Ahmedabad Vadaj News

AMC begins restoring Bapunagar, Vadaj vavs
Ahmedabad Mirror | 3 days ago | |
Ahmedabad Mirror
3 days ago | |

Several stepwells and heritage sites are undergoing restoration as part of a project by AMC’s Ahmedabad World Heritage City Trust (AWHCT). At present, the restoration work at vavs (stepwells) in Vadaj and Bapunagar is underway and so is the fortification of the wall between Nehru Bridge and Ellisbridge. The process involves experts looking for decayed structures in need for restoration. AWHCT will also lend a hand at restoring other AMC-owned sites.Highlighting the challenges of restoration, those in the know said the Bapunagar and Vadaj both are different as far as construction is concerned. The Vadaj Vav is made of a combination of brick and stone and is deep while the Bapunagar Vav is made exclusively of traditional bricks and is shallow. Both the Vavs were filled with debris and solid waste and did not have access to water perhaps because the water table has fallen.Ashish Trambadia, Director, AWHCT said the restoration will help in retaining the structure in a certain way. Giving details of the restoration, Trambadia said the Vadaj Vav will be restored with traditional lime plaster. “Working with lime requires skill. This construction doesn’t have cement which sets fast. Lime plaster on the other hand takes at least a month to set but it is a breathable traditional material,” he said.

AMC begins restoring Bapunagar, Vadaj vavs
Ahmedabad: Man held for illegally refilling LPG cylinders
Times of India | 1 week ago | |
Times of India
1 week ago | |

AHMEDABAD: Vadaj police arrested one Bharat Parmar who was allegedly involved in refilling domestic LPG cylinders. Police recovered six cylinders from him. A complaint was lodged at Vadaj police station by a police officer, Prakashsinh Sursinh. The complainant said the cops were on duty when they got a tip-off. They raided a place in Vadaj and found Bharat transferring gas from one cylinder to another using an aluminium rod.

Ahmedabad: Man held for illegally refilling LPG cylinders
Friend in need is kidnapper indeed
Times of India | 1 week ago | |
Times of India
1 week ago | |

AHMEDABAD: Jignesh Dhawal, 22, of Nava Vadaj helped his friend get a vehicle loan, but the friend not only refused to repay but also kidnapped Dhawal. The accused in this case is Sunil Marwadi. Dhawal appealed to the finance company to seize the vehicle. This angered Marwadi, and he kidnapped Dhawal. On Saturday, Vadaj police registered a complaint under several IPC Sections including 365 (kidnapping), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 325 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt), and 504 (intentional insult). In his complaint, Dhawal told police that in February 2022, Marwadi purchased a two-wheeler on a loan by making a down payment of Rs 20,000. Dhawal said that he was the proposer for the loan. Once Marwadi stopped paying the instalments, Dhawal started getting letters from the finance company. When Dhawal urged Marwadi to pay the instalments, Marwadi without compunction said he would not. This made Dhawal approach the finance company. Finally on November 6, the two-wheeler was seized. On November 9, when Dhawal was standing near his society, Marwadi and Askashsinh Padiyar kidnapped Dhawal. Marwadi and Padiyar had knives, the complaint said. Dhawal said he was driven across the city and eventually taken to Ramol. There, Dhawal was threatened and even told to give the Rs 20,000 down payment. The duo then assaulted Dhawal, who cried for help. After the duo fled, Dhawal managed to reach home and was later taken to hospital where a scan revealed a fracture. Dhawal stated that he chose not to file the police complaint initially. He approached police when his relatives encouraged him to do so.

Friend in need is kidnapper indeed
After warrant issued, 8 turn up for poll duty in Ahd
Times of India | 1 week ago | |
Times of India
1 week ago | |

AHMEDABAD: After an election officer in the city issued an arrest warrant directing police to nab eight government employees for skipping election duty, all of them appeared finally. According to the arrest warrant issued on Wednesday to Vadaj police, eight government officers of the income tax (I-T) department, who were given duties as presiding officers, polling officers, assistant presiding officers and female polling officers, had remained absent for a training session between November 13 and 15. “They have been directed to remain present through this warrant. These officers and employees must be arrested immediately and presented before me,” said the arrest warrant issued by electoral officer and the nodal officer for the Dariapur assembly seat, R C Joshi. According to police, the absent employees were earlier issued three show-cause notices for remaining absent during the training session and as they did not respond to those notices, the arrest warrant was issued on Wednesday. These employees include two inspectors, two tax assistants and a notice server, an office superintendent, a stenographer and a PR officer.

After warrant issued, 8 turn up for poll duty in Ahd
22-year-old man held for theft at IPS officer’s home
Times of India | 2 weeks ago | |
Times of India
2 weeks ago | |

AHMEDABAD: The local crime branch (LCB) headed by deputy commissioner of police (DCP), Zone-1, Lavina Sinha has caught a 22-year-old man for breaking into the house of DCP, Zone-4, Panna Momaya between October 29 and November 4. According to sources in the LCB, the accused Nirbhay Singh Tank, a resident of Hasnpura in Naroda Patia, was caught with two juveniles, aged 15 and 16, from Vadaj late on Sunday night. Police officers said that Tank had committed eight burglaries between October 29 and November 4, including four in Vadaj, two in Ghatlodia, and one each in Shahibaug and Kalupur. Sources in police said that Tank had come to the city on October 28 and began committing a series of burglaries. He struck first in Vadaj. When an LCB team was investigating the case, it got an input that Tank along with the two juveniles were at Dadhichi Bridge. The three were caught with cash and jewellery. The value of the seizure is Rs 3.57 lakh. During preliminary questioning, Tank told police that he had burgled the house of Momaya in Karmcharinagar in Rannapark. A complaint had been lodged with Ghatlodia police stating that silver ornaments and coins worth Rs 29,000 had been stolen. Police have booked Tank under the charges of burglary and criminal trespassing.

22-year-old man held for theft at IPS officer’s home
Ahmedabad: Woman alleges cruelty after birth of daughter
Times of India | 3 weeks ago | |
Times of India
3 weeks ago | |

AHMEDABAD: A woman living in Naranpura registered a complaint of cruelty and violation of the Dowry Act against her husband and four of her in-laws for allegedly subjecting her to harassment after she gave birth to a daughter. Her in-laws even told her to get dowry from her parents if she wanted to have a good life with her husband. The complainant stated that she got married in 2017 and started living in a joint family with her in-laws. She stated that in 2018 her husband left for Dubai without informing her, while she was pregnant. The complainant stated that she then decided to go to her parents' home because of her pregnancy and none of her in-laws took care of her. Her husband later returned from Dubai and took her back to her in-law's house. She stated she was mentally harassed by her in-laws even when she was pregnant. The complainant stated that in February 2019, she gave birth to a baby girl. Her in-laws and husband were not happy about this. She stated that she was subjected to mental and physical harassment soon after giving birth. She stated that her husband and in-laws told her to get dowry and from her parents if she wanted to have a good life. She stated that she kept quiet hoping that things would improve. During Covid, her husband took her daughter to Dubai, for three months. When her daughter returned, her in-laws or her husband did not give her money for her expenses and even did not call her or her daughter. She now lives with her parents and on Thursday, she filed the complaint at Vadaj police station.

Ahmedabad: Woman alleges cruelty after birth of daughter
  • Woman alleges cruelty after birth of daughter

    • Times of India

    AHMEDABAD: A woman living in Naranpura registered a complaint of cruelty and violation of the Dowry Act against her husband and four of her in-laws for allegedly subjecting her to harassment after she gave birth to a daughter. Her in-laws even told her to get dowry from her parents if she wanted to have a good life with her husband. The complainant stated that she got married in 2017 and started living in a joint family with her in-laws. She stated that in 2018 her husband left for Dubai without informing her, while she was pregnant. The complainant stated that she then decided to go to her parents' home because of her pregnancy and none of her in-laws took care of her. Her husband later returned from Dubai and took her back to her in-law's house. She stated she was mentally harassed by her in-laws even when she was pregnant. The complainant stated that in February 2019, she gave birth to a baby girl. Her in-laws and husband were not happy about this. She stated that she was subjected to mental and physical harassment soon after giving birth. She stated that her husband and in-laws told her to get dowry and from her parents if she wanted to have a good life. She stated that she kept quiet hoping that things would improve. During Covid, her husband took her daughter to Dubai, for three months. When her daughter returned, her in-laws or her husband did not give her money for her expenses and even did not call her or her daughter. She now lives with her parents and on Thursday, she filed the complaint at Vadaj police station.

Ahmedabad: 4 house break-ins in Nava Vadaj
Times of India | 4 weeks ago | |
Times of India
4 weeks ago | |

AHMEDABAD: Vadaj police has registered a burglary complaint after thefts were reported from four houses in Sagar apartments near Bhavsar Hostel, Nava Vadaj. Jayesh Ninama, 39, a retired army officer and a resident of Sagar apartments, filed the complaint. He stated that on October 19, he had gone to his native place in Sabarkantha. On November 1, his son Sahil received a call from Paresh Limbachiya, who informed him that the door of his house in Sagar apartment was broken. The complainant stated that when he reached his house, he found that the door was broken, and the iron grill was also damaged. He stated that his house had been ransacked and cash and gold ornaments were stolen. He said that he learnt that thefts had also taken place in three other houses. tnn

Ahmedabad: 4 house break-ins in Nava Vadaj
Police ground thief’s Delhi-Ahmedabad flight
Times of India | 1 month ago | |
Times of India
1 month ago | |

AHMEDABAD: A member of a gang of four from Delhi which used to fly down to Ahmedabad to commit thefts was arrested on Sunday after the local crime branch received an input that he was in Mahemdavad, Kheda. Karan Valangia, a resident of Mandi Raghuveer Nagar in New Delhi, was arrested by the local crime branch (LCB) of Zone-1 DCP on Sunday. Head constable Arvind Dahyabhai and constable Madhav Polabhai received a tip-off that Valagia was about to visit Navrangpura with his wife for Diwali shopping. Based on the input, the two cops along with other team members, kept a watch and nabbed him on Sunday. Sources in the LCB Zone-1 said that Valangia flew down to the city in September and October to commit thefts. He carried out recce in the city to identify secluded places. His modus operandi included travelling in autorickshaws and public transport to con passengers of their gold jewellery. After stealing the valuables, he would fly back to Delhi. The gang members would stay in the city for four to five days to commit thefts. Sources in the city police said that his three other aides also frequently flew to other cities to commit offences. As they used to book tickets in advance, the to and fro journey would cost around Rs 6,000 to Rs 8,000 while the valuables stolen would be worth Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh at least. The accused will be handed over to Vadaj and Sabarmati police where two theft cases have been filed.

Police ground thief’s Delhi-Ahmedabad flight
MOO THEM AWAY!
Ahmedabad Mirror | 1 month ago | |
Ahmedabad Mirror
1 month ago | |

The civic authorities and the police have brought down the number of cattle on the roads with their round-the-clock vigil, but more needs to be done. In 23 days, the authorities booked 50 cattle owners and impounded 80 stray cattle. The AMC has also decided to pay a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the family of a youth who died after being hit by a cow. Bhavin Patel was riding his bike when a cow hit him in Naroda on October 1. However, cattle continue to be roam the streets across the city.A Mirror check on Monday found that the bovines roamed freely despite a high court direction and action taken by the AMC and police.Of the 22 cattle we found, six were on the road near the AEC underbridge, three near Vijay School on Mirambica Road, eight cows near Bhimjipura in Vadaj, and one each near Arjun Tower in Ghatlodia, Shastri Nagar, Naranpura, Shahpur and Dariapur.Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic ) Mayanksinh Chavda said they are in the process of catching cattle that are found on the road and complaints about which are tagged on their Twitter handles. “We are coordinating with the AMC authorities to catch them and also track their owners,” said Chavda.Earlier cops had held meetings with owners and leaders of the Maldhari Samaj to create awareness about not letting bovines roam on the roads.What citizens can do The city traffic police had also asked citizens to take a picture and tag them on their Twitter handle whenever they find a cattle on the road. People can also call up 1095 and 100 to report the problem.24x7 vigilThe city police claim to have deployed a team in coordination with the AMC’s Cattle Nuisance Control Department (CNCD) to work in three shifts to address the issue. The traffic police have also provided the 21 teams of the AMC with police security to deal withthe issue.HC summons home secy, DGP, civic chief​​​​​​​Gujarat High Court on Monday directed the state Home Secretary, Urban Development Secretary, DGP and municipal commissioner to appear before it in a case related to the cattle menace on the roads across the state.Earlier, a bench of Chief Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice Shastri had intended to pass an order to make the authorities appear before the court, but the government requested not to pass a judicial order. The state also assured them that those summoned will remain present on Tuesday.The court was hearing a PIL and contempt of court pleas related to cattle menace across the state.The state and the AMC filed a reply outlining the steps taken by them to address the issue. However, the high court was not satisfied with the same despite the state’s representation that the government is serious about the matter.On the other hand, the AMC also submitted a memorandum that the kin of Bhavin Patel who succumbed to cow assault in Naroda will be paid financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh.Petitioner Amit Panchal submitted similar compensation should be paid in all cases across the state.

MOO THEM AWAY!
Tag pics of stray cattle on road, call up helpline: Traffic police
Ahmedabad Mirror | 1 month ago | |
Ahmedabad Mirror
1 month ago | |

The city traffic police on Saturday said that they have booked 59 cattle owners under section 188 of CrPC for letting loose their cattle on city roads. This was done in coordination with the AMC. They also impounded 80 stray cattle in the last 23 days.The action comes days after the state government rolled back the Cattle Control Bill in the assembly following protests by the Maldhari Samaj.DCP (Traffic) Safin Hasan said they are also meeting cattle owners and leaders from the Maldhari Samaj to create awareness about not letting cattle roam on the roads. “However if they continue to do so they will be booked under more stringent sections of the IPC,” said Hasan.He said they have made efforts to ensure that roads remain free of cattle and citizens who find stray cattle on roads can directly tag him on Twitter with a picture of the cattle, the area and the locality.Traffic JCP Mayanksinh Chavda said that people can also use helpline numbers 1095 and 100 to report cattle menace. Hasan said they have also identified areas affected by cattle menace.“We have deployed a team in coordination with the AMC’s Cattle Nuisance Control Department (CNCD) which is working in three shifts. The mostaffected areas are Odhav, Naroda, Vadaj and different sections of SP Ring Road,” he said.

Tag pics of stray cattle on road, call up helpline: Traffic police
Ahmedabad: Vadaj man held for duping Americans
Times of India | 1 month ago | |
Times of India
1 month ago | |

AHMEDABAD: A Vadaj resident, Harshal Shah, was arrested for allegedly running a con call centre from his residence in Simandhar Estate in the area. Shah allegedly duped US nationals by calling them from his home, offering cheap loans. "Shah would pretend to be an employee of a US bank and offer loans. He had been running the 'con call centre' for four months," said a Vadaj police official, Prakashsingh Sursingh, who registered a complaint against Shah for cheating, breach of trust and cheating by impersonation. Vadaj police accompanied by two witnesses raided the house of Shah after getting a tip-off that Shah had stored illegal liquor in his house. During the search operation, police found five bottles of Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) in the house. The police team said that they found a laptop displaying some numbers at the house during the raid. On interrogation, Shah told police that he used to call US citizens on Zoom and offer them cheap loans. He used to collect money from the American victims through gift cards, police officials said. The cops requisitioned the services of a computer expert who checked the data on the laptop. The expert told police team the device contained phone numbers of US citizens and letterheads of US banks. Police arrested Shah and registered a case against him late on Wednesday night.

Ahmedabad: Vadaj man held for duping Americans
Loan scam: Ahd man held for duping Americans
Times of India | 1 month ago | |
Times of India
1 month ago | |

AHMEDABAD: A Vadaj resident, Harshal Shah, was arrested for allegedly running a con call centre from his residence in Simandhar Estate in the area. Shah allegedly duped US nationals by calling them from his home, offering cheap loans. "Shah would pretend to be an employee of a US bank and offer loans. He had been running the 'con call centre' for four months," said a Vadaj police official, Prakashsingh Sursingh, who registered a complaint against Shah for cheating, breach of trust and cheating by impersonation. Vadaj police accompanied by two witnesses raided the house of Shah after getting a tip-off that Shah had stored illegal liquor in his house. During the search operation, police found five bottles of Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) in the house. The police team said that they found a laptop displaying some numbers at the house during the raid. On interrogation, Shah told police that he used to call US citizens on Zoom and offer them cheap loans. He used to collect money from the American victims through gift cards, police officials said. The cops requisitioned the services of a computer expert who checked the data on the laptop. The expert told police team the device contained phone numbers of US citizens and letterheads of US banks. Police arrested Shah and registered a case against him late on Wednesday night.

Loan scam: Ahd man held for duping Americans
V-P to speak on higher education
Ahmedabad Mirror | 1 month ago | |
Ahmedabad Mirror
1 month ago | |

Vice-President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar will preside over an event, ‘Excellence in Higher Education’ organised by Gujarat Education Department and Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) on Friday.Governor Acharya Devvrat, CM Bhupendra Patel and Education Minister Jitu Vaghani will grace the event that will highlight Gujarat as an education hub.The Vice-President will felicitate a few startups/entrepreneurs from the fields of legal and environment domains apart from recently recruited judges of the state judiciary, officials in the education department said.He will e-dedicate and lay foundation stones of various projects and also launch the Centre of Excellence in Drone Technology at the Institute of Infras-tructure Technology Research and Management (IITRAM) Ahmedabad during this occasion.The Vice-President will also launch Wi-Fi enabled initiative apart from disbursement of grants under the SSIP 2.0 Scholarship to beneficiaries of the Mukhyamantri Yuva Swavalamban Yojana (MYSY).Gandhi Ashram road closed for traffic​​​​​​​Vice-President of India Jagdeep Dhankar will be visiting the Gandhi Ashram on Friday around 9am. So, the road from Subhash Bridge to Gandhi Ashram and from there to Vadaj Circle will be closed for vehicles till he leaves the place.City police chief Sanjay Srivastava’s stated that commuters can use the alternative route from Prabodh Raval Circle to Ranip to Palak T Junction and turn left towards New Vadaj Police Chowky and then to Vadaj Circle.

V-P to speak on higher education
Thank you, Mr Prime Minister!
Ahmedabad Mirror | 1 month ago | |
Ahmedabad Mirror
1 month ago | |

Amdavadis wish and pray that Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits his home state often. This is not only out of love and respect for PM Modi but positive change his visits bring in their daily lives.While most roads continue to break the backs of citizens, certain patches through which the VIP convoys pass are resurfaced in 6 hours flat, ahead ofthe visit.The road from Helmet crossroads to Vijay crossroads was resurfaced last week, ahead of PM Modi’s visit as his convoy was to pass through it for inauguration of the West-East Metro route between Thaltej and Apparel Park. Similarly, the road from Shahpur to Income Tax bridge was resurfaced as it crosses Sabarmati Riverfront and presents a pleasant view from the Metro train. Roads like Ranip to Vadaj, Stadium, Commerce Six Roads and others, that fall on the Metro route, continue to be in poor shape as they are yet to be used for VIP movement.The condition of roads on eastern side of Sabarmati, including Dariapur and Kalupur, continue to be potholed and broken. The only bright spot is offered by the roads between the airport and the Civil Hospital which was used by PM Modi to inaugurate a few projects. The fresh yellow paint on dividers, and repaired tree nets, offers a refreshing view along the entire route. If only it were true for the entire city!​​​​​​​The road near Navroj Hall and from Ghevar Circle to Dafnala in Shahibaug also sports a new look. The commuters on this route are happy as their backs will now be safe during driving. A senior AMC official admitted that roads on the VIP route get priority for resurfacing work. He was quick to add that repairs of other roads will soon be taken up after being halted by late season rainfall. The AMC spent Rs 12 crore for making arrangements for Prime Minister’s programmes which were held in the city in the last ten days. The first programme was when the PM launched the Metro train at Thaltej and the second was the inauguration of various facilities at Civil Hospital at his hands. According to a senior official, the expenses incurred costs of resurfacing roads, setting up lights and other facilities at PM Modi’s venues.AMC to have its own hotmix plantThe Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation will have its own hotmix plant. A plot of land has been identified near Pirana for the plant and tenders have been issued, chairman of Roads and Building Committee Mahadev Desai said. The cost of the project would be around Rs 8 crore and it will make AMC self-sufficient in its needs for hot mix. AMC had set up a plant two decades ago but it closed down subsequently.It’s normal to see roads repaired only before VIP visits. Citizens pay taxes but rampant corruption and indifference takes a toll on roads.–Seema Kumar, Gota resident

Thank you, Mr Prime Minister!
Red Cross to set up medical centres in 33 dists of state
Ahmedabad Mirror | 1 month ago | |
Ahmedabad Mirror
1 month ago | |

As part of a major healthcare initiative, the Indian Red Cross Society in Gujarat will set up a medical centre in each of the 33 districts and provide healthcare facilities at nominal prices.Its centre in Vadaj area of Ahmedabad has ultra-modern equipment and conducts tests at reasonable price. It has recently got a new genetic testing machine, blood profile testing machine besides new and latest equipment for physiotherapy. The centre has specialised cervical cancer testing facilities which conducts tests at nominal price. For example, mammography is done here for only Rs 800 using laser technology that can detect even small spots of cancerous cells.The centre has a facility for collecting blood samples for testing from home free. The Indian Red Cross Society is set up with the aim of helping people and would provide medical test facilities at low prices, chairman of the society Ajay Patel said.He said that there is a plan to set up blood banks in nearly 25 districts so that patients can get blood easily. Talking about various projects, Patel said training programmes for volunteers are also being conducted at a nominal fee of Rs 200. This programme can be done both online and offline and is important for pre-hospitalisation treatment. The society has developed an app for it.The app keeps digital records of patients which helps in their treatment. The society has developed many apps which will be launched soon, he added.Mishandling of patients causes spinal injuryin 45% cases, so training volunteers essentialSympathy and concern to help people in case of disasters causes damage to affected people. When people are trapped, say in debris or are drowning, they are pulled by others to save their lives. But inappropriate movement causes spinal damage in nearly 45 percent of cases. Therefore, training of volunteers is necessary and it should be done at school-college levels.​​​​​​​

Red Cross to set up medical centres in 33 dists of state
Husband booked for abetting constable wife’s suicide
Ahmedabad Mirror | 2 months ago | |
Ahmedabad Mirror
2 months ago | |

A day after a woman police constable died by suicide at her rented residence in Ranip, her husband, who also is a police constable, has been booked for abetting the suicide. An FIR was registered at Ranip police station.The deceased, Bhavna Dabi, had joined the police force as an armed police constable in 2016. Her husband Bhadresh Dabi was posted as police constable with the Vadaj police. Due to this, Bhavna also took a transfer to Ahmedabad.As per the police complaint, there used to be frequent fights between the couple. As matters escalated, Bhadresh allegedly started objecting to Bhavna going to her parents’ place. About a week ago when Bhavna wanted to visit her father’s place in Bhavnagar, Bhadresh dropped her off at the bus stand. She returned to her husband’s place within a couple of days.On Thursday morning, her father received a call from Bhadresh who asked him to take her back home owing to a recent fight between the two. Later Bhavna told her father that she was being confined inside the house by her husband and also stopped from going to work. She told her father that she was coming to his place. Later in the evening, she hanged herself. Her parents were called and an FIR was filed.

Husband booked for abetting constable wife’s suicide
  • Ahmedabad: Cop booked for wife’s suicide

    • Times of India

    AHMEDABAD: A day after a 26-year-old woman cop posted with Shahibaug police headquarters hanged herself, Ranip police booked her husband, a constable with Vadaj police, for abetment. Pravin Dabhi, 52, a diamond worker from Bhavnagar, said in his FIR that his daughter Bhavna had joined the police in 2016 and was first posted with Surat police. Bhavna married Bhadresh Dabhi, posted with Ahmedabad police, in 2021. Soon after their marriage, Bhadresh began harassing and beating Bhavna over petty domestic issues, said Pravin. He said that Bhavna was transferred from Surat to Ahmedabad in April, and the couple began living at a rented house in Ranip. Pravin told police, "On September 12, Bhavna insisted that Bhadresh drop her at her parents' house in Bhavnagar, but he fought with her. Later, he left her near her parents' house and went away." "When Bhavna returned on Thursday, Bhadresh allegedly fought with her. On Thursday evening, we got a call about her death," he said.

Shah says Gujarat is a role model in implementing welfare schemes while inaugurating Anupam schools
The Indian Express | 2 months ago | |
The Indian Express
2 months ago | |

Gujarat has become a model of development in the country due to smooth implementation of various schemes for public welfare and assistance in almost every sector, said Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Gandhinagar Sunday.“Before the BJP rule in the state, the drop-out ratio in primary education was 37 per cent. This has come down to less than 3 per cent during the BJP rule. Earlier, only 67 out of every 100 children were enrolled in schools, that is, only 40 per cent of children were getting primary education. Today, this has reached 100 per cent and nearly zero per cent drop-out rate,” Shah said addressing the public at the inauguration of four smart schools by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC).As part of the “untiring efforts of the then Chief Minister and current Prime Minister Narendrabhai Modi and innovative approaches in the field of primary education” such as shala praveshotsav, kanya kelavani, gunotsav and teachers training, Gujarat is an example in the country today in the education sector. This is the beginning of a new chapter in primary education in Gujarat, he added.Shah’s statements came amid Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia hitting out at the Gujarat government and the BJP for the alleged poor state of education in the state.In a veiled reference to Kejriwal’s recent rallies in Gujarat, the Union Minister said there were two types of people with the assembly elections around the corner—one, who work hard and sweat for five years and through jan seva and their public work, contest elections through political parties, and the second, those who get new kurta-pyajama stitched and come out in public with promises five months ahead of elections. “Gujarat people know the karya sanskriti well,” he added.Lashing out at the Congress, Shah said, “As elections approach, the Congress will come out and talk about caste and religion and new promises. It is their habit. At the same time, I also know that Gujarat knows everyone—Congress, BJP and importantly, Narendra Modi. Under Modi’s guidance, the 20 years of development will continue for another five years.”There was no law and order in the state during the Congress rule and that changed after Modi became the chief minister, he said.He added that after the BJP government came to power, curfew has become a thing of the past. “When children are asked about curfew in exams, they don’t know the answer as they have not experienced curfew in the last 20 years,” he said.He emphasised that villages of Gujarat now have round-the-clock electricity, unlike 20 years ago. “Gujarat people keep a hisab kitab of what has been done in 20 years. I would like to tell the youth that they have not seen the Congress rule. Don’t do any such thing that turns out to be a mistake and lose your peace. Ask your elders how Gujarat was earlier and how the BJP has turned it (around),” the minister said.Shah, along with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, virtually inaugurated four Anupam (smart) schools—Gandhinagar School Number 2 Nava Vadaj, Naranpura Gujarati School Number 6, Ghatlodia School number 2 and Thaltej School number 2—prepared at a total cost of Rs 9.54 crore by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation School Board at an event in Nava Vadaj.Around 3,200 children from poor and middle-class families of the city will benefit from the 20 Anupam schools constructed of which four were launched Sunday. Currently, AMC school board has a total of 459 schools with an enrollment of 1.7 lakh.Newsletter | Click to get the day’s best explainers in your inboxTaking forward the slogan of at least one smart school in each ward, AMC School Board has plans to start 63 more Anupam schools by November, Chairman Sujoy Mehta told this newspaper. “As per the plan, nearly 1.5 lakh children will benefit from the smart schools in the coming days who would get education using technology and latest devices that are used in a private school,” he said.The government aims to provide quality basic education to the poor and middle class children of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar through its 83 smart schools. The first smart school came up at Kankaria Municipal School Number 5 and 6 in 2019.

Shah says Gujarat is a role model in implementing welfare schemes while inaugurating Anupam schools
WHAT THE FLOOD!
Ahmedabad Mirror | 3 months ago | |
Ahmedabad Mirror
3 months ago | |

After a lull for a couple of days, rains lashed the city on Thursday morning. Within 3 hours, the city received an average of 26mm of rain, inundating many areas. The East Zone received the highest rain during the day with nearly 1.5 inch of rain, leaving many areas flooded. Viratanagar received the highest 70 mm of rain, followed by Odhav with 53.50 mm and Chakudiya with 45 mm of rain. South Zone received 47.75 mm with heavy rains witnessed in Maninagar and Vatva areas. In the West Zone, areas of Ambawadi, Panchvati, Gota, Sabarmati, Juhapura, Vadaj were flooded after a downpour.

WHAT THE FLOOD!
8 children rescued from metro construction site
Ahmedabad Mirror | 3 months ago | |
Ahmedabad Mirror
3 months ago | |

Activists and police rescued several child labourers, including six girls, from the Vadaj construction site of Ahmedabad Metro Rail, a government undertaking, while they were hauling bricks and ferrying construction material on Wednesday evening.The metro project is executed via a Special Purpose Vehicle Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation (GMRC). Its officials, however, were unaware about the discovery of child labourers at one of its construction sites.The six girls and two boys, all minors, were rescued by the NGOs Bachpan Bachao Andolan and International Human Rights Council in conjunction with the Anti Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) of Ahmedabad Police and FFWC, the volunteer organisation of CID Crime.The FIR, filed at Vadaj police station in Ahmedabad, states that all those rescued were between 13 and 17 years of age. The children used to toil from 8.30 am to 6 pm and were paid Rs 300 daily wage.Activists claimed they had seen a larger number of children at the construction side a day earlier.Police booked Manilal, Prem and Madiya Bhuriyo under IPC section 374 for unlawful compulsory labour, section 3 and 14 of the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act for employment of children, and section 79 of the Juvenile Justice Act for exploitation of a child employee. All the three are supervisors deputed by the contractor.A day later, when asked if these accused had been identified and apprehended by police, Naranpura PI Amitkumar Jadav, who is in charge of Vadaj police station, said, “We have appointed a female PSI to investigate the case. We are still trying to identify the three accused and bring them in for questioning.”Seven of the rescued children are from Dahod district, while one is from Banswara district of Rajasthan.Of the six girls, four are from Patiya village of Garbada taluka, one is from Dasla, Gangardi panchayat of Garbada taluka, and one is from Ambakach village of Dhanpur taluka of Dahod. Of the two boys, one is from Kaliyawad village of Dhanpur taluka in Dahod and the other is from a village in Banswada, Rajasthan.Ahmedabad Collector Sandip Sagale said, “An FIR has already been filed and I’ve ordered a probe by a labour officer too. Meanwhile, we are looking at the rehabilitation of the children. While three of them have been handed over to their parents, others are in protection of the state.”When asked about the onus of liability in this case, DCP Zone 1 Lavina Sinha said, “The sub-contractor who hired the children is liable the most. We have to then check whether their superiors in the chain of command were aware about employment of children in construction work. Only then can the liability be fixed.”Pushkar Singla, General Manager of Coordination at GMRC, when informed that child labourers had been rescued from a metro construction site, said, “We will inquire about the incident and ensure action is taken against the consultant company as per the contract agreement.”

8 children rescued from metro construction site
Ahmedabad: 46-year-old attacked with sickle in Vadaj
Times of India | 3 months ago | |
Times of India
3 months ago | |

AHMEDABAD: A 46-year-old man from the Vadaj area of the city on Sunday filed a complaint against his neighbour for attacking him with a sickle in which he suffered injuries on his hand late on Saturday night. Jagdish Gupta, a resident of Shivshaktinagar society in Vadaj, said that his neighbour Rajkumar Gupta first attacked him with the sickle and then damaged his motorcycle as he was aggrieved with Jagdish for interfering in his family disputes. Jagdish said that he works with a pharmacy store in Vadaj and also as a salesman of a wholesale business of another pharmacist in Vadaj. He said that Rajkumar used to fight with his wife and mother over petty domestic issues. Many times, Jagdish had rescued Rajkumar's wife and mother from him, states the FIR. On Saturday evening also, Rajkumar had a brawl with his wife and mother after which Jagdish intervened and rescued them. Jagdish later went to his workplace and when he was parking his motorcycle, he spotted Rajkumar holding a sickle just behind him. Rajkumar began fighting with him for interfering in his family dispute and then attacked him with the sickle and injured him badly. Jagdish screamed for help and some local residents rushed there and rescued him. Jagdish later approached Vadaj police and filed a complaint of causing grievous hurt and causing damage against Rajkumar. TNN

Ahmedabad: 46-year-old attacked with sickle in Vadaj
34-year-old held for stalking Satellite doctor in Ahmedabad
Times of India | 3 months ago | |
Times of India
3 months ago | |

AHMEDABAD: A 34-year-old man from the Vadaj area of the city was booked by police on Sunday for allegedly stalking and harassing a dermatologist from Satellite. He had been pursuing the woman relentlessly for three years since they met each other through a matrimonial website. According to Satellite police officials, the dermatologist, who runs a clinic in Anandnagar, had posted her profile on a matrimonial site. In 2019, the accused, Parth Patel, who works with a private firm, contacted her and proposed marriage. The complainant met him a couple of times and told him that they are not compatible, and therefore marriage was out of question. Despite the complainant clearly communicating her disinterest, Patel allegedly continued to pester her to keep relations with him, said Inspector DB Mehta of Satellite police. Mehta said that Patel started stalking her whenever she went to her clinic and other places. He even started calling her using different mobile numbers. Whenever she blocked his number, he would buy another sim card. The calls and messages from him never ceased. In 2021, she even contacted his sister and other family members and requested their intervention in the matter. They assured her that he would stop bothering her. But that did not happen. Patel would turn up at her clinic as a patient, and even took his friends and relatives to her clinic seeking consultation. Whenever he met her, he asked her to either have relations with him or to marry him, the FIR mentioned. Fed up with the harassment, the woman approached Satellite police and filed a complaint of stalking and sexual harassment against Patel. Mehta said that the cops have arrested Patel and begun investigation.

34-year-old held for stalking Satellite doctor in Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad: ‘Euphoria, non-stop celebrations rendered us sleepless that night’
Times of India | 3 months ago | |
Times of India
3 months ago | |

AHMEDABAD: For Dashrath Patel, 17 when India got independence in 1947, the days of August 14 and 15 were intertwined. "There was too much excitement with rallies, euphoria, and non-stop celebrations, as everyone would greet others, some would distribute sweets and shops would be open till late," said Patel who had left school to participate in 1942 Quit India movement. "I think nobody must have slept that night." As India celebrates its 75th Independence Day on Monday, the nonagenarians of the city remembered the historic moment experienced through their eyes. "It surely feels like another era with a sense of nationalism sweeping across the society. In city areas of Ahmedabad, the celebrations were more pronounced with various flag-hoisting events," recounts Patel, a 92-year-old farmer who is now a settled with his children in Sanand. "The Har Ghar Tiranga campaign has brought back memories of the days when many of the residences were adorned with Tricolour soon after the independence." Sanyukta Pandya, now 94 and living at Jeevan Sandhya Ashram in Naranpura, said that she was a student at the time of independence. "As I had come to Ahmedabad to appear for exams, what I remember is cancellation of the exam fearing riots that were taking place in some other parts of the country. We were at Gujarat College when the flag hoisting had taken place by the volunteers. I remember the collective feeling that we finally got 'Swaraj' and we dreamed of a new India," she said. J C Makwana, a former official of Gujarat Police, recounted that the main event in Ahmedabad on August 15, 1947 had taken place at Lal Darwaza ground where City Committee president Ghulam Rasool Qureshi, collector Damri, SP Khode, DSP Suryakant Mehta, etc. had unfurled the Tricolour. The event was attended by many prominent citizens. "The celebrations had started from August 14 night where a cycle rally had taken place in Pol areas, a mashaal (torch) rally near Idgah and a major procession from Kalupur and Richie Road. The city basked in lights on August 14 and 15," mentioned his recollections. Himmat Badhiya, a 78-year-old resident of Vadaj, said that he was a child in 1947. "But I've grown up hearing about the independence and our fight for independence - four of my family members were freedom fighters and two had participated in the Dandi March events. Thus, I had often heard my father recounting the days leading to the independence and the celebration of it. We have also organized several events to create awareness about the right ways to unfurl tricolour earlier and this year," he said.

Ahmedabad: ‘Euphoria, non-stop celebrations rendered us sleepless that night’
Ahmedabad to get gift of Metro on Navratri
Ahmedabad Mirror | 3 months ago | |
Ahmedabad Mirror
3 months ago | |

Citizens of Ahmedabad will get the Navratri gift of Metro. The much-awaited train services are expected to begin by the third week of September. The work on phase-I of the project is nearing completion and trial runs of the trains on the North-South corridor have started.The Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) will conduct the final inspection next week. The CMRS team is expected to arrive on August 20 and will inspect the operations on the entire stretch of 40 kms.Once the inspection work is done, the Gujarat Metro Rail Service (GMRS) will have to do necessary paperwork to get final approval to launch the service.The compliance of CMRS can take up to 15-20 days and the services are likely to begin in late September, Managing Director of GMRS S S Rathod said. Work has been affected due to the monsoon. Trial runs are in progress and each train has to complete 320 kms of trial run before the actual operations can start.The project was scheduled to be completed in 2021 but Covid lockdown and some legal hurdles delayed the project. More than Rs 12,500 crore have already been spent on the project. The train will run on elevated platforms except in the Walled City where it is underground. There are four stations in the underground section- Kalupur, Shahpur, Gheekanta and Kankaria East.The phase-1 has two corridors. Corridor- 1 is from APMC to Motera stadium while corridor -2 is from Thaltej gam to Vastral gam, Rathore said. Corridor -1 will have stations at Jivraj park, Rajivnagar, Shreyas, Paldi, Gandhigram, Old High Court, Usmanpura, Vijaynagar, Vadaj, Ranip, Sabarmati Railway station, AEC, Sabarmati and Motera.While corridor- II will pass through Thaltej gam, Thaltej, Doordarshan Kendra, Gurukul Road, Gujarat University, Commerce six roads, S P Stadium, Old High Court, Shahpur, Gheekanta, Kalupur Metro station, Kankaria East, Apparel Park, Amraiwadi, Rabari Colony, Vastral, Nirant Crossroads, Vastral gam.Maximum fare to be Rs 25​​​​​​​The maximum fare in Metro trains would be Rs 25 while minimum would be Rs 5. The fares will be in multiples of Rs 5. The maximum fare of Rs 25 in corridor -I would be from APMC to Vastral and Motera to Apparel Park. While in corridor-II, Rs 25 would be the fare from Thaltej gam to Vastral, Nirant Crossroads and Vastral Gam. The fares for different stations would be Rs 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25.

Ahmedabad to get gift of Metro on Navratri
Ahmedabad: 40-year-old tries to knife daughter, wounds wife
Times of India | 3 months ago | |
Times of India
3 months ago | |

AHMEDABAD: A 35-year-old woman from Vadaj suffered cuts wounds on her face when she tried to prevent her husband from stabbing her 12-year-old daughter on Sunday evening, states a police complaint filed on Monday. Lakshmi Makwana, a resident of Hanumanpura chawl , in her FIR said she earns a living for her family by stitching clothes and has a daughter and a son. Lakshmi stated that her husband, Mahendra Makwana, 40, would often pick fights with her and doubt her fidelity. On Sunday, at around 6pm, Mahendra began fighting with Lakshmi over a petty issue. Their daughter intervened and told her father not to abuse her mother. Mahendra then got angry at his daughter, began abusing and beating her, the FIR states. He then went into the kitchen and came out with a knife and tried to attack his daughter with it. Lakshmi rushed in and grabbed Mahendra. He pushed her and struck her on her face, causing her to bleed severely, the FIR states. Lakshmi's daughter ran out and asked their neighbours for help. They rescued Lakshmi from Mahendra. TNN

Ahmedabad: 40-year-old tries to knife daughter, wounds wife
Existing sports facilities in ruins, AMC wants more
Times of India | 4 months ago | |
Times of India
4 months ago | |

AHMEDABAD: While the state government and city authorities have plans to set up international-standard sports facilities to host the 2036 Olympics, the sports facilities that have come up in the last decade are rotting due to the civic authorities' apathy. Ironically, while sports facilities such as swimming pools, skating rinks, volleyball and basketball courts that cost around a hundred crore are shut for years, the civic body has planned more facilities with much greater expense. One defunct facility is the swimming pool in Navrangpura, which has been shut for the last decade due to lack of maintenance. The pool is now almost full of debris. The skating rink costing Rs 1 crore in Juna Vadaj near MP ni Chaali has started resembling ruins of ancient Roman arenas. Similarly, the skating rink in Ghodasar has been closed for two years. Sources said ten such facilities built in the last decade by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) are now defunct or have not opened for the public at all. AUDA built volleyball-basketball courts at Bopal garden at a cost of Rs 4.5 crore. The garden and courts were handed over to AMC four and a half years ago but the courts have never been opened to the public. In the last decade, AMC sanctioned Rs 163.34 crore sports facilities in the city and by 2021-22 the civic body claims to have spent Rs 100.34 crore. In 2017-18, AMC planned to upgrade 14 swimming pools at a cost of Rs 20 crore. Under this project, the civic body claimed it would develop an Olympics-size pool in Sabarmati TP Scheme 23 and build new swimming pools in Chandkheda, Vastral and Ramol-Hathijan. The AMC sanctioned Rs 4.18 crore for building swimming pools in 2018-19. The AMC has upgraded 14 pools and built one in Vastral while two in Chandkheda and Ramol-Hathijan are being built. In 2019-20, AMC announced plans to set up 40 single and double tennis courts in areas such as Bodakdev, Thaltej, Gota, Paldi and Memnagar and sanctioned Rs 10 crore for this. Of these, 20 courts have been built but AMC has not found an agency to operate and maintain them and they have not been opened for the public. AMC scrapped the plan for building the remaining 20 courts. The civic body has started building a sports complex in Vastral at a cost of Rs 59 crore. The complex has an athletics track, football ground, four tennis courts, badminton court, basketball court, and five table tennis courts. The AMC also has plans of setting up a similar sports complex in Gota at an expense of Rs 59 crore.

Existing sports facilities in ruins, AMC wants more
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