Nagpur

State keen to transform reputed pvt aided colleges into varsities

  Staff Reporter : Names 4-member expert panel to draft rules on processing application from private unaided colleges   Maharashtra Government has formed a panel of experts to draft rules and regulations for transforming private aided..

NMC withdraws census duty orders for 43 teachers after HC relief

 Staff Reporter : The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has withdrawn its earlier orders appointing 43 teachers as enumerators and supervisors for Census work, following directions from the Bombay High Court, Nagpur Bench. The teachers were amo..

HC raps Ambazari Police for illegal arrest of sr citizen

The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court has directed the State of Maharashtra to pay Rs 25,000 compensation to a 70-year-old businessman, holding that his arrest by police was illegal and violated his fundamental rights under Article 21 of the Constitution. A Division Bench of Justices Urmila Joshi-Phalke and Nivedita Mehta passed the order while partly allowing a criminal writ petition filed by Anil Awle (name changed), a resident of Nagpur. The case is based on an FIR registered at Ambazari Police ..

NCC Drone Training Hub in city soon: Maj Gen Tyagi

To integrate cutting-edge technology with traditional discipline for Vidarbha’s youth, the National Cadet Corps (NCC), Maharashtra Directorate is going to establish NCC Drone Training Hub in Nagpur soon. The announcement was made by Major General Vivek Tyagi, Additional Director General (ADG), NCC, Maharashtra Directorate at a press conference held at Nagpur Group NCC Headquarters, Civil Lines, on Wednesday. Maj Gen Tyagi is on a three-day visit to Nagpur till May 1. Tyagi informed to the media that ..

Begging or Extortion? Aggressive begging on streets leaves citizens troubled

Nagpur’s traffic signals have turned into hotspots of distress for commuters, as they are persistantly harassed by groups of beggars approaching vehicles the moment the lights turn red. In the absence of action on the part of the Nagpur city police and the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), citizens have become victims of daily harassment by beggars, while officials of both authorities have turned a blind eye to the growing menace. At various busy signals across the city, drivers say they are surrounded, ..

KIDNEY RACKET CASE: No anticipatory bail after arrest, even if transit bail granted, says HC

The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court has given an important ruling, stating that once a person is arrested, they cannot seek anticipatory bail, even if they are later granted transit bail. Justice Rajnish R Vyas clarified that anticipatory bail is only available before arrest, and once an arrest has taken place, the option is no longer open to the accused. The Court has rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Dr Ravinderpal Singh Jaspal Singh in a major kidney trafficking case. The case relates ..

Railways to regularise Nagpur-Goa spl train; travellers to benefit

Central Railway has decided to regularise the current bi-weekly Nagpur-Goa special train fulfilling the long standing demand of people from Vidarbha. The Ajni-Madgaon Express right now takes nearly 24 hours to cover the distance between the two centres. Train No. 01139/01140 Nagpur-Madgaon runs on special charges and now will be run as 11203/11204, which the Railways said, would offer greater convenience to the travellers. Goa has been always a major tourist destination and the Madgaon train connecting ..

Shalarth ID scam: HC quashes salary withholding, relief to 350 school staff

 Staff Reporter :  In a significant relief to around 350 teachers and non-teaching staffers, the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court has set aside the government’s action of withholding their salaries in connection with alleged illegal &..

Metro plans flood-resilient, viaduct-led expansion across Kanhan river

The extension of Nagpur Metro Rail Corporation Limited (NMRCL) service till Kanhan town presents a challenging situation for the engineers who have envisaged a 1.4-km-long bridge with height of 15 metres above the ground level. At present, metro corridor has been completed till Automotive Square and in second phase, it is proposed to link the neighbouring Kamptee town. Since Kanhan is also nearby, the State decided to reach upto Kanhan. As per information, Detailed Project Report (DPR) about extension ..

Private parkings or backdoor bus terminal?

 By Rohit Pawar : Questions rise over private bus operations from private property just 50 metres away from Ganeshpeth ST Bus Station. Private bus activity continues despite High Court restrictions. MSRTC has reportedly lodged complain..

School bus safety under scanner as HC issues final warning to Deputy Dir (Edn)

The Bombay High Court’s Nagpur Bench issued a stern warning to the Deputy Director of Education, making it clear that failure to comply with court directions regarding school bus safety norms would invite legal action. The court stated that, if notices are not issued to defaulting schools by June 9, strict proceedings will be initiated against the officer, with no opportunity granted to correct the lapse. A division bench of Justice Anil Kilor and Justice Raj Wakode was hearing the matter concerning ..

Smart City crematorium land scandal 17 acres reduced to just 1.5 acres

A routine review meeting on part of Mayor Neeta Thakre blew the lid on alleged diversion of prime land in Smart City reserved for crematorium. Narendra alias Balya Borkar, Ruling Party Leader in Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), giving details, said about 17 acres land belonging to extended Talmale family was reserved in DP plan for crematorium...

3-yr-old girl, mother among three of a city family killed in mishap

Three members of a Nagpur-based family lost their lives after their car crashed into a roadside tree near Khadka turning on the Warud–Morshi Highway. One person sustained critical injuries and is undergoing treatment. The victims have been identified as Samadhan Kisanrao Nande (62), Kiran Gopal Nande (28), and three-year-old Diya Gopal Nande, all residents of Kamptee Khairi in Nagpur district. The family was on its way to attend a wedding when the accident occurred around 8 am...

First in India: Nagpur Metro installs solar panels between live tracks

Nagpur Metro Rail Corporation Limited (NMRCL) has commissioned a solar power installation between railway tracks at its Hingna Depot, becoming the first metro operator in India to deploy such a system. The 200-metre pilot is generating electricity with monocrystalline panels, rated at 50 kilowatt peak, and designed to absorb the vibration of passing trains, occupy inter track space that had previously served no productive function, producing power that feeds directly into the depot’s internal supply ..

BJP picks Bhende for Council seat; ends intense lobbying battle

Drawing the curtain on days of intense lobbying and speculation, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday announced its candidates for the Maharashtra Legislative Council polls, naming Nagpur’s Sanjay Bhende among the five nominees. With elections slated for nine seats and the party holding a clear numerical advantage, the BJP has fielded candidates for five seats it is confident of winning. In a key political move, the party has also nominated Pradnya Satav for the by-poll to the seat vacated after ..

In the dark: NMC has ‘no idea’ on illegal water connections, suggests fresh RTI appeal for data

The Water Supply Department of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has failed to provide even basic data on illegal water connections in the city, raising serious concerns over transparency, accountability, and revenue leakage in a critical civic service. Information obtained under the Right to Information Act by Abhay Kolarkar for the period from January 2021 to March 2026 reveals a striking pattern. While the department maintains detailed records on authorised connections and revenue generated, ..

20 tiger deaths remain unsolved in Maharashtra since 2020

By Kaushik Bhattacharya :   NTCA to ‘force-close’ such cases if State fails to complete investigation  RTI activist claims it is a face-saving exercise by all States to maintain their ranking nationally&..

BJP City President’s WhatsApp hacked; fraud messages seek money

The WhatsApp account of BJP City President Dayashankar Tiwari was hacked on Tuesday, with a cyber fraudster sending messages to his contacts asking for money. Tiwari has filed a complaint at the Cyber Police Station and urged people not to respond to such messages. According to information, the unknown person gained access to the WhatsApp account linked to Tiwari’s mobile number 9373107164 on Tuesday afternoon. Soon after, several people in his contact list received messages claiming that his UPI ..

Ram Temple was divine dream of Hindu community that came true: Dr Bhagwat

The entire Hindu community was overwhelmed with immense joy following the construction of a magnificent temple at the birthplace of Lord Shri Ramachandraji in Shri Kshetra Avadhpuri, and the subsequent consecration of Shri Ramlala and the ‘Dharmadhwaja’ (religious flag). A programme to honour and felicitate the brilliant minds under whose guidance this extraordinary construction project was realised was successfully conducted by the Dr Hedgewar Smarak Samiti at Maharshi Vyas Sabhagruh at Reshimbag ..

City’s noise pollution alarming, failure to comply with guidelines exceeds 80%

The latest Environment Status Report (ESR) revealed that, Nagpur city has failed to comply with the noise standards, as noise pollution levels exceed 80 per cent, which, as per the report, may lead to chronic health conditions like stress, hypertension, disturbed sleep, and even cardiovascular diseases. The ESR, prepared by CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), mentions widespread non-compliance with Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) noise standards in all its 10 ..

300-year-old Bhonsle-era well near Nagpur airport falls into neglect, heritage at risk

A 300-year-old well from the Bhonsle era, once a lifeline for the Sonegaon belt, is rapidly losing its historical identity as neglect and unchecked dumping push the structure towards ruin. Located near the Panchmukhi Hanuman temple in Aamrai on the way to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport from Sonegaon, the site today stands choked with plastic waste, algae and debris, its stone architecture barely visible beneath layers of filth. Believed to have been part of a carefully designed traditional ..

Rs 1.5 cr beautification project on Kamptee Rd bites the dust

  By Kabir Mahajan : Administrative deadlock, funds crunch leaves some dividers barren from Gaddigodam to Automotive Square  The ambitious beautification project on the Gaddigodam to Automotive Square stretch has effectively faile..

Lack of air connectivity, strong industry-academic ties preventing city from becoming central India’s cyber capital

Strengthening air connectivity with major IT hubs and building strong industry–academic ties are essential factors to brand Nagpur as Central India’s digital and cyber capital, industry experts said on Monday. Experts noted that the lack of these factors is holding back the growth of the Information Technology sector in the city. The remarks were made during a stakeholder consultation on IT industry development in the Nagpur division, held at the Divisional Commissionerate. The session was chaired ..

Unrelenting heat blasts Vidarbha, Amravati 2nd hottest in country

Vidarbha continued to reel under intense heat on Monday, with Amravati recording the highest maximum temperature with 46.6 degrees Celsius. Amravati was also second hottest place in the country after Banda (47.6 degrees Celsius) in Uttar Pradesh. Wardha emerged the second hottest city in Vidarbha at 46.5 degrees Celsius and Akola at 46.3 degrees Celsius. Nagpur recorded the maximum temperature at 45.0 degrees Celsius, a marginal 0.4 degree drop in last 24 hours. The intense heat and dry conditions ..

State establishes MSRRA to tackle heavily polluted river stretches

The State Government formed the Maharashtra State River Rejuvenation Authority (MSRRA), headed by the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis recently. The main objective behind forming the Authority was to restore all the 54 heavily polluted river stretches across the State. The State recently issued the Government Resolution (GR) regarding the formation of MSRRA...

Girls’ hostel on Freedom Park road ready, awaits inauguration

A girls’ hostel with capacity of 200 on Freedom Park road is awaiting its inauguration. Public Works Department (PWD) completed the work but sources disclosed that the Higher Education Department, under which it comes, has not taken its possession, for the reasons best known to it. A senior PWD official, on the condition of anonymity, told ‘The Hitavada’, “The project got delayed because of fund crunch and the change in policy due to change in State leadership. Somehow our department completed the ..

HC denies pre-arrest bail to MD, CEO, Directors, safety officer

In the SBL blast case, in which 26 workers were killed last month, the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court rejected relief to key company officials, including its Managing Director and senior executives, and granted anticipatory bail to three independent directors. The order was passed by Justice Rajnish R Vyas on a batch of anticipatory bail applications arising from a case registered at Kalmeshwar Police Station in Nagpur (Rural). The case relates to a deadly explosion that took place on March ..

3-year-old dies after falling into open soak pit in Kondhali; negligence alleged

In a heart-wrenching incident that has shocked the town, a three-year-old boy lost his life after falling into an open soak pit on a private plot in Kondhali on Saturday evening. The child, identified as Labhansh Kuldeep Chandankhede, was playing near his house when the accident occurred around 6 pm. According to police, Labhansh was playing in an open ground in front of his home. While moving around, he entered a nearby vacant private plot where a deep soak pit had been dug. The pit, filled with ..

Burdening honest consumers is not power reform, it’s policy failure

 Dr Sameer Manapure : At a time when India is striving to emerge as a global manufacturing hub and a clean energy leader, recent developments in Maharashtra’s power sector raise serious concerns. Policies that increase the burden on electr..

Satyanarayan Nuwal’s success has made Nagpur proud: Dr Bhagwat

“The success achieved by Satyanarayan Nuwal has made everyone in the city proud and has given them the confidence that any person from anywhere can achieve extraordinary results with their hard work,” said Dr Mohan Bhagwat, Sarsanghchalak, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Sunday. Dr Bhagwat was speaking at the felicitation of Padma Shri Satyanarayan Nuwal, Chairman, Solar Industries India Ltd; and Daksh Khante, world’s youngest Ironman, held by Nag Bhushan Award Foundation at Hotel Raddison Blu. ..

Man touches high tension wire at Ngp Rly Stn, electrocuted

In a freak mishap, a youth was electrocuted after coming in contact with high tension line at Nagpur Railway Station on Sunday. The incident occurred in the coal yard, adjacent to Home Platform on Santra Market side of the main station, said the Government Railway Police. The GRP Inspector Gaurav Gawande said that youth, perhaps mentally-challenged, climbed atop a stationary coal rake in the yard. The time was around 3.45 pm. As the youth stood up on the coal filled wagon, he came in contact with ..

Sanctioned in 2018, Katghora-Dongargarh new rail corridor yet to take off

The only progress on 294 km Katghora-Dongargarh new railway line in Chhattisgarh since 2018 when it was first planned is that the project has changed hands from Indian Railways to a joint venture with State Government, Chhattisgarh Rail Corporation Limited (CSRCL). That sums up the story of Indian Railways’ plan aimed at decongestion of Nagpur-Howrah route. The 294.53 kms remains on planning board as Railways could not make much headway in absence of required permission for acquisition of land. As ..

State’s bike ambulance scheme hits a wall

With high hopes, Maharashtra Government had started the bike ambulance service which has come to a screeching halt. When the idea of the scheme came to the fore, it was hailed as a lifeline for remote and tribal areas. These bike ambulances now lie dormant and underfunded. The scheme, launched with fanfare in 2017, aimed at delivering emergency medical assistance to some of Maharashtra’s most inaccessible regions. It has now seen its funding cut and its operations have come to a standstill...

Shivaji Maharaj is the reason Hindus exist today: Baba Bageshwar Dham

“Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is the reason Hindus are in the majority today, and I deeply respect him,” said Pandit Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, also known as Baba Bageshwar Dham, while addressing a press conference in response to controversies over his recent statements. Referring to remarks perceived as disrespectful towards Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Shastri clarified that, his comments were misunderstood and taken out of context. He expressed regret over the incident and apologised to those whose ..

NNTR gears up for record tourists with 4 new gateways

The Nawegaon Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR) officially gained unified control of its notified buffer area on 1 April. Since then, the NNTR management, under the guidance of Field Director Piyusha Jagtap and Deputy Field Director Pritamsingh Kodape, has been working to enhance tourism facilities with the objective of promoting regional activities. In line with this, from Maharashtra Day on 1 May, the NNTR management will open four new tourism gates: Murdoli (Goregaon), Madhavzhari, Jambdi/Dodke (both ..

NMC in red as Rs 1,919 cr unpaid in property tax

NMC is owed Rs 1,919 crore in unpaid property tax by 4.54 lakh defaulting properties, a sum that equals nearly one-third of the city’s entire proposed budget of Rs 5,857 crore of year 2026-27. Properties unpaid for 11 to 25 years account for the largest chunk at Rs 1,227 crore. Those delinquent for six to ten years owe Rs 473 crore, and two to five year defaulters add Rs 169 crore. Even within the past year, Rs 29 crore has gone uncollected. At the far end, properties that have not paid for over 25 ..

Nagpur Police Dog Squad fails to crack a single case in nine months

The performance of the Nagpur Police Dog Squad has come under scrutiny after official data revealed that not a single case was detected by the squad between January 1 and September 30, 2024, despite attending dozens of crime calls. According to police records, the city has five dog squads (during above period) that responded to 73 calls during the nine-month period. Of these, the dogs were actively used in 30 cases, while in 43 incidents, their assistance was not required. However, even in the cases ..

Co-ordinated efforts for holistic development may soon turn Kinhiraja into a model village

   Our Correspondent : KINHIRAJA, an adopted village in Malegaon taluka, is rapidly progressing towards becoming a model of holistic rural development with District Collector Yogesh Kumbhejakar stressing the need for strong coordinatio..

Adv Jaiswal elected DBA chief, Adv Gulhane Secy

   Staff Reporter : After a closely fought contest, Advocate Prakash Jaiswal won the President’s post in the District Bar Association (DBA) elections, while Advocate Anil Gulhane emerged victorious for the Secretary’s post...

ESR raises red flag; experts ask ‘Where are the statistics?’

   By Reema Mewar : Environment and green experts of Nagpur city raised concern over the credibility of the latest Environmental Status Report (ESR) released this month by Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), prepared by the CSIR-Nation..

NMC to expand biogas plant to reduce solid waste from June

   By Kabir Mahajan : To reduce the burden of solid waste, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is going to expand its Compressed Biogas (CBG) plants in Bhandewadi soon. In this progressive move, NMC has partnered with SusBDe LOC Nag..

Rising mercury, erratic precipitation patterns clear signals of climate change in Nagpur: ESR

   By Kaushik Bhattacharya : “Rising temperature and erratic precipitation patterns are the clear signals that Nagpur city is at a critical juncture for effectively addressing the challenge of climate change,” claimed Envir..

ACB nabs Revenue Assistant while accepting Rs 5 lakh bribe at home

   Staff Reporter : In a late-night operation, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) caught a Revenue Assistant from the Collector’s Office red-handed while accepting Rs 5 lakh bribe at his residence in Nandanvan area. The accused ha..

Hit-and-run SUV runs over 72-year-old yoga teacher near Children’s Traffic Park

   Staff Reporter : In a hit-and-run incident, a 72-year-old yoga teacher lost her life after being run over by a speeding car near Barlinge Square, near Children’s Traffic Park under the Sitabuldi Police Station limits. The acci..

HC’s relief to Haldiram in solar power billing case; orders refund if overcharged

   Staff Reporter : In a relief for industries using solar power, the Nagpur Bombay High Court has clarified that companies cannot be denied electricity benefits without proper rules. The court said that if extra money is taken by the..

Throttle therapy: City youths riding towards balance

   By Rohit Pawar : &Kunal Badge : THE debate triggered by Narayana Murthy over an 80-hour work week has once again pushed work-life balance into public discourse. Changing nature of work is forcing people to find a ‘me-ti..

Two students held with LSD in MIDC area; one accused on the run

   Staff Reporter : In a late-night combing operation, the Crime Branch arrested two young men and seized lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) drugs and other valuables worth over Rs 4.37 lakh. The operation was carried out in the early ho..

Green cover declines in Laxmi Nagar Zone, ESR fails to pinpoint reasons

   By Reema Mewar : Laxmi Nagar Zone of the Nagpur Municipal Cooperation (NMC), once among the city’s better-performing green zones, has fallen to the bottom three among ten zones in terms of Biodiversity and Green Open Spaces. T..

‘To worship Bharatdurga, every countrymen must become ‘Bharat’ first’

   Staff Reporter : RASHTRIYA : Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Dr Mohan Bhagwat, on Friday said that every citizen of this country has to become ‘Bharat’ first to worship ‘Bharatdurga’ and it is not an easy..

Cab drivers sceptical even as ‘no pickup, no drop’ strike called off

 Staff Reporter : Even though app-based cab drivers have called off their ‘no pickup, no drop’ strike at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport following assurances from the District Collector, scepticism persists among drivers..