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Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Maharashtra Punjabi Sahitya Academy faces eviction, seeks staff and new office space
MUMBAI: The Maharashtra State Punjabi Sahitya Academy, run under the Minorities Development Department, urgently needs some staff and office space. Currently operating out of a room at Old Customs House, the Academy faces eviction as the culture department has asked it to look for alternative space on rent. 'The Punjabi Academy was established in 2018 and was reconstituted around six months ago with an 11-member team to help the Academy implement schemes. But there is no staff, and recently the culture department asked the Academy to vacate the current office at the Old Customs House and shift to another rented space,' said a source. The Academy's Executive Chairman, Bal Malkit Singh, said: 'We have requested the minority department for staff and an alternative office, and our requests are being considered positively and they will be met soon.' You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai Singh added that the Punjabi Academy's annual budget was increased from Rs 30 lakh to Rs three crore.
Time of India
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Mumbai: Heavy goods transporters, bus operators threaten strike from July 1 midnight
MUMBAI: Transport associations have announced that despite the state's decision to disable the photo-uploading feature in the MahaTrafficApp following complaints of misuse, formal implementation is still pending. They have declared an indefinite strike starting from midnight on July 1, with tourist bus operators joining in—likely impacting goods transportation and inter-city bus services in and out of Mumbai. To address the grievances and avert a major crisis in the transport sector due to the strike, Minister Pratap Sarnaik has called a meeting with stakeholders on Thursday. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai According to Bal Malkit Singh of the All India Motor Transport Congress, a high-level committee's recommendations submitted earlier this year confirmed widespread misuse of the feature. The committee highlighted issues such as unverified challans, harassment of motorists, and manipulation by individuals and officials using personal devices for enforcement. Their findings recommended immediate deactivation of the feature to ensure fair traffic regulation, Singh said. He emphasised that the situation has caused significant distress among citizens, drivers, and the road transport community. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cuối cùng, chơi miễn phí game chiến thuật hay nhất 2025! Sea of Conquest Phát ngay Undo Tourist bus operators also plan to participate in the July 2 protest. Harsh Kotak of the Mumbai Bus Malak Sanghatana (MBMS) said bus operators would hold an urgent meeting this week, citing numerous complaints from drivers about incorrectly issued e-challans on highways. An MBMS media statement on Wednesday said: "If the government continues to ignore our long-standing grievances beyond June 30, various passenger transport associations will observe a strike from midnight on July 1. The strike has received overwhelming support from private bus operators and all passenger transport segments, including school transport, employee transport, Cityflo, Uber operators, and intrastate bus services. " An MBMS member added: "This protest is not just against the implementation of e-challans, but also against unresolved infrastructure shortcomings and ongoing departmental issues that continue to severely affect transport operations."
Time of India
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Maharashtra: Welfare schemes workshop held for Sikhs in the state
MUMBAI: Held by Maharashtra State Punjabi Sahitya Academy at the Sahyadri Guesthouse recently, a minority welfare workshop dedicated to the Sikh community in the state discussed ways and means to access the government welfare schemes. It marked a significant step towards empowering the Sikh community. Convened by the Minority Development Department, Government of Maharashtra, in collaboration with the Maharashtra State Punjabi Sahitya Academy, the session began with a detailed and insightful presentation by the department, outlining the various welfare schemes available for the Sikh minority in Maharashtra. Prominent community leader Bal Malkit Singh, executive chairman of the Maharashtra State Punjabi Sahitya Academy, addressed the gathering and highlighted critical issues faced by the Sikh community. Several concerns were resolved during the workshop even as many other issues were taken up by the department for further action. Bal Malkit Singh said: 'This workshop is a historic step toward building a stronger partnership between the Sikh community and the government of Maharashtra. We are deeply grateful to the minority development department for their commitment to addressing the needs of our people. This initiative has brought hope, clarity and confidence to thousands of families across the state.' Among other participants included Ruchesh Jaivanshi, IAS, secretary, minority development department. Delegates from across the state also attended the meet.
Time of India
15-06-2025
- Time of India
Sikhs in Mumbai laud railway ministry's extension of Mumbai-Jalna Vande Bharat Express up to Nanded
Mumbai: In a long-standing demand from the Sikh community , the railway ministry has approved the extension of Mumbai-Jalna Vande Bharat Express up to Nanded. Bal Malkit Singh, convenor of Maharashtra Sikh Association, said: "The Vande Bharat will help devotees who undertake pilgrimages to Hazur Sahib, Nanded, one of the five takhts of the Sikh faith, where Guru Gobind Singhji spent his final days. This is a moment of satisfaction for the entire Sikh community and Guru Nanak Seva Sangat. For many years, we pursued this demand with commitment and unity. We thank the Prime Minister, central and state govts, and the railway board for recognising the religious, cultural, and national importance of Hazur Sahib, Nanded." Sources said train number 20705 will depart from Nanded at 5am and reach Mumbai by 2.25pm, while train number 20706 will leave from Mumbai at 1.10pm and arrive in Nanded by 10.50pm. Mumbai: In a long-standing demand from the Sikh community, the railway ministry has approved the extension of Mumbai-Jalna Vande Bharat Express up to Nanded. Bal Malkit Singh, convenor of Maharashtra Sikh Association, said: "The Vande Bharat will help devotees who undertake pilgrimages to Hazur Sahib, Nanded, one of the five takhts of the Sikh faith, where Guru Gobind Singhji spent his final days. This is a moment of satisfaction for the entire Sikh community and Guru Nanak Seva Sangat. For many years, we pursued this demand with commitment and unity. We thank the Prime Minister, central and state govts, and the railway board for recognising the religious, cultural, and national importance of Hazur Sahib, Nanded. " Sources said train number 20705 will depart from Nanded at 5am and reach Mumbai by 2.25pm, while train number 20706 will leave from Mumbai at 1.10pm and arrive in Nanded by 10.50pm.
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
State transport discusses proposed policies on proof of parking, decongestion
Mumbai: The state transport department on Friday conducted a key meeting with all stakeholders across the transport and urban planning spectrum to discuss the proposed proof of parking (for new vehicle registration) and congestion management policy. The govt plans to make it mandatory for buyers to show proof of parking for any new registration in the near future. It also plans to introduce new measures to reduce congestion on city roads. A detailed presentation was made on the subject, followed by inputs from stakeholders. The road transport fraternity submitted a memorandum, where the core point discussed was the conversion of old octroi nakas in Mumbai—specifically Mankhurd, Mulund, and Dahisar—into Integrated Truck Terminals equipped with parking bays and EV charging stations. "We proposed that the govt should go ahead with converting the octroi nakas into truck terminals where all the heavy goods vehicles will terminate and goods will be offloaded," said Bal Malkit Singh from All India Motor Transport Congress. "In future, only smaller vehicles will be allowed to load the goods at the octroi naka and bring it inside the city. These vehicles will also run on environmentally friendly fuel such as CNG and electric. This, in turn, will reduce not just congestion on roads but also air pollution," Singh said. "Converting existing idle infrastructure like old octroi nakas into modern truck terminals is a practical, cost-effective step toward a cleaner, efficient, and future-ready transport ecosystem in line with the Union govt's vision for Viksit Bharat 2047," Singh added.
