New greenfield airports to come up in Vadhavan and Virar regions: Maha CM Fadnavis

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Mumbai, Feb 28 (IANS) Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said new greenfield airports will be developed in the Vadhavan and Virar regions as part of a broader plan to strengthen connectivity and support infrastructure growth in Maharashtra.

Speaking at the 93rd Board of Directors meeting of the Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC), the Chief Minister directed officials to immediately identify suitable land for the proposed airports and expedite development of airport projects across the state in a time-bound manner.

Fadnavis said the proposed Vadhavan Port, projected to be the largest in Asia, would play a decisive role in the state’s economic development. He said coordinated efforts are under way to connect the port through road, rail and air networks to ensure seamless logistics support.

He also stated that Gadchiroli district is emerging as a major steel industry hub and announced that a greenfield airport would be established there to meet the growing transport and logistics requirements arising from industrial investments.

The meeting reviewed the expansion and modernisation of operational airports at Nanded, Sindhudurg and Nagpur. A detailed presentation was made on the development of nine airports under MADC’s jurisdiction.

Officials informed the Board that several industries and projects have become operational at MIHAN (Multi-modal International Cargo Hub and Airport at Nagpur), including the Patanjali Ayurved project. Updates were also shared on the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Nagpur, commercial complexes, the Maharashtra Agro Development Company, Maharashtra Remote Sensing Applications Centre, healthcare facilities in non-SEZ areas, a dedicated cargo hub and electric vehicle charging stations.

An amount of Rs 597 crore has been approved for the comprehensive development of MIHAN, of which Rs 297 crore has already been released. A Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) with a capacity of 39 MLD is being constructed at a cost of Rs 12.38 crore.

Administrative approval has also been granted for Rs 99 crore towards infrastructure development in the Shivangaon and Vitthubabanagar areas, according to an official release.

The meeting noted that strengthening airport infrastructure and allied industrial facilities would boost investment, generate employment and promote balanced regional development across the state.

–IANS

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MahaYuti confident of securing 51 pc vote share in 29 municipal corporations: Bawankule

Mumbai, Dec 31 (IANS) Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Wednesday projected a highly confident outlook for the MahaYuti comprising BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP, saying that it will secure more than 51 per cent of the total vote share in 29 municipal corporations.

Bawankule emphasised that the 51 per cent vote target is not just a number but a mandate for development.

He specifically mentioned the 2029, 2035, and 2047 development plans for Mumbai drafted by Devendra Fadnavis, asserting that the BJP will win based on these future-looking visions rather than the “identity politics” of their rivals.

He claimed that this vote share would translate into a massive two-thirds majority, ensuring that the mayors of all 29 municipal corporations belong to the MahaYuti.

He stated that the “Double Engine” government of PM Modi and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has earned the people’s trust, which will reflect in these record-breaking numbers.

“The MahaYuti is not just contesting to win; we are contesting to dominate with over 51 per cent of the public mandate. Whether we fight together or separately in certain pockets, the goal is a landslide victory for the pro-development front,” said Bawankule.

While aiming for 51 per cent as a front, Bawankule clarified how the alliance will operate where they are contesting separately. He explained that even in the 24 corporations of the 29 municipal corporations where MahaYuti partners are contesting against each other, the collective vote share of these parties is expected to exceed the 51 per cent mark, effectively keeping the opposition (MVA) at bay.

He hinted that despite local contests, the partners remain committed to the MahaYuti framework at the state level and will likely unite to form the local government (installing Mayors) after results are declared.

“Our primary goal is to ensure the development of Maharashtra’s cities. If local equations require us to contest separately to ensure a better representative for the people, we will do so without compromising our state-level integrity,” said Bawankule.

Bawankule used the 51 per cent target to contrast the Mahayuti’s strength with the “deteriorating” state of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

He claimed the MVA is operating with a “defeated mindset” and that the internal conflicts within the Congress, Sharad Pawar, and Thackeray factions have left them unable to challenge the Mahayuti’s consolidated base.

He dismissed the potential UBT-MNS alliance in Mumbai as “emotional politics,” stating that voters will choose the BJP’s “Development Blueprint” over emotional appeals.

–IANS

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False narrative being peddled on North’s domination over South: Rajnath Singh

Tumakuru, April 1 (IANS) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday that a false narrative is being peddled that the North has dominated the South over many issues.

“It is unfortunate that a false narrative is being spread that the North has dominated the South over many issues. This is completely untrue. People should move beyond this propaganda that is aimed at creating divisions between the northern and southern regions of India,” said the Defence Minister while addressing a gathering at Siddaganga Mutt in Tumakuru, Karnataka, during the 118th birth anniversary and Guruvandana programme of the late Shivakumara Swamiji.

Citing an example from religious history, Rajnath Singh said that the land of Karnataka has played a significant role in shaping the country’s religious and cultural heritage.

“This is evident from the legendary debate between Kashi’s scholar Mandana Mishra and Adi Shankaracharya, which is considered one of the greatest intellectual exchanges in Indian history. In that debate, Adi Shankaracharya emerged victorious,” said the Defence Minister.

He added that Mandana Mishra, a scholar from Kashi, later became a disciple of Adi Shankaracharya and is believed to have travelled to Karnataka.

“At Sringeri, he became the first Shankaracharya under the name Sureshvaracharya Maharaj. This instance highlights the generosity of India’s knowledge tradition, which has always embraced truth, and there was no place for hesitation to accept the defeat. In this context, I believe it is essential to break free from the colonial-era propaganda that still lingers in our minds,” he said.

He added that Adi Shankaracharya is credited with reviving Hinduism and its philosophical foundations, adding that according to the Advaita Vedanta tradition, Maṇḍana Mishra went on to become one of Adi Shankaracharya’s four main disciples and the first head of the Sringeri Mutt, one of the four mathas established by Shankaracharya.

He said that the four main disciples are considered as Shankaracharyas.

The Defence Minister also emphasised Karnataka’s role in the nation’s progress, saying that the people of Karnataka have made immense contributions to India’s development and will continue to play a crucial role in nation-building in the future as well.

He highlighted the resilience of India’s civilisation, saying that many civilisations around the world have either lost their values or become extinct.

“Our 5,000-year-old civilisation has withstood repeated invasions and challenges, only to emerge stronger. Foreign invaders have attempted to destroy Indian culture and civilisation. However, seers like the late Shivakumara Swamiji have preserved our heritage and kept it alive. It is because of the contributions of such spiritual leaders that our culture continues to thrive,” he said.

The Defence Minister said that the BJP government is striving to build a new, self-reliant India, adding that this will only be possible if people recognise the greatness of India’s civilisation.

“To truly understand this, we must study the life and philosophy of Swamiji. Today, our country is advancing at a remarkable pace, and India’s stature on the global stage is rising. Earlier, India’s voice was not given the importance it deserved on international platforms. However, today, when India speaks at global forums, the world listens. This is the reputation our country has earned,” he claimed.

–IANS

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Six held within 24 hours for Rs 4 crore jewellery heist in Bokaro

Bokaro (Jharkhand), June 24 (IANS) All six accused involved in a daring jewellery heist at a showroom in Jharkhand’s Bokaro have been arrested within 24 hours of the crime, officials said on Tuesday. The arrests were made by the Special Task Force (STF) of Bihar Police near Patna.

The robbery, which took place around 6 P.M. on Monday at the Aastha Jewellers showroom located on Chas Bypass Road in Bokaro city, saw the gang flee with gold ornaments worth an estimated Rs 4 crore and cash.

According to police, the criminals were on the run in a car when they were intercepted and nabbed by the Bihar STF following coordinated Intelligence inputs shared by the Bokaro Police.

A significant portion of the loot — 23 gold rings, 6 mangalsutras, a gold bracelet, and Rs 13,820 in cash — was recovered from them.

All the arrested individuals are residents of various districts in Bihar. They have been identified as Rahul Patel alias Diamond (Patna City), Roshan Singh (Bettiah), Nitesh Tiwari (Vaishali), Aditya Raj (Motihari), Prince Kumar, and Suman Musafir Hawari. All are aged between 22 and 25 years.

A Bokaro police team has departed for Patna to take custody of the accused.

According to the FIR filed by showroom owner Jitendra Kumar, he and his staff were inside the store when four armed men entered and held them at gunpoint. The assailants looted jewellery worth crores and Rs 60,000 in cash before fleeing the showroom. The entire incident lasted only seven minutes and was captured on CCTV.

As per the FIR, the attackers arrived on a motorcycle, with accomplices waiting outside the showroom for support and coordination.

Soon after receiving the alert, Bokaro SP Harvinder Singh formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case. The SIT worked in close coordination with police forces across Jharkhand and Bihar, quickly sharing footage and leads.

Police said the swift crackdown was made possible through interstate coordination, real-time surveillance, and ground-level Intelligence.

–IANS

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