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Indian Express
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Hydro ganja is proving to be a big challenge after Thailand, US made it legal: Fadnavis
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said hydro ganja is proving to be a big challenge for the government and since it has been legalised in Thailand and America, cases of it being sent via-parcel are increasing. Replying to an Attention Motion in the Monsoon Session of the Maharashtra Assembly, Fadnavis informed the house that MD drugs worth Rs 4,115.59 crore were confiscated in 2024 while by May 2025, MD drugs worth Rs 138.90 crore were seized. 'Breaking the drug infrastructure and giving wide publicity to the anti-drug movement by involving school children is a campaign that has been kickstarted in many commissionerates,' said Fadnavis. He said the police are not only arresting drug peddlers but have also made probes into the forward-and-backward links compulsory. 'Even last-stage cancer patients are being used (as carriers),' he said. 'It was found that ports in Gujarat and the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) in Maharashtra were used to bring in drugs concealed in cargo consignments. Scanners that can detect concealed drugs have been installed in Gujarat and Maharashtra. Randomised checking of shipments from certain countries, where there is a possibility of drug supply, is being done,' said the CM adding that due to intense action taken by the police, the number of cases being reported are also higher. Fadnavis reiterated that since drug peddlers secure bail and again resort to similar activities, the state government is amending the laws to book them under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act. 'Hydro ganja is proving to be a challenge. Thailand and the US have made it legal. So hydro ganja is being pushed into the country through courier services and other routes,' said Fadnavis, highlighting the deportation of alleged drug cartel operator Naveen Jichkar who bought an island in Australia which he used to send hydroponic ganja from Thailand and the US through courier.
The Print
03-07-2025
- The Print
Hydro ganja proving to be a challenge: Fadnavis
The number of cases has increased because of the government's anti-drug crackdown, he said. Replying to a calling attention motion in the legislative council, he also raised concerns over synthetic drugs and said that even terminal cancer patients are being used as drug carriers. Mumbai, Jul 3 (PTI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Thursday that 'hydro' ganja is proving to be a big challenge for the government and asserted that the Centre and state have intensified their fight against the drug business. It was found that ports in Gujarat and the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), the country's largest container port located in Maharashtra's Raigad district, were used to bring in drugs concealed in cargo consignments, he said. 'Scanners that can detect concealed drugs have been installed in Gujarat and Maharashtra. Randomised checking of shipments from certain countries, where there is a possibility of drug supply, is being done,' he said. Five days ago, two Indonesian nationals were arrested with 21 kg of hydroponic ganja valued at Rs 21.55 crore in Mumbai, he said. Hydroponic ganja refers to cannabis plants grown without soil. This method gives growers precise control over the plant's environment, which can result in faster growth and higher yields. Since drug peddlers secure bail and again resort to similar activities, the state government is amending the laws to book them under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, he said. Under MCOCA, it is difficult to get bail. 'Hydro ganja is proving to be a challenge. Thailand and the US have made it legal. So, hydro ganja is being pushed into the country through courier services and other routes,' Fadnavis said. The CM highlighted the deportation of alleged drug cartel operator Naveen Chichkar from Malaysia to India in May. He said Chichkar had bought an island in Australia and acquired its citizenship. Chichkar used to send hydroponic ganja from Thailand and the US through courier. He was arrested along with a few associated with the postal and Customs departments and two policemen, who have since been sacked,' said the CM. 'The policy (of the government) is of zero tolerance (towards drugs),' Fadnavis said. He said drug peddling is not only an interstate but an international racket. States have been coordinating in the fight against drugs. He said the police are not only arresting drug peddlers but have also made probes into the forward-and-backwards linkage compulsory. 'Even last-stage cancer patients are being used (as carriers). There were three cases where they were battling cancer,' he said. 'We have intensified the fight against drugs. Courier companies have been told to ensure that drug transportation does not happen through them, or they will be named as accused in the case,' Fadnavis added. PTI PR NR This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Time of India
21-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
CBI files graft case against Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust , Tata firm
MUMBAI: CBI has filed a case against Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust officials and Tata Consulting Engineers, a project management consultant, for allegedly causing Rs 804 crore loss to govt in contracts to increase depth of the channel for large cargo ships. CBI was carrying out searches at several premises at the time of going to press, report Vijay V Singh & Reeba Zachariah. The FIR mentions "preparation of inflated estimates, restriction of competition to favour international bidders, extension of undue favour to contractor & suppression of reports of independent organisations". The FIR was registered against ex-JNPT chief manager Sunil Kumar Madabhavi, TCE and its project director Devdutt Bose, BoskalisSmit India LLP, Jan De Nul Dredging India Pvt Ltd, and other unidentified individuals. It says the loss was spread over the dredging project's two phases - 2003-14 and 2013-19.
Indian Express
17-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Maharashtra: Cabinet nod to develop Phase 1 of Virar-Alibaug corridor on BOT Model
The Maharashtra Cabinet on Tuesday gave approval to develop the first phase of the ambitious Virar-Alibaug Multi-Modal Transport Corridor, a 165-km arterial route designed to reduce congestion in Mumbai Metropolitan Region, on a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC). The state government has decided to scrap the previous bids floated for the project as the rates of construction bids for its first phase have sharply inflated. The corridor is one of the largest road infrastructure projects in the MMR and is designed to serve as an important route for vehicles entering Maharashtra from Gujarat and North India. It will provide direct connectivity to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), decongesting existing routes through Thane and Palghar districts and easing traffic in the suburbs. Initially, the MSRDC had floated tenders worth Rs 19,334 crore for the construction of the first phase, split into 11 packages. However, contractors quoted 36 per cent higher rates than expected, inflating the cost to Rs 26,000 crore. Even after detailed scrutiny by Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute, comparison with central and state rate books, and prolonged negotiations, the final cost remained close to Rs 25,000 crore, prompting sharp criticism and stalling of approvals. Compounding the problem was the difficulty in raising funds for the project. After considering all these aspects, in March 2025, Chief Minister Fadnavis recommended adopting the BOT model to reduce the financial burden on the state. Under this model, a private developer will build and operate the corridor for a concession period, recover its investment via toll or user charges, and eventually transfer the asset back to the government. The MSRDC had submitted a revised proposal in April for adopting the BOT model, which has now been approved. The tender floated earlier will now be scrapped. The first phase of the corridor spans 96.41 km, connecting Navghar in Palghar district to Balavali in Pen taluka. The Virar-Alibaug corridor is designed to significantly improve regional connectivity by linking the JNPT and the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport with key national highways and expressways. These include NH-48 (Mumbai-Ahmedabad), NH-848 (Mumbai-Agra), NH-61 (Kalyan-Murbad-Nirmal), as well as the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, Mumbai-Vadodara Expressway, and the Mumbai-Goa National Highway, among others. The corridor will pass through Vasai, Bhiwandi, Kalyan, Ambernath, Panvel, Uran, Pen, and Alibaug, offering a crucial alternative route to decongest Mumbai and promote planned urban expansion. To facilitate the project, the Cabinet approved a financial provision of Rs 22,250 crore for land acquisition, along with Rs 14,763 crore towards interest, bringing the total estimated budget for Phase 1 to Rs 37,013 crore. Land for Tribal Industrial Cluster The Cabinet also approved the transfer of 29 hectares and 52 acres of land at Jambutke village in Nashik district to the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) for the development of a Tribal Industrial Cluster. This decision aims to provide land plots to aspiring entrepreneurs from the tribal community to help them set up industries. The move is expected to boost employment opportunities and economic development in tribal areas. As per the decision, the identified land in Jambutke will be officially handed over to MIDC for the establishment of the cluster, which is part of the state government's broader strategy to promote inclusive growth and empower tribal populations through industrial development.
India Today
06-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Devendra Fadnavis inaugurates final stretch of Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi highway
The remaining 76-kilometre stretch of the Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg, from Igatpuri to Amane, was innaugarated by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday, June 5. This milestone marks the completion of a transformative infrastructure project that spans 701 kilometres, connecting 24 districts across Vidarbha, Marathwada and North journey began with the inauguration of the first 520-kilometer segment from Nagpur to Shirdi by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 11, 2022. This was followed by the opening of the second phase, an 80-kilometer stretch from Shirdi (Kokanmathan) in Ahmednagar district to Bharvir Dhantore in Nashik district, by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on May 26, 2023. The third phase, covering 25 kilometers from Bharvir Dhantore to Hutatma Point, was launched by Public Works Minister Dada Bhuse on May 4, A standout feature of the final 76-kilometre section, which cuts through the rugged Sahyadri mountain range across Nashik and Thane districts, is the inclusion of five double tunnels totalling 10.73 kilometres (21.46 kilometres with both carriageways). The tunnel at Panke (Igatpuri), stretching 8 kilometres, stands as Maharashtra's longest and widest at 17.61 meters, with a height of 9.12 meters. This final leg will enable the Igatpuri to Kasara stretch to be traversed in just eight minutes. This offers a vital alternative to the congested Kasara ghat on National Highway 3, promising smoother traffic completion of this stretch will revolutionise travel, cutting the journey from Thane (Amane) to Nagpur to approximately eight hours. It will also enhance accessibility for commuters from Thane and Mumbai to Shirdi as well as benefit farmers in Shirdi, Ahmednagar, and the Sinnar and Igatpuri areas of Nashik by expediting the transport of agricultural goods to the Mumbai Metropolitan 392 villages across 26 talukas in 10 revenue divisions, the six-lane highway directly links Nagpur, Wardha, Amravati, Washim, Buldhana, Jalna, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Ahmednagar, Nashik, and Thane, while indirectly connecting 14 other districts. With speed limits set at 100 kilometres per hour on inclines and 120 kilometres per hour on flat terrain, the route slashes the traditional 17-18-hour Nagpur-to-Mumbai journey to just eight hours via the new Greenfield it will link Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) in Mumbai to Mihan in Nagpur, facilitating rapid goods transportation across India and beyond.
