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Time of India
08-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Over 27L warkaris visit Pandharpur for Ashadi Ekadashi
Kolhapur: Over 27 lakh devotees turned up in Pandharpur for Ashadi Ekadashi, a centuries-old pilgrimage, since Sunday, showed an analysis conducted by extrapolating the number of devotees per minute, observed via drone footage, across different time phases. The Solapur district administration deployed six AI-powered cameras mounted on drones to estimate the crowd size in Pandharpur. The drones, equipped with night vision and heat meters, flew in shifts from 4am to midnight, covering several kilometers and staying aloft for 15-30 minutes at a time. Based on the footage, the administration estimated that about 27.40 lakh devotees visited the town. Solapur collector Kumar Ashirwad said explained the preparations for the wari and said: "We studied the pattern in the last wari. We got hanger-type pandals at two places where the warkaris could comfortably wait for their turn for darshan. The hanger pandals helped us reduce the darshan time significantly. We also used heat-sensor cameras to ensure the crowded areas were controlled to the limits. Last time, we had nearly 22 lakh warkaris in the town, and since there was a good amount of rain and the farmers were done with their sowing and other agricultural operations, we expected a record turnout and accordingly the plan was made. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Искате да научите повече за новото BMW 2 Gran Coupe? BMW Научете повече Undo " The highest per-minute crowd of over 4,000 people was recorded along Chandrabhaga (Bhima passing through the town) river in the afternoon. During noon to 4pm, nearly 15 lakh people showed up. "Drone operations were disrupted because of strong winds and gusts, but the collected data was still analysed to estimate the turnout. The darshan process began at 4am, following the two-hour Mahapuja ceremony, and continued till midnight. Notably, even after Ashadi Ekadashi, hundreds of thousands of devotees visited the temple to pay their respects to Vitthal and Rukhmini on Monday and Tuesday," a district official said. The collector also received praise from chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for ensuring the safety of the warkaris using advanced technology.
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Time of India
Ban on liquor sale in, around Pandharpur on Palkhi routes
Kolhapur: The Solapur district administration has decided to ban sale of liquor, including toddy, in and around the temple town of Pandharpur, which is set to witness a turnout of lakhs of devotees participating in Ashadi Ekadashi rituals at Vitthal-Rukhmini temple. The ban will come into effect in the town and within a 5km radius from July 4 to July 10. Additionally, the ban will be enforced from June 30 in towns and villages along which the Palkhis of Sant Tukaram and Sant Dnyaneshwar will pass. On June 30, liquour shops will remain shut in Netepute town and in Malshiras and Akluj on July 1, Velapur, Borgaon, Shripur, and Malinagar on July 2, Bhendishegaon and Pirachi Kuroli on July 3. On July 4, liquor shops in Wakhari, which is the last stop before entering Pandharpur, will remain shut. District collector Kumar Ashirwad stated that orders have been issued as per Sec 142 of Maharashtra Prohibition of Liquor Act, with the aim of ensuring public peace during the days leading up to and following Ashadi Ekadashi. Traffic regulations will be in place in the town from June 30 to July 7. All vehicles will be banned from entering Pradakshina Marg, Mahadwar Chowk to Shivaji Chowk. Heavy vehicles such as trucks and state transport buses will not be allowed via Teen Rasta Marg. Parking places have been identified for the devotees.
Time of India
08-06-2025
- Time of India
Case against man for making & selling fertilisers without licence
Kolhapur: Solapur zilla parishad registered a case against an agriculture consultant for manufacturing and selling fertilisers without a licence and using a brand name, label, and packaging of a registered company. A team from the agriculture department raided a house, belonging to Namdeo Appaso Patil, in Jambud village of Malshiras tehsil, and seized fertilisers worth Rs 32 lakh. The case was registered at Akluj police station. District collector Kumar Ashirwad directed the authorities to crack down on the illegal sale of fertilisers and seeds as the sowing season has started. Haridas Hawle, the agriculture development officer who led the team, said, "We found that the accused is a consultant who advises farmers on which fertilisers and pesticides to use, in what quantity, and other things. He manufactured the fertilisers on his own but was selling them under the brand name of a firm registered in Kondwa, Pune." The consultants garner the trust of the farmers by advising them on agriculture needs. However, they have turned into salesmen for the companies. There is no process to register the consultants. "The accused told us that he has a diploma and pursued a degree in agriculture from an open university. However, he did not show us the certificates. We advise farmers to buy seeds and fertilisers only from licensed dealers and suppliers. Also, the farmers should check the date of manufacturing, date of expiry, and insist on the receipt of the sale to avoid being duped," said Hawle. The officer said that the primary investigation led to a multi-district racket of consultants who visit farmers at their doorstep and sell fertilisers manufactured without a licence. "Some may benefit from fertilisers initially, but others may fall prey to fertilisers prepared without quality checks," added the official.
Time of India
07-06-2025
- Time of India
Drones and AI technology to be used for crowd control during Ashadi Wari at Pandharpur
Kolhapur: Solapur collector Kumar Ashirwad announced the district planning committee has sanctioned Rs 1.5 crore for crowd management using drones and AI technology during Ashadi Wari at Pandharpur. The event attracts more than 10 lakh devotees from Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. The district administration has arranged for water release from Ujani dam on June 18 to ensure adequate water levels at the Chandrabhaga ghat in Pandharpur by June 25, considering the devotees' ritual bath during Ashadi Ekadashi. Ashirwad said, "The police department will use AI technology and drones to control the crowd. The number of dindis (warkari groups) has been increasing for the last few years. Rest stops will be provided for the warkaris every 3-4km. These rest stops will be equipped with beds, water, toilets, medical facilities, and other amenities. Encroachments along the road will be removed soon. With rain intensity expected to stay on the higher side, the road potholes will be fixed. " Solapur guardian minister Jaykumar Gore inspected the palkhi route preparations at Phaltan in Satara district and at Pandharpur in Solapur district on Friday. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo "Govt is committed to providing excellent facilities to the warkaris during the Ashadhi Wari period. Also, priority is being given to making this Ashadhi Wari a wari of cleanliness. A separate mechanism will be set up to ensure that the Chandrabhaga riverbed remains clean during the wari period. A cleanliness campaign will be implemented in Pandharpur city with public participation before the wari," he said. The administration will install large pandals at wari halting locations to shelter pilgrims travelling independently to Pandharpur. Gore added: "There will be no fund shortage in any of the works regarding preparations for wari. The work of the palkhi route is underway at Phaltan, and instructions have been given to complete this work in 15 to 20 days."
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
After 15 years, first commercial flight set to take off from the refurbished Solapur airport on June 9
Kolhapur: After a gap of roughly 15 years, the Solapur airport is resuming commercial flight operations with a new route to Goa starting June 9. Ticket bookings are currently available. In Sept 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the fully refurbished Solapur airport. The facility has undergone extensive renovations costing Rs 60 crore. The upgraded terminal can now accommodate 150 passengers during peak hours and 4.1 lakh passengers yearly. The facility now boasts two check-in counters, expanded aircraft parking spaces, a new fire station, updated air traffic control, vehicle parking for 100 cars, complete LED illumination, and power-efficient systems. Solapur district collector Kumar Ashirwad told TOI: "A Goa-based airline operator is starting the service to Goa four times a week — Monday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The bookings for the first flight are full. We are planning to expand the air services to Tirupati and Mumbai soon." Security assessment exercises were conducted at the facility on Wednesday. The airport is a participant in the govt's UDAN-Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik initiative, designed to provide affordable air travel. The flight schedule shows departures from Goa at 7.20am, reaching Solapur at 8.30am on Mondays and Fridays, with a return flight after 20 minutes, landing in Goa at 10.05am. Weekend services leave Goa at 4.05pm, arrive in Solapur at 5.10pm, and return to Goa for a 6.50pm landing.
