Author: Indmedia

PUNE: Commuters travelling across University Chowk may soon get some relief from regular traffic snarls. The Baner side ramp of the integrated double-decker flyover at the key junction is expected to open this week, PMRDA officials said on Monday.PMRDA chief engineer Rinaj Pathan told TOI that work on signage is underway and the flyover towards the BanerShivajinagar side should open by the end of this week. “The Pashan side will take longer as it will be completed within two to three months,” she said. Once fully opened, the flyover will reduce time, fuel consumption, traffic congestion and vehicular pollution in…

Canacona: The gram sabha of Loliem-Polem in Canacona unanimously resolved to reject a proposal by the Goa Tourism Department Corporation (GTDC) to create a tourism hub on Loliem plateau.The gram sabha also resolved that the panchayat should immediately issue letters to the Loliem comunidade, the GTDC, the chief minister, the administrator of comunidades (south), the environment minister, and the local MLA, enclosing the copies of its resolution and requesting compliance.Goa: ISL Hurdles, Fake Storm Alert, ODP Row & Citizenship DemandIt also decided to conserve the Loliem plateau for the future generations and to not allow any developmental works other than…

Chandigarh: The Chandigarh administration is set to monetise nearly 1,000 vacant properties across the city in a phased manner from the beginning of the next financial year. The move is aimed at boosting revenue and ensuring optimal utilisation of govt-owned land and buildings.The UT estate office identified around 1,000 properties spanning residential, commercial, industrial and institutional categories, that can be put up for auction, depending on market response. These include around 130 residential sites, 205 commercial sites, 168 industrial sites, five nursing home sites and an institutional site.According to senior UT officials, the administration expects to generate over Rs 1,000…

Lucknow: Third-party audit of major civic projects will now be mandatory to ensure quality and transparency in construction works, mayor Sushma Kharkwal said during a high-level review meeting of the engineering department at the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) headquarters on Monday.Chairing the meeting, the mayor stressed that there would be no compromise on the quality of roads and other infrastructure projects, warning that poor construction not only wastes public funds but also poses risks to citizens. Municipal commissioner Gaurav Kumar, chief engineer (civil) Mahesh Verma, executive engineers, assistant engineers and junior engineers were present.Lucknow: Yogi On Sanatan Dharma, Faster Investor…

PATNA: Bankipur MLA Nitin Nabin attended the Bihar assembly’s budget session on Tuesday for the first time since taking charge as the BJP’s national president.Senior NDA leaders gathered at the main entrance of the assembly to greet Nabin. Among those present were LJP state president Raju Tiwari, Rashtriya Lok Morcha legislative party leader Madhav Anand, both deputy chief ministers of Bihar, the BJP state president, and several other prominent leaders.Nabin’s presence in the assembly came months after the BJP made a surprise move on December 14 last year by appointing the 45-year-old leader as the party’s national working president, signalling…

Jaipur: Amid a rise in mental disorder cases after Covid-19, North Western Railway (NWR) has introduced a 3D mental health model that shifts focus from diagnosis to personal action. Moving away from a “one-size-fits-all” approach, the model explains well-being through three linked pillars—nature, nurture and signature—adding a new perspective to mental health care.The ‘signature’ pillar focuses on personal agency, highlighting habits and choices that help protect and improve mental health. These include proper sleep, exercise, mindfulness, avoiding substance use, staying socially connected, and practising compassion, gratitude and creativity. The model emphasises that even when biological or social factors increase risk,…

Chandrapur: The Chandrapur Municipal Corporation (CMC) is poised to elect its mayor and deputy Mayor on Tuesday, potentially ending nearly four years of administrator governance. Both Congress and BJP, however, are claiming they can touch the magic figure of 34 to form the ruling body, setting the stage for a closely watched political contest. A special meeting has been convened at Rani Hirai Hall.The corporation has remained under administrative rule since April 29, 2022, when the previous council’s term expired. Last month’s civic polls produced a fractured mandate with Congress emerging as the single largest party with 27 seats. The…

Dhanbad: A day after taking the accused in the killing of a debt recovery agent into custody, police said the accused was formally arrested on Monday. They said the accused, Vikas Khandelwal, borrowed Rs 70 lakh from a bank for a business long ago and recovery agent Amit Kumar Mittal, alias Amit Agrawal, was pursuing the former to get back the money. Police said they suspected the involvement of more people in the brutal murder of Agrawal on Saturday. DSP (law and order) Naushad Alam, however, said they were still questioning the accused to ascertain the day of the murder.…

Vadodara: An inmate lodged at the Devgadh Baria sub-jail in Dahod district managed to evade jail guards and escape late on Sunday evening. Police registered an offence in connection with the incident early on Monday.The inmate, identified as Manoj Katara, was lodged in the sub-jail in a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. He was named as an accused in an offence registered at Limkheda police station and was later arrested and sent to judicial custody.According to the complaint filed at Devgadh Baria police station, Katara was brought out of his cell on Sunday evening…

Varanasi: Tensions ran high in Varanasi’s Dalmandi area as police detained at least six people protesting the demolition of 21 buildings deemed unsafe by the Varanasi Municipal Corporation. The situation escalated when a local set his house on fire, pouring petrol on the balcony, and fled the scene, prompting a police search.The Dalmandi road widening project in Varanasi is moving forward, with 29 buildings purchased by the Public Works Department (PWD) out of the 187 identified for the project. The Rs 224 crore project aims to convert the 650-metre road into a 17.4-metre-wide road, improving accessibility to the Kashi Vishwanath…