After HC Stay On Kanjurmarg Site; CM Says Land Issue For Metro Car Shed Can Be Resolved Via Dialogue

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December 20, 2020

In the wake of the Bombay High Court’s stay on the Kanjurmarg Metro car shed, as the Centre and the state government are locked in a tussle over ownership of the land, the Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said he is open to the resolution of the land issue through dialogue.

“We have all documents to prove that the land belongs to the state government. If there is a controversy over the ownership of land, the issue can be resolved through dialogue,” Thackeray said. Should the land be allowed to go because of ownership issues and should it be given to builders? he asked.

The state BJP leaders have now demanded that the MVA government share the blueprint for the metro car shed. The party has also demanded that the Manoj Saunik committee report on an alternative to Aarey Colony be made public.

Atul Bhatkalkar, BJP MLA said, “We demand the government share plans on the new location and the blueprint for the metro car shed with elected representatives and the public.”

Referring to the criticism from BJP leaders, he said, “The issue on Kanjurmarg land is not about my ego and it shouldn’t be about yours too.”

The Bombay HC on Wednesday stayed the order passed by Mumbai suburban district collector allotting 102 acres of salt pan land in Kanjurmarg area here for the construction of an integrated metro car shed.

A division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice G S Kulkarni also restrained the authorities from carrying out any construction work at the said land.

Thackeray also said, “Aarey car shed spread over 30 hectares was just for Metro line 3, while the 40-hectare Kanjurmarg land would be used for a car shed for Metro lines 3, 4 and 6.”

“It will also be a junction for Metro line 14, which will go up to Ambernath and Badlapur”, Thackeray said justifying the choice of land at Kanjurmarg for the Metro car shed.

He said the “costliest” land in the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) here was given for the central government’s bullet train project, despite opposition.

“We did not create an obstruction. If you create problems in Kanjurmarg and we do in the BKC, creating problems in each other’s projects will serve no purpose,” he said. There should not be haste in development, he said.

Development should be long-lasting, the CM said, adding the Kanjurmarg project will be useful for the next 50 to 100 years and useful for future generations.

Maratha Reservation Issue Has Become Political Tool But No Solution

By

Vaidehi Taman

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December 18, 2020

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLCs formed a rumpus and walked out of the Legislative Council on the issue of Maratha reservation forcing the adjournment of the House. Maratha students were protesting at Azad Maidan, and BJP wanted to raise the question in the House but there were heavy counter arguments and finally, they walked out in protest. Earlier in the day, BJP leaders held a protest outside the state Assembly on the second of the winter session, over various issues including women’s safety and Maratha reservation. Pravin Darekar alleged that the state government is running away from discussions and is facing strong opposition. The two-day winter session of the state legislature began in Mumbai on December 14. Since then, the opposition is hell-bent on twisting this entire issue to their advantage. Maratha reservation is a serious issue and it needs to be addressed in time. If we want Marathi people and culture to survive and thrive then it is important that Maratha survive. Nowhere in India, has a single caste made up more than 30 per cent of the state population. Still not many outside Maharashtra knew (until this agitation) that this caste exists. For outsiders, Maratha is the same as Marathi, Maratha=Marathi. Yadav’s with just a single-digit population has been dominant in UP and Bihar. But despite such a huge population of Marathas, casteism is not dominant here like in UP and Bihar because of the tolerant nature of people. Maratha for namesake is one community. But it is made of so many social layers from ultra-rich political families to dirt poor laborers who just earn for the day.

52 per cent is reserved which leaves 48 per cent open and it is crowded with progressive people like Brahmins, the business class who can afford tuition, outsiders who are mostly educated people, leaving very little space for Marathas. And all this is coming now because life is getting harder and harder almost to the brink of collapse. Farmer suicides are mostly among Maratha farmers. But reservation shouldn’t be for rich Marathas, but purely based on economical certificates. The systems of reservation of India are a form of positive discrimination. It follows from the concept of equality of opportunity as enshrined in the Constitution of India. Reservation is the result of laws, guidelines, and administrative action by the different levels of governments in India, and includes reserved or exclusive access to seats in the different legislatures, to government jobs, and to enrolment in higher educational institutions. There are some differences between how it is enabled by the central Union Government and by individual States and Union Territories. The basis of the reservation is the perceived existence of some sort of historical or contemporary social and educational disadvantage. The target groups are identified based on criteria such as gender, caste, tribe, and linguistic minority status. It is the process of facilitating a person in education, scholarship, jobs, and promotion who has category certificates. Reservation is a form of quota-based affirmative action. Reservation is governed by constitutional laws, statutory laws, and local rules and regulations. Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC), and in some states Backward Classes among Muslims under a category called BC(M), are the primary beneficiaries of the reservation policies under the Constitution – with the object of ensuring a level playing field.

In the last 15 years, many poor Maratha farmers have glided towards the Shiv Sena. The Congress-NCP had been striving to grant Marathas OBC status since 2009 and settled for the new category. Marathas have dominated the state politics of Maharashtra since its inception in 1960. Since then, Maharashtra has witnessed a heavy presence of Maratha ministers or officials in the Maharashtra state government, local municipal commissions, and panchayats, although Marathas comprise only around 25 per cent of the state population.10 out of 16 chief ministers of Maharashtra hailed from the Maratha community as of 2012. When BJP came to power in 2015, they accused Maratha leaders in the Congress and NCP of orchestrating protests to derail its government’s investigation into several scams, now when BJP is in opposition, they are using the same issue to their advantage and trying to create unrest for Maha Vikas Aghadi. Maratha reservation has become a tool to counter each other in political corridors but no one wants to find a solution.

Maharashtra’s 18 Chief Ministers since the state was formed in 1960, ten have been Marathas. The community has also contributed more than half the state’s lawmakers (across parties), many of whom amassed great personal wealth and power, but failed to create jobs or promote education. A recent advertisement by the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) for filling five vacancies of porters received over 2,500 applications. The required qualification was a Class IV pass, but those competing for the job included 250 postgraduates and nearly 1,000 graduates. Amongst them were young Maratha boys convinced that the reservation policy which excludes them is responsible for their unemployment. The varna of the Maratha is a contested issue, with arguments for their being of the Kshatriya (warrior) Varna, and others for their being of Shudra origins. This issue was the subject of antagonism between the Brahmins and Marathas, dating back to the time of Shivaji Maharaj, but by the late 19th century moderate Brahmins were keen to ally with the influential Marathas of Mumbai in the interests of Indian independence from Britain. These Brahmins supported the Maratha claim to Kshatriya status, but their success in this political alliance was sporadic and fell apart entirely following independence in 1947. Maharashtra government has provided 16 per cent reservation to Maratha & 5 per cent reservation for Muslims, state action cannot be based on religion The Maharashtra government cleared 16 per cent reservation for the Maratha community, seen by many as a dominant one, but their cast at large deprived of development and progress.

With The ‘Spirit’ – 33 Dry Days In The Year 2021

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Afternoon Voice

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December 18, 2020

The Year 2021 is arriving with 33 dry days. Dry Day is a particular day when the sales of alcohol are prohibited. This can be due to a government holiday or in a particular state it can be due to a festival or important event. There are two types of dry days. Many states in India observe Alcohol Prohibition days on particular occasions. In order to respect the sacred or nationalistic sentiments of the public, the government has declared some specific days as dry days. On these days, all the liquor shops are supposed to remain shut. With the increase in people who are addicted to alcohol, the week is observed to generate awareness to stop people from consuming liquor.

Suresh Mistry, a retired officer says “Awareness for whom? Those who are not educated and doing labor work don’t care for any such days; they are well prepared for such days. They do physical labor, alcohol keeps them spirited, no one gives damn to dry days. It is fine if the government is making efforts to creating awareness, but one particular day is not enough for the same.”

The events are held by private and governmental organizations to create awareness and arrange seminars, debates, exhibitions that show the ill effects of drinking alcohol.

When we spoke to Lucky liquor shop owner in Goregaon he said, “Dry days are just in the calendar and for the government purpose, people are very smart. They fill their stock and enjoy their booze even on dry days. The shop might be closed for that particular day but there is always an advance sell.”

Vinay Manikam an IT professional said, “Many times, the festival means vacation, we love spending that day with little booze and fun. Every day is a wet day for the people who keep the storage of liquor at home. Not necessarily everyone is alcohol addict but they having their collection is swag these days, such dry days hardly affect anyone.”

Keval Domadia, a Cyber Security Personnel said, “Dry days are actually remembrance days, which are supposed to make the citizens remember who paved the foundation of the country that we are living in today. I do not see the logic in banning alcohol consumption to remember someone”.

“Minimum crowd and precautions this is the core of the Covid Free Country. Surely man loses his temper after consuming alcohol and He causes tragedy for another. One study found that alcohol is often the root cause of crime. Therefore, to declare such a day, the general opinion should also be taken and especially invite the opinion of women”, says Anil Galgali, RTI activist.

Ashvin Mane, a businessman from Gujrat said, “There are no dry days as such, those who want liquor they know how to get it. In my state liquor floods every day. A dry day is just a term but lost its relevance long back. There is no point in having a dry day because people stock their booze a day prior, dry day is just namesake.”

Nikunj Bavishi chartered accountant said, “It’s a dry day, not a ban on consuming whisky at home, the beer guzzlers, wine lovers, and regular social drinkers get in full gear for their favorite booze at their favorite liquor dealers and have piled up enough stock. Rumors are that a few wine shops and bars make provisions for their loyal patrons to ensure the cash registers keep ringing through the dry spell.”

Dry days in 2021

January:

January 14: Makar Sankranti
January 26: Republic Day
January 30: Mahatma Gandhi Death Anniversary, aka Shaheed Diwas

February:

February 19: Chhatrapati Shivaji Mahavir Jayanti
February 27: Guru Nanak Jayanti

March:

March 8: Swami Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti
March 11: Maha Shivratri
March 29: Holi

April:

April 2: Good Friday
April 14: Ambedkar Jayanti
April 21: Ram Navami
April 25: Mahavir Jayanti

May:

May 1: Maharashtra Day (Maharashtra)
May 12: Eid Ul Fitr (begins)
May 13: Eid Ul Fitr (ends)

June:

Have a blast in June as there aren’t any dry days in this month.

July:

July 20: Ashadi Ekadashi (Maharashtra)
July 24: Guru Purnima (Delhi, Maharashtra)

August:

August 10: Muharram
August 15: Independence Day
August 30: Janmashtami

September:

September 10: Ganesh Chaturthi
September 19: Anant Chaturdashi (Maharashtra)

October:

October 2: Gandhi Jayanti
October 8: Prohibition Week (Maharashtra)
October 15: Dussehra
October 18: Eid-e-Milad
October 20: Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti

November:

November 4: Diwali
November 14: Kartik Ekadashi
November 19: Guru Nanak Jayanti
November 24: Guru Tegh Bahadur’s Martyrdom Day (Delhi, Punjab)

December:

December 25: Christmas

Salary Crises Still Continues As Companies Lack Business

By

Vaidehi Taman

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December 17, 2020

Most employers in Mumbai have given a full salary for March. But Salary from April became a big issue. The maximum private sector are mandatorily cutting a huge percentage of salaries of their staff; some are unable to pay salaries for months. The market has not flourished; the lockdown hit was very heavy. Some employers will not be able to pay and will not pay for the period many months ahead unless everything comes to a normal state. Many companies make their staff work on 50 per cent cut. As companies try to ensure their survival by cutting costs, many have resorted to slashing salaries and lying off staff. Others have put employees on indefinite leave without pay or put freshly hired staff on hold. The impact of Covid-19, as many people are facing a salary cut.

Prime Minister Modi urged companies to be kind to employees. Yet, many corporate have already announced salary cuts, some have asked employees to leave, and others have asked their employees to go on furlough, the term for leave without pay. Aviation, media, hospitality, banking, and financial services have been among the worst-hit sectors. Many companies got closed and the owners are hand to mouth. One of my friends was working for a PR agency, now selling vegetables in his village. One of the best page designers in Jewellery Company selling chapattis and Tiffin’s in her locality, many It sector guys who bought cars on EMI have enrolled themselves for rides like Ola and Uber. Labour laws in India protect the rights of the workmen, who are blue-collar workers operating plants and machinery. But the latest directives by the government do not make any distinction between workmen and white-collar employees, and those hired on contract by companies. HR consultants say companies can stay within the rule by asking employees to go on furloughs, capping salaries, withholding performance-linked to pay, or re-configuring job roles such that employees think they are better off quitting. Also, while the lay-off, companies ask employees to hand in their resignation letters.

Most employees agree, rather than taking their employer to court as it could hurt future job prospects. This ensures that companies cannot be accused of firing people. I don’t think there is a blanket prohibition on changes to any and all terms of employment. As far as terminations and lay-offs go, where a state has passed an order restricting any termination, under duly delegated authority under the National Disaster Management Act, then there could be prosecuted for violating the same. But not all states appear to have done that. At a time when companies are incurring losses because of zero revenues during the lockdown, many employers may genuinely not be in a position to pay full wages on time. So employees would agree to take a lower salary than be out of a job. All industries are suffering in the current post-pandemic situation and the pain is now translating into layoff in every industry at every level.

Companies are even cutting the salaries of those employees whom they are planning to retain. The organised private sector in India is planning to have major job cuts/layoffs and lockdown that have significantly impacted the economic activities. There was an online survey by a private agency, 68 per cent of the employers have either started the layoff process or are planning to even today because they themselves are in crises.

Delayed salary, salary cut up to 70% or more, leave without pay, or at the worst loss of job situations. So be prepared for any of these outcomes even for next year. These are the most difficult times not only for you as an employee but also for your employer.

In most cases business continuity itself is at risk or new ways of doing business will have to be evolved. Most businesses might change into online businesses and many employees might have to start their own small businesses. This also needs to be seen that Corona will be eradicated or the world will have to live with it. Some super-rich established companies somehow cope up with salaries, and they are not harsh on cuts but there are huge layoffs in those companies. This time many companies are facing a lot of problems due to lack of finance due to the closure of their work. And due to which he will not be able to give more than 50 percent of salary to his employee. And there are some companies whose company has good turnover and profit; it can also give a salary to the employee at home for 2 to 3 months. After that, they won’t be able to give. And the small skill industries company also cannot give more than 2 months after that. That is why in such a time we will have to live as much as we have got until the work is not started, he also cannot do anything. Among the surveyed organizations, 73 per cent said they have plans to decrease the salary of employees, 57 per cent said this layoff is temporary, while 21 per cent said they are doing permanent layoffs for at least 2 years. Interestingly, 32 percent of employers did not have any job cut/layoff plans. Employers have the right to cut salaries in a lockdown or any other situation. Employers always have a right to increase compensation as well as reduce it at all times when you are in employment.

One should not look at this emotionally or the fact that the government has issued a recommendatory letter to employers to keep paying salaries. Such letters are merely a request and cannot be legally enforced. Businesses need to generate resources to be able to pay their employees. They do not have unlimited funds. Even the government has started going around with a begging bowl, so what do you expect businesses to do?

BMC fails to pay salaries to 268 Blind employees

By

Afternoon Voice

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December 17, 2020

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) demands scrapping of tender for sanitization of BMC schools at inflated prices; terms it a recurrent pattern with budgetary proposals and tenders.

AAP on Thursday demanded the scrapping of the tender, floated by the BMC’s Central Purchase Department, for housekeeping and sanitization of schools.

The valuation of the tender amount is being pegged at Rs 303 crores, which given 450 BMC schools, works out to a whopping Rs 67 lakhs per school.

“This is a pattern. BMC Tenders are made with specific pre-conditions to favour certain companies, with inflated costs and the entire din gets passed without public scrutiny.

We have seen this in the Standing committee, with dozens of proposals being passed in a single meet at a humanly impossible pace, without any deliberation whatsoever. The BMC already has workers who undertake sanitization. Why this contract then?

On one hand, BMC fails to pay salaries to 268 Blind employees during the lockdown, and it takes no less than an HC directive to release funds and on the other hand, we have such exorbitant contract proposals.

This tender is unreasonable, needs to be scrapped. Also, a mechanism needs to be put in place, to ensure the same doesn’t recur. If this is the only such tender being reported, one can only imagine other such tenders, not being reported,” said AAP leader Preeti Sharma Menon.

Hrithik Roshan And Kangana Ranaut Lock Horns Again

By

Afternoon Voice

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December 16, 2020

The never-ending battle of the alleged exes washing their dirty linen in public has become the hottest topic of discussion among the industry insiders and outsiders alike. Hrithik Roshan and Kangana Ranaut slapped each other with legal notices back in 2016 and since then the controversy has taken infinite twists and turns without a definite conclusion. Those who followed the fiasco face difficulty in getting the hang of what unfolded in the media over the years post the news of their alleged love story broke. So, without further ado, here’s everything you need to know about the two high profile celebrities mired in controversy. Actor Kangana Ranaut has reacted to the transfer of Hrithik Roshan’s FIR against her from Cyber Cell to the Crime Intelligence Unit. In a tweet, Kangana wrote that Hrithik should ‘move on’. The transfer took place after Hrithik’s lawyer Mahesh Jethmalani recently wrote to the Mumbai Police reminding them that there has not been any progress in the case since 2016. Hrithik has alleged that he received hundreds of emails from Kangana’s email account, and has denied having had an affair with her. However, till date, there has been no progress in the investigation, and the aforementioned case is still pending. Hrithik Roshan’s lawyer states the letter sent by the actor’s lawyer to Mumbai Police and asks for completion of investigation at the earliest since the same is pending since 2016.

In an interview to the media ahead of the release of his film Super 30, Hrithik spoke about the status of the legal proceedings, and said, “I have come to realise that bullies have to be treated with a certain amount of patience, and not be engaged with. It is upon the civil society and those who claim to be just and fair to see and observe if there is harassment. Also, being who I am, if I choose to confront as per laws, I become the aggressor. If I withdraw from a film-clash that I know has been pre designed, then I become a weakling penning a sob story. I have learned to not get affected by either. Although, to be honest, my only grouse is with those supposedly ‘enlightened’ people who praise and often cheer this behaviour in the name of ‘new’ and ‘refreshing audacity’, without any desire to be rational or truthful. They are the enablers who have allowed this circus to continue for six years. There is no legal case that I directly have with the lady (Kangana), and the reason I cannot have one is because apparently a guy cannot be stalked in India.”

Kangana Ranaut and Hrithik Roshan set gossip mills buzzing with rumours of their alleged love affair that began around the time the two worked together in ‘Krrish 3.’ Then fans came across rumors of their split sooner than expected. The two, however, maintained their silence over the issue all along until Kangana spilled the beans in an interview which led to the start of the undying controversy. According to reports, the actress was originally considered to star as the lead opposite Hrithik in ‘Aashiqui 3,’ but since the latter allegedly refused to work with her, the actress was dropped off the project. Kangana, however, set the record straight. In an interview, when asked if Hrithik was the reason she was ousted from the project, Kangy breezily said that exes do a lot of silly things to grab attention, but she’s over it now and that chapter is closed forever. This triggered the media and masses alike to ponder on the thought whether she called Hrithik her ex.

Soon after this, reports surfaced of Hrithik slapping Kangana with a legal notice. Hrithik Roshan filed a legal notice against Kangana Ranaut for calling him her ‘silly ex’ in an interview she gave weeks ago in March 2016. After the interview made headlines, Hrithik took matters into his own hands and made a sly remark on social media. Kangana then went on record and said, “No. I am not hurt. I respect the other person’s opinion also. It’s very likely that a person can have a different perspective on the same situation or rather the past. But then, stick to your stand. Don’t slyly pursue people and spy on them, and chase them. So, we sign and seal the deal and then move on.” Not only did this exchange between Hrithik-Kangana grab the limelight, but the couple’s alleged relationship in the past came under the scanner. Hrithik sent a legal notice to Kangana asking her to apologise in a press conference and come clean about their supposed affair, the existence of which he refuted. Kangana then, reportedly, said that she is not a ‘dim-witted’ teenager and refused to apologise. She, in turn, sent a counter-notice to Hrithik on March 1 warning him to take back his notice or face a criminal case. Then came the news of Kangana sending endless emails to Hrithik Roshan during their alleged courtship back in 2014. In the legal notice sent by Hrithik, through his lawyer Deepesh Mehta, the actor alleged that he has a record of 1,439 emails from Kangana, most of them “senseless, personal, and absurd.” The notice says that the actor tried to ignore the emails for the longest time and did not respond to even a single one of them. The notice at one point also suggests that Kangana seemed to have been communicating with an imposter thinking he was the real Hrithik.

Kangana, however, denied this and alleged that Hrithik had created a special e-mail ID to communicate with her. This, her notice says, was done to make sure his divorce proceedings with Sussanne Roshan were not impacted. She has claimed that the email ID on which she was communicating with Hrithik till May 2014, was given to her by him, and not by some third party. The chatter around the controversy almost came to a standstill post-November 2016 where both the parties remained mum and no further dirty linen was washed in public domain. Even though sparks flew here and there, the duo remained relatively silent regarding the whole issue. In 2017, right before the release of Kangana’s much-awaited film ‘Simran’, Kangy went on-record in an interview to claim that the case is not shut and that the truth will be out soon. She then went for many interviews that gave public her perspective to the entire saga.

Conservation Of Ancient Temples In The State Will Be Taken Up: CM Thackeray

By

Afternoon Voice

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December 16, 2020

The state government will provide special funds for the conservation and maintenance of ancient temples for preserving the glory of the state’s cultural heritage. This was announced by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in the state legislative assembly.

He was speaking during the supplementary demands. Thackeray further said that the state government will provide funds for maintaining the sanctity of the temples and its cleanliness, besides providing various facilities to the pilgrims visiting the temples. He said that ancient temples will be developed step by step and urged that the members of the house should suggest as to which temples should be included in the list of ancient temples.

The chief minister further said that the legal battle for Maratha reservation is in the last phase and we will win it in the Apex court with the cooperation of all. He said that the stand of the state government for the Maratha reservation had not changed and not even the lawyers, who are pleading the state, have been changed. He added that the discussions with the representatives of Maratha organizations are going on. He reiterated that while giving justice to the Maratha community, the OBC reservation will not be touched and that he had given the words.

Chief Minister Thackeray further said that the danger of Corona is not yet over and when it started extending its wing in the entire world, the state government had handled it in an excellent manner. The entire world acknowledges the efforts. He also said that the Dharavi model for curbing the Corona was applauded by the World Health Organization. Thackeray further said that Majhe Kutumb, Majhi jawabdari (My family, my responsibility) campaign was implemented in the state and it was first of its own kind in the entire nation. He said that the health workers, Anganwadi workers, health employees, voluntary organizations, police departments, and government machineries did a commendable job. He said that this campaign helped to develop the health map of the state. The chief minister also said that the information of co-morbidity of people was learnt by the health machinery and they were attended to and assisted for treatment with due care. Thackeray also said that it was possible to save the lives of many people after their oxygen level was detected. He further said that Maharashtra was the first state in the nation to establish a task force for precautionary measures related to Corona and employed expert doctors in this task force. He also said that Covid-19 hospitals were erected in a record time and no figures of mortality due to Corona were hidden by the state government.

The Chief Minister said that the entire Maharashtra fought the Corona as a single family and it was due to this reason that we were able to control the menace of the dreaded disease. He said that as the vaccination has not yet arrived in the nation, we should be taking extra care in order to ascertain that the second wave, which is on in the western countries, should not grip our nation. The chief minister also said that the government is giving priority to the development works, the state government is taking due care of the environmental protection. He said that when the forests were becoming extinct from the urban areas, the state government tried to save such forest as is evident from the decision of Arey. He said that we are reserving the forest where the wildlife exists and taking care for the conservation of such forest regions.

Mumbai Commuters Desperately Asking For Local Train Services To Resume

By

Vaidehi Taman

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December 15, 2020

Daily crowds of city travel using local trains in Mumbai and suburban trains are the lifeline of this metropolis when they remain shut for a prolonged period, millions of people lost their livelihood, which is already in a horrible state. It’s been four months now that the local trains have stopped functioning. I hope a better sense prevails over the government and it gives some relaxations in running the local trains with adequate social distancing, although it will still be a high-risk act of resuming local train services, there is a trade-off between lives and livelihood. People will take their own care; they will take precautions whatever is required. Let them decide as to whom to avail of those services and who do not. For a linear city like Mumbai, the suburban train services played a vital role in facilitating the north-south movement of the city’s workforce. The two suburban systems operated by both Western Railways and Central Railways stretch 319 km. It facilitates the inter-district travel of commuters in five districts namely Mumbai, Mumbai Suburban, Thane, Palghar, and Raigarh.

Mumbai is designed for just two modes of working – on or off. The city has the lowest road to total area ratio among the metros. It also has the highest population density. If the government eases the lockdown and asks businesses to start so that it can start collecting its taxes and people get salaries, companies will start nudging people to come to work. Fear of losing pay/ jobs and the frustration from being locked up in a small house for more than four months will drive people to make their way to work. Given the linear design of Mumbai, people will have to come to work from distant suburbs. Even if we assume the normal population decides to commute the roads will not be able to take the strain. BEST bus queues will start getting kilometers long and tempers will rise. This kind of chaos could increase pressure to restart railways. Unlike the metro, the local trains are not designed for restricted access. The government might decide to have RPF at the entry to the railway station to limit the number of people who enter. Given that trains discharge several thousand passengers every hour there will be long queues outside the railway station. This will again put pressure on the roads. The Central Railways used to operate 1,774 services while the Western Railway would operate 1,367 services each day before the pandemic. These services operate on an average frequency of around one every four minutes ferrying around 7.8 million commuters per day. The city has been developed in such a way that the majority of offices are in southern Mumbai and residential places are concentrated towards north Mumbai and beyond (up to Dahanu on the Western line and up to Kalyan-Dombivali on Central). And the shape of Mumbai being vertical puts a heavy load on the Western line. And Central Railways is also crowded due to the unavailability of any alternative. The solution is to have an alternative to the present mode of transportation. Western and eastern highways help, however, the count of commuters is too high.

With each passing day, people are worried that their employers might find new people and they might lose all their jobs. What they will eat, is a big question. Many small offices are shut, thousands of people lost their jobs, many caught in a financial mess, and EMI’s to households there are never-ending challenges. Why can’t the government understand that people need local trains to survive?

Thousands of commuters in the Mumbai metropolitan region have been desperately asking for local train services to resume for the general public as soon as possible. After Delhi metro services resumed two weeks ago, this uproar has increased, with office-goers staging a protest outside Virar station from September 7. The suspension of train services has led to the passengers getting angry and staging protests outside railway stations.

Railway experts have stated that the train services in the city should resume immediately because Metro rails have started operating. Metro rails and aircraft are air-conditioned, where the risk of the spread of the virus is much higher. Precautions are being taken and the services have started. Similar precautions, including crowd control, should be undertaken and suburban train services should be thrown open for the public. Railway officials pointed out that partial train services were started at the request of the state government. They are taking every possible step to ensure social distancing norms are maintained by way of QR code-enabled contactless checking, etc. but once the local is resumed for all, this control is not possible. Government and authorities are worried about the lives of people and people are worried about their livelihood, if not COVID they will succumb to starvation and unemployment if there is no arrangement for their commuting. Mumbai is a city that never stops, people keep running tirelessly but all of a sudden long pauses have taken many lives on task. The common man is at his worst in the situation. The government needs to find some viable options and resume the city’s lifeline.

Meanwhile, we should not forget, Mumbai – India’s biggest Covid-19 hotspot is not ready to handle the full-fledged re-opening of its local train services. In a metropolitan region with over 3.3 lakh Covid-19 cases and 75 lakh daily train commuters, how and when can train travel resume safely is the biggest question of an hour.

New Year Gift For Mumbaikar: Local Trains To Resume From January 2021

By

Afternoon Voice

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December 15, 2020

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the government allowed local services only for those who fall in the category of essential services. Later, the permission was extended to all ladies at selected times during the day, and then to lawyers working in MMR region courts. Lately, the commuters association demanded that trains should be started for all as it also impacts the treatment of those who are ill and their family members as several people travel to the city from afar.

To avoid the spread of COVID, railway authorities have also urged passengers who have been permitted to travel in suburban trains to follow medical and social protocols as mandated for COVID-19. It’s been eight months since Mumbai local has been stalled for the majority of commuters. There is a growing demand from commuters across the city and suburban areas to start Mumbai local train services for all.

Vijay Wadettiwar, the Cabinet Minister for Relief and Rehabilitation told Afternoon Voice, “We are trying our level best towards the resumption of trains next month. Although almost all activities have been opened in phases after the lockdown, Mumbai local train services would be resumed as a gift to the Mumbaikar”.

“The condition of Maharashtra and Mumbai is gradually coming back on track. It may take some time, and there won’t be any problem in the resumption of Mumbai local trains from January 1, 2021,” the minister further stated.

The lack of services for common people has not only caused a lot of hassle but has also put a financial burden as people have to travel by private cabs or by road which incurs a huge expense. The city is currently stuck due to a lack of local train services.

Maharashtra Legislative Council Adjourned Over Maratha Reservation Issue

By

Afternoon Voice

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December 15, 2020

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLCs on Tuesday created a ruckus and walked out of the Legislative Council on the issue of Maratha reservation forcing the adjournment of the House.

“This government is running away from questions. Maratha students are protesting at Azad Maidan, we wanted to raise the question in the House but we were not allowed. So, we walked out in protest,” said Pravin Darekar, the Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Council.

Earlier in the day, BJP leaders held a protest outside the state Assembly on the second of the winter session, over various issues including women’s safety and Maratha reservation. Pravin Darekar alleged that the state government is running away from discussions and is facing strong opposition.

“The Maharashtra government does not seem to be serious about Maratha reservation. It should put all its efforts in the Supreme Court for the Maratha Reservation. The government should also take care that OBC (Other Backward Class) reservations remain intact and unchanged,” he said.

The two-day winter session of the state legislature began in Mumbai from December 14.