Train services on the Bandra Terminus–Gorakhpur route will be partially affected in December owing to an operational block on the North Eastern Railway for the ongoing doubling work. According to a press release issued by Western Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer Vineet Abhishek the block has been planned until December 18 to facilitate the commissioning of patch-doubling work between Mau–Pipri Dih–Dullahapur and Mau–Khurahat stations in (Uttar Pradesh). As a result, the Bandra Terminus–Gorakhpur Express (19091/19092) will face partial cancellations on select days. Train No 19091 Bandra Terminus–Gorakhpur Express, departing on December 15, will short-terminate at Varanasi instead of completing its journey to Gorakhpur. The service will therefore remain cancelled between Varanasi and Gorakhpur. Similarly, Train No 19092 Gorakhpur–Bandra Terminus Express, scheduled to depart on December 16, will originate from Varanasi instead of Gorakhpur. Consequently, the section between Gorakhpur and Varanasi will be cancelled for this service. Western Railway has advised passengers to check train updates before travel and plan their journeys accordingly. WR collects Rs 140-crore fine from ticketless travellers; Rs 2.4 crore recovered from Mumbai’s AC locals WR has intensified its efforts to curb ticketless and irregular travel, with its ticket-checking staff recovering nearly Rs 140 crore from defaulters across its network during the current financial year. According to a press release by WR’s Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Vineet Abhishek, rigorous checks were conducted on Mumbai suburban locals, long-distance Mail/Express trains, passenger services, and holiday special trains under the supervision of senior commercial officers. Between April and November, more than 21.70 lakh cases of ticketless travel and irregularities, including unbooked luggage, were detected, resulting in the recovery of fines worth around Rs 140 crore, which is a 50 per cent increase over the same period last year. In November alone, over 2.80 lakh cases were recorded, in which Rs 18.25-crore fines were collected, marking a 40 per cent rise from 2024. WR has also focused on air-conditioned (AC) suburban local trains, where surprise checks were conducted to prevent unauthorised travel. Around 75,000 penalty cases were booked in AC locals between April and November, lead to a fine collection of more than Rs 2.40 crore, which is an 85 per cent increase over the previous year. Highlighting the contribution of individual staff, the CPRO lauded Ashutosh Kumar Singh, deputy chief ticket inspector in the flying squad at Mumbai’s Churchgate Station. Over the past 11 months, he detected more than 9,200 cases, collecting nearly Rs 1.08 crore – averaging Rs 40,000 per day. On 18 October, he recorded a single-day collection of Rs 2.24 lakh by detecting over 150 cases. “Ticket checking is a continuous responsibility that demands tact, skill, and courteousness. Western Railway is proud of its dedicated ticket checking staff, whose efforts not only protect revenue but also enhance travel discipline,” the CPRO said.
09 December,2025 09:19 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Western Railway (WR) has intensified its efforts to curb ticketless and irregular travel, with its ticket-checking staff recovering nearly Rs 140 crore from defaulters across its network during the current financial year. According to a press release by WR’s Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Vineet Abhishek, rigorous checks were conducted on Mumbai suburban locals, long-distance Mail/Express trains, passenger services, and holiday special trains under the supervision of senior commercial officers. Between April and November, more than 21.70 lakh cases of ticketless travel and irregularities, including unbooked luggage, were detected, resulting in the recovery of fines worth around Rs 140 crore, which is a 50 per cent increase over the same period last year. In November alone, over 2.80 lakh cases were recorded, in which Rs 18.25-crore fines were collected, marking a 40 per cent rise from 2024. WR has also focused on air-conditioned (AC) suburban local trains, where surprise checks were conducted to prevent unauthorised travel. Around 75,000 penalty cases were booked in AC locals between April and November, lead to a fine collection of more than Rs 2.40 crore, which is an 85 per cent increase over the previous year. Highlighting the contribution of individual staff, the CPRO lauded Ashutosh Kumar Singh, deputy chief ticket inspector in the flying squad at Mumbai’s Churchgate Station. Over the past 11 months, he detected more than 9,200 cases, collecting nearly Rs 1.08 crore – averaging Rs 40,000 per day. On 18 October, he recorded a single-day collection of Rs 2.24 lakh by detecting over 150 cases. “Ticket checking is a continuous responsibility that demands tact, skill, and courteousness. Western Railway is proud of its dedicated ticket checking staff, whose efforts not only protect revenue but also enhance travel discipline,” the CPRO said.
09 December,2025 08:50 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarThe Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Tuesday completed the challenging replacement of a 2,750-mm-diameter aging pipeline that supplies water from the Tansa Dam to the Bhandup Water Treatment Plant. The project marks a key milestone in BMC’s ongoing initiative to modernise the city’s aging water infrastructure. The work, which began on Monday at 10 am was completed by 2 pm on Tuesday, taking approximately 28 hours. The residents of 17 administrative wards cooperated with the civic body by using water judiciously during the process. Following the completion of the work, water supply across these wards is expected to become more consistent and reliable. As part of its comprehensive measures to upgrade Mumbai’s water network, BMC has been replacing pipelines that are 70–75 years old, worn out, or have lost carrying capacity. The new high-capacity pipelines, laid in stages, aim to reduce water loss, prevent contamination, and minimise road disruptions. During the inspection, BMC officials highlighted the technical challenges of replacing such large-diameter pipelines and the meticulous planning required. Thane to face 30 per cent water cut for three days after major pipeline damage A major water pipeline supplying Maharashtra's Thane city has been damaged, forcing the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) to impose a 30 per cent water cut for the next three days. The 1,000 mm diameter pipeline, which carries water from the Pise Weir to the Temghar Water Treatment Plant, was damaged near Kalyan Phata on the morning of December 6 during work undertaken by Mahanagar Gas Limited. According to the TMC’s Water Supply Department, repair work has been ongoing for the past two days, but the pipeline, being old and built using prestressed concrete technology, requires additional time for restoration. With repairs expected to take three more days, the water supply to Thane has been reduced significantly. To manage the limited supply, the corporation will implement zonal water distribution until December 11, 2025. During this period, residents will experience reduced and irregular water supply across several parts of the city. The Water Supply Department has appealed to citizens to use water judiciously and cooperate with the municipal authorities until normal supply is restored.
09 December,2025 08:17 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Bike Taxi Association (BTA) in Mumbai has raised concerns over the Maharashtra Government’s recent directive that only electric two-wheelers can operate as bike taxis. The association, in an official press statement, said that the sudden rule has left riders without work and commuters struggling for transport. The statement, issued on Tuesday, said that the government should allow a minimum one-year transition period for riders to move from petrol-powered bikes to electric vehicles (EVs). It stated that while the association supports EV adoption, immediate implementation is unrealistic due to ongoing EMI payments, lack of charging infrastructure, and unavailability of affordable commercial EV models. The BTA further stated that the Maharashtra EV Policy 2021 intended EV transition to be voluntary and incentive-led, aiming for 10 per cent of new vehicle registrations to be EVs by 2025, not an overnight replacement of all bike taxis. It requested that during the transition period, the government must - Provide access to affordable electric bikes for commercial use - Simplify the registration process across RTOs - Establish charging stations in key areas - Offer subsidies or loans for bike taxi riders - Clarify insurance and road permits for e-bike taxis The statement also stressed that bike taxis are a daily livelihood for thousands of riders and an affordable, safe transport option for college students, working women, office-goers, and senior citizens. The BTA appealed to the government to allow a fair transition period, enabling riders to contribute to the EV future without losing their income.
09 December,2025 07:40 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarCrisis-hit IndiGo on Tuesday said the airline is back on its feet and that operations have stabilised, even as it continues to address all passenger concerns. In a fresh video message, IndiGo Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Peter Elbers said lakhs of passengers — whose flights were cancelled or delayed during the recent disruption — have already received full refunds, with the process continuing every day. IndiGo Operations Normalised | A Message From Pieter Elbers, CEO, IndiGo pic.twitter.com/VVB2yTsIBy — IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) December 9, 2025 Elbers, however, did not comment on compensation for passengers whose flights were cancelled at the last minute or faced long delays. Under the Civil Aviation Ministry’s passenger charter, airlines must provide mandatory compensation if they fail to inform travellers of a cancellation at least two weeks before departure. This compensation must also be issued automatically, without passengers having to request it. "IndiGo is back on its feet, and our operations are stable. We’ve let you down when a major operational disruption happened, and we’re sorry for that," Elbers said. He added that while the airline had earlier indicated that normalcy would return between December 10 and 15, operations had already stabilised. "I can confirm now that today, as of December 9, our operations are fully stabilised, which means flights reflecting on our website are scheduled to operate with an adjusted network," he said. Acknowledging the inconvenience caused, he noted, "Thousands of you could not travel, and we are profusely apologetic about that." He said the airline first focused on getting all stranded and delayed passengers safely to their destinations or back home before initiating refunds. Elbers said lakhs of passengers have received full refunds, though he did not disclose the total amount disbursed. He added that most bags stuck at airports had been returned to passengers’ homes, and teams were working to deliver the remaining luggage soon. "We also continue to address all customer needs," he emphasised. He described the restoration of IndiGo’s network as being carried out on a “war footing.” "On December 5, we could only fly 700 flights. Thereafter, gradually yet steadily improving to 1,500 on December 6, 1,650 on December 7, 1,800 on Monday and Tuesday, more than 1,800," Elbers said. As of Monday, IndiGo had resumed services to all 138 destinations in its network, he confirmed, adding that the airline’s on-time performance had also returned to normal. (With PTI inputs)
09 December,2025 06:35 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThane District Collector Dr Shrikrishna Panchal inaugurated a public awareness campaign against child marriage on Tuesday, urging citizens to actively participate in efforts to eliminate the social practice, reported news agency PTI. The district-level awareness programme, held under the Child Marriage Free India Campaign, was organised by the Women and Child Development Department in collaboration with the Maharashtra Social Development Trust (MSVT/SEVA). Emphasising the need for collective vigilance, Dr Panchal said, "Widespread social awareness is essential to stop child marriages. If any suspicious activity related to child marriage is noticed, citizens should immediately contact 1098. The administration will take all necessary action." According to officials, 14 child marriage cases were recorded in Thane district between February and November. Ministry of Women and Child Development launches 100-day 'Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat' campaign The 100-Day Intensive Awareness Campaign for a Child Marriage Free Bharat was launched on December 4 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, marking one year of the 'Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat' campaign, which was launched on November 27, 2024. As per the release, the launch event was attended by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Annpurna Devi, in the august presence of the Minister of State, Savitri Thakur. According to a press release, the programme featured the National Pledge to End Child Marriage, a specially produced film showcasing inspiring change stories from across the country, and testimonies from frontline champions, celebrating collective progress and strengthening momentum for the next phase of the mission. A live telecast of the event was available on the webcast platform of the Ministry. The 100-Day Campaign (27 November 2025 - 8 March 2026) As stated in the release, the campaign followed a structured, three-spell plan designed to energise communities and encourage sustained action: Spell 1 (27 Nov – 31 Dec 2025): Awareness activities were conducted in schools, colleges, and universities, including debates, essay competitions, interactive sessions, and pledge ceremonies.Spell 2 (1 – 31 Jan 2026): Engagements were held with faith leaders, community influencers, and marriage service providers to amplify messages on child rights, safety, and empowerment.Spell 3 (1 Feb – 8 Mar 2026): Gram panchayats and municipal wards were mobilised to pass resolutions declaring their jurisdictions child-marriage-free. This national drive was implemented in close coordination with the ministries of health and family welfare, panchayati raj, rural development, and education, ensuring seamless collaboration and extensive grassroots reach. Through this 100-day campaign, the Centre called upon citizens, institutions, and community leaders across the nation to join the movement and reaffirm India’s commitment to building a Child Marriage Free Bharat. (With PTI inputs)
09 December,2025 05:34 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentThe Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) on Tuesday announced a revised schedule for preparing the voter lists for the upcoming elections to 29 municipal corporations across the state. The date of the elections has not yet been declared. According to officials, the deadline for verifying and publishing the final ward-wise voter lists after considering objections has been extended from December 10 to December 15. Similarly, the last date for publishing the list of polling stations has been pushed from December 15 to December 20. The polling station-wise voter lists will now be published by December 27 instead of the earlier deadline of December 22. The SEC has instructed municipal officials to contact its computerisation cell by email or phone if they face any technical issues during the voter list preparation process. Earlier, the Maharashtra State Election Commission has convened a meeting of the commissioners of 29 municipal corporations in the state on December 4 to discuss the finalisation of voter rolls. The meeting was called to deliberate on the finalisation of the electoral list and the issue of duplicate voters, said officials on Wednesday. The 29 corporations include Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Nashik, Nagpur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Navi Mumbai, Vasai-Virar, Kalyan-Dombivali, Kolhapur, Ulhasnagar, Pimpri Chinchwad, Solapur, Amravati, and Akola, according to the PTI. The civic chiefs from Latur, Parbhani, Chandrapur, Bhivandi-Nizampur, Malegaon, Panvel, Mira-Bhayandar, Nanded, Sangli, Jalgaon, Dhule, Ahilyanagar and the commissioners of the newly formed Ichalkaranji and Jalna were also reportedly called for the meeting, reported PTI. The elections to local bodies in Maharashtra have to be completed before January 31 2026, as directed by the Supreme Court. Polling for the first phase of 264 municipal councils and nagar panchayats across the state was held on December 2 amid allegations of bogus voting and violence, with even supporters of ruling allies BJP, NCP and Shiv Sena in face-off at some places. Meanwhile, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court on Tuesday directed the Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) to hold the counting of votes for all the local body polls on December 21, instead of December 3, reported PTI. The court also prohibited exit polls until December 20. (With inputs from PTI)
09 December,2025 04:12 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTo manage the holiday rush during Christmas, New Year, and winter vacations, Central Railway has announced 76 Winter Special train services connecting Mumbai and Pune with key destinations, including Karmali, Nagpur, Mangaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, Amravati, and Sanganer. The services will operate between December 2025 and early January 2026, offering travellers additional options during the peak season. Key winter special services Mumbai CSMT–Karmali Daily Specials (36 services)• Train 01151: Departs CSMT at 12.20 am (Dec 19–Jan 5)• Train 01152: Departs Karmali at 2.15 pm (Dec 19–Jan 5) LTT–Thiruvananthapuram North Weekly Specials (8 services)• Train 01171: Thursdays from LTT• Train 01172: Saturdays from Thiruvananthapuram North LTT–Mangaluru Junction Weekly Specials (8 services)• Train 01185: Tuesdays from LTT• Train 01186: Wednesdays from Mangaluru Jn CSMT–Nagpur Weekly Specials (6 services)• Train 01005: Saturdays from CSMT• Train 01006: Saturdays from Nagpur Pune–Nagpur Weekly Specials (6 services)• Train 01401: Fridays from Pune• Train 01402: Saturdays from Nagpur Pune–Sanganer Weekly Superfast Specials (6 services)• Train 01405: Fridays from Pune• Train 01406: Saturdays from Sanganer Pune–Amravati Weekly Specials (6 services)• Train 01403: Saturdays from Pune• Train 01404: Sundays from Amravati(Booking opens on Wednesday) The announcement was issued on Tuesday by Dr Swapnil Nila, Chief Public Relations Officer, Central Railway, Mumbai. Sanpada tender sparks rumours on 15-car Harbour line trains; Railways deny plan A new tender for upgrading Sanpada car shed to maintain 15-car trains has triggered speculation that the Railways may be preparing to introduce 15-car locals on the Harbour line as well. Central Railway is converting 20 existing 12-car rakes into 15-car rakes on the main line, marking one of the largest capacity boosts in more than a decade. Where the upgrade applies (Main line only)>> CSMT-Karjat>> CSMT-Khopoli>> CSMT-Kasara Operational impact of 15-car trains>> Longer clearance time for each section>> Changes in acceleration and braking patterns>> Need to revise schedules>> Higher risk of cascading delays if not managed well Purpose>> Modify overhead electrical equipment>> Enable handling of 15-coach rakes>> Support main line deployment of 15-car trains Infrastructure work under MUTP IIIAUpgrades at:>> Kurla car shed >> Kalva car shed>> Sanpada car shed ‘Good idea’ Subhash Gupta, Pravasi Sangh“The idea of 15-car trains on the Harbour line is good, but the priority should be the main line. We need longer trains beyond Thane and Kalyan first.” Ramika Yadav, commuter“The Harbour line is neglected. Any improvement is welcome. More 15-car trains overall will help ease crowds.” Janardhan Kumar Patel“The Harbour line needs better punctuality and frequency first. Crowding is severe beyond Kurla towards Panvel. The trans-harbour needs upgrades too.” Ravalnath Prabhu“We cannot keep extending trains endlessly. After 15 cars, there will be calls for 18 and so on. The system needs stability.” What Railways say about Harbour line CR officials insist there is no plan to convert Harbour line services to 15-car trains. “The Sanpada car shed also handles main line rakes, so it is being upgraded along with Kalwa and Kurla. The Harbour line has no space left for 15-car operations. Even the shift from nine-car to 12-car platforms was extremely difficult, so extending to 15-car is not feasible,” an official said. Final wordHarbour line will remain 12-car. The Sanpada tender relates only to the main line upgrade.
09 December,2025 02:58 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA 35-year-old social activist, Chandrakant Krishna Kamble, was allegedly beaten by some local goons after he complained against matka gambling at Mumbai's Dadar. Kamble was allegedly brutally attacked by three people and is undergoing treatment in Hinduja Hospital. The hospital informed the Dadar Police about the incident, following which officers recorded Kamble's statements for further investigation. The police are scanning CCTV cameras and investigating the matter further. According to the police, the incident occurred late on December 7 when Kamble was returning home from his friend's house. "When he reached his building located at Senapati Bapat Marg at Dadar West, three people suddenly attacked him with iron rods and seriously injured him,” said an officer. Speaking to mid-day.com, Kamble said, "I am a social activist and regularly complain to the police about the illegal activities operating in my area. A few people run matka gambling, and I complained against them at Dadar Police Station. Due to this, I was attacked. They attackers also threatened me against filing a complaint with the police about the incident." "I am scared of these people. They could have killed me, but somehow I escaped. I have a life threat now. I am filing complaints only for the development of the society, and so that people live peacefully as these people are creating a nuisance in the area," Kamble further stated. mid-day.com tried to contact Senior Inspector Dnyaneshwar Awari of Dadar Police Station for an official response. However, despite multiple attempts, he remained unavailable for comment.
09 December,2025 02:42 PM IST | Mumbai | Shirish VaktaniaShiv Sena (UBT) MLA Sachin Ahir on Tuesday questioned the Centre’s seriousness toward electoral reforms expected to be discussed in Parliament, stating that despite multiple instances and evidence presented in the public domain, the government appears unwilling to address the issue. VIDEO | Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sachin Ahir on electoral reforms to be discussed in Parliament says, “Is the present government serious about this? Because when you see so much evidence and so many examples that have been pointed out, and we have them. We have already… pic.twitter.com/jRFqNByPQd — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 9, 2025 “Is the present government serious about this? Because when you see so much evidence and so many examples that have been pointed out—and we have them, we have already placed them in the public domain—Parliament is the only place where the law can be changed. But the unfortunate part is that the government does not seem very interested,” Ahir said. He expressed hope that the ongoing Parliament session would adopt “a democratic course” and act on concerns arising from “deeply untrustworthy events happening all over India,” particularly in regions where public confidence has been shaken. Speaking separately in Nagpur, Ahir criticised the Maharashtra government over alleged corruption, saying, “The government has no money to help the farmers, but crores of rupees are found with MLAs and ministers. It is clear how corrupt this state is becoming.” #WATCH | Nagpur, Maharashtra | Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Sachin Ahir says," The govt has no money to help the farmers, but crores of rupees are found with MLAs & ministers. It is clear how corrupt this state is becoming." pic.twitter.com/yDyktxpokA — ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2025 Ahir’s remarks come amid heightened political scrutiny over electoral processes and governance issues ahead of key elections. 22 ruling ally MLAs have 'grown close' to Fadnavis, ready to crossover, claims Aaditya Thackeray Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) legislator Aaditya Thackeray on Monday asserted 22 MLAs from a Mahauti ally have "grown close" to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and are ready to switch sides, an oblique reference to Deputy CM Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Fadnavis dismissed Thackeray's claim and asked what his party BJP will do with Shinde-led Sena's MLAs when they are already part of the ruling Mahayuti alliance. In June 2022, the Shiv Sena split following a rebellion led by Shinde, resulting in the collapse of the then Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government. Later, in January 2024, Assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar held that the Shinde-led faction was the "real" Shiv Sena, which is a constituent of the ruling Mahayuti in the state along with the BJP and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar's NCP. "There is one party and two factions on the treasury side. Twenty-two MLAs from one faction have grown close to the CM. They have good funds and they have started dancing to the tune of the CM," Aaditya Thackeray claimed, without naming the Shiv Sena led by his arch political rival. The 22 MLAs are "ready to switch (sides)," the former state minister claimed while talking to reporters in the Vidhan Bhawan premises in Nagpur, where the state legislature is having its winter session. The Opposition MLA from Worli in Mumbai also said someone from these 22 legislators calls himself "vice-captain", a veiled reference to Industries Minister Uday Samant.
09 December,2025 01:59 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said that the handwriting on the note left behind by the woman doctor, who allegedly died by suicide in Phaltan, has been verified as her own, and the cop and software engineer, whose names were mentioned in it, were involved in harassing her, reported news agency PTI. The chief minister was responding to a question by BJP MLA Ameet Satam in the state assembly. The doctor from a government hospital was found dead in a hotel in Phaltan town in western Maharashtra in October. In the suicide note written on her palm, she alleged that police sub-inspector Gopal Badane raped her on multiple occasions, while Prashant Bankar, a software engineer, mentally harassed her, reported PTI. Satam questioned whether the handwriting in the note and the men whose names were mentioned in it were involved in her death. "The doctor had written a note on her hand, and two names were mentioned in it. It has been found in the investigation that the handwriting matches hers," Fadnavis said during the Question Hour, reported PTI. "Investigations have revealed that police sub-inspector Gopal Badane sexually exploited her by promising to marry her. It has been found that the second accused (Bankar) also cheated her. She died due to hanging and not by strangulation, as per the investigation as of now. However, we have ordered a judicial inquiry to probe if any other person was involved," he said, adding that a woman IPS officer was probing the case, reported PTI. He said efforts were made to politicise the issue, which is quite "unfortunate". The chief minister assured the House that women's safety was of paramount importance and that the government was committed to it. He also said that the woman doctor was on an 11-month contract, so the government cannot consider giving a job to a family member on compassionate grounds, but assured that the family of the deceased will be given maximum assistance, reported PTI. Replying to a question on the implementation of the Shakti Bill, Fadnavis said it has been returned to the state, as some of its provisions encroached on the Centre's powers. However, the three new laws Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) dealt with women's safety more effectively, he said. (With inputs from PTI)
09 December,2025 12:47 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
