Mumbai local trains to be fully AC soon, says Devendra Fadnavis

4 days ago

In a significant development for Mumbai's suburban railway commuters, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday announced that all local trains in the city will soon have air-conditioned coaches with automatic doors. The decision was made after the tragic accident in Mumbra on June 9, where five passengers died after falling from two overcrowded trains. Fadnavis said the Central government has agreed to this long-pending demand, and the Union railway minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, has informed him that an official announcement will be made shortly by Indian Railways.The chief minister made this statement in the state assembly, stating that the new coaches will not be retrofitted but will be replaced entirely with modern, air-conditioned coaches similar to those used on the Metro trains. He also assured that there will be no increase in train fares despite the upgrade. 'We have requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to introduce Metro-like coaches with automatic doors for local trains without increasing fares. "Today, the minister confirmed to me that a positive decision has been taken,' said Fadnavis.The move comes in response to rising concerns over passenger safety in Mumbai's overcrowded locals. The Mumbra accident reignited public anger and highlighted the urgent need for safer trains. With over 7,500 deaths and 7,200 injuries reported in the last three years on local trains, the issue has become a matter of public safety. Earlier this week, state transport minister Pratap Sarnaik had also proposed forming a task force to explore staggered office timings in private firms to reduce rushes during peak hours.Fadnavis stressed that the new coaches will ensure safer travel and put an end to the growing divide between Metro and local train commuters. The real problem is overcrowding and the absence of doors. People are forced to travel in dangerous conditions. Mumbai now has two kinds of train travellers – those in safe and comfortable Metro trains, and those risking their lives on local trains. "This needs to change,' he said.The Central government's decision is seen as a major step towards modernising the city's ageing railway infrastructure and improving the daily commute for lakhs of Mumbaikars. With no fare hike and the promise of safer travel, the decision has been widely welcomed.- Ends
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Hans India

21 minutes ago

Hans India

Eatala presents wish list to Vaishnaw

Hyderabad: Malkajgiri Lok Sabha member Eatala Rajender met Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday and presented a representation highlighting several issues. The MP urged the union minister to give effect to the compassionate appointments, which should be made to provide relief to the families of workers who died due to medical and other reasons. Similarly, he asked for carrying out the feasibility of constructing a railway line in the part where the facilities for the Medaram Sammakka-Sarakka Jatara, the largest tribal festival in Asia, take place, and transportation facilities should be facilitated for the devotees. Besides, he urged the construction of the ROB at Ayodhya X Road to be taken up soon.

President Rule to be extended in Manipur by another 6 months, Amit Shah to table resolution Rajya Sabha today

Mint

21 minutes ago

Mint

President Rule to be extended in Manipur by another 6 months, Amit Shah to table resolution Rajya Sabha today

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to present a resolution in the Rajya Sabha on Friday seeking a six-month extension of President's Rule in Manipur. The extension will come into effect from August 13, 2025. According to the official notice, it stated, 'That this House approves the continuance in force of the Proclamation dated the February 13, 2025 in respect of Manipur, issued under article 356 of the Constitution by the President, for a further period of six months with effect from August 13, 2025.' President's Rule was imposed in Manipur on February 13, shortly after former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh resigned, largely due to mounting political pressure from fellow BJP MLAs belonging to the Meitei community who opposed his leadership. The current move to extend President's Rule comes amid ongoing efforts by Meitei and Naga MLAs from the ruling NDA to push for the reinstatement of an elected government in the state. Under Article 356(3) of the Constitution, President's Rule is implemented through the Governor's office, typically lasts for six months and can be renewed every six months with Parliament's approval, for a maximum duration of three years. Meanwhile, the ethnic conflict that broke out on May 3, 2023, between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities has led to over 250 deaths and forced more than 60,000 people to flee their homes. In a separate incident, security forces arrested eight militants belonging to different proscribed outfits from Imphal West, Bishnupur, Tengnoupal and Chandel districts on Thursday. The police said that security forces have been conducting search operations and area domination exercises in the fringe and vulnerable areas across districts since the ethnic violence broke out two years ago. The state assembly, which has a tenure till 2027, has been put under suspended animation. That this House approves the continuance in force of the Proclamation dated the February 13, 2025 in respect of Manipur. Officials said that in 2022 and 2023, ex-CM Biren Singh had carried out massive eviction drives against encroachments on reserve forest areas and government lands in both hill and valley districts. The drive triggered widespread organised agitation by members of the Kuki and Zo communities. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Clarify stance on deportation of woman, kids found in cave'

Hindustan Times

an hour ago

Hindustan Times

‘Clarify stance on deportation of woman, kids found in cave'

Bengaluru: The Karnataka high court has directed the Union government to clarify its stand on the possible deportation of a Russian woman and her two children, who were found living in a cave in Gokarna, by the local police earlier this month. 'Clarify stance on deportation of woman, kids found in cave' On July 23, Justice S Sunil Dutt Yadav said the Centre must take a clear stand on whether the woman's two minor daughters have valid travel documents and proof of birth, and if they can be deported. The judge granted the government two weeks to clarify its stand and said it must inform the court if any decision on deportation is taken before the next hearing. The court was hearing a petition filed by Dror Shlomo Goldstein, the estranged husband of the Russian woman, Nina Kutina, and the father of the two girls, seeking directions to the Centre to not deport her minor daughters Prema and Ama from India to 'any other country.' The petitioner has also urged the court to release his daughters from the detention centre, where they have been residing after they were rescued by the local police, and to hand over their custody to him. Additional Solicitor General of India, Arvind Kamath, who appeared for the Union government, told the court that Ama did not have any travel documents or proof of birth and the question of deportation will be considered by the government only after a clear stand is taken regarding the travel documents. The law officer also told the court that at present, the central authorities had merely restricted the movement of the girls and their mother and that the three of them were safe at the detention centre. He added that the petitioner's apprehension over his daughters being 'suddenly deported' was premature and unreasonable. The court recorded the government's submissions and granted it two weeks to 'take their stand in writing.' It posted the matter on August 18. Kutina and her daughters were found living in a cave in the Ramatirtha hills in Uttar Kannada district's Gokarna earlier this month during a routine inspection of the area by the police. Police maintained that Kutina has overstayed her visa in India by eight years.