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Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Mumbai to get 238 new AC locals with creature comforts
MUMBAI: Cushioned seats, chillier coaches, mobile charging points and a quicker ride – commuting on Mumbai's local trains will feel a lot like travelling on the metro. Once tenders are invited, it will take three to six months to appoint a private contractor to manufacture the new AC locals. (Photo by Bachchan Kumar/ HT PHOTO) (HT PHOTO / REPRESENTATIVE IMAGE) These perks have been promised by the railway authorities in a set of 238 new air-conditioned (AC) local trains to be rolled out on both suburban railway lines in around 3 years. While inaugurating a series of infrastructure projects of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), on Thursday, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis drew a parallel between the new AC locals and metro coaches. 'Existing coaches will be replaced by AC coaches, with closed doors similar to the metro rail. I have requested the railway minister (Ashwini Vaishnaw) not to hike ticket fares while introducing these new AC local trains,' said Fadnavis, during the event held at Bandra Kurla Complex. Railway officials said the new AC local trains, to be procured under MUTP-3 and 3A at a cost of ₹19,293 crore, will be vestibuled. This is in sharp contrast to the existing 12-car AC locals, which are divided into six-vestibule coaches. Each new train will be one single vestibule of 12 coaches. 'The tender will be for 2,856 AC coaches, which will constitute 12-car suburban trains. We will be floating tenders for these AC local trains very soon,' said Vilas Wadekar, chairperson and managing director, Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC). This will also offer scope to expand into 15-car AC locals, which cannot be done easily now as the trains are divided into six-vestibule coaches. The air-conditioned vendor compartments will be positioned at both ends of the new trains. The new AC trains are likely to be fitted with cushioned seats instead of the existing steel ones. Commuters have complained that the air-conditioning makes the steel seats uncomfortably cold. The coaches will also be equipped with mobile charging points next to every seat, similar to the set-up in metro trains. Another big plus – they will also be fitted with infotainment sets. The electric powering of the new AC locals will be increased from 33% at present, to 50%. Rail officials said this will result in quicker acceleration and deceleration. The quicker speed will compensate for the 15-20 seconds lost waiting for the doors to open and close at railway stations. 'For the first time, an EMU (local train) will have a speed potential of 130 kmph, which we plan to introduce through these new AC local trains. At present, these trains have a potential to run at 100-110 kmph. This will help on the Fast corridor,' said a railway official. Two EMU car sheds will be built for the 238 new AC locals, one at Bhivpuri on the Central Railway and the other at Vangaon on the Western Railway. They will be solely operated by the private manufacturer. Once tenders are invited, it will take three to six months to appoint a private contractor to manufacture these AC locals. It would take 2 years to manufacture a prototype, followed by various formalities before the AC coaches are manufactured.
Hindustan Times
27-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘90% of the migrant workforce from Bihar are unaware of ECI's SIR'
New Delhi: The vast majority of migrant workers from Bihar living outside the state are unaware of the Election Commission of India (ECI)'s special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral roll, according to a survey by the volunteer group Stranded Workers Action Network (SWAN). A survey of 338 migrant workers found that only 29% submitted documents from the EC's list, while 45% gave Aadhaar or voter ID, which weren't required. (File)(Bachchan Kumar/HT Photo) 'Despite the procedures in place and clarifications and safeguards from exclusions being hastily announced, the testimonies of migrant workers illustrate low levels of confidence in the process… A large fraction of workers questioned the necessity of the SIR and expressed a strong preference for the older process of using Aadhaar or existing voter IDs,' the group observed in its report. The survey found that 90% of migrant workers from Bihar living outside the state are unaware of the SIR. It also said that 68% of workers – both within Bihar and outside – lacked accurate information about the documents needed for SIR verification. The survey covered 338 migrant workers in and outside Bihar. Of those who reported visits, 29% said officials collected one of the documents from the EC's prescribed list. Another 45% said Aadhaar or voter ID cards were taken along with the enumeration form (EF), even though neither was part of the EC's 11 indicative documents for the exercise. Launched on June 24, the ECI described the SIR as long overdue, since the last revision in Bihar was conducted in 2003. The poll body said the drive aimed to remove bogus entries and update the rolls. Opposition parties, however, questioned its timing ahead of the state assembly polls and claimed it could 'disenfranchise lakhs of poor voters who cannot produce the requisite documents required to be submitted along with the enumeration forms.' The draft roll will be published on August 1, with the final list expected on September 30 after corrections. The SWAN survey noted that 35% of respondents lacked any of the SIR's 11 prescribed documents. Although an online EF submission portal was made available for migrants outside Bihar, the report found that 75% had never heard of it and fewer than 1% had submitted forms online.
Hindustan Times
11-07-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
CIDCO to convert residential leasehold plots to freehold, offering major relief to property owners
In a major relief for homeowners in Navi Mumbai, near Mumbai, the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) has announced that residential plots allotted on a leasehold basis will now be eligible for conversion to freehold. In a major relief for homeowners in Navi Mumbai, near Mumbai, the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) has announced that residential plots allotted on a leasehold basis will now be eligible for conversion to freehold. (Picture for representational purposes only)(Bachchan Kumar/HT Photo) The CIDCO said that in order to facilitate this process, it has constituted a committee tasked with scrutinising applications received for such conversions. The special planning authority, CIDCO has urged citizens to take advantage of this scheme to secure full ownership rights over their residential plots. "The scheme will cover residential plots allotted through the tender process, CIDCO-constructed housing projects, as well as plots allotted under the 12.5% and 22.5% schemes," CIDCO said in a statement. According to the statement, eligible plot owners can apply for conversion by submitting the required documents and paying the prescribed conversion fees. Also Read: CIDCO cancels allotment of 16 Navi Mumbai plots worth ₹2,000 crore: 5 key reasons The conversion fee is charged basis the ready reckoner rate of the particular land and only a certain percentage of the ready reckoner rate is charged in exchange of conversion, CIDCO officials said. However, in cases where recovery of unearned income is stipulated in the lease agreement, such amounts will also be recovered along with the conversion fees. Additionally, for plots allotted at concessional or subsidized rates, other applicable charges will be levied besides the conversion fees, the CIDCO said in a statement. Also Read: CIDCO auction: Godrej Properties acquires 6.54 acres in Navi Mumbai for ₹717 crore on a 60-year lease According to the statement, the scheme is optional and applies only to plots where lease deeds have already been executed. Once a plot's status is converted to freehold, CIDCO will not levy transfer charges for future property transfers. Further, the Department of Land Records, Government of Maharashtra, will maintain and update the records of rights for these freehold plots, the CIDCO statement reads. Also Read: Housing sales volume of Tier 1 real estate developers dips by 6% in FY25: Ind-Ra The CIDCO has planned and developed 14 nodes in Navi Mumbai—such as Airoli, Vashi, Nerul, Belapur, Kharghar, Kamothe, New Panvel, Ulwe, Dronagiri, etc.—and land parcels in these nodes were originally allotted on leasehold basis.
Hindustan Times
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
State to file review petition against SC verdict on Zudpi land
MUMBAI: Maharashtra forest minister Ganesh Naik said the state government will file a review petition against the Supreme Court's verdict on the conservation of zudpi forest land. He made the announcement in the state assembly on Friday. Maharashtra forest minister Ganesh Naik (Bachchan Kumar) The review petition will be filed against an apex court's verdict, which directed that zudpi jungle land (shrub forest) in Vidarbha, in eastern Maharashtra, shall be considered forest land in line with an order of the court dated December 12, 1996. The current order was delivered on May 22. In its 1996 order, the court had held that forest land as defined under Section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980, would include not only forests as understood in the dictionary sense but any area recorded as forest in government records. Raising the issue, Congress legislator Nana Patole said this would pose a major problem as it would create hurdles in implementing development projects. 'No such land can be redeveloped after this verdict. The state government has failed to explain it to the Supreme Court, because of which this verdict was delivered,' Patole noted, demanding that the state file a review petition. Naik appeared to agree with him and said in the lower house, 'The apex court issued the verdict despite the central government taking a different stand. The state government will file a review petition to resolve the matter.' Interestingly, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had welcomed the verdict, calling it a 'big relief for the Vidarbha region' that has been lagging in terms of development due to the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. 'All the land parcels granted before 1996 were given a kind of exemption by the SC. A process has also been formulated for lands that were granted post-1996, following which the state can get the land from the central government,' Fadnavis said in a statement on May 22.
Hindustan Times
26-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
APMC onion-potato market redevelopment proposal to be finalised ‘within a week'
NAVI MUMBAI: The much-delayed redevelopment plan of the onion-potato market at the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) complex in Vashi will be finalised within a week, officials said, even as the latest effort by authorities to vacate it failed in the face of opposition from traders. Navi Mumbai, India - June 25, 2025:Redevelopment proposals being finalized as thousands risk lives daily at `extremely dangerousÕ Kanda Batata APMC market buildings in Navi Mumbai, India, on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (Photo by Bachchan Kumar/ HT PHOTO) (HT PHOTO) Several buildings in the market, constructed in 1979-80, have been declared extremely dangerous by the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC). Earlier this week, the civic body disconnected the water supply to the onion-potato market to force traders to vacate it. The supply was restored on Tuesday after traders gave the civic body an undertaking saying they would accept responsibility for any incident, and claimed precautionary measures have been undertaken. 'Since last year, we have, along with the APMC, taken up repair work,' said Sanjay Pingle, president of the traders' organisation. 'Onion and potato are essential items and, hence, the market cannot be shut. We have given an undertaking to the civic body on the issue. The traders are ready for redevelopment, which should be taken up at the earliest.' However, Manohar Totlani, another trader, said there seems to be no will to take up redevelopment as the proposals have been repeatedly changed. 'We should be given adequate space and not have to spend for it, which is what redevelopment is all about,' he said. Redevelopment of the wholesale market, spread over 175 acres, has been stalled for years due to disagreements over floor space index (FSI) and costs. The redevelopment plan has also been mired in controversy over the source of funds and traders' demand for additional space, leading to a court battle. With thousands of people working or coming for business to the wholesale market risking their lives on a daily basis, especially with the monsoon in full swing, APMC secretary PL Khandagale said a permanent solution is on the anvil. 'We have been working on a redevelopment proposal, but it needed some technical changes to make it feasible. The plan has been revised accordingly, and our project management consultant should submit it in a couple of days,' he said. Khandagale added that the new redevelopment proposal takes care of all aspects to ensure traders' support, and the factual position will be presented in the court. 'We are confident of concrete developments in a week to take up the process at the earliest.' Along with the onion-potato market, the redevelopment proposal of the central facility building (CFB) in the spices market has also been approved, he said. 'We have designated buildings where the traders can be shifted in case of any incident. We are also finalising additional areas to meet any eventuality,' he added. The onion-potato market was the first to shift to Navi Mumbai in 1981, following a government decision to decongest Mumbai by shifting the wholesale markets. Poor construction led to NMMC in 2003 designating it a C1 (dangerous) category building to be vacated immediately. The CFB building and the MAFCO vegetable market were later declared C1. Other buildings, including the administrative building, are also in poor condition. Over the years, portions of the building's ceiling and plaster have fallen. In December last year, the APMC administration installed iron pillars adjacent to the dilapidated pillars to support the galas and buildings in the onion-potato market, along with undertaking repair work. The traders have removed several dilapidated roofs and constructed sheds.
