Pune gets 15 new flight slots; adds routes to Mangalore, Solapur and Bagdogra
Officials said that the expansion has been made possible due to the efforts of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, particularly the proactive approach of the Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Cooperation in enhancing airport capacity and connectivity
Siddheshwar Express celebrates golden jubilee
Train Nos 12116, 12115 connect Solapur with Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus
Solapur-Mumbai Siddheshwar Express marks golden jubilee with station celebration
The Golden Jubilee celebrations were held shortly before the trains scheduled departure at 10:30 pm, drawing the presence of railway officials, staff, rail enthusiasts, passenger association members and local residents
Siddheshwar Express completes 50 years of service between Solapur and Mumbai
Launched on April 8, 1976, Siddheshwar Express was introduced as a dedicated overnight service between the two cities. Over the decades, it has evolved into a key rail link for thousands of daily commuters, business travellers and pilgrims, strengthening socio-economic ties between Solapur and the state capital
Police Crack Down on Illegal Sand Transport in Punes Indapur, FIR Filed Against Five
Pune, March 23: In a significant move against illegal sand transport, police in Indapur, Pune district, have filed a First Information Report (FIR) against five individuals. The authorities seized two tipper trucks and initiated further investigations. The operation took place around midnight on March 22-23 along the Pune-Solapur Highway, near Gokul Hotel in Hingangaon village. ... Read more Police Crack Down on Illegal Sand Transport in Punes Indapur, FIR Filed Against Five
Tragic Road Accident Near Salem Claims Seven Lives, Including Two Children
Salem, March 20: A devastating road accident near Salem, Tamil Nadu, has resulted in the deaths of seven individuals, including two children. The incident occurred in Uthamsolapuram, leaving the local community in mourning. A government bus traveling from Erode to Salem reportedly lost control and veered into oncoming traffic. The out-of-control bus collided with a ... Read more Tragic Road Accident Near Salem Claims Seven Lives, Including Two Children
Teams deployed in Maharashtra to prevent hoarding of LPG cylinders
Residents were seen standing in long queues outside LPG cylinder supplying agencies in Solapur, Amravati, and Thane districts, and the State capital, Mumbai
Kharge Committee Submits Report On Pune Land Deal Involving Parth Pawar's Firm
The Kharge Committee, set up to probe the controversial 40-acre land deal in Pune, has submitted its report to the state government. Headed by additional chief Secretary (Revenue) Vikas Kharge, the panel handed over the report to revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Thursday, sources said. Panel Probes Land Sale Involving Parth Pawar's MS Amedea Enterprises The report runs into over 1,000 pages and includes supporting documents. The committee was appointed to examine the land sale involving MS Amedea Enterprises LLP, a firm headed by Parth Pawar, son of late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Parth Pawars mother, Sunetra Pawar, is currently the Deputy Chief Minister and heads the departments of state excise, minority development, sports and youth affairs. The controversy centres around the illegal transfer of a 44-acre land in Mundhva, currently leased to the Botanical Survey of India (BSI). Sheetal Tejwani, who held power of attorney for the land, and Digvijay Patil were accused of manipulating records and illegally transferring ownership rights to Amadea Enterprises. Patil is a cousin of Parth Pawar. MBVV Crime Branch Nabs MCOCA Accused Wanted For 6 Years In Solapur Robbery Case Dismissal of Two Government Officials Recommended by Committee According to sources, the committee has recommended the dismissal of two government officials Ravindra Taru, sub-registrar at the Haveli registrar office, and Suryakant Yeole, a tehsildar. The committee has reportedly not recommended any action against Parth Pawar. It remains unclear whether the government will table the report in the legislature during the Budget Session, which begins on February 23. To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/
MBVV Crime Branch Nabs MCOCA Accused Wanted For 6 Years In Solapur Robbery Case
Mira-Bhayandar: Crime Detection Branch Cell4 of the Mira-Bhayandar, Vasai-Virar (MBVV) Police Commissionerate has successfully arrested an accused who had been absconding for the past six years in connection with a robbery and Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime (MCOCA) case registered in Solapur district. Complainant Lured to Buy Tractor Trolley, Robbed of 2.50 Lakh According to police officials, the crime occurred on June 26, 2021, near Saket Mangal Karyalaya in Kurduwadi, Solapur, where the complainant was called under the pretext of purchasing a tractor trolley. Upon arrival, the complainant was allegedly assaulted by a group consisting of one woman and four men, who forcibly robbed him of 2.50 lakh in cash. Following the incident, Kurduwadi Police Station in Solapur Rural registered a case under Section 395 of the Indian Penal Code along with provisions of the MCOCA, including Sections 3(1)(2), 3(2), and 3(4). Intelligence Inputs Led MBVV Team to Trace Absconding Accused During the investigation, Solapur Rural Local Crime Branch received information that the main accused was residing within the jurisdiction of the MBVV Police Commissionerate. Based on a request for assistance and credible confidential inputs, Crime Branch Cell4 initiated a search operation. South Mumbai Traffic Nightmare Today: Road Closures, Parking Bans For Indo-French Summit Acting on specific intelligence and under senior officers guidance, the team traced and detained the accused identified as Kukan alias Krishna Kaluram Shinde (40), originally from Kurduwadi, Solapur. He was apprehended from Dhaniv Baug, Nalasopara East on February 14, 2026. Preliminary inquiry revealed that the accused is wanted in a total of eight criminal cases. The arrested accused has been handed over to the Solapur Rural Local Crime Branch for further legal action. To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/
Rising Intervention, Not Rising Crime: Maharashtra Battles Child Marriage
Good news rarely arrives with a label that says good. One must peel back the surface of headlines to see what the numbers truly mean. The same careful reading is required when we confront disturbing statistics. When reports revealed that authorities in Maharashtra stopped 6,428 child marriages in seven years, many reacted with alarm. Commentators spoke of a spike. Some suggested the state was sliding backward while India aims to eliminate child marriage by 2030. The assumption was simple: more cases stopped must mean more child marriages occurring. But that conclusion mistakes visibility for growth. A rise in interventions does not automatically indicate a rise in crime. Child marriage has long existed in silence, shielded by social acceptance and underreporting. When cases surface and are prevented, it often signals that communities are speaking up and systems are responding. Earlier data underscores the depth of the challenge. Drawing from Census 2011, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, in 2017, identified 70 districts across 13 states with high child marriage prevalence. Sixteen of those districts were in Maharashtra. The burden was real. What changed was not the existence of the problem, but the response to it. At the national level, awareness campaigns such as Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat brought conversations about girls education, legal consequences, and early marriage into communities once beyond the reach of policy messaging. Over time, child marriage began to be viewed less as tradition and more as a violation. At the state level, enforcement strengthened. The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 provided a firm legal foundation, and Maharashtra reinforced it through the Maharashtra Prohibition of Child Marriage Rules, 2022. These rules introduced accountability at the grassroots. Schools must report prolonged absences. Child Marriage Prohibition Officers monitor dropouts and coordinate with gram sabhas. District initiatives further shifted the landscape. Campaigns led by local police in Solapur demonstrated how law enforcement can prevent rather than merely react. By tracking vulnerable cases and directly engaging families, authorities disrupted marriages before they occurred and signalled that child marriage is not a private affair immune from scrutiny. For instance, 17 NGO partners of Just Rights for Children are working in 30 vulnerable districts of Maharashtra and have stopped 10,556 child marriages in the last one year. Just Rights for Children is the countrys largest network with over 250 partner NGOs working across the country for child protection. Working on the 3P model of Prevention, Protection and Prosecution, the NGOs work in tandem with administration and law enforcement agencies to end child marriage by 2030. In a recently conducted research, Tipping Point to Zero: Evidence towards a Child Marriage Free India, by Centre for Legal Action and Behavioural Change for Children (C-LAB), an initiative by India Child Protection, clearly shows that local authorities such as panchayats and gram sabhas, and NGOs have a huge role to play in this shift in Maharashtra. The report showed that 100% respondents were aware of the laws about child marriage and they credited NGOs (81%) and local authorities (73%) as the top sources of their information on child marriage laws. Higher reporting, then, is not evidence of decline. It signals accountability. Each prevented marriage represents a child protected. The more urgent question is not why numbers are rising, but how many cases still remain unseen. The writer is president, Mahatma Phule Samaj Seva Mandal, Karmala District, Solapur
Mumbai, Feb 13: The Railway Protection Force (RPF) of Central Railway has arrested a man accused of deliberately placing a snake inside a coach of the Vande Bharat Express, in an incident that had triggered panic among passengers last year. The accused, identified as Jagan Arjun Bhale (37), a resident of Nashik district, was apprehended from Mumbra on February 12, nearly six weeks after the incident. According to railway officials, the incident occurred on December 27, 2025, when a snake was discovered inside the toilet of Coach C-16 of Train No. 22225 Vande Bharat Express. Railway staff immediately sealed the toilet and alerted the control room. Investigation and arrest The reptile was later safely rescued at Solapur station. An investigation was launched after CCTV footage showed an unidentified person placing the snake inside the coach toilet. A case was registered under relevant sections of the Railways Act, 1989, said an official. Acting on technical analysis of CCTV footage and a tip-off from an informer, the Central Railway RPF traced and detained the suspect in Mumbra. During interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed to the act. He was produced before the Railway Court at Kalyan, which remanded him to 14 days magisterial custody. Officials said further investigation is underway to determine motive and whether anyone else was involved, further added the official. Also Watch: Nashik: Central Railway Collects 203.76 Crore From Ticketless Travellers In 10 Months Passenger safety emphasised Railway authorities stated that the case highlights the alertness and investigative capabilities of the RPF in ensuring passenger safety on premium trains such as the Vande Bharat Express. To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/
Two EVMs found in car near eatery in Solapur; 'reserve' devices, say officials
Two reserve Electronic Voting Machines were discovered in a car in Solapur, Maharashtra. The machines were found near an eatery. Political parties raised concerns about tampering. Officials clarified the EVMs were reserve devices and unused. They were found sealed. All used EVMs were secured by late Saturday night. An inquiry confirmed the machines were not part of the day's voting.
Viral Video In Maharashtra Zilla Parishad Polls Shows Minor Boy Allegedly Casting Vote
A Solapur video shows Arjun Sinh Mohite Patil's 14-year-old son allegedly pressing a voting machine button, raising concerns over voting laws.
Pune-based entrepreneur Sunil Motilal Sadarangani, owner of Multani Bakery, died by suicide by jumping from the 17th floor of a Solapur residential building. Despite attempts by residents to intervene, Sadarangani returned to the terrace and jumped. Police are investigating the incident, with personal pressures believed to be a factor.
UP man held for killing co-worker over tricking him into eating beef
Varanasi: A man was arrested for allegedly killing his 31-year-old co-worker who deceitfully fed him beef and taunted him repeatedly over it, the Uttar Pradesh police said on Wednesday, January 28. The accused, Virendra, a resident of the Solapur police station area, was arrested on the night of January 24 from his maternal uncles house, Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Five Pilgrims Killed After Car Crashes Into Tree On Maharashtra's Pune-Solapur Highway
All five occupants, who were reportedly friends travelling together in the car, died on the spot due to the impact of the crash.
Pawar Reunion Fails to Win Election
The BJP also led in several civic bodies across western Maharashtra, including Kolhapur, Satara, Solapur and Sangli, underlining its expanding footprint in the region.
Watch: Ancient labyrinth discovered in Maharashtras Solapur region
Infra works at SMVT Bengaluru to affect train services via Solapur Division
Nashik-Solapur-Akkalkot corridor, NH-326 widening get cabinet nod
The Union Cabinet has approved the construction of a 374-km, six-lane greenfield Nashik-Solapur-Akkalkot corridor in Maharashtra at a cost of 19,142 crore. This project, to be built in Build-Operate-Transfer mode, will enhance connectivity to key cities and integrate with the PM Gatishakti National Master Plan. Additionally, NH-326 in Odisha will be widened and strengthened for 1,526.21 crore.
Indias largest BOT highway project gets Cabinet nod; SuratChennai travel time to drop 45%
The Union Cabinet greenlit a massive 374-km greenfield highway in Maharashtra, connecting Nashik to Solapur and Akkalkot, at an estimated Rs 19,142 crore. This project, part of the Surat-Chennai corridor, is set to be the country's largest BOT highway initiative. It promises to slash travel time by 45% and boost logistics, with completion targeted within two years.
Cabinet Clears Rs 19,142-Crore Corridor Connecting Nashik-Solapur-Akkalkot
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the construction of a six-lane greenfield access-controlled Nashik-Solapur-Akkalkot corridor in Maharashtra with a total capital cost of Rs 19,142 crore.
The six-lane greenfield project corridor is to improve travel efficiency, and it is expected to cut travel time by 17 hours and reduce the travel distance by 201 km.
Cabinet approves construction of six-lane Nashik-Solapur-Akkalkot corridor at 19,142 crore
The project will provide connectivity to important regional cities such as Nashik, Ahilyanagar, Solapur connecting to Kurnool, an official statement said
