A suburban local train derailed at Kalyan station platform on Friday evening. No injuries have been reported in the incident. Confirming the incident, a Central Railway spokesperson said, "The incident occurred at platform number 2. The train was heading to CSMT (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus) when one coach went off the track and derailed. There is no injury to anyone." Kalyan station booking staff protest after assault on ticket clerk Ticket-booking clerks at Kalyan station staged protest after a clerk was assaulted by a commuter following an argument over spare change, on Friday afternoon. Railway officials said the ticket-booking clerk, Roshni Patil, was posted at the ticket counter. During her duty, the accused, Ansar Shaikh, arrived to buy a local train ticket, and an argument ensued between them over spare change. During the argument, Shaikh allegedly entered the ticket cabin, and assaulted the railway employee. He also allegedly hurled abuses at her. In the melee, Patil fell unconscious, and her gold necklace was purportedly stolen during the attack. Patil is currently undergoing treatment in a hospital. The railway police have registered a case in the incident. The railway staff demanded better security protection so that there is no repeat of such an incident.
18 October,2024 10:28 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarNOK Air, a Thailand-based aviation company, is all set to start flight operations between Mumbai and Bangkok from October 28. The airline will operate eight flights per week: two on Monday and one each on the rest of the days. NOK Air had begun operating flights from Hyderabad last year. More details awaited.
18 October,2024 09:04 PM IST | Mumbai | Prasun ChoudhariMaharashtra's Chief Secretary, Sujata Saunik on Friday acknowledged that Mumbai is not a walking or cycling-friendly city, reported news agency PTI. Speaking at an event organised by the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IFCCI), she emphasised the urgent need to transform the city into a more inclusive and sustainable megapolis. "Right now it's not a very walkable or a bikeable city. How do we work towards that is the big question," Saunik said during an IFCCI event. Saunik, who is the senior-most bureaucrat of Maharashtra said that sustainable urban development requires "building, or at least planning to build" a greener planning. This includes integrating renewable energy into industries and ensuring that urban spaces incorporate ample green areas. She pointed out that recent infrastructure projects in Mumbai have primarily focused on car usage, with many toll-free roads being constructed for four-wheelers. This approach contrasts sharply with global trends that prioritise pedestrian and cyclist-friendly environments. Civil society groups often highlight the problems of walkers and cyclists, but those concerns go unheard, stated PTI. With temperatures frequently exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, Saunik pointed out the importance of creating urban spaces that can mitigate heat and provide relief to residents. She noted that a less energy-dense city would contribute to overall cooling efforts. French Ambassador to India, Thierry Mathou, urged attention to ecological challenges faced by Mumbai as a coastal city. He warned that rising sea levels could potentially reduce the city's landmass by 10 per cent over the next 50 years. Mathou also called for improvements in air quality, pollution control, drinking water access, and public transportation. Saunik said Maharashtra is looking forward for help from France to enhance the metro network "more cohesive" and improve intra-city transport systems. In a related discussion, French Minister for Olympics and Paralympics, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, noted that India is competing against Chile and Indonesia for the opportunity to host the 2036 Summer Games. She emphasised the need for a unique proposal to secure this honour, highlighting the potential benefits hosting could bring to the city. Godrej Industries Chairman Nadir Godrej also contributed to the conversation by advocating for the preservation of Mumbai's diversity while addressing these pressing urban issues. (With inputs from PTI)
18 October,2024 04:51 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFollowing the recent announcement of the dates for the Maharashtra assembly elections 2024, Shiv Sena held a meeting with its office bearers on Friday, reported news agency ANI. In the meeting, there was a strong push for Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to be presented as the face for the chief ministerial position, a move that signals the party's strategy as it prepares for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections 2024, reported ANI. Shiv Sena party leaders chanted slogans in support of Eknath Shinde as Chief Minister, collectively asserting that the saffron flag should continue to wave proudly. The meeting was convened by Shiv Sena leader and MP Shrikant Shinde. Senior Shiv Sena leaders Milind Deora, Ravindra Waikar, Manisha Kayande, Rahul Shewale and other leaders were present for the meeting, reported ANI. Shiv Sena leader and MLA Dilip Lande praised Chief Minister Shinde and said, "Nath ke Nath, Eknath Shinde hai," reported ANI. "Eknath Shinde is a people's person, who the tears of the public, he is a supreme being who always comes forward to help us and others," said Lande, reported ANI. Prakash Surve took a dig at Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders and said, "Everybody knows who is the real traitor. I organized a marathon in the national park earlier, and we got tired of waiting but these people Uddhav Thackeray and Aditya Thackeray never picked up our calls. These people are not helpful, they are just pretenders, they should be really ousted," reported ANI. Shiv Sena MP and Eknath Shinde's son Shrikant Shinde called on party workers to take the message of the Sena to all quarters. "It's just a question of working for one month, we want a Mahayuti government again in Maharashtra. We just need to go to the people and make them aware of the government schemes. Today the environment in the state is very good. No matter how much the opposition may abuse him, the people have a great love for Eknath Shinde. Those who were born with a silver spoon in their mouth will not know the problems of the people. Ours is a government that gives and does not take," he said, reported ANI. Shiv Sena leader Manisha Kayande said the alliance is contesting the election under Eknath Shinde's leadership. "There is no fixed formula. The candidate who can win will be declared... Shiv Sena has had a stronghold in Mumbai, hence it should get more seats in Mumbai. We are contesting the elections under the leadership of CM Eknath Shinde." she said, reported ANI. As the ruling Mahayuti alliance gears up for Maharashtra assembly elections 2024 next month, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has emerged as an influential political figure who seeks to balance tradition with modernity, effectively handle a crisis and deliver on promises. Elections to the 288-member Maharashtra legislative assembly will be held in a single phase on November 20. Votes will be counted on November 23. Eknath Shinde became Chief Minister in June 2022 following a split in Shiv Sena and has steered the coalition government through many challenges. Starting his career as a rickshaw driver, Shinde's rise to the highest office in Maharashtra is a true underdog story. The Maharashtra assembly elections 2024 will be held in a single phase on November 20, The results of the Elections will be on November 23. (With inputs from ANI)
18 October,2024 02:57 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Western Railway, in its Mumbai local train updates on Friday, announced that there will be no mega block on Sunday, October 20. In its latest Mumbai local train updates, the Western Railway said, "There will be no block on the Western Railway suburban section on Sunday, October 20, 2024." Western Railway to run more than 100 special trains for this festive season Earlier, the Western Railway said that it will run more than 100 special trains for upcoming festivals including Diwali, Durga Puja and Chhath Puja. In an official statement, the Western Railway said that the Indian Railways is set to operate 6556 special trains to facilitate smooth travel for passengers during Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath Puja from 1st October to November 30, 2024 this year as of October 6, 2024. It said that the special trains are run every year during festivals and this year, the number of trains has been significantly increased to accommodate the surge in travellers. Out of these, WR is running 2130 trips with 102 festival special trains, which is still the highest over the entire Indian Railways. The statement said that it is noteworthy that during Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath festivals, millions of passengers travel across the country. To provide them with a smooth and comfortable journey, Indian Railways has prepared to run these special trains again this year. Over the next two months, these special trains will ensure passengers reach their destinations seamlessly. Last year, Indian Railways ran an impressive total of 4429 festival special trains, ensuring a comfortable travel experience for millions of passengers. Every year, a large number of people from all over the country travel to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar for Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath Puja. Due to the heavy rush of passengers during the festive season, most trains see their tickets go on the waiting list two to three months in advance. To address this, Indian Railways is once again operating special trains during the festival season this year, the Western Railway said. According to a press release issued by Vineet Abhishek – Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, this year, WR has notified 106 special trains with a total of 2315 trips from October 2024 to December 2024, to meet the increased travel demand during the festive season. These trains are being run for destinations in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, North India, West Bengal, North East, etc. 14 pairs of special trains are being run by Western Railway from Mumbai to various parts of the country. To cater to the huge demand of passengers from Surat/ Udhna, Vapi, and Valsad 14 pairs of originating special trains are being run while 21 pairs of trains are passing through Surat/ Udhna or Bhestan. Similarly, special trains are being run from other stations in Gujarat such as Vapi, Valsad, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Sabarmati, Hapa, Okha, Rajkot, Bhavnagar Terminus, etc as well as from Indore, Dr Ambedkar Nagar, Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, it said.
18 October,2024 02:43 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Maha Vikas Aghadi has accused the Mahayuti government of deleting the names of pro-MVA voters from the electoral rolls ahead of Maharashtra Elections 2024. It said a government-appointed workforce employed for Yojana Doot Scheme was doing this job on the behest of the ruling parties that wanted 10,000-20,000 names deleted from the constituencies where MVA was leading in previous elections, including Lok Sabha polls. The MVA leaders addressed a media conference before submitting a complaint to the State Electoral Officer S Chokkalingam on Friday. State Congress president Nana Patole, opposition leader in the Assembly, Vijay Wadettiwar, opposition leader in the Council, Ambadas Danve, Shiv Sena (UBT) member of Lok Sabha, Anil Desai, and NCP (SP) leader Jitendra Awhad comprised the delegation. Patole presented a video in which the sarpanch of Telana in Buldhana district, Kiran Gadekar, was seen explaining how the names were deleted online by using Form-7 (provided by the Election Commission of India). "We want the Yojana Doot scheme scrapped because the interns who are paid by the government are going door to door to get the job done, without the knowledge of the voters," added Patole. "I tell the BJP that it should fight us face to face instead of attacking us from behind. Mahayuti is playing foul. Let's check the electoral rolls first," he said further. Patole alleged that the paid interns, who worked under the garb of the Yojana Doot scheme, were affiliated with the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). "We will request the Election Commission to stop Yojana Doot interns in their tracks before they delete the names of the voters who belong to the MVA ideology," added Patole. According to Awhad, the process of filling out Form 7 online was wrong. "They have managed to delete 5,000 names in Sinnar. But the names were restored when an objection was raised. So, We request people of Maharashtra to check their names, and ensure that they are added if deleted," he stated. Danve too described some similar cases. Desai said the deletions were shocking and exposed the Election Commission's claim of transparency. Wadettiwar said he would check with the Chief Secretary whether the decisions, tenders and appointments made after the code of conduct were scrapped as per the Election Commission's directive.
18 October,2024 02:37 PM IST | Mumbai | Dharmendra JoreShiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Friday expressed disappointment over the delay in the seat-sharing talks among MVA partners and claimed that Maharashtra Congress leaders are "not capable of making decisions", reported news agency PTI. Talking to reporters about MVA seat-sharing talks, Sanjay Raut said Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) partners, Congress, Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP), have reached a consensus on 200 of the 288 assembly seats. The Rajya Sabha member said he spoke to Congress general secretaries K C Venugopal and Mukul Wasnik and the party's Maharashtra in-charge Ramesh Chennithala on Friday morning over seat-sharing. The Sena (UBT) leader said he would also speak to top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi later in the day, reported PTI. "The pending decision should be expedited. Very little time is left. Maharashtra Congress leaders are not capable of making decisions. They have to send the list to Delhi frequently and then discussions happen. The decision will have to be taken at the earliest," Raut said on the MVA seat-sharing talks, reported PTI. Adding further, he said, "There is no major difference of opinion between NCP and Shiv Sena, not even in Congress but there are some seats on which all three parties claim. Nana Patole is our ally in Maharashtra, but there is a problem on some seats, it will be resolved," reported ANI. The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader also attacked the BJP, stating, "People like me have gone to jail and come back, we know who the targets are and what the BJP will do." Raut likened the BJP's tactics to those of the "Bishnoi gang," claiming they use agencies like the CBI and ED as weapons against their opponents, reported ANI. Raut emphasised that despite facing such challenges, they remain resolute in standing up to the BJP. The UBT Sena MP also took a dig at the Election Commission claiming that they were biased. "The Election Commission has given some important decisions, and we feel that those decisions are against the interests of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, and will help Shinde and the BJP. The Election Commission and the Supreme Court are not neutral. They are the B, C and D teams of the BJP," he said, reported ANI. Late on Thursday evening, Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole said that a list of 20-25 assembly constituencies where MVA partners have overlapping claims will be sent to the high commands of each party to resolve the stalemate. Patole told reporters that the MVA leaders involved in seat-sharing talks had a final meeting on Thursday. He said attempts were being made to declare the seat-sharing arrangement for all 288 constituencies by October 18-19. In the Lok Sabha elections, the MVA performed impressively winning 30 of the 48 seats in Maharashtra. Assembly polls in the state will be held on November 20 and votes will be counted on November 23. (With inputs from PTI and ANI)
18 October,2024 01:42 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFor the first time, a temporary lightweight steel foot over bridge (FOB) with planned escalators has been built in place of a discontinued road over bridge following commuter complaints of east-west connectivity being severed at Mumbai Central station after the closure of Bellasis bridge. While the bridge has been opened for public use, escalators are under construction. The bridge was built within six months (about 182 days), a rare feat. The Bellasis bridge was shut in June 2024. The provision of building a temporary FOB in its place is unprecedented in the history of Mumbai. It provides much-needed pedestrian connectivity between the east and west sides of the station and has been opened for public access. The Bellasis bridge was closed in June 2024 for pedestrian and vehicular movement. However, it created considerable challenges for daily commuters, compelling Western Railway (WR), and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to come up with a temporary FOB. The new structure, which officials have called the result of meticulous planning and coordination The bridge starts from the station approach in the east outside the ticketed area, crosses over rail lines and lands in the west, connecting with JBB Road outside the station in Tardeo. WR chief spokesperson Vineet Abhishek said, “Located north of the Bellasis road over bridge, the new FOB is equipped with a staircase, allowing pedestrians easy access to the Mumbai Central station. An escalator is also being provided on the west side and is expected to be operational within two months. This is the first time in the history of Mumbai’s suburban railway network that a temporary FOB has been provided to ensure pedestrian movement during the reconstruction of an old bridge,” he added. The west side, where an escalator is expected to be operational within two months “The successful completion of this project is a result of meticulous planning and coordination between Western Railway’s Bridge Branch and the BMC. The authorities worked closely to resolve challenges such as securing land and removing encroachments, ensuring that the construction was carried out without unnecessary delays,” he elaborated. How plan was executed The four-metre-wide bridge was constructed quickly due to the simultaneous fabrication of girders and steel columns taken in hand and parallel work on foundation excavation taken in hand in series. While the steel column was erected in two days for both sides, the cross girders were set up in four. As trials had been carried out, assembly at the site took only three days while the bridge was erected in one day by using a 700-metre crane. The east side of the station The deck (flooring) has been built with chequered plate instead of reinforced cement concrete, which would have required a minimum of 45 days in reinforcement binding, concreting, curing etc. The deck plate laying and side railing work were executed simultaneously. The staircase was prefabricated at a workshop and while the electrical department provided lighting in a day. The record holders 33 days: The south-end 17-metre FOB at Masjid Bunder station was completed a full 12 days before the target. The dismantling of the old FOB and construction of its replacement at the same place was carried out in this period. 72 days: The FOB at LTT was sanctioned after the Elphinstone station stampede on September 29, 2017. The tender for the FOB was finalised in just 24 hours on November 14, 2017, and work began two days later. The bridge, built at a cost of R2.97 crore, connects all five platforms. 117 days: The FOB built by the Indian Army at Elphinstone Road, now called Prabhadevi, station is 73.1 metres long and 3.65 metres wide and was built at a cost of R10.44 crore. Other army bridges completed simultaneously include the one at Currey Road and Ambivli stations. Walkway at Lower Parel slammed as claustrophobic A pedestrian walkway (pictured below) opened by the BMC along the new Delisle Road bridge has been criticised by citizens as “claustrophobic”. The footpath, which pedestrians had been pushing for, has been constructed outside the girder. “We recognise it as hostile architecture that is unsafe for women. In non-peak hours, FOBs are often deserted. Are we expecting women to feel safe using this one with opaque metal screens on both sides?” said urban transport planner Bhaumik Gowande. “British-era footpaths along this bridge used to be three metres wide, easily twice this width, if not more. I don’t know what contempt the BMC has for pedestrians that it feels like it is okay to treat us as scavengers to leave the crumbs after the private vehicles’ greed for space is fulfilled.” said Vedant Mhatre, programme director, Walking Project. Wadala locals up in arms Wadala locals staged a minor rail roko on Wednesday afternoon after learning about plans to close a shortcut used by trespassers. Railway officials had earlier built an FOB before closing the shortcut and putting up a public urinal at the spot. “The train was stopped for two minutes,” a Central Railway spokesperson said.
18 October,2024 01:19 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarMaharashtra’s picturesque coastal belt, stretching from Mumbai to the southern tip of Sindhudurg, was once a stronghold of the Congress party. Over the years, however, the party has steadily lost its grip to the once-undivided Shiv Sena, making way for new political dynamics in the region.Historically, the economy of the Konkan belt depended heavily on money orders from residents who had migrated to Mumbai for work after Maharashtra became a state in 1960. But, according to former Chief Minister Narayan Rane, the situation has changed significantly. The region has become self-sufficient, with exports of fish, mangoes, and cashews thriving, and youth increasingly turning to entrepreneurship. Infrastructure has expanded, and the region now enjoys better air and rail connectivity, alongside stable electricity and water supply. “We’ve witnessed an economic transformation,” Rane said, as per PTI, adding that he hopes to develop Ratnagiri into a tourism hub, much like Sindhudurg. The former Shiv Sena MLA from Malwan, now with the BJP, first won the seat in 1990 and has since been a pivotal figure in Konkan’s political landscape.With 75 of the state’s 288 assembly seats—including 36 in Mumbai—the Konkan region is poised to play a crucial role in determining the outcome of the upcoming Maharashtra elections. The battle will be primarily between the ruling Mahayuti coalition and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), according to PTI. State minister Chhagan Bhujbal, a veteran politician now aligned with the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), reflected on the evolving political alignments. Bhujbal, who was the lone Shiv Sena MLA elected from Mumbai in 1985, noted that while the urban regions may feel the greater impact of these shifts, the coastal belt remains deeply significant. He pointed to the split in the Shiv Sena, which has intensified the competition in places like Thane, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s home district."More than 30 independents could be elected across Maharashtra," Bhujbal remarked, suggesting they could play a critical role in Maharashtra elections 2024, PTI reported. According to journalist Vaibhav Purandare, author of Bal Thackeray and the Rise of the Shiv Sena, the Sena’s rise in Mumbai and the Konkan came at the expense of the Communist and Socialist parties, which had once held sway over mill workers and their families. The Sena, founded in 1966, initially had support from the Congress as it took on the Communists, before evolving into a Hindutva-based party in the mid-1980s. By 1990, the Sena had formed an alliance with the BJP, marking a pivotal shift in Konkan’s political landscape. This partnership, solidified on the Hindutva platform, diminished Congress's influence in the region, which it had controlled since the early 1960s.The decline of the Congress began in earnest after 1978, with the rise of the Shiv Sena in urban centres like Mumbai, according to PTI. Congress stalwarts and regional parties such as the Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) and the Socialist Party had once dominated the region. However, with the rise of prominent figures like Pramod Navalkar of the Shiv Sena, backed by Congress in the 1970s, the tide began to turn.The BJP also made inroads in the coastal belt, particularly in Mumbai and its surrounding regions, following the Modi wave in 2014. Leaders like Hashu Advani, Ram Naik, and Ram Kapse were instrumental in building the BJP's base, while the Congress continued to lose ground to regional players like the Shiv Sena and NCP, according to PTI.In 2019, the political landscape shifted dramatically again when the once-rival Congress and Shiv Sena formed an alliance, a move that was followed by the Sena’s split into two factions. With the Maharashtra elections 2024 on November 20 fast approaching, all eyes are on these rival factions—one led by Chief Minister Shinde, backed by the BJP, and the other by Uddhav Thackeray.Votes will be counted on November 23, and with Konkan’s strategic importance, the region's results could well determine the next government of Maharashtra. (With inputs from PTI)
18 October,2024 12:07 PM IST | Mumbai | Anisha ShrivastavaAkin to Thursday morning, Mumbai was enveloped in a layer of haze that obscured its skyline despite the 'good' air quality on Friday. Meanwhile, the mercury dipped by a degree. According to the Mumbai weather updates of the India Meteorological Department, the Colaba observatory recorded a maximum temperature of 31.3 degrees Celcius which is 1.9 degrees below the normal temperature. Santacruz observatory, the Met department data showed, recorded a temperature of 32.7 degrees. According to the latest Mumbai weather updates by the IMD, the maximum temperature will likely be around 32 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, the minimum temperature is likely to be around 26 degrees Celsius. While the relative humidity is yet to be ascertained, the wind speed is 1.9 km/h. The sun rose at 06:34 AM and will set at 06:14 PM. The IMD’s latest Mumbai weather updates have forecasted a "partly cloudy sky with possibility of thunderstorm/moderate rain towards evening or night" for the city and suburbs over the next 24 hours. Mumbai weather updates: City's AQI remains 'good' On October 18, the Central Pollution Control Board’s SAMEER app reported in its latest Mumbai weather updates that the city’s air quality was in the 'good' category, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 87 at 9:05 AM. However, a private AQI monitoring agency said that pollutant PM2.5 concentration in the city was 2.8 times above the recommended limit given by the World Health Organisation's 24-hour air quality guidelines value. Many areas across Mumbai—per the SAMEER app dashboard—showed 'good' AQI. However, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mazgaon, Kherwadi and Khindipada's AQI had slipped further into the 'moderate' category at 132, 154, 113 and 130 respectively. According to data from the SAMEER app, Navi Mumbai recorded air quality in the 'good' category with an AQI of 77, while Thane registered a 'good' AQI of 57. The air quality index from 0 to 100 is considered 'good', 100 to 200 'moderate', 200 to 300 'poor', 300 to 400 'very poor' and from 400 to 500 or above 'severe'. Meanwhile, as air pollution levels continue to rise in Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has revised guidelines issued last year for construction sites. The civic body will also form squads at the ward level to visit construction sites and act if guidelines are flouted. Sensor-based air pollution monitoring systems will be installed at all construction project work sites and immediate action to be taken if pollution levels are detected above the limit.
18 October,2024 12:06 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentState Congress General Secretary Sachin Sawant has demanded that the voters be allowed to carry mobile phones inside the polling booths during Maharashtra Elections 2024. Sawant said that the prohibition on mobile phones inside polling stations is one of the main reasons that desist people from voting. In his statement, posted on X (formerly Twitter), he said that security personnel should be stationed to ensure voters' devices are safe. "Bhushan Gagrani, the MCGM commissioner, has issued an order prohibiting the use of cell phones within the polling station. The voter must either give it to the security guard or keep it at home. During the Lok Sabha election, this was a major problem because many voters left without casting their ballots because security personnel would not allow them to carry cell phones. Furthermore, the instructions were unclear. Voters choose not to cast ballots due to the overwhelming number of questions," Sawant said in his statement. He added, "Therefore, we demand that either voters' mobile phones be permitted in voting places or that the security personnel stationed there be in charge of ensuring that voters' mobile devices are safe. The government employees must be provided with explicit guidelines. This activity shouldn't interfere with the primary goal of encouraging voting in order to strengthen democracy." Bhushan Gagrani, the MCGM commissioner, has issued an order prohibiting the use of cell phones within the polling station. The voter must either give it to the security guard or keep it at home. During the Loksabha election, this was a major problem because many voters left… — Sachin Sawant सचिन सावंत (@sachin_inc) October 18, 2024 Maharashtra Elections 2024: BMC chief says no phones allowed BMC chief Bhushan Gagrani on Wednesday announced that guidelines for voting during Maharashtra Elections 2024 would remain the same as for Lok Sabha Elections. Gagrani said that they had held discussions with the Election Commission of India who clarified that "the rule stands". Among the slew of rules was a ban on the use of mobile phones within 100 metres of polling booths; this rule had garnered opposition. Gagrani held a press conference about preparedness for the Maharashtra Elections 2024. Maharashtra Elections 2024: State to vote in single phase polls Maharashtra will vote in a single phase on November 20, the ECI announced earlier this week. The vote counting will be held three days later on November 23.
18 October,2024 10:53 AM IST | Mumbai | Dharmendra JoreADVERTISEMENT
