Latest news with #Galgali
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Min orders fresh feasibility report on scrapped Kurla-Bandra rail link
Mumbai: Mumbai suburban guardian minister, Ashish Shelar, ordered a fresh feasibility report to explore the revival of the long-abandoned Kurla-Bandra railway link. The directive was issued during a high-level coordination meeting attended by officials from Railways, MMRDA, MMRCL, MahaMetro, BMC, and the Mumbai Traffic Police. Shelar posted on his social media handle, "The project, initially envisioned to ease congestion and improve direct access between the city's eastern and western suburbs, was dropped in 2011 on the grounds that Metro Line 2 would provide similar connectivity. However, with growing pressure from activists and citizens, the demand resurfaced." RTI activist Anil Galgali, who was spearheading the campaign for restoration, raised serious allegations against the MMRDA. He claimed the planning body altered the station layout under the pretext of Metro development and diverted land meant for rail infrastructure toward monetisation. "The city needs mass rail connectivity, not real estate deals," Galgali said. Galgali placed four formal demands — revoking the Urban Development Department's 2018 notification, restoring the original alignment, preserving the proposed station sites in E and G blocks, and initiating an inquiry into MMRDA's handling of the project. Transport experts argue that the Kurla-Bandra rail link could act as a vital pressure valve for overburdened stations like Dadar and Ghatkopar, especially with business districts like BKC continuing to expand. The proposal to construct a railway line connecting Bandra and Kurla was originally floated to improve east–west connectivity in Mumbai. However, the plan was scrapped in 2011 by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which argued that the upcoming Metro Line 2 would serve the same purpose and that the project would interfere with Mithi River widening works. Western Railway, a stakeholder in the initial plan, had stated that Metro line alone wouldn't suffice to cater to an estimated 36,000 peak-hour commuters.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
60% of e-challan grievances of motorists fined in 13 mths rejected, shows RTI reply
Mumbai: Around 60% of the grievances raised by motorists regarding e-challans issued to them by the traffic police between Jan 2024 and Feb 2025 were rejected, according to the response given by the department to an RTI plea by activist Anil Galgali. The response stated that of the over 1.8 lakh complaints received, around 1.1 lakh were rejected. As per the One State One Challan portal, Mumbai Traffic Police imposed Rs 556 crore in fines against motorists violating traffic rules between Jan 2024 and Feb 2025. Grievances regarding e-challans are reviewed at the multimedia cell at Worli traffic headquarters. Evidence in the form of images of the vehicle at-fault are studied before making a conclusion. If the images are unclear, the complaint is forwarded to the traffic division concerned for verification. The final decision as to whether to uphold or cancel the challan is made after receiving its report. "Citizens should be given fair opportunity to explain their side, and each complaint must undergo thorough and objective scrutiny," said Galgali. tnn
