News / Author / Abhay Khairnar

Abhay Khairnar

Articles by Abhay Khairnar

Pune to get 50,000 new LEDs, PMC claim most street lights not working

The net spend forecast, by an electric department member requesting anonymity on the new LEDs and light fitting requirements will be ₹ 24.55 crore.

LED streetlamps lit on Paud road in Pune. PMC’s electric department claims almost all the LED street lights are now not working.(Sanket Wankhade/HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Oct 12, 2018 02:43 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar

CCTVs set up by elected members: With no data available, PMC shelves the plan

Civic administration has requested elected members to install cameras in their areas and allow Pune municipal corporation to monitor it.

CCTV cameras installed near Shinde high school on Golawalkar Guruji road in Sahakarnagar area.(HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Oct 10, 2018 04:57 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar

By the end of the year, Pune to have a count of its stray dogs

An earlier stray-dog census was carried out by the animal husbandry department of the state government in 2014

Anjali Sabne, PMC health officer, said that the survey is part of an animal census carried out every five years. The PMC’s last figure has the number of strays in the city at 40,000, but that could be a five-year-old number.(HT REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Oct 10, 2018 04:39 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar, Pune

Pune sky sign policy takes a hit as falling billboards are disasters-in-waiting

While PMC claims to do structural audit of billboards every two years, oppn leaders blame civic administration for ineffective policy on billboards

A little cognisance while carry out the cutting work could have avoided this fatal accident, said a police official, also requesting anonymity, adding that the Railway authorities will take needed action against the private agency awarded the work of cutting the frame of the hoarding.(HT PHOTO Ravindra Joshi)

cities

Updated on Oct 06, 2018 05:34 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar

Pune canal breach : compensation for all

The State government and district administration took a stand to give compensation for all the families due to canal breach accident without checking whether they are legal or illegal occupants

Broken walls and shattered homes is all that remains for the slum dwellers near Dandekar bridge.(HT PHOTO Sanket Wankhade)

cities

Updated on Oct 07, 2018 03:36 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar

Shivajinagar-Hinjewadi Metro project in Pune on fast track as Tata-Siemens consortium bags contract

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis handed over the contract letter to officials representing Tata Realty Infra and Siemens. The metro route will be developed on design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) basis. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 8,313 crore.

CM Fadnavis (fourth from left) hands over the metro contract to Tata-Siemens joint venture in the presence of guardian minister Girish Bapat (second from right) and PMRDA CEO Kiran Gitte (right).(HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Oct 04, 2018 02:54 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar, Pune

Merged with a big city like Pune? These 11 villages didn’t even use Rs 100 crore for development as they continue to face neglect

The 11 villages, who were earlier under gram panchayats, continue to face neglect and the civic body has been unable to spend even 10 per cent of the Rs 100 Crore that has been approved for carrying out the developmental work.

A bus stop in bad shape on Dattanagar to Narhe road near Janata bank in Pune.(Ravindra Joshi)

cities

Updated on Oct 04, 2018 02:47 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar, Pune

Kolhapur’s Mahalaxmi temple changes diktat to request: No shorts, no sleeveless tops and shirts, no mini-skirts

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Supriya Sule said, “Instead of concentrating on women’s attire, the temple and society should focus on various women’s issues and address it. Issues like women’s safety and injustice should be discussed.”

The Mahalaxmi temple is located at Kolhapur and was constructed in the 7th century.(HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Oct 03, 2018 05:45 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar

PMC to soon start two mobile maternity homes to help pregnant women deliver in the ambulance

The general body of the PMC has given the nod to purchase two mobile ambulances equipped to undertake delivery of pregnant women in ambulance if needed. Recently, a pregnant woman lost her baby in Yerawada as she was not able to reach the hospital in time for delivery.

Besides this, even though it looks like a 108 ambulance initiative, this project is totally owned by us and will be run by the corporation. It will have its own call centre and a number where people can call for help.(Hindustan Times/ REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Oct 02, 2018 04:41 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar, Pune

Canal repairs: Irrigation dept, PMC passed buck with no action from politicians

On Thursday, after disaster struck the area following a breach in the wall of the canal near Janata Vasahat, near Dandekar bridge, angry residents and slum dwellers said the disaster was man-made as numerous warnings had been ignored in the past

Water flooded the area near Dandekar Bridge after a wall of Mutha canal collapsed due to unknown reason in Pune, India.(Sanket Wankhade/HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Sep 28, 2018 05:17 PM IST

Hindustan Times Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar

Mutha canal’s morning breach saves Pune from major disaster

Situation could have been far worse had the canal breached at night

Water floods the residential area near Dandekar bridge after the canal wall was breached on Thursday morning.(HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Sep 28, 2018 03:10 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAshish Phadnis and Abhay Khairnar

Maha-Metro ordered not to construct near Pune’s Aga Khan palace

The rejection of permission to construct the Metro along Ahmednagar road abutting the Aga Khan palace is likely to cause project delays and cost escalation

Brijesh Dixit, Maha-Metro managing director, said that Maha-Metro has appealed to the NMA to reconsider their decision after ensuring that the distance of the Metro project from the Aga Khan palace monument is out of the prohibited area.(HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Sep 27, 2018 03:30 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar

MSRTC bus stand at Shivajinagar to be shifted temporarily to facilitate underground metro work

Two sites were suggested for the bus stand, one at Mula road and other at Sangamwadi

Maha-Metro will require two to three months to complete the work at Shivajinagar junction.(HT File Photo)

cities

Updated on Sep 26, 2018 05:02 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar

Maha-Metro faces land acquisition hurdles in old Pune or ‘peth’ areas

Authorities bank on giving attractive compensation to beneficiaries to close the deal

A view of the Appa Balwant chowk in Budhwar peth on Friday. The chowk is one of the areas which needs to be acquired for the Metro project.(Sanket Wankhade/HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Sep 22, 2018 03:24 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar

Chandani chowk flyover: Pune civic body to spend ₹185 cr for land acquisition

Of the 14 hectares required for the Chandani chowk flyover project, 5.5 hectares has been acquired while 8.5 hectares is still to be acquired.

The state government will hand over this amount in various stages and hence, municipal commissioner Saurabh Rao requested the standing committee to give money for land acquisition and start work of the multilevel flyover.(HT FILE PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Sep 19, 2018 04:24 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar

PMRDA blacklists 190 illegal properties for buyers’ sake

Recently the state government had instructed the department of stamp and registration not to register illegal properties, but this remained only an announcement as the department denied following the state’s instruction.

The PMRDA made a revenue of Rs 35 crore by regularising various properties.(HT Representative Photo)

cities

Updated on Sep 18, 2018 05:17 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar

Maha-Metro wants special planning authority status in Pune

The Maha-Metro has asked for 50 per cent share in the revenue from the building permissions along the metro corridor. It also plans to ask for one per cent stamp duty on properties from the state government

Brijesh Dixit, managing director, Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd said that the state government has given special panning authority status to Maha-Metro in Nagpur apart from giving 50 per cent revenue share from property developed along the Metro corridors.(HT FILE PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Sep 16, 2018 04:47 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar

Gold ornaments worth Rs 42.55 crore at Pune’s Dagdusheth Ganpati

The trust’s latest audit report for the year 2017-18 released recently valued its total property at Rs. 66.91 crore.

Dagdusheth trust received offerings worth ~2.74 crore in gold and diamond jewellery last year.(Rahul Raut/HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Sep 17, 2018 02:43 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar

PMC garbage management marred by corruption, inefficiency

Civic officials admitted in Aug 2017 that their waste-to-biogas plants strategy has failed.

PMC garbage vehicles continue to dump mixed waste in the garbage ramp in Kothrud, which is later carried by trucks to Uruli Devachi and Phursungi landfill sites.(Sanket Wankhade/HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Sep 14, 2018 05:02 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar

Congress does not doubt quality of Rafale, but wants a probe: Former Union minister Jaipal Reddy

Speaking at a press conference he said the party has sought a probe into the deal. Earlier, the UPA government was planning to buy 126 aircraft but the Narendra Modi government has purchased only 36 aircraft, he said.

Former Union minister Jaipal Reddy also questioned the PM’s silence on this deal even as other ministers were offering clarifications.(HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Sep 08, 2018 04:48 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar, Pune

PMRDA seeks clarification from Oxford Golf Resort Pvt Ltd on hill cutting at Lavale

Road construction activity on a hill at Lavale comes under the scanner.

The PMRDA sought to ascertain permission from the forest department, the proposed retention wall and whether the work is proceeding as per the set norms.(Pratham Gokhale/HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Sep 09, 2018 03:10 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar and Prachi Bari

Maha-Metro to construct Pune’s tallest building at Shivajinagar

Maha-Metro has also planned various other projects for upcoming metro corridors. Atul Gadgil, head of Vanaz to Ramwadi Metro corridor, said, “The state government has already handed over the godown lands at Shivajinagar with an area of 27,175 sq m. There are slums around this plot on an area of 21,729 sq m.

According to the proposed four floor space index around the metro corridors, it is expected that Maha-Metro would erect a 40 storey multilevel commercial building adjacent to the metro station, which will help generate more revenue(HT FILE PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Sep 02, 2018 05:07 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar

It takes Sinhagad road residents over 30 minutes to cross this half kilometre stretch in Kirkatwadi due to potholes

Numerous potholes at Kirkatwadi on Sinhagad road area, which is outside the Pune municipal corporation jurisdiction and falls under the jurisdiction of the Pune metropolitan region development authority (PMRDA), are creating major traffic snarls with citizens requiring 30 minutes at peak hour just to cross the half kilometre stretch.

The potholes are primarily in front of the central water and power research station (CWPRS).(Sanket Wankhade/HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Sep 02, 2018 02:53 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar, Pune

State to give PMC Rs 185 crore to kick-start Chandani chowk flyover plan

National Highways Authority of India and Pune Municipal Corporation did the ground-breaking ceremony of the project on August 27 last year, but the project got stuck due to land acquisition issue.

Pune Municipal Corporation plans to build a multilevel flyover at Chandani chowk that has become a nightmare for residents and an accident spot. The project will be carried out by National Highways Authority of India.(HT FILE PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Aug 30, 2018 03:55 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar

Pune, India’s ‘best’ city, has worst public transport

An analysis of 20-year data shows mismatch between city’s record growth and inadequacy of civic planning

The existing PMPML fleet of 2,097 buses, including 697 buses on contract, with frequent breakdowns, is short by at least 1,000 buses.(HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Aug 26, 2018 03:15 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Vaidya, Parth Welankar and Abhay Khairnar

How 3 bullets and a dead rationalist gave life to anti-superstition movement : Dabholkar’s MANS grows from 250 to 330 branches

Strong presence of youngsters at the protest march Jawab Do, Who killed Dabholkar? is indicative of the increased awareness about the work of rationalist Dabholkar and MANS

People take part in a protest march on Monday to mark the fifth death anniversary of Narendra Dabholkar. Here, the protestors are seen at Dandekar bridge.(HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Aug 21, 2018 03:07 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByShalaka Shinde and Abhay Khairnar

State govt to keep Pune hills green, allows 8% TDR for land owners in biodiversity park area

The PMC submitted a development plan (DP) for these 23 villages in 2005 to the state government. The state government approved the DP after seven years in 2012. The civic body decided to label all the hills in the 23 villages as ‘no development zone’ and create a biodiversity park (BDP). This included hills in areas such as Baner, Bavdhan, Katraj, Kondhwa, Bibvewadi and Sinhagad road, among others.

Under this BDP zone, 987 hectares land has been reserved. Of this, 214 hectare land is government owned and the remaining 773 hectare is owned by private parties.(HT REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Aug 19, 2018 04:51 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar, Pune

Metro corridor: PMRDA, Maha-Metro demand revenue share generated from PMC’s building permissions

The central and state government adopted the transport oriented development (TOD) policy for the metro projects. Under this policy, it is expected that local bodies will give additional floor space index (FSI) to increase population density along metro corridors.

Kiran Gitte, PMRDA commissioner, confirmed that the PMRDA has asked for a share of revenue from the PMC for its Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar metro corridor .(HT FILE Photo)

cities

Updated on Aug 18, 2018 05:01 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar

Vajpayee’s demise brings to life poignant memories of his Pune visits

One such anecdote related to the time in the late 1960s when he surprised everyone by arriving unannounced at Anand Mangal Karyalaya, a marriage hall, in front of Nehru stadium at Swargate.

(From L) Rambhau Mhalgi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay during a Bharatiya Jana Sangh meet.(HT File Photo)

cities

Updated on Aug 18, 2018 03:22 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar

Pune hotelier recalls Vajpayee’s fondness for ‘kanda pohe’

Dattatray Chitale, owner of Shreyas Dining Hall where Vajpayee used to camp while in Pune, had many memories and anecdotes to share about the former PM.

(From left) Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar, Hotel Shreyas owner Dattatray Chitale and Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Hotel Shreyas in Pune.(HT File Photo)

cities

Updated on Aug 17, 2018 03:13 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar

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Abhay Khairnar

The net spend forecast, by an electric department member requesting anonymity on the new LEDs and light fitting requirements will be ₹ 24.55 crore.

Civic administration has requested elected members to install cameras in their areas and allow Pune municipal corporation to monitor it.

An earlier stray-dog census was carried out by the animal husbandry department of the state government in 2014

While PMC claims to do structural audit of billboards every two years, oppn leaders blame civic administration for ineffective policy on billboards

The State government and district administration took a stand to give compensation for all the families due to canal breach accident without checking whether they are legal or illegal occupants

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis handed over the contract letter to officials representing Tata Realty Infra and Siemens. The metro route will be developed on design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) basis. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 8,313 crore.

The 11 villages, who were earlier under gram panchayats, continue to face neglect and the civic body has been unable to spend even 10 per cent of the Rs 100 Crore that has been approved for carrying out the developmental work.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Supriya Sule said, “Instead of concentrating on women’s attire, the temple and society should focus on various women’s issues and address it. Issues like women’s safety and injustice should be discussed.”

The general body of the PMC has given the nod to purchase two mobile ambulances equipped to undertake delivery of pregnant women in ambulance if needed. Recently, a pregnant woman lost her baby in Yerawada as she was not able to reach the hospital in time for delivery.

On Thursday, after disaster struck the area following a breach in the wall of the canal near Janata Vasahat, near Dandekar bridge, angry residents and slum dwellers said the disaster was man-made as numerous warnings had been ignored in the past

Situation could have been far worse had the canal breached at night

The rejection of permission to construct the Metro along Ahmednagar road abutting the Aga Khan palace is likely to cause project delays and cost escalation

Two sites were suggested for the bus stand, one at Mula road and other at Sangamwadi

Authorities bank on giving attractive compensation to beneficiaries to close the deal

Of the 14 hectares required for the Chandani chowk flyover project, 5.5 hectares has been acquired while 8.5 hectares is still to be acquired.

Recently the state government had instructed the department of stamp and registration not to register illegal properties, but this remained only an announcement as the department denied following the state’s instruction.

The Maha-Metro has asked for 50 per cent share in the revenue from the building permissions along the metro corridor. It also plans to ask for one per cent stamp duty on properties from the state government

The trust’s latest audit report for the year 2017-18 released recently valued its total property at Rs. 66.91 crore.

Civic officials admitted in Aug 2017 that their waste-to-biogas plants strategy has failed.

Speaking at a press conference he said the party has sought a probe into the deal. Earlier, the UPA government was planning to buy 126 aircraft but the Narendra Modi government has purchased only 36 aircraft, he said.

Road construction activity on a hill at Lavale comes under the scanner.

National Highways Authority of India and Pune Municipal Corporation did the ground-breaking ceremony of the project on August 27 last year, but the project got stuck due to land acquisition issue.

An analysis of 20-year data shows mismatch between city’s record growth and inadequacy of civic planning

Strong presence of youngsters at the protest march Jawab Do, Who killed Dabholkar? is indicative of the increased awareness about the work of rationalist Dabholkar and MANS

The central and state government adopted the transport oriented development (TOD) policy for the metro projects. Under this policy, it is expected that local bodies will give additional floor space index (FSI) to increase population density along metro corridors.

One such anecdote related to the time in the late 1960s when he surprised everyone by arriving unannounced at Anand Mangal Karyalaya, a marriage hall, in front of Nehru stadium at Swargate.

Dattatray Chitale, owner of Shreyas Dining Hall where Vajpayee used to camp while in Pune, had many memories and anecdotes to share about the former PM.

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