AAI cuts down staff salaries by 80%
Airports Authority of India (AAI) reduced the February salaries of its staff without notifying them with any prior warning. Salaries of about 40 Mumbai officials were cut down by 70-80%. The staffers received an email stating the reason for deduction was their refusal to move to the new accommodations. According to the staff, they refused due to the substandard quality of accommodation.
Ban on flying objects delays engineering projects
Mumbai Police's stringent ban on drones, aeromodels and other light flying objects is affecting students studying engineering in the city. The ban was supposed to be in force till 29th January, but hasn't been lifted yet. As part of their coursework, engineering students are expected to design and fly models. Students' project work has been stalled at Mumbai's leading engineering colleges since October 2016.
Harbour line train delays expected to continue
The restriction on the speed of harbour line trains is expected to stay on Wednesday between Wadala and Guru Tegbahaddur Nagar (GTB) stations. Due to the derailment of the goods wagon, harbour line services were affected on both Monday and Tuesday. Train speeds between Wadala and GTB cannot exceed 20kmph and will thus be a cause for delay in services even today.
Sanjay Nirupam should be sacked: Gurudas Kamat
On Tuesday, senior leader of Congress and former MP Gurudas Kamat wrote to Sonia Gandhi, asking her to "sack" Mumbai's Congress Chief Sanjay Nirupam. According to Kamat, firing Nirupam would fall under the larger interest of the party. He also blamed Congress's menial performance in the BMC Elections on Nirupam, and said that if Nirupam is allowed to stay, Congress will be "decimated."
10 schoolboys held for sexually assaulting classmate
On Tuesday, 10 students from Andheri, aged between 15-16 years were arrested for the alleged repeated sexual assault of their 15-year-old classmate. According to the victim, the sexual assault was recorded in order to blackmail him. The 10 perpetrators have been booked under Section 377 (unnatural offence) of the Indian Penal Code. They were sent to a juvenile court in Dongri on Tuesday.
Bombay High Court censures state government
The Bombay High Court lashed the Maharashtra government for its ignorance in last year's Rs. 353crore BMC road scam. The bench of justices reprimanded the state government for "being a mute spectator to what the corporation was doing." According to the state, auditors appointed in the BMC were also accused in the scam. The HC was hearing a plea regarding BMC irregularities in road-construction.
World Bank CEO travels in a Mumbai local
On Tuesday morning, World Bank CEO Kristalina Georgieva boarded a local train from Churchgate to Dadar. Accompanied by World Bank India officials, Kristalina sought feedback from local commuters, women police officials about what improvements they would like to see. This information was sought by Ms. Georgieva as feedback for the World Bank's involvement with the transport system of Mumbai.
BJP announces Raigad Fort project worth Rs. 563 crore
The BJP has announced a project worth Rs. 563 crore for preserving Raigad fort, the capital of the Maratha Kingdom. BJP's move to turn Raigad fort to an expensive political project is expected to be a blow for the Shiv Sena, which derives its name and politics' fundamentals from Shivaji Maharaj. Introducing sound-and-light show on Shivaji Maharaj's life is a part of this project.
