Two arrested for theft of autorickshaws and two-wheelers in Navi Mumbai

Navi Mumbai police have arrested two individuals in connection with the theft of 17 autorickshaws and two-wheelers. The police recovered 12 stolen vehicles worth Rs 20.45 lakh and are continuing their investigation

Navi Mumbai police have successfully apprehended two individuals in connection with a series of vehicle thefts across the region. The duo, identified as Ashraf Alam Sheikh (21) and Ramzan Abdulmatin Sheikh (22), were taken into custody for their involvement in 17 cases of theft, primarily targeting autorickshaws and two-wheelers.

According to Pankaj Dahane, Deputy Commissioner of Police for Zone-I Vashi, the arrested individuals, both residents of CBD Belapur, were implicated in a spate of vehicle thefts spanning various locations, including CBD, Kharghar, Kalamboli, NRI (Ulve), Panvel Town, Vashi, Nehru Nagar, Bandra, Panth Nagar, and Khar police station jurisdictions.

The police were able to recover a total of 12 stolen vehicles, with an estimated value of Rs 20.45 lakh, from the possession of the accused. Dahane also confirmed that a thorough investigation into the criminal activities was being conducted, with the police having reviewed 55 CCTV footage recordings to identify the perpetrators. The detectives managed to narrow down their search to the two accused, based on the footage and further investigation.

Revised Navi Mumbai metro rail line timetable to come into force from Jan 20: CIDCO

The revised timetable for Navi Mumbai Metro Line-1, which runs from Belapur to Pendhar, will be implemented from January 20, a City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) official stated on Saturday.

According to the news agency PTI, CIDCO stated in a press release that trains will be available every 10 minutes during peak hours once the new timetable comes into effect.

"According to the revised timetable, metro services will now begin at 6am from Belapur and Pendhar stations. The last train from Belapur will depart at 10 pm, while the final service from Pendhar will leave at 9.45 pm. From Belapur, metro trains will run every 10 minutes between 7.30 am and 10 am, and again from 5.30 pm to 8 pm. From Pendhar, the peak-hour frequency will be every 10 minutes from 7 am to 9.30 am, and from 5 pm to 7.30 pm," the release stated.

Outside these peak hours, the Navi Mumbai Metro Line-1 services will operate at intervals of 15 minutes, the CIDCO release added.

The line, which commenced operations on November 17, 2023, plays a crucial role in providing seamless connectivity to the Central Business District (CBD) Belapur, the Taloja Industrial area, and CIDCO's housing complexes.

MMRCL allots 1.3-lakh square feet commercial space across 27 Mumbai Metro-3 stations

Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) awarded 1.3 lakh square feet of retail commercial space at 27 Mumbai Metro Line-3 stations. These spaces, offered through an open tender process, cater to diverse commercial segments, including office food & beverage (F&B), retail, banking ATMs, and vending machines.

The available spaces include 40,000 square feet large floor plates to smaller kiosks of about 100 square feet. The commercial spaces are strategically located in high footfall areas of the metro stations and attracted prominent bidders across various sectors. Major retail players such as Tata Trent, India Retail & Hospitality, Naman Group Rozeus Retail, Mystical Group and individual brands like Amar Tea, Warna Sahakari, Delicia Foods, and Chitale Bandhu participated in the bid. The response underscores the attractiveness of the location, the exclusivity of large spaces, and the high anticipated ridership once the metro line is fully operational. The annual lease rentals from this transaction would offset the O&M cost and JICA loan repayments. The Non-Fare Box Revenue (NFBR) transactions are being facilitated by Auctus Advisors.

“By maximising revenue from non-fare sources, we can keep ticket fares in check, ensuring that the metro remains affordable and accessible to a larger segment of the public. This is critical to making public transport in Mumbai more sustainable and promoting its use. As more and more passengers opt for environment-friendly modes of transportation, we will contribute to decongesting the city and improving Mumbai's liveability ranking," said Ashwini Bhide, Managing Director, MMRCL, on the development.

(With PTI inputs)

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