Category: INDIA

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): A severe shortage of commercial LPG cylinders has pushed Bhopal’s food industry into crisis, forcing nearly 7,000 food stalls, carts, kiosks and small eateries to prepare for a shutdown within the next 48 hours.

The disruption has affected the entire food chain—from street vendors and tiffin services to restaurants and hotels—with businesses struggling to manage daily cooking operations.

According to traders and vendors, nearly 50 per cent of restaurants are planning to suspend online food delivery services, as the LPG supply crunch has made large-scale food preparation difficult.

Meanwhile, gas distributors clarified that domestic LPG supply remains normal, urging residents not to panic or make unnecessary bookings. Officials assured that household cylinder deliveries will continue as scheduled.

No. 6 food hawkers’ zone turns silent

The impact is already visible at the city’s popular food hubs. At the No. 6 food hawkers’ zone, which usually sees over 2,000 visitors daily, nearly 80 per cent of stalls were shut by Wednesday evening.

Tony, who runs a fast-food stall selling Chinese dishes, said Wednesday could be his last working day for now.

He said 19-kg commercial LPG cylinders, which earlier cost around ?1,500, are now reportedly being sold in the black market for nearly ?3,000, making it impossible for small vendors to continue operations.

Tiffin services, small eateries worst hit

The shortage has severely affected small eateries and tiffin centres, particularly in residential areas such as Nehru Nagar, where many students rely on affordable meals.

Prabhat Soni, owner of Mangalm Restaurant, said operations have almost come to a halt due to the shortage.

“We normally use three cylinders a day, but the supply has stopped and our reserve stock is already exhausted,” he said.

The suspension of tiffin services has also created difficulties for students and migrant workers who depend on low-cost meals.

Vendors in New Market also reported temporarily shutting their stalls due to the lack of commercial LPG.

Panic buying despite normal domestic supply

Amid the shortage of commercial LPG cylinders, rumours of a possible domestic LPG shortage triggered panic buying among residents.

Long queues were seen outside gas agencies on Wednesday as people rushed to secure refills.

R.K. Gupta, a gas agency operator, said bookings have increased two to three times above normal levels, with customers visiting agencies directly instead of waiting for home delivery.

Officials reiterated that domestic LPG supply remains sufficient and urged residents to avoid panic bookings.

The Standing Committee of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has approved a proposal to increase the retirement age of municipal employees and officers from 58 to 60 years under the proposed Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation Service Regulations 2026. The proposal will now be placed before the general body for final approval.

The resolution was moved by House Leader and Standing Committee member Sagar Naik during the committee meeting chaired by Chairman Ashok Patil. The regulations have been framed under Section 465 of the Maharashtra Municipal Corporations Act, 1949 and were approved with certain amendments and suggestions.

If approved by the general body, the revised service rules will extend the tenure of civic employees and officers by two years. The move is aimed at retaining experienced personnel within the municipal administration.

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Speaking during the meeting, Sagar Naik said that many experienced officers have retired in recent years, resulting in a loss of administrative expertise within the corporation. Extending the retirement age would help bridge this gap and allow the civic body to utilise the experience of senior officials for the city’s development.

The proposed service regulations also outline provisions related to administrative discipline, financial accountability, leave rules, disciplinary procedures and service conditions for municipal employees.

Naik further said that a separate proposal addressing the concerns of workers employed on a lump-sum honorarium basis will be brought before the corporation soon.

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Monalisa Bhosle, who became an internet favourite with her mesmerising beauty and amber eyes during the Mahakumbh Mela in 2025, married her Maharashtrian boyfriend, Farman Khan, at Arumanoor Sri Nainaar Deva Temple in Kerala’s capital city, Thiruvananthapuram, on Wednesday, March 11.

The bride wore a bright red saree, while the groom wore a white shirt and mundu. The marriage was held in Hindu traditions.

Earlier in the day, the couple approached the Thampanoor Police Station seeking protection from her family after her father, Vijay Singh Bhosle, staunchly opposed the interfaith relationship.

Monalisa met Farman Khan through Facebook. Their friendship soon turned into a relationship and the couple decided to marry. But her family, who hail from Indore in Madhya Pradesh, vehemently opposed the union.

She is currently in Poovar, Kerala, for the shooting of her Malayalam movie, Nagamma, directed by P Binu Varghese.

In her complaint, she alleged that her father was pressuring her to marry another person. According to reports, her father had travelled to Kerala to take her back home, but she refused to accompany him to the airport.

Police said no case has been registered so far and clarified that there were no allegations of physical abuse. “Monalisa is 18 years of age and has the legal right to choose her life partner,” the police said.

Farman Khan, her husband, said he met her on a film set and instantly fell in love with her. “We have been in love for six months. Those six months felt like 60 years,” he said.

They travelled to Kerala for the film shoot and visited the Arumanoor Sri Nainaar Deva Temple. “I liked this temple and felt we should get married. When we asked the temple committee, they gave us permission. Kerala is beautiful and safe, and we would like to stay here for a while.

The wedding was attended by the State Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), MV Govindan. Kerala Education Minister V Sivankutty blessed the couple and said, “This is the real Kerala Story. We should be proud. Kerala truly is a place where people can live freely.”

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The Urban Administration Department has started work on preparing an Act against illegal colonies and, in search of a stronger legal framework, is even rummaging through records going back 40 years.

A senior officer of the Urban Administration Department tasked with preparing draft legislation told Free Press that the government does not have a separate Act to deal with illegal colonies in the state.

At present, issues related to illegal colonies are handled through various provisions under Acts governing municipal corporations and municipalities.

To address the problem in a more effective manner, the department has begun groundwork for a dedicated law. Sources in UAD said that along with examining provisions enshrined in Acts of municipal corporations and municipalities, the department is also considering sending a team of officers to other large states to study how they deal with illegal colonies and what kind of legislation they have in place.

Best practices followed in other states are likely to be studied before preparing the draft law.

Preparations for Act against illegal colonies are still in an initial stage, but suggestions from CREDAI may also be sought during process. The objective is to have legislation that can handle issue of illegal colonies smoothly and help state government contain unauthorised constructions.

Notably, during recently concluded Assembly Budget session, Urban Administration and Housing Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya announced that government is committed to bringing a law against illegal colonies within three months.

He said illegal colonies pose several problems for local administration and distort planned development and face of cities. Problem of illegal colonies is affecting almost all major as well as smaller cities of Madhya Pradesh.

As part of Phase 3B of the Goregaon–Mulund Link Road, the process of lowering the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) components into the construction shaft for the twin tunnels near Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari began on Wednesday. Remarkably, this critical activity has commenced nearly three months ahead of schedule, according to civic officials.

The 12.20-km-long GMLR project will enhance road connectivity between the western and eastern suburbs of Mumbai. As part of the project, twin underground tunnels will be constructed from Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari in Goregaon to Khindipada in Mulund. Each tunnel will be 4.70 km long, with a 14.20-metre diameter, reducing to 13 metres beneath the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SNGP), and will run entirely underground beneath the park’s hills. Each tunnel will have three lanes and will include modern ventilation, advanced fire-safety systems, stormwater drainage, and utility ducts. Excavation will be carried out using two 14.49-metre-diameter TBMs—the largest ever used in Mumbai—manufactured by Terratec, each weighing about 2,175 metric tons.

At the Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari site, the first phase of work for the launching shaft required for constructing the twin tunnels under the GMLR has been completed. The shaft measures approximately 200 metres in length, 50 metres in width, and 30 metres in depth, and all excavation required to lower the TBMs into the shaft has been finished. Additionally, a strong curved concrete cradle measuring 20 m × 20 m × 2.5 m has been constructed at the base of the shaft. This cradle plays a crucial role in securely stabilising the TBM and ensuring its precise alignment during the initial launch of tunnelling operations, and the necessary cradle works have also been completed.

The process of lowering the TBM components into the GMLR shaft began on Wednesday. “Advanced cranes with capacities of 800 metric ton (MT) and 350 MT, successfully load-tested earlier, are being used to safely lower TBM parts in phases. The primary excavation component, weighing 135 MT, was successfully placed into the shaft,” said a senior civic official. He added, “Key TBM components—Main Shield, Cutter Head, Screw Conveyor, Main Bearing, and Erector—have already been assembled. In the next phase, these will be lowered into the shaft and integrated to form the TBM’s final structure, after which tunnelling will commence. Upon completion of the underground tunnel from Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari, beneath SNGP, to Amar Nagar in Mulund, the TBM will be retrieved at the Amar Nagar shaft and dismantled into its components.”

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In the latest episode of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 (Wednesday, March 11), Karan asks Mihir why Tulsi is not returning to Shantiniketan. Nandini then says that for the first time Tulsi has taken the right decision by thinking about herself. Mihir agrees with her and says he is giving Tulsi the time she needs. However, he also adds that he will not stop trying to bring her back. Nandini taunts Karan, saying that he is the one who has stopped making any effort.

Meanwhile, Mitali and Ritik meet to talk about their daughter, Timsi. Mitali tells him that she is not happy with the joint custody arrangement and wants full custody of the child. Ritik refuses and accuses Mitali of not caring about Timsi. However, he lies to her and says that he is marrying Munni only because he needs a nanny for Timsi, and claims that he does not even talk to Munni. Unknown to him, Mitali cleverly records a video of Ritik while he is saying all this about Munni.

Elsewhere, Vrinda is still worried that her and Angad’s children might get spoiled now that they have moved to Shantiniketan, where they have access to so many comforts. She asks Angad to make sure the children do not go down the wrong path. Angad tries to calm her down, but Vrinda becomes emotional and breaks down. She confesses that she is afraid they might not turn out to be good parents.

Pari and Ajay meet at a restaurant. During their conversation, Pari asks Ajay why he is being so kind to her even though she had treated him and his family badly in the past. Ajay tells her that he believes she has changed with time. Pari begins to cry and admits that she doubts whether she will be a good mother to Garima. However, Ajay comforts her and praises her.

Later, Karan, Nandini and Parth visit the chawl to meet Tulsi. Just then, Munni and Vaishnavi say they need to go somewhere, and Parth offers to drop them. Karan is surprised to see Parth speaking so warmly to someone, as he has never seen him behave like that before.

Karan then tries to explain to Tulsi that Mihir did nothing with Noina that night and urges her to return home. However, Tulsi asks what about the six years when Noina took her place and Mihir never even came looking for her. She says that she has lost all attachment now and the wounds she has suffered may never heal.

During this conversation, Karan and Nandini start arguing. Tulsi asks them what the problem is, and Karan reveals that Nandini wants to return to India while he does not. Because of this disagreement, the two of them have been fighting almost every day.

A team of officials from the National Programme for Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) and the World Health Organization (WHO) inspected the functioning of an urban primary health centre in Panvel as part of a review of ongoing healthcare services.

Gavdevi Health Centre Hosts High-Level Review on March 10

The inspection was conducted on March 10 at Gavdevi Urban Primary Health Centre No. 1. The visiting team included Dr Saroj Kumar (IAS), Director of the National NCD Control Committee, Dr Abhishek Kunwar, Team Lead for NCD at WHO, Dr Ashish Bhatt, NCD consultant, and Dr Anand Sontakke, State NCD coordinator. The team reviewed the facilities and expressed satisfaction with the services provided by the civic body.

During the visit, Chief Medical Health Officer Dr Anand Gosavi briefed the officials about the healthcare facilities provided by the Panvel Municipal Corporation and the Maharashtra government, including the availability of medicines, diagnostic services and treatment under the NCD control programme.

Comprehensive Screening and Treatment Services Under Review

Under the programme, screening and treatment services are provided for non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, oral cancer, breast cancer and cervical cancer. The visiting team also reviewed the screening processes, treatment facilities and availability of diagnostic tests at the centre.

Medical officers Dr Rehana Mujawar and Dr Anmol Thakur, along with other officials and staff, were present during the inspection.

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Kalyan: A National Electrical Safety Seminar jointly organised by the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) and the Government of Maharashtra was successfully held on March 10, 2026, at the Acharya Atre Conference Hall. The seminar was inaugurated by KDMC Commissioner Abhinav Goyal, who emphasized the importance of strict adherence to safety protocols in electrical work.

Safety Checklists Must Be Followed for Every Electrical Task

Addressing the gathering, Goyal stressed that every electrical task must follow a detailed safety checklist to minimize risks and prevent accidents. He also highlighted the need to create awareness about electrical safety among students and suggested that educational institutions should actively include safety awareness in their learning activities.

The seminar focused on key issues such as electrical safety measures, accident prevention strategies and the legal framework governing electrical operations. Engineers, electrical staff, contractors and workers from municipal corporations of Kalyan-Dombivli, Ulhasnagar, Thane, Bhiwandi and Navi Mumbai participated in large numbers. Officials and employees of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) were also present at the event.

Experts Deliver Technical Sessions on Critical Safety Topics

Experts delivered technical sessions during the programme. Electrical Inspector Rajendra Yadav spoke on the legal framework for electrical safety and the role of electrical inspectors. Assistant Electrical Inspector Arjun Jadhav explained the causes of electrical accidents and fire hazards along with preventive safety measures, while Branch Engineer Bhupan Mankame provided insights into Electrical Job Safety Analysis.

Among the dignitaries present were MSEDCL Superintending Engineer Anil Thorat, Executive Engineer Chaudhary and KDMC Executive Engineer (Mechanical) Raju Rathod.

Dedicated Team Organises Seminar Under Senior Guidance

The seminar was organised under the guidance of Additional City Engineer (Electrical) Prashant Bhagwat with support from Executive Engineer (Electrical) Jitendra Shinde and Deputy Engineers Bhagwat Patil and Jitendra Patil.

Concluding the programme, all officers, engineers, contractors and employees collectively pledged to strictly follow electrical safety norms and spread awareness about safe electrical practices.

Officials stated that the seminar will help strengthen safety awareness and ensure the effective implementation of preventive measures, with the broader goal of achieving “zero electrical accidents” in the coming year.

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Viral sensation Monalisa Bhosle, who gained attention during the recent Maha Kumbh Mela, married her boyfriend Farman Khan in a temple ceremony in Thiruvananthapuram. According to reports, the couple tied the knot in a quiet ceremony and have since approached the Kerala Police seeking protection. The move comes amid opposition from their families regarding their relationship.

Several photos and videos have also surfaced, giving a glimpse of their wedding ceremony.

Who is Farman Khan?

Farman is an actor and model from Maharashtra.

Monalisa and Farman reportedly met on Facebook around a year and a half ago. What began as a simple friendship gradually turned into a romantic relationship. However, their relationship faced strong opposition from their families as the two belong to different religious communities. Reports suggest that Monalisa’s father, Jai Singh Bhosle, even pressured her to marry a man chosen by him.

Determined to stay together despite the resistance, the couple reportedly travelled to Kerala and sought protection for their relationship from the authorities.

The couple tied the knot at Nainar Temple in Thiruvananthapuram. According to a report by Onmanorama, several prominent personalities from political and social circles were present at the wedding ceremony.

While interacting with media persons, Farman praised the people of Kerala and stated that they are planning to stay in the state and not return to their hometowns.

Farman also revealed that it was Monalisa who proposed to him. While he initially rejected her proposal, he eventually agreed to date her. The couple met on a film set and fell in love.

Monalisa, who hails from Uttar Pradesh, became an internet sensation earlier this year after a video of her selling rudraksha garlands at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj went viral on social media. The clip caught the attention of users online, turning her into a widely discussed figure across platforms.

Since then, Monalisa has continued to remain in the spotlight, with her personal life now making headlines.