-related work. Seizures of cash, illicit goods According to Gagrani, around Rs 347.31 crore worth of cash, precious metals, liquor, drugs and freebies were seized while the Model Code of Conduct was being imposed in Mumbai. From the suburbs alone, precious metals worth 238.67 crores were seized. While Rs 45.57 crore in cash and drugs worth R48.96 crore were seized in the city and suburbs. “The income-tax department is looking into the matter of the seized cash,” he said. Lok Sabha poll chaos Earlier this year, during the general election, voters complained about delays and long queues at some polling centres. According to news reports, at Sion Koliwada, Dharavi and Bandra, it took hours for some to exercise their franchise. In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, Mumbai recorded a voting percentage of 55 per cent, which declined to 52.38 per cent this year. For the upcoming Assembly election, the number of polling booths in the metropolis has increased by 218. To reduce queues, the ECI has reduced the average number of voters per polling station from 1,500 to 1,200. Critical polling stations The Election Commission has directed that polling stations where the percentage of votes polled during the recent general election was more than 90 per cent or more than 75 per cent of votes polled were in favour of one candidate or less than 10 per cent of votes were recorded be identified as critical polling stations. There are around 73 such polling stations in Mumbai and no sensitive polling station. Rs 347.31 crValue of cash, illicit goods seized in Mumbai when Model Code of Conduct was in force Things to known 1 You can locate your polling station at: https://electoralsearch.eci.gov.in/pollingstation2 Check VVPAT slip after pressing the button on EVM machine3 Vote early in the day as high temperatures are expected in the afternoon4 Mobile phones are not allowed inside polling station6 Senior citizens, voters with disabilities and pregnant women will get priority
19 November,2024 09:07 AM IST | Mumbai | Sameer SurveIn its crackdown against criminals ahead of the Assembly election, the Mumbai police have externed over 1,000 alleged criminals facing serious charges from the city limits to ensure peaceful voting. According to the data from the Mumbai police, till Monday, as many as 1,057 such alleged criminals were externed under Sections 55, 56, and 57 of the Maharashtra Police Act. This year, 105 alleged criminals were externed under Section 55 of the Maharashtra Police Act; 673 under Section 56, which pertains to the criminals with multiple cases; and 279 under Section 57, which pertains to the criminals who had been convicted and released after serving sentence. The police said these ‘tadipar’ (externed) criminals would have to stay out of the city limits, including from the Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane areas, for an year or two before the prohibition is lifted. Anyone caught will be booked and arrested again under Section 142 of the Mumbai Police Act. “It is a proactive measure to prevent disturbances during the elections, we have taken stringent action against hardcore criminals. Over 1,000 professional criminals, who were identified as potential threats to peace during the electoral process, have been tadipar from the city this year,” said an officer, requesting anonymity. 03No. of MPA sections dealing with externment
19 November,2024 08:37 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanDos and Don’ts for voters No mobile phones: Mobile phones are strictly prohibited within polling stations. Report malpractices: Use the cVIGIL app to lodge complaints about code violations. Check VVPAT slips: Verify your vote on the VVPAT slip after pressing the button on the EVM. Locate your polling station: Visit [https://electoralsearch.eci.gov.in/pollingstation](https://electoralsearch.eci.gov.in/pollingstation), enter your EPIC number and Captcha, and click “Search.” Search your voter details: Use the Voter Helpline App under “Find your name in electoral roll” to locate polling station details. Avoid the heat: To beat high afternoon temperatures, vote in the morning. Stay prepared: Carry caps and goggles; water bottles are available at polling stations. No photography/videography: Capturing images or videos inside polling centres is strictly prohibited. Comfortable waiting: Waiting areas with fans are arranged, and voters will be given tokens. Priority voting: Senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and pregnant women will receive priority. Home voting being carried out in the Mahim constituency on November 11. Pic/Ashish Raje Key statistics for 2024 Elections Total voters 1,02,29,706 Male 54,67,361Female 47,61,263Third gender 1,082Disabled voters 23,927Voters above 85 years 1,46,851 Service voters: 1,475Overseas voters 2,288 Polling centres 2,085 (76 critical; 38 managed by women, 8 by disabled staff) 12 accepted identity proofs for voting 1. Voter ID card 2. Passport 3. Driving licence 4. Service ID card (government/public sector) 5. Passbook with photograph (bank/post office) 6. PAN card 7. NPR smart card 8. MGNREGA ID card 9. Labour health insurance smart card 10. Pension document 11. Disability ID card 12. Aadhaar card Candidates 420 6,272Home voting (above 85 years) Partywise vote share across the state BJP1,41,99,375 Shiv Sena90,49,789 NCP 92, 16,919 Congress87,52,199 Minimum assured facilities at booths l Drinking water, toilets, waiting areas, seating arrangements. l Ramps, wheelchairs, and volunteers for disabled voters. l Shelters, fans, medical kits, and proper lighting. l Free transportation for persons with disabilities l 70 vehicles in Mumbai City District (671 locations). l 927 vehicles in Mumbai Suburban District (613 locations). A man posing for a picture after voting during the LS poll. File pic Prohibited Items & Actions at Polling Stations Mobile phones or similar devices within 100 metres of polling stations.Weapons as per Section 13(4) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Seized during election period Cash: Rs 45.6 cr.Liquor: 42,185 litres (R1.23cr.)Drugs: 224.43 kg (R48.96cr.) Precious metals: Rs 245.64cr.Freebies: Rs 5.82 cr. Ensure your voice is heard—vote responsibly!
19 November,2024 08:33 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-dayLaunching a strong defence of BJP’s ‘ek hai toh safe hai’ poll pitch, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday said nowhere has the party asked Hindus to unite against Muslims. In an interview to PTI, Shinde expressed confidence that the Mahayuti would win the November 20 Assembly elections convincingly, allowing it to continue with its agenda of development with renewed vigour. Poll results will be announced on November 23. Accusing the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) of practising the divide-and-rule policy of the British, Shinde said, “What has Prime Minister Narendra Modi said? Be united and be safe. Come together and vote to take Maharashtra on the path of development and progress. What is wrong with this?” “Where have we asked Hindus to unite and fight against the Muslims? They (Opposition) say it openly,” the chief minister said. He said various schemes of the government do not discriminate on religious lines and ensure that the benefits reach every community. “It is the Congress that is practising the policy of divide-and-rule followed by the British,” Shinde said accusing the Opposition of spreading fear among Muslims, Christians and Adivasis. “They have raised the bogey of Constitution being in danger and reservations being discontinued. They are doing this for political benefits,” the chief minister said.On the issue of the Maratha reservation, Shinde said, “The policy of the Mahayuti government is very clear. The Maratha community should get justice, but in doing so, injustice should not be meted out to the OBCs and other communities.” The CM said the Opposition had deprived the Maratha community of benefits under various government initiatives. “The Maratha community will think in a calm manner on who is giving them benefits and who is using them for political benefits,” Shinde said. He pointed out that his government had called a special session of the Assembly to grant 10 per cent reservation to the Maratha community. Shinde defended his rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray and alleged the then Shiv Sena leadership had an anti-development stance and had departed from its Hindutva principles. Shinde claimed there was an attempt to “sell the Shiv Sena to Congress” when the party was part of the MVA and called it a betrayal of people’s trust. “I left them (MVA and Uddhav Thackeray) because they were anti-development, and the then Shiv Sena leadership was drifting away from Hindutva,” Shinde said. “I pushed for an alliance with the BJP again, but he (Thackeray) did not listen to us,” Shinde said. He claimed the Mahayuti government had restored the people’s mandate. He further alleged that “the MVA was full of speed breakers, put stops on all projects”, specifically mentioning stalled initiatives in irrigation and the Nagpur-Mumbai Samruddhi Expressway. The Shiv Sena broke its alliance with the BJP after the 2019 Assembly polls claiming the latter had reneged on a promise to share the chief ministerial tenure. Thackeray then allied with the Congress and Sharad Pawar-led undivided NCP to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. The Shiv Sena split in June 2022 after Shinde rebelled, bringing down the MVA government. He became CM with the BJP’s support. In July last year, Ajit Pawar split the NCP and joined the Mahayuti. Shinde denied promoting casteism and said the MVA spread a fake narrative during the Lok Sabha polls about the end of reservation benefits. However, state elections are contested on local issues, he asserted. “Rahul Gandhi does not understand that during state elections, the focus is on practical issues, not matters of the Constitution,” he said. Shinde questioned former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership, accusing him of only banning things instead of working for people. He dismissed Thackeray’s recent allegation that the Central government wanted to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra, terming it “rhetoric”. “They have nothing else to say. They did not repair potholes on roads. We have worked for the betterment of Mumbai. We solved the issues they never did,” he said.Shinde further said the Ladki Bahin scheme, providing a R1,500 monthly allowance, has given support and freedom to women. On the MVA’s assurance of Rs 3,000 per month to women, the chief minister said, “The MVA first tarnished our image and went to court. My sisters know that they will not implement it.” This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
19 November,2024 08:24 AM IST | Mumbai | AgenciesCongress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who is in Maharashtra to rally for Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) candidates, urged the voters to defeat those who he alleged had accepted substantial bribes to change allegiance, referring to them as “50 khoke”. The Congress chief was speaking at a rally in Vasai on Monday. The term “50 khoke” (cash boxes) was used after CM Eknath Shinde defected from the undivided Shiv Sena to form a government with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2022. Kharge, without taking names of MLAs who supported Shinde, claimed each person was offered '50 crore to switch allegiance and urged voters to send a clear message in the upcoming election. He criticised the BJP-led Mahayuti for indulging in divisive politics through its slogans “batenge toh katenge” (divided, we shall perish) and “ek hain toh safe hai” (we are safe if we are one). The Congress chief said that some factions are attempting to fragment society along caste and religious lines. “The Congress and MVA stand for unity and the principles of Dr Ambedkar’s Constitution, while the BJP seeks to create divisions,” he asserted. Denouncing the state’s economic policies, Kharge claimed that the BJP-led coalition has severely impacted lives of farmers, workers, women, and youth. “Under this government, inflation and unemployment are at an all-time high, and farmers are struggling to get fair prices for their produce,” he said. He further accused the BJP of corruption, alleging Maharashtra faced significant financial wrongdoing in the last two-and-a-half years. Asking people to vote for the MVA, the Congress leader said the MVA would deliver on its promises through its “5 Guarantees” and “Maharashtra Nama” initiatives. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
19 November,2024 08:13 AM IST | Mumbai | AgenciesWith a width of 23 metres, Mira Road station on Western Railway (WR) is set to get one of the city's widest foot overbridges and an elevated deck connecting east and west. With a passenger footfall of 1,31,764 per day, the station has one of the highest-growing passenger traffic. The Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) is working on the project. “Most of the stations on the Mumbai suburban section are more than 80 years old, are highly congested and commuter’s volume has increased manifold since commissioning. Through this project, selected suburban stations will be upgraded to increase passenger handling capacity and enhance overall safety and experience. These upgrades will help decongest overcrowded stations and reduce the number of fatalities and injuries,” an official said. “The foot overbridge cum elevated deck at Mira Road connects east to west and hence is wider than traditional foot overbridges at all other stations,” he added.The official said that the station improvement plan focuses on upgrading 17 stations in Mumbai, with 10 on the Central Railway (CR) and 7 on the WR. The revamp includes wider foot overbridges, additional escalators, lifts, and broader platforms. “The amenities at these stations will also be enhanced to include facilities for persons with disabilities (PwD), such as escalators, elevators, tactile tiles, and Braille for the visually impaired. Ramps will be provided at entry and exit points for wheelchair access. Other improvements include foot overbridges, elevated decks, interconnections between decks and foot overbridges, skywalks, and the relocation of service buildings, stalls, and kiosks,” he said. “The plan also aims to improve entry and exit points, circulating areas, and create green spaces. General lighting will be upgraded with energy-efficient lights, and indicators and signage will be enhanced at various stations on both Central and Western Railway,” he said. “Yes. Mira Road Station is being upgraded and the following plans are in place so far. There is a proposed replacement of the existing elevated booking office and other railway offices on a 23.7-m-wide foot overbridge connecting with the elevated booking office at the north end. This will be an elevated east-west deck with a booking office and other such amenities, along with a 9-11m wide deck space connecting to all foot overbridges at the west side. There is also a proposed 10-m-wide bridge connecting to the skywalk and deck space with triple discharge,” a railway official said. The work is currently in full swing and is expected to be completed by December 2025. Of the existing wide foot overbridges on both, CR and WR, the widest are of 12 m. Stations with these wide bridges include Dadar, Ghatkopar, Thane, Prabhadevi, Dadar, Kandivli and Borivli. 12mWidth of the existing widest foot overbridges
19 November,2024 08:02 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarThe forest department has established a committee to determine the cause of jackal deaths in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). The committee has also been told to administer anti-rabies vaccines to all its members and staff. Several golden jackals in the MMR were found dead in the past few months, with the major cause of deaths being rabies infection. In a recent incident which took place last week, a golden jackal was rescued from the Chembur area. However, it was declared dead within two days of its rescue with signs of being infected with rabies. Officials said that the teams will monitor whether the rabies transmission was spread from dogs or from other jackals. Samples have been sent to the ICMR-National Institute of Virology for analysis, and the reporters are awaited, they said. “We have formed monitoring groups that include field staff, with the priority being the administration of anti-rabies vaccines to the group members. The team has been briefed on the dos and don’ts, as well as the protocols for monitoring jackals in the identified hotspots,” said Deputy Conservator of Forest (DCF) Akshay Gajbhiye, who is also heading the committee. The forest department said that it would also be doing habitat mapping of the areas where the number of golden jackals is high. In order to monitor the movement of the golden jackal, a camera trapping study will be undertaken. The six-member committee, which also includes field staff, is composed of a wildlife veterinarian, senior forest department officials, and a representative from a wildlife conservation NGO. On October 28, mid-day did a story—‘Forest dept to investigate the rise in jackal deaths in Chembur’—which highlighted how, in a concerning series of events, five jackals had died in the Trombay-Chembur belt over the past month, prompting investigations by the forest department. While the reason behind their deaths is unknown, sources from the forest department told mid-day that the sick jackals that were rescued showed behaviours indicative of a potential rabies infection. On October 30, mid-day carried another story—’Rabies may be cause of jackal deaths’—in which it was stated that the jackal that died recently in Mumbai tested positive for rabies infection, making this incident probably the first case of a rabies-infected death of wildlife in Mumbai.
19 November,2024 07:56 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavADVERTISEMENT
