Latest news with #VijayalakshmiBidari
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
‘Satnavri' a beacon for rural tech revolution
Nagpur: In the heart of Nagpur district, Satnavri village is emerging as a real-time experiment in rural digitisation, evolving into India's first 'Smart Intelligent Village' under a state pilot project. With sensor-equipped farms, AI-assisted classrooms, digital health cards, and a WiFi-powered gram panchayat, the village is rapidly integrating technology into daily life. During a field visit on Friday, divisional commissioner Vijayalakshmi Bidari reviewed the project's progress and urged villagers to engage deeply with the sweeping changes underway. "Digital tools alone don't change villages — people do," she said, calling for regular training to ensure locals can access and utilise new services being introduced. The initiative is part of a broader 'Make in India' collaboration, with 15 private firms executing various modules — ranging from real-time crop dashboards and remote health consultations to smart learning platforms in anganwadis and schools. The village is connected via optical fibre, allowing data flow that powers everything from soil sensors and irrigation tracking to lake water quality monitoring. Health systems in Satnavri are also undergoing a digital transition. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dhonia Knee Pain Treatments Might Surprise You Knee Pain Treatment | Search Ads Undo Villagers are being issued e-health cards, and mobile clinics now coordinate with specialists at Govt Medical College via telemedicine portals. Education, another cornerstone of the transformation, includes AI-integrated digital books, remote learning setups, and smart Anganwadi modules. At the gram panchayat office, tech firms associated with the Voice of India Communication Technology demonstrated live dashboards to officials, showcasing real-time data and digital governance tools. "This village is not just getting connected. It's getting empowered," said the project's chief operating officer Vinayak Mahamuni, noting that sustained awareness and follow-ups will be critical for adoption. With agriculture at its core, the model emphasises actionable data for farmers — tracking everything from sowing patterns to market forecasts — on a simplified interface. Officials say farmers now receive alerts on soil health, weather conditions, and optimal harvest timings via mobile. CM Devendra Fadnavis is expected to visit the village soon to interact with locals and assess the model's on-ground impact. Senior officers including special central officer Ramesh Bhatnagar, sarpanch Vaishali Chaudhary, tehsildar Kalyan Kumar Dahat, and GDO Sachin Suryavanshi accompanied Bidari during the review. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
ZP, Panchayat Samiti Polls In 1st Phase, Civic Elections To Follow
Nagpur: The State Election Commission (SEC) is set to begin the first phase of local body elections in Maharashtra with zilla parishad (ZP) and panchayat samiti (PS) polls. This will be followed by elections to the municipal corporations and municipal councils. As of July 1, 2025, the total number of registered voters across Nagpur city has risen to 24,84,250 — an increase of 1,00,126 voters since the 2024 state assembly elections. These discussions were part of a high-level preparatory meeting held at the divisional commissionerate on Wednesday, marking the beginning of the SEC's review process across the state starting from Nagpur division. An agreement has been signed with the Madhya Pradesh State Election Commission to procure voting machines. Additionally, 50,000 control units and one lakh ballot units have been requisitioned from the Election Commission of India (ECI). "Officials have been directed to arrange govt warehouses to store the voting machines, inspect all machines before polling, and organise training for poll officers. At a few places, we are a little short of manpower, but that will be rectified in the coming days," divisional commissioner Vijayalakshmi Bidari told TOI. At the meeting, municipal commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari presented Nagpur Municipal Corporation's (NMC) pre-election arrangements to the SEC. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Get Deals Undo The review meet was chaired by state election commissioner Dinesh Waghmare, along with divisional commissioner Vijayalakshmi Bidari, SEC secretary Suresh Kakani, additional municipal commissioner Ajay Charathankar, and deputy commissioner Vijaya Bankar, among others. In Nagpur city, elections will be conducted for 38 prabhags (wards). Of these, 37 wards will elect four members each, and one ward will elect three members. This will result in 151 elected corporators, along with five nominated members, taking the total house strength to 156. The delimitation (prabhag rachana) process for Nagpur city is in its final stages and is expected to be officially notified next week. The reservation policy for the civic polls will follow the 2017 model. The city's voter base currently includes 12,26,488 male, 12,57,560 female, and 256 other voters. During the last municipal polls in 2017, the total voter count stood at 23,83,014. To accommodate the increase in voters, the number of polling booths in Nagpur city will rise from 2,783 in 2017 to 3,185 in the upcoming election. Voting will be conducted using EVMs. The preparations include 3,470 control units and 13,880 ballot units. A strong room for securing election material will be established at Yashwant Stadium. Approximately 18,000 govt employees will be required for poll duty in Nagpur city alone. Bidari informed that according to the July 1 voter list, there are 40,23,029 registered voters for the ZP polls, for which 6,441 polling stations have been proposed. To facilitate the voting process, 7,280 control units and 16,288 ballot units will be deployed. For the 55 nagar parishads and nagar panchayats in the division, there are 18,12,167 registered voters. The district administration has proposed 2,378 polling stations for these local bodies and has begun preparations for their elections. The SEC has instructed officials to ensure that polling stations are adequately equipped to handle the increased voter turnout. Facilities should be accessible for disabled voters, and provisions must be made to create model and pink polling stations. The SEC has also mandated that the voter list dated July 1, 2025, be used to divide polling stations and streamline arrangements. SEC secretary Suresh Kakani emphasised appointing a divisional-level coordination officer to ensure smooth planning and distribution of electronic voting machines, proper manpower management, and uniformity in equipment deployment as per poll requirements.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Bidari Cracks The Whip On Land Delays, Pushes MSRDC Projects Into Top Gear
Nagpur: Divisional commissioner Vijayalakshmi Bidari has instructed all district administrations and land records officials in the division to expedite land acquisition for major infrastructure projects under the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Chairing a review meeting at the divisional commissioner's office, Bidari emphasised the need for urgent action and strict timelines to ensure there are no delays in ongoing expressway and road development projects. The meeting focused on reviewing the current status of land acquisition and joint measurement activities for several high-priority projects, including the Nagpur-Gondia Expressway, Bhandara-Gadchiroli Road, Nagpur-Chandrapur corridor, and Pavnar (Wardha district) to Patra Devi (Goa) (Shaktipeeth) Expressway. Bidari gave instructions for immediate completion of land measurement and submission of joint measurement reports to the respective land acquisition officers. She emphasised that all departments involved must operate in close coordination to remove bottlenecks and meet deadlines. She directed deputy superintendents of land records to carry out measurements strictly in line with proposals submitted by MSRDC and to hand over joint measurement reports without delay. Bidari also instructed district superintendents of land records, district collectors, and joint director of land records to monitor and review the progress regularly. A key directive from the commissioner included establishing a fixed schedule for all involved officials and departments to carry out and complete land measurement and reporting within a defined time-frame. She stressed that these deadlines must be followed without exception and warned of accountability in case of negligence or delay. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The review, held via videoconferencing, was attended by joint managing director of MSRDC Manuj Jindal, joint commissioner for rehabilitation Pradeep Kulkarni, deputy collector Indira Chaudhary, MSRDC administrator (Navnagare) Nishikant Suke, senior land records officials, district collectors of Nagpur division, sub-divisional officers, tehsildars, and other key stakeholders. This meeting signals a renewed administrative push to remove land acquisition hurdles that have historically delayed infrastructure development in the region. With expressways and connectivity corridors being top priorities for Maharashtra's infrastructure roadmap, the commissioner's instructions are expected to drive significant momentum in MSRDC's ongoing projects across Nagpur division. Nagpur: Divisional commissioner Vijayalakshmi Bidari has instructed all district administrations and land records officials in the division to expedite land acquisition for major infrastructure projects under the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC). Chairing a review meeting at the divisional commissioner's office, Bidari emphasised the need for urgent action and strict timelines to ensure there are no delays in ongoing expressway and road development projects. The meeting focused on reviewing the current status of land acquisition and joint measurement activities for several high-priority projects, including the Nagpur-Gondia Expressway, Bhandara-Gadchiroli Road, Nagpur-Chandrapur corridor, and Pavnar (Wardha district) to Patra Devi (Goa) (Shaktipeeth) Expressway. Bidari gave instructions for immediate completion of land measurement and submission of joint measurement reports to the respective land acquisition officers. She emphasised that all departments involved must operate in close coordination to remove bottlenecks and meet deadlines. She directed deputy superintendents of land records to carry out measurements strictly in line with proposals submitted by MSRDC and to hand over joint measurement reports without delay. Bidari also instructed district superintendents of land records, district collectors, and joint director of land records to monitor and review the progress regularly. A key directive from the commissioner included establishing a fixed schedule for all involved officials and departments to carry out and complete land measurement and reporting within a defined time-frame. She stressed that these deadlines must be followed without exception and warned of accountability in case of negligence or delay. The review, held via videoconferencing, was attended by joint managing director of MSRDC Manuj Jindal, joint commissioner for rehabilitation Pradeep Kulkarni, deputy collector Indira Chaudhary, MSRDC administrator (Navnagare) Nishikant Suke, senior land records officials, district collectors of Nagpur division, sub-divisional officers, tehsildars, and other key stakeholders. This meeting signals a renewed administrative push to remove land acquisition hurdles that have historically delayed infrastructure development in the region. With expressways and connectivity corridors being top priorities for Maharashtra's infrastructure roadmap, the commissioner's instructions are expected to drive significant momentum in MSRDC's ongoing projects across Nagpur division.
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Divisional commissioner urges action for transgender welfare
Nagpur: Divisional commissioner Vijayalakshmi Bidari on Monday directed district officials to fast-track welfare measures for the transgender community, implementing the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act and resolving long-pending civic and legal issues affecting third-gender individuals. Chairing a review meeting of the Divisional Vigilance and Monitoring Committee, Bidari instructed authorities to launch special drives for issuing ration cards, Aadhaar IDs and voter identity cards to transgender citizens. She emphasised that govt schemes must actively include the community and proposed housing be provided to them under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana . Stressing their dignity and inclusion, Bidari asked all districts to identify and resolve land disputes related to crematoriums for the transgender population and instructed that separate health facilities be created for them in govt hospitals. She also called for setting up help centres at police stations in areas where transgender individuals reside in large numbers to ensure access to grievance redressal. On broader community inclusion, the commissioner directed education authorities and district administrations to promote awareness of the Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Act among youth. She suggested colleges conduct focused campaigns to instill legal literacy and societal responsibility in students. 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 The meeting also addressed SC/ST Atrocities Act implementation, with Bidari directing timely investigation and disposal of pending cases. So far, 7,079 out of 8,610 cases registered under the Act in the region have been resolved, with Rs68.97 crore disbursed as financial aid. Social Justice Department's regional deputy commissioner Dr Siddharth Gaikwad presented a detailed report on atrocity cases. District collector Dr Vipin Itankar, senior police officers Prashant Sakhare, Dr Abhijit Patil, Dr Ashok Bagul, assistant commissioner Sukeshini Telgote and other committee members were present.
Time of India
25-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Bidari tells officials to clear Ambazari dam area debris by June 5
1 2 3 Nagpur: Divisional commissioner Vijayalakshmi Bidari, chairperson of the high-level committee appointed for the Ambazari dam reinforcement project, conducted an on-site inspection on Saturday to review the progress of the ongoing safety and strengthening works. The inspection was part of the committee's efforts to implement the directives issued by Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court. Bidari emphasised that all construction debris near the site must be cleared and cleanliness work completed before the onset of the monsoon, setting a deadline of June 5. Accompanying Bidari were several senior officials, including municipal commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari, MahaMetro director Rajeev Tyagi, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board's (MPCB) regional officer Hema Deshpande, water resources department's chief engineer R Parate, disaster management cell director Tushar Barahate and public works department superintending engineer JH Bhanuse. PWD EE Chandrashekhar Giri, NMC superintending engineer Dr Shweta Banerjee, deputy commissioner Rajesh Bhagat, chief sanitation officer Dr Gajendra Mahalle, Dharampeth zone assistant commissioner Snehalata Kumbhar, and executive engineer Vijay Gurubaxani were also in attendance. During the visit, Bidari gave specific instructions for the removal of debris near the bridge built to safely manage spillway discharge from the dam. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo She also reviewed the pipeline shifting project, noting that tenders were already finalised and urging that this work be completed as soon as possible. Committee members examined the preparations under way for the main gate that will control water flow from the dam, stressing that this construction work should commence without delay. Additionally, the team assessed the progress of water hyacinth removal and ongoing cleaning efforts along the Nag River. Municipal commissioner Chaudhari reiterated that all construction waste along the river must be cleared by the June 5 deadline to ensure smooth water flow and environmental safety. The high-level committee, under Bidari's leadership, will continue to oversee these critical projects to strengthen the dam's infrastructure and ensure public safety ahead of the rainy season.
