Ten new services and halts at two new stations — Targhar and Gavhan — will now require clearance from the Election Commission due to the ongoing Model Code of Conduct. Targhar is the closest point to the Navi Mumbai International Airport. At present, 40 services are operating on the line, and ten more were announced on Friday. Additionally, the order states that speeding up Port Line services on both the Nerul–Uran and Belapur–Uran sections has been approved, indicating operational optimisation to reduce travel time. Sources said the operation of these services will require permissions from the Election Commission due to the ongoing code of conduct. The Ministry of Railways has approved Central Railway’s proposal to introduce ten new suburban services and add two new stoppages on the Port Line section of the Nerul–Uran and Belapur–Uran corridors. The orders were issued on December 3 through a Railway Board communication to the General Manager (Operations), Central Railway. At present, trains do not halt at Targhar, as the station is still being readied with commuter amenities. Planned as a multi-modal transit hub, Targhar will integrate airport shuttle services, provide retail outlets for daily commuter needs, and be future-ready with provisions for escalators and multi-level connectivity.
05 December,2025 10:36 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarThe hopes of fliers expecting IndiGo crisis to subside in a reasonable amount of time were cruelly shattered on Friday, with the airline stating that the issue was not resolvable overnight and it was trying to ensure normalcy would be restored at the earliest. A statement posted by the carrier on social media read, “Today [December 5] should be the day with the highest number of cancellations, as we are doing all that is necessary to reboot all our systems and schedules for progressive improvement starting tomorrow.” While the Mumbai airport is still reeling, some normalcy has returned to its Pune counterpart, where, apart from the IndiGo issue, other airlines’ schedules haven’t been hit. The Pune airport, in a statement, said, “Pune Airport reports a steady return to normalcy for the period from 12 am to 5 pm on December 5, with all interruptions and flight disruptions now confined solely to IndiGo. All other airlines adhered fully to their planned schedules.” Passengers Speak Karina Ostwal was finding it difficult to get a flight to Bangalore, where she was to be engaged on Friday. Ostwal had obtained a ticket for a 10 pm flight on Thursday, but she told mid-day that the delay lasted till 2.30 pm on Friday. “We sat for so long at the airport because they kept saying that, though the flight was ready, they didn’t have pilots and crew. We, and a few passengers from a Mumbai to Chennai flight, finally called the Mumbai Police, who were able to persuade the crew to start the boarding process.” Though the flight took off at 2.33 pm, Ostwal’s engagement had to be postponed, not only because of the flight's delay but also because her luggage was not yet with her. “My engagement lehenga was in my suitcase, and other than maybe 10 people on my flight, no one got their bags at the airport. After we approached IndiGo staffers for our luggage, they made us fill out a form, which lasted an hour.” Late for meeting Chinmay Patil, who booked his tickets well in advance, was one of those who had been waiting for over 12 hours for their flight. Catching a connecting flight from Delhi to Mumbai via Goa, Patil said, “My flight was scheduled to depart for Goa on December 3. I reached the airport early, only to realise that my flight would be delayed by an hour, which is normal and acceptable. However, later there was another day, lasting almost four hours.” Reaching Goa, Patil and his colleagues faced further delays, and the flight, which was supposed to take them to Mumbai, did not take off till 9.30 am. “Even though we reached Mumbai by noon, we couldn’t get off the flight immediately as there were no gates available for our plane to dock at. Finally, by 12.30 pm, we got off the flight. It ended up feeling like we had crossed vast oceans.” Patil and his co-passengers also complain that food vouchers, which they were supposed to get due to the delay, were not given to them till they started complaining, which also took them a few hours to receive.” A screen shows delays and cancellations. Pic/Madhulika Ram Kavattur A test of patience Maitreyee Kelkar, travelling back to Mumbai from Bangalore, was not in a hurry, but a wait of over 14 hours tests anyone’s patience. “The airline at first didn’t warn us about any delays. An hour before the scheduled departure, we received a message saying our boarding had started, so we ran to the gate, but seeing us run, the crew at the desk was confused, which is when we got to know that our flight had been delayed till 11.45 pm,” she said. As the new departure time arrived, the passengers were notified that the flight had been further delayed. “At 7 am, we finally boarded the flight. After this, we waited for three hours for the airline to sort out our baggage. We finally reached around noon,” she added. Though she was one of the passengers who faced heavy delays, she still feels empathetic towards the crew who were handling all the passengers. She said, “It is not their fault that all this happened, and their patience is something that should be lauded.” Late for a friend’s wedding mid-day, on December 4, came across passengers flying out of the Pune airport who, due to the cancellation of their flight, missed their friend’s wedding. Prasad Kulkarni, Shubham Manmode, Suhas Tamhane, Rahul Pakhare and Shyamal Khairnar had reached Pune airport for their 9.30 pm Pune-Nagpur flight, hoping to be with their colleague and close friend Akshay Zadpe for his wedding on Thursday morning. Instead, they spent over four hours in a jam-packed terminal before the airline cancelled the flight close to midnight. “We had never seen such chaos,” said Kulkarni. “The whole airport felt like a crowded fair. There were aggressive flyers, long queues, and zero information. Everyone was angry and helpless.” Manmode said passengers were left confused even at the check-in counters. “Despite all the rescheduling chaos, the queues just didn’t move. Not a single staff member gave us any clarity,” he said. For the group, the emotional blow was missing their friend’s big day. “Akshay kept calling throughout the night, asking whether we would make it,” said Tamhane. “He was desperately waiting for us. We couldn’t be there on one of the most important days of his life.” Almost 20 to 25 flights finally followed their schedule among the 200+ flights the airline operates to and from Mumbai, according to mid-day sources. DGCA steps in The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has initiated a comprehensive review into the operational disruption of IndiGo's operations. Withdrawing the earlier instructions which prohibited interchanging leave and weekly rest, the regulator said that this was to stabilise the airline's operations as it faced a severe crew shortage. Noting that the airline failed to accurately forecast crew availability after repeated directions, A four-member committee appointed by DGCA will oversee the airline's manpower, planning, rostering, and preparedness for implementing the revised Flight Duty Time Limitations. Indigo has now been granted a temporary exemption from the DGCA in regard to the restrictions on night duty and operations encroaching night duty for its A320 flights till February 10, 2026.
05 December,2025 10:27 PM IST | Mumbai | Madhulika Ram Kavattur | Archana DahiwalThe India Post Mumbai Region marked a significant step towards modernising and greening its delivery operations with the launch of more than 200 electric two-wheelers for postal delivery on Friday, officials said. The initiative aims to address the rapid rise in parcel volumes and enhance delivery productivity across the city. According to the officials, the pilot launch of the project was held on Friday at the Chakala MIDC Post Office in the presence of the Chief Postmaster General, Maharashtra and Goa Circle, Amitabh Singh; the Director of Postal Services, India Post, Mumbai Region, Kaiya Arora; and senior leadership from myTVS of KI Mobility Solutions. India Post, in collaboration with myTVS of KI Mobility Solutions, introduced a comprehensive service and maintenance ecosystem to support the deployment of the vehicles, they said. The electric two-wheelers will be operated by postmen and postwomen across the newly established Independent Delivery Centres located at Chakala, Mumbai GPO, Sion, Dadar, and Kalbadevi. All categories of postal mail — including ordinary mail, accountable articles, and parcels — will now be delivered through these electric vehicles. Dedicated charging stations have been installed within post office premises to ensure seamless, energy-efficient, and environmentally responsible operations.
05 December,2025 09:39 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarWorkers of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) clashed on Friday over the installation of union boards at a star-rated hotel in Mumbai’s Lower Parel. Tension erupted when Shiv Sena (UBT) workers objected to BJP members attempting to put up their union board, leading to a confrontation inside the hotel premises. The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) alleged that people from outside had entered the hotel to forcibly install the board. The BJP, however, dismissed the allegations and said it had the hotel management’s permission, claiming that most of the staff had joined the ruling party’s union. Reacting to the incident, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said stern action would be taken against those disturbing law and order. “An employee union is for the welfare of labour. But, if anyone [unions] is creating problems, I will not tolerate any ruckus no matter who is involved. Strict action will be taken against those who indulge in such activities,” Fadnavis said.
05 December,2025 07:35 PM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentCentral Railway’s (CR) Mumbai Division will operate special traffic and power blocks for pre-non-interlocking (NI) and non-interlocking works at the Lonavala-BVT Yard as part of remodelling and extension of R&D lines on the Kalyan–Lonavala section. The pre-NI block will be in force on December 7 (Sunday), followed by post-NI blocks on December 8 (Monday) and December 10 (Wednesday). The works include extension of three R&D lines in the DOWN yard, five R&D lines in the UP yard, and provision of one additional line. As a result, the running of Mail and Express trains, as well as Pune–Lonavala suburban services, will be affected during this period. Block details and impact on December 7 A block will be operated on all the lines of Lonavala-BVT yard from 2.15 am to 6.15 pm. Mail/Express trains cancelled Trains cancelled on December 6 (Saturday) 12128 Pune–CSMT Intercity Express 22106 Pune–CSMT Indrayani Express Trains cancelled on December 7 12127 CSMT–Pune Intercity Express 22105 CSMT–Pune Indrayani Express 11007/11008 CSMT–Pune–CSMT Deccan Express 12125/12126 CSMT–Pune–CSMT Pragati Express 12123/12124 CSMT–Pune–CSMT Deccan Queen 11009/11010 CSMT–Pune–CSMT Sinhagad Express Trains rescheduled Rescheduled on December 6 20495 Jodhpur–Hadapsar Express ex-Jodhpur at 1 am on Dec 7 (scheduled 10 pm) 22194 Gwalior–Daund SF Express ex-Gwalior at 7.15 pm (scheduled 5.15 pm) Rescheduled on December 7 11011 CSMT–Dhule Express ex-CSMT at 3.20 pm (scheduled 12 pm) 11019 CSMT–Bhubaneshwar New Konark Express ex-CSMT at 4.30 pm (scheduled 2 pm) 22225 CSMT–Solapur Vande Bharat Express ex-CSMT at 4.35 pm (scheduled 4.05 pm) 22732 CSMT–Hyderabad Express ex-CSMT at 4.40 pm (scheduled 2.10 pm) 11139 CSMT–Hospete Express ex-CSMT at 10.20 pm (scheduled 9.20 pm) 17613 Panvel–Nanded Express ex Panvel at 5.30 pm (scheduled 4 pm) 11030 Kolhapur–CSMT Koyna Express ex Kolhapur at 9.25 am (scheduled 8.25 am) 22943 Daund–Indore Express ex Daund at 3.40 pm (scheduled 2.10 pm) Trains diverted Diverted on December 6 12164 Chennai–LTT Express via Daund–Ahilyanagar–Manmad–Igatpuri–Kalyan 16332 Thiruvananthapuram–CSMT Express via Ernakulam–Shoranur–Mangaluru Jn–Madgaon–Roha–Panvel Diverted on December 7 12493 Miraj–Hazrat Nizamuddin Darshan Express via Miraj–Kurduwadi–Daund–Manmad–Jalgaon–Nandurbar–Surat 17222 LTT–Kakinada Port Express via Kalyan–Igatpuri–Manmad–Ahilyanagar 22159 CSMT–Chennai Express via Kalyan–Igatpuri–Manmad–Ahilyanagar Regulation of trains Regulated on December 6 20668 Jaipur–Yesvantpur SF Express at Karjat for 30 minutes 11302 Bengaluru–CSMT Express in Pune Division for 45 minutes Trains likely to lose punctuality 16613 Rajkot–Coimbatore Express 12163 LTT–Chennai Express 12939 Pune–Jaipur Express 22150 Pune–Ernakulam SF Express 16506 Bengaluru–Gandhidham Express 11090 Pune–Bhagat ki Kothi Express Impact on Pune–Lonavala suburban services (December 7) Cancelled Pune–Lonavala local at 12.15 am Lonavala–Pune local at 5.20 am Short terminated (at Talegaon) Services towards Lonavala departing Pune/Shivaji Nagar from 4.45 am to 5.20 pm Short originated (from Talegaon) Services towards Pune/Shivaji Nagar scheduled from Lonavala between 6.30 am and 7 pm Post-NI blocks on December 8 and 10 December 8 (11.25 am to 3.25 pm) 22159 CSMT–Chennai Express regulated at Lonavala for 5 minutes Suburban short-termination Pune–Lonavala trains at 9.57 am and 11.17 am will terminate at Talegaon Short-origination Lonavala departures at 11.30 am and 2.50 pm will originate from Talegaon December 10 (1 pm to 5 pm) 16340 Nagercoil–CSMT Express, 11008 Pune–CSMT Deccan Express and 22943 Daund–Indore Express regulated for 10–30 minutes Short-termination Shivaji Nagar 12.05 pm and Pune 3 pm departures for Lonavala will terminate at Talegaon Short-origination Lonavala services at 2.50 pm and 5.30 pm will originate from Talegaon The railway administration has appealed to passengers to take note of these changes and cooperate.
05 December,2025 07:17 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Central Railway, while sharing Mumbai local train updates, on Friday said that it will not operate weekly mega block in Mumbai in view of Mahaparinirvan Diwas 2025. In an official statement, Central Railway said that it will not operate the weekly mega block on Mumbai suburban network over CSMT-Kalyan Main Line and CSMT-Panvel Harbour Line, including the Trans-Harbour Line and Port Line, on Sunday, December 7, 2025, in view of "Mahaparinirvan Diwas 2025". Regular suburban services on all sections will run as per Sunday schedule, it said. "Passengers are requested to please note and plan their journeys accordingly," the Central Railway said. Meanwhile, in an another statement, the Central Railway on Thursday announced a temporary restriction on the sale of platform tickets at 13 major stations from December 5 to 7, 2025, ahead of the expected heavy rush of devotees visiting on Mahaparinirvan Diwas. The move aims to manage crowding on platforms and ensure smooth passenger movement within station premises, officials said. The affected stations and dates are as follows: Mumbai Division: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Dadar station (December 5-7, 2025) Bhusaval Division: Bhusaval, Nashik Road, Manmad, Jalgaon, Akola, Shegaon, Pachora, Badnera, Malkapur, Chalisgaon (December 5-6, 2025) Nagpur Division: Nagpur station (December 5-6, 2025) Certain passengers are exempted from these restrictions, including those accompanying elderly, senior citizens, ailing persons, children, illiterate passengers, and women unable to travel alone, to ensure ease of travel, an official statement said. The Central Railway has urged all passengers to plan their travel accordingly and follow the new regulations for a safe and smooth journey, it said. Central Railway also said that it will operate 12 additional suburban special trains on the occasion of Bharat Ratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Mahaparinirvan Divas 2025, officials had earlier said. The special trains will run between Parel-Kalyan and Kurla-Panvel on the midnight of December 5-6, (Friday-Saturday), stopping at all stations to facilitate passenger travel. Main Line - UP Specials (Parel-Kalyan section): Kurla-Parel Special: Departs Kurla 00:45 hrs, arrives Parel 01:05 hrs Kalyan-Parel Special: Departs Kalyan 01:00 hrs, arrives Parel 02:20 hrs Thane-Parel Special: Departs Thane 02:10 hrs, arrives Parel 02:55 hrs Main Line - DOWN Specials (Kalyan-Parel section): Parel-Thane Special: Departs Parel 01:15 hrs, arrives Thane 01:55 hrs Parel-Kalyan Special: Departs Parel 02:30 hrs, arrives Kalyan 03:50 hrs Parel-Kurla Special: Departs Parel 03:05 hrs, arrives Kurla 03:20 hrs Harbour Line - UP Specials (Panvel-Kurla section): Vashi-Kurla Special: Departs Vashi 01:30 hrs, arrives Kurla 02:10 hrs Panvel-Kurla Special: Departs Panvel 01:40 hrs, arrives Kurla 02:45 hrs Vashi-Kurla Special: Departs Vashi 03:10 hrs, arrives Kurla 03:40 hrs Harbour Line - DOWN Specials (Kurla-Panvel section): Kurla-Vashi Special: Departs Kurla 02:30 hrs, arrives Vashi 03:00 hrs Kurla-Panvel Special: Departs Kurla 03:00 hrs, arrives Panvel 04:00 hrs Kurla-Vashi Special: Departs Kurla 04:00 hrs, arrives Vashi 04:35 hrs
05 December,2025 07:03 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentShiv Sena (UBT) leader and former Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray on Friday expressed strong concerns over the state of waste management in Mumbai and the unchecked rise of illegal political hoardings across the city, reported the IANS. In a letter addressed to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, Aaditya Thackeray said that a system which had functioned efficiently for over ten years appeared to have suddenly collapsed. He pointed out that in the last two years, garbage collection has become irregular in several lanes and neighbourhoods across Mumbai. “Rubbish is now piling up not only in remote pockets but also at junctions, major roads, near places of worship and outside residential buildings,” he wrote, according to the IANS. Aaditya Thackeray questioned the BMC chief on the exact reason for the failure in clearing debris -- asking whether the mechanism for collection had changed, whether contractors had been diverted, or whether the civic body had reassigned its workforce elsewhere. He also raised the issue of illegal political hoardings and banners, reminding the administration that the courts had banned such displays years ago. He alleged that the BMC was now “selectively” interpreting the order, allowing hoardings by ministers or their supporters to remain in place for up to two weeks. Aaditya Thackeray further claimed that during visits by foreign dignitaries, the state government itself erected numerous unauthorised hoardings, making Mumbai appear disorderly and poorly regulated, as per the IANS. He said that action was taken only against hoardings put up by the Opposition or local mandals. The Sena (UBT) leader added that he had written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis urging an end to the “race” of illegal hoardings, arguing that if leaders publicly declared that no hoardings would be installed, the problem would resolve itself, reported the IANS. However, he said he had received no response. He expressed hope that the BMC Commissioner would reply and take appropriate action. Earlier, Aaditya Thackeray criticised the state government over Mumbai’s worsening air pollution and deteriorating Air Quality Index (AQI) levels. “As Mumbai’s AQI gets worse each day and we compete with Delhi in this ‘terrible AQI’ race, the governments at every level—currently controlled by the BJP and its allies—choose to ignore the suffering of the people. All they care about are builders and contractors, not citizens,” he said, the news agency reported. He also accused the administration of prioritising construction, tree-cutting and so-called ‘development’ at the expense of the environment. (with IANS inputs)
05 December,2025 06:52 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentEngineering and technical institutes have been invited to participate in educational visits to the Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train construction sites, offering students practical exposure to the landmark project. Under the programme, young engineers will gain first-hand understanding of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project’s construction methodology and observe ongoing works such as viaduct and bridge construction, station building, overhead electrification, and track works. The visits aim to provide insights into the scale, complexity, and precision involved in building India’s first bullet train. Guided tours of the construction sites, along with interactive sessions with project engineers and site management teams, form the core of the initiative. These interactions will help participants bridge the gap between academic knowledge and practical experience in large-scale infrastructure projects. Special emphasis will be placed on quality assurance and safety practices followed at the construction sites. Details on eligibility, batch size, logistics, and site locations are available on the NHSRCL website: www.nhsrcl.in. .
05 December,2025 06:40 PM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentA fire broke out on Friday afternoon at an office located on the third floor of the Kohinoor Industrial Estate on Senapati Bapat Marg in Lower Parel area of Mumbai. According to the Mumbai civic body, the blaze was reported at 4:17 pm on December 5, 2025 to the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB). Following the information, the firefighters reached the spot quickly and declared the blaze as a Level-1 (minor) fire at 4:21 pm. Multiple agencies were mobilised, including the Mumbai Fire Brigade, Mumbai Police, BEST officials, a 108 ambulance team and staff from the BMC ward office. The officials said that the fire started in an office inside a ground-plus-three-storey structure. No injuries were reported in the incident, the officials said, adding that the fire was extinguished at 17:26 hrs. They said that the firefighters continued operations to bring the situation under control and ensure the safety of workers and nearby establishments. Meanwhile, a massive fire broke out in a cloth godown in Maharashtra's Thane district shortly after midnight on Thursday, officials said, reported news agency PTI. No one was injured in the blaze, which erupted at the godown located in a densely populated complex at Kalher in the Bhiwandi area, they said, reported PTI. The Thane control room reported the blaze to the disaster management cell at 12.46 am, the officials said, reported PTI. After being alerted, fire personnel from the Bhiwandi Nizampur Municipal Corporation and the Thane Municipal Corporation rushed to the spot, reported PTI. The blaze was extinguished by 3.30 am and cooling operations were underway, Thane Municipal Corporation's disaster management cell chief Yasin Tadvi said. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined. In another incident, a fire broke out on the 28th floor of a 36-storey residential building in Kandivali (East) on Wednesday, but no injuries were reported in the blaze, civic officials said, reported PTI. The blaze was reported at the Gokul Concorde building at 7.54 pm, they said, adding a cause was not yet known. At least four fire engines, other vehicles and equipment of the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) were dispatched to the spot and the blaze was doused after two-and-a-half hours of efforts, a civic official said, reported PTI. Along with Fire Brigade teams, Mumbai police, Adani Electricity personnel, a '108' service ambulance and local Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) ward staff were mobilised at the spot, reported PTI. The fire was confined to electric wiring, furniture and other materials in a flat on the 28th floor of the 36-storey residential structure, according to the official. "No one was injured in the blaze," the official said. (With inputs from PTI)
05 December,2025 06:25 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentCentral Railway’s (CR) Mumbai Division will operate a series of special night power blocks this month to facilitate removal of infringements linked to the Panvel–Kalamboli Coaching Complex project. The blocks will be carried out between 1.30 am and 3.30 am on the following nights: December 7/8 (Sunday–Monday midnight) December 9/10 to December 14/15 (Tuesday–Wednesday to Sunday–Monday midnights) December 16/17 (Tuesday–Wednesday midnight) According to CR, the blocks will affect the UP and DOWN Mail lines, UP and DOWN Karjat lines, loop lines, engine-reversal lines, and Platforms 6 and 7 within Panvel Station limits. Train diversions, delays and rescheduling December 7/8 22193 Daund–Gwalior Express to be diverted via Karjat–Kalyan–Bhiwandi Road, with a halt at Kalyan instead of Panvel. December 9/10 22149 Ernakulam–Pune Express to be regulated at Somatane for 1 hour 15 minutes. December 10/11 22115 LTT–Karmali Express (JCO 11.12.2025) to be rescheduled at 3.30 am. 22655 Ernakulam–Hazrat Nizamuddin Express to be regulated at Somatane for 1 hour. December 11/12 11099 LTT–Madgaon Express (JCO 12.12.2025) to be rescheduled at 1.45 am. 22114 Thiruvananthapuram–LTT Superfast Express to be regulated at Somatane for 1 hour 15 minutes. December 12/13 11099 LTT–Madgaon Express (JCO 13.12.2025) to be rescheduled at 3.30 am. 22149 Ernakulam–Pune Express to be regulated at Somatane for 1 hour 15 minutes. December 13/14 11099 LTT–Madgaon Express (JCO 14.12.2025) to be rescheduled at 3.30 am. 22653 Thiruvananthapuram–Hazrat Nizamuddin Express to be regulated at Somatane for 1 hour. December 14/15 22193 Daund–Gwalior Express to be diverted via Karjat–Kalyan–Bhiwandi Road, with a halt at Kalyan instead of Panvel. December 16/17 22149 Ernakulam–Pune Express to be regulated at Somatane for 1 hour 15 minutes. Mangaluru Jn–CSMT Express regulation Train no 12134 Mangaluru Jn–CSMT Express will be regulated as follows: At Somatane on December 7/8 for 30 minutes At Apta from December 9/10 to 13/14 for 20 minutes At Apta on December 16/17 for 30 minutes CR has appealed to passengers to take note of the revised train timings and cooperate with the administration. Central Railway extends Solapur-Ajmer weekly special trains for 10 more trips, check details here The Central Railway’s Solapur Division on Monday has announced that the special trains running between Solapur and Ajmer will continue for an additional 10 trips. Train No. 09627 (Ajmer–Solapur Weekly Special), earlier scheduled to run until November 26, 2025, will now operate every Wednesday from December 3, 2025, to December 31, 2025 (5 trips). Train No. 09628 (Solapur–Ajmer Weekly Special), earlier scheduled to run until November 27, 2025, will now operate every Thursday from December 4, 2025, to January 1, 2026 (5 trips). Route update: On December 3 and 4, Train No. 09627 and Train No. 09628 will be diverted via Ajmer–Chanderia–Kota instead of Ajmer–Sawai Madhopur–Kota, with stoppages at Bijainagar and Bhilwara. Other trips will follow the usual route with no changes in composition or stoppages.
05 December,2025 05:57 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik on Friday directed the official to complete all ongoing works at Thane's Ghodbunder Road on a war footing and the final-stage projects must be finished by December 15, 2025. These include several development works and the groundbreaking ceremony for a new theatre at Waghbil. A review meeting was held on Friday in the Arvind Pendse auditorium at the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) headquarters. Sarnaik, Municipal Commissioner Saurabh Rao, Additional Commissioner Prashant Rode, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Pankaj Shirsat, and senior officials from the TMC, MMRDA, Metro, PWD, the Collector’s Office and other departments were present, an official statement said on Friday. Sarnaik said that Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had provided significant funds for Thane’s development. Using this funding, projects such as the scientific rejuvenation of 67 wells across the city are underway. Water from these wells will be made potable, it said. Modern upgrades to crematoriums, a dedicated crematorium for pets, the Balasaheb Thackeray Digital Aquarium, and jogging tracks for morning walkers are also being created. Work on the service road connection along Ghodbunder Road is in progress. Sarnaik instructed that with coordination between MMRDA, the electricity and water departments, the Metro authority and the traffic police, the service road must be completed by January 15. He added that citizens should not suffer due to traffic congestion and that the Regional Transport Office will assign five squads to assist the traffic police, according to the statement. He said that 96 tonnes of wet waste from Thane is being processed daily into fertiliser at the Gharmukh project — the first such plant in the state. He also announced that the civic body plans to introduce a “solar dust” concept to help address waste issues. Thane to get its third theatre The statement said that a grand new theatre is being built for the public at Waghbil on Ghodbunder Road. The theatre, spread over 7,350 square metres, will be the city’s third, following the Ram Ganesh Gadkari Rangayatan and Dr Kashinath Ghanekar Natyagruha. The new facility will benefit residents of the Ghodbunder area, and its foundation ceremony will be conducted by Deputy Chief Minister Shinde. During the meeting, Sarnaik also reviewed many other projects in the Ovala–Majiwada constituency, including beautification works at Naglabunder creek, new mangrove parks, the Anand Dighe Gymkhana at Upvan, the Appasaheb Dharmadhikari Bhavan, the Babasaheb Ambedkar Social Justice Centre, the C.D. Deshmukh Administrative Training Building, sports complexes, open-air theatres and libraries. He praised the Thane Municipal Commissioner and officials from all departments for the excellent progress on multiple projects across Ghodbunder Road.
05 December,2025 05:40 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
