Ahmedabad Vastral News

Ahmedabad civic body to tally RTO data with vehicle tax
Times of India | 2 weeks ago
Times of India
2 weeks ago

AHMEDABAD: The city civic body is in the process of getting access to the database of the Regional Transport Office (RTO) so its tax officials can cross verify vehicle tax data against vehicle registration. According to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) revenue department, the owners of 50,217 new vehicles registered in 2019 and 2020 did not pay vehicle tax. The department received this information from the RTO and verified with its records. The outstanding sum is around Rs 15 crore. “In 2019, 35,717 people registered new vehicles at the Subhash Bridge and Vastral RTOs but did not pay vehicle tax. In 2020, there were 14,500 such defaulters, for a total of 50,217. We have issued demand notices to 40,000,” said Jainik Vakil, chairman of the AMC revenue committee. He said the civic body asked for access to the RTO’s online system so registration and tax data can be matched. “We are about to get access. Once we do, we will be able to retrieve RTO data and match it with our own,” Vakil said. “Vehicle tax is usually included in the new vehicle bill at the dealership. People do not check their bills, which is why this situation has arisen. We appeal to people to check if vehicle tax is included in the bills when buying a vehicle,” Vakil said. He added that there’s no provision for penalizing vehicle tax defaulters. “We are considering introducing a penalty now,” he said.

Ahmedabad civic body to tally RTO data with vehicle tax
BJP worker’s murder: Smoking affidavit found
Times of India | 2 weeks ago
Times of India
2 weeks ago

Ahmedabad: City police investigating the murder of BJP worker Rakesh Mehta in Khadia by a small-time gangster Montu Namdar have determined that Mehta’s refusal to heed Namdar’s demand to file a false affidavit in a property dispute cost him his life.On the evening of June 8, Namdar along with Vishu Rami, Jayraj Desai and his two aides, and Sunil Bajania had bludgeoned Mehta to death with sticks and baseball bats near Hajira ni Pol in Khadia.The city police began an investigation into the case on a complaint filed by a resident of Anandnagar, Pavan Gandhi, with whose family Namdar had long-running disputes.According to police, the murder was spurred not by political rivalry but by a three-decade-long enmity over a marriage and two property disputes.In 1992, Namdar eloped with his cousin Namrata Gandhi, Pavan’s sister, and married her despite vehement objections from her family and community members.Sources in police said that Namrata’s uncle Rajesh Gandhi, her brother Pavan, and another relative Kumar Gandhi allegedly killed Namdar’s uncle Girish on February 7, 1993, as Girish had allegedly supported Namdar in marrying Namrata. The three were convicted and sentenced to life in jail. Pavan and Rajesh were released in 2006-07.In 2020, Namrata’s father Mukesh Gandhi made his will but her name did not figure in it. Namdar was furious. As Mehta, a close friend of Pavan’s family, signed the document as a witness, Namdar had a grudge against him.About four months ago, Namdar had filed a complaint with the economic offences wing of the city crime branch alleging that Pavan and his family had forged documents of properties located at Vatva-Gamdi village. The value of the properties was pegged at Rs 50 crore. Namdar had also filed a plea with the mamlatdar’s office in Vastral, which is pending at present.“Namdar was pressuring Mehta to file an affidavit in support of his pleas with police and the revenue officer. But Mehta constantly refused to do so after which Namdar planned to kill him in public view,” said a police officer.Namdar had allegedly acquired agricultural land in Vatva-Gamdi village regarding which the Gandhi family had filed a complaint alleging that Namdar had falsely showed himself as a farmer. Namdar had built a farmhouse on the land worth about Rs 100 crore from where he was caught by the city crime branch on June 9.The fight over the two properties and his wedding which Mehta never supported led to the murder, police said.

BJP worker’s murder: Smoking affidavit found
Ahmedabad: First Metro trial conducted on full north-south stretch
Times of India | 1 month ago
Times of India
1 month ago

Ahmedabad: For the first time, the Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar Metro rail sped on the north-south corridor, on Saturday, on a trial run covering the full 18.87km stretch. The corridor connects Gyaspur Depot to Motera.Metro officials said that they plan to roll out the service for the entire city from August 15 this year. The officials said further trials and other project-related protocols will be carried out to ensure the timely completion of work for train operations.Once all trials are completed on east-west and north-south corridors, the Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation will request the commissioner of metro rail safety for inspection of the depot and of the north-south corridor. The east-west corridor connects Vastral to Thaltej.The officials said the trial on the north-south corridor was conducted from Gyaspur Depot to Jivraj in March 2022. Thereafter, the trial stretched up to Vijaynagar.During Saturday’s trial, the train halted at Motera, Jivraj, Rajivnagar, Shreyas, Paldi, Gandhigram, Old High Court, Usmanpura, Vijaynagar, Vadaj, Ranip, AEC, and Sabarmati stations.Metro officials said that work is under progress in the east-west corridor from Apparel Park to Thaltej. The only stretch of the Metro that is currently functional is the 6.5km line from Vastral to Apparel Park.

Ahmedabad: First Metro trial conducted on full north-south stretch
Ahmedabad: She uploads display picture, husband threatens to kill her
Times of India | 1 month ago
Times of India
1 month ago

Ahmedabad: A 22-year-old Vastral woman has filed a police complaint stating that when she put up her display picture on an instant messaging app, her husband threatened to kill her unless she left the house.The woman filed a complaint with Ramol police on Sunday, a year into her marriage. Police have registered a case of domestic violence against her in-laws and her husband. The Dowry Act has been invoked too.The woman told police that she married in May 2021. She said that three months on, whenever she asked for money for household expenses, her husband abused and assaulted her. She stated that instead of intervening, her mother-in-law, father-in-law, and sister-in-law would abuse her and ask her to get Rs 2 lakh in dowry. They would tell her that she had not got enough ornaments.The woman said her parents’ response to her despair was the reassurance that conflicts would ease over time. On April 4, the woman had a serious quarrel with her husband and later went to her parents’ house in Vastral. She stated that while leaving her husband’s house she had told him that she would not return unless he promised to assume the common responsibilities of a husband.The woman said that her brother dropped her back at her in-laws’ house some time later, but they demanded Rs 2 lakh again and the harassment continued. She stated that on April 17 she put up her own photo as the display picture on the instant messaging app. She said that her in-laws called her brother and asked him to ensure that the picture was removed. She said that her husband asked her to leave and said he would kill her if she didn’t.Eventually on Sunday, the woman lodged a complaint.

Ahmedabad: She uploads display picture, husband threatens to kill her
Gujarat HC flays ONGC for paying meagre rent, not acquiring land
Times of India | 2 months ago
Times of India
2 months ago

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat high court on Tuesday castigated the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC) for paying a meagre sum as rent to a landowner, and leaving him in limbo by not buying the land parcel outright for years together, even as its value keeps multiplying because it is now in an Ahmedabad town planning scheme. The bench of Chief Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice Ashutosh Shastri directed ONGC to complete in one year the acquisition process for the 10,034-square-metre plot in Vastral, which has been in its possession, on temporary acquisition for oil extraction, since 1996. The court also ordered ONGC to consider raising the rent, from the present Rs 30 per square metre per year to Rs 12,000 per square metre per year, within a month. The case involves one Manu Bharwad, who bought the land in 2005 with ONGC operations continuing on it. From 1996, ONGC had been paying rent at the rate of Rs 24 per year per square metre. In 2016, Bharwad approached the high court seeking directions to ONGC to either return his land or permanently acquire it because the meagre rent was nothing but exploitation. ONGC promised the court that it would carry out permanent acquisition and the case was disposed of in 2017. However, ONGC did not act for four years, although it did increase the rent from Rs 24 to Rs 30. Bharwad filed another petition last year. He reiterated his demand and submitted that the Ahmedabad Metro Rail Corporation pays rent of Rs 1,000 per month per square metre for land near his plot, but he gets only Rs 30 per year. ONGC again promised permanent acquisition, but the court was critical of its assurances saying, “Its assurance should be taken with a pinch of salt.” The court termed ONGC’s affidavit “vague, bald and bereft of the minimum necessary particulars” and said that ONGC’s arbitrariness was writ large on this case.

Gujarat HC flays ONGC for paying meagre rent, not acquiring land
Gujarat govt pushes to drop Hardik Patel case
Times of India | 2 months ago
Times of India
2 months ago

Ahmedabad: A day after a metropolitan court rejected the state government’s request to allow it to withdraw a criminal case involving Gujarat Congress working president, Hardik Patel, the prosecution approached the city sessions challenging the lower court’s order by terming it “wrong and contrary to the provisions of law”.The case in question is an FIR lodged by Vastral municipal councillor, Paresh Patel, with Ramol police on March 20, 2017 accusing Hardik and 18 others of rioting, unlawful assembly, and criminal conspiracy. Patel had accused a mob of attacking his house past midnight, burning down his nameplate and a flag, as well as abusing him and his family. He named 15 people, including Patel and other Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leaders, including Geeta Patel. A charge sheet was filed against 21 persons and a criminal case is pending against 19 of them. Patel’s discharge application was rejected in this case.The metropolitan court had rejected the government’s application to withdraw the case, stating that the government could not establish that its withdrawal was in the public interest and in the interest of justice. It also decided to go ahead with proceedings and posted the case for framing of charges on May 2.Against the rejection, public prosecutor Sudhir Brahmbhatt filed a revision application, stating that the alleged offence was not committed against the central government; neither was it being probed by an investigation agency established under the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act. There was no central government property which got damaged in this case. Hence, the state government can seek withdrawal of the case under section 321 of the CrPC.It was further argued that the state government has decided to withdraw cases related to the 2015 Patidar reservation agitation in the interest of people at large, and many cases from different courts of the city have been withdrawn following the government’s decision. During the rioting in 2015, 537 FIRs were filed across the state, public property worth Rs 44.5 crore was damaged and 15 persons had lost their lives.

Gujarat govt pushes to drop Hardik Patel case
Gujarat government's plea to withdraw Hardik Patel case rejected
Times of India | 2 months ago
Times of India
2 months ago

Ahmedabad: In a setback to Hardik Patel, working president of Gujarat Congress, a metropolitan court on Monday rejected the state government’s request to withdraw a criminal complaint filed against him and 17 others by Ramol police in 2017. Rejecting the government’s application to withdraw the case, additional chief metropolitan magistrate V D Modh ordered that the accused remain present in court on May 2 for the framing of charges. Patel and the others had been booked for rioting, unlawful assembly, criminal intimidation and criminal conspiracy on March 20, 2017, based on a complaint by the Vastral municipal councillor, Paresh Patel. He had stated that a mob attacked his house, burned his name plate and a flag, and abused him and his family. He named 15 persons as accused: Patel and other Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leaders, including Geeta Patel. A chargesheet was filed against 21 persons and a criminal case is pending against 18 of them. Patel’s discharge application has been rejected. The state government sought withdrawal of the case “in public interest and in the interest of justice”. The court, prima facie, refused to accept the government’s contention in the absence of evidence or an explanation. While rejecting the request for withdrawal, the court said, “There is no public interest served if the case is withdrawn. If the case is permitted to be withdrawn without intimation to the victim, it would be an injustice to the victim. If there is a compromise between the accused persons and the victim, there is a provision under Section 320 of CrPC for it. Moreover, there is no explanation from the prosecution on how public interest or the interest of justice is served if the case is permitted to be withdrawn.” During the rioting in 2015 after Patel was detained on August 25, from GMDC ground, some 537 FIRs had been filed across the state, public property worth Rs 44.5 crore was damaged, and 15 persons lost their lives. As part of mending ways with the Patidar community — which appeared disenchanted with the ruling BJP following the violence and police action — the state government in 2016-17 announced that it would withdraw cases registered during the Patidar agitation.Meanwhile, the Congress leader has been facing trial in sedition cases filed in Ahmedabad and Surat.

Gujarat government's plea to withdraw Hardik Patel case rejected
1st phase Metro to be operational from Aug
Ahmedabad Mirror | 2 months ago
Ahmedabad Mirror
2 months ago

The first phase of the ambitious Metro rail project will become fully operational in the city in August this year. Last week, the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) checked the tracks and system of Metro rail and gave its approval.The trial run of the train in the western stretch from Gyaspur to Jivraj park station has been successfully completed. A senior official of Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation (GMRC) told Mirror that soon the Commissioner Metro Safety Rail (CMRS) will arrive for final inspection and approval. Once CMRS certifies, the operations will commence.The start of the first phase services will coincide with Amrut Mahotsav, which celebrates 75 years of Independence.Initially, 32 pairs of trains will run with three coaches on each track. The number of coaches will be increased to six, looking at the demand, he said.The frequency of trains will also depend on the number of passengers taking the ride.The 39.26 km Ahmedabad Metro Phase 1 project comprises two lines and 32 stations. It is being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 10,773 crore. The 20.73 km Line-1 (East-West or Blue Line) connects Vastral Gam and Thaltej Gam with 17 stations in between. It has a 6.5-km underground section with four underground stations. The 18.87 km Line 2 (North-South corridor or Red Line from APMC Vasna to Motera will have 15 stations.The government has approved 28.254 km Ahmedabad Metro Phase 2 project comprising 2 corridors at an estimated cost of Rs 5384.17 crore. The first corridor of phase 2 is expected to be operational by 2024.Metro Stationsl Gyaspurl Jivraj parkl APMCl Rajiv Nagarl Paldil Shreyasl Thaltejl Doordarshan Kendral Gurukul Roadl Gujarat universityl Commerce Six Roadsl Stadiuml Usmanpural Old High Courtl Shahpurl GheeKantal Kalupur Railway stationl Kankaria East

1st phase Metro to be operational from Aug
Traffic lights in city are not timed according to flow of vehicles: Study
Times of India | 2 months ago
Times of India
2 months ago

Ahmedabad: If you feel that you have to wait for a long time at traffic junctions, then you are probably right. At present, the traffic signal phasing at most junctions has been fixed not as per the volume of traffic approaching a junction, but according to the “ground situation” or notional experience of cops in the city. This was revealed in a detailed study conducted by the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) in Ahmedabad city for the first time.The study also pointed out that nine of the total 37 junctions examined by CRRI had traffic cycles exceeding 300 seconds. “As may be seen, the traffic cycle length at some of the intersections is more than 300 seconds, indicating that the traffic at these signals is too heavy to be handled by traffic signals,” claims the CRRI study. In fact, the institute has advised that these should be converted into grade-separated intersections ( to manage traffic. Some of junctions that witness more than 300 seconds of wait time include Victoria garden (300 sec), Ghodasar (335 sec), Karnavati club (300 sec), Vastral (300 sec), Vijay Park (345 sec), Thakkarbapanagar (300 sec), Rabari colony (345 sec), and Jashodanagar (345 sec).To curtail this situation, the CRRI has proposed to improve signalization through measures like reasonably short traffic cycle length, providing proper offsets and proper splits in traffic light cycles. “Sometimes, when there is too much traffic, then options such as equity offsets should be considered,” adds the CRRI report. Recently, members of the traffic coordination committee meeting at the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) noted the need for a “well-timed, coordinated traffic light system that permits continuous movement along main arterial road networks with minimum stops and delays. According to the minutes of the meeting, the move “will reduce fuel consumption and improve air quality”.

Traffic lights in city are not timed according to flow of vehicles: Study
RTO senior clerk booked for fraud of Rs 1.83 crore
Ahmedabad Mirror | 2 months ago
Ahmedabad Mirror
2 months ago

A senior clerk working in the Vastral RTO, who also had additional charge of head cashier, was booked by Ramol police for allegedly siphoning over Rs 1 crore that was supposed to be deposited in the government treasury. The misappropriation came to light after an enquiry by the transport department.M N Prajapati, a senior clerk in Vastral RTO, was responsible for depositing money generated from cash transactions in the government treasuries.Last month, an official from Gandhinagar transport commissionerate visited Vastral RTO over misappropriation in handling of the cash. Prajapati was removed from his additional charge of head cashier and investigation revealed that about Rs 1.83 crore for three financial years from 2019 to 2022 had not been deposited by the Vastral RTO.Later, when the ARTO questioned Prajapati, he confessed that he deposited only Rs 23.81 lakh in the government accounts and not the remaining amount. An FIR was registered against him by the Vastral ARTO.AM

RTO senior clerk booked for fraud of Rs 1.83 crore
  • Vastral RTO head cashier embezzles 1.83cr over 3 years

    • Times of India

    Ahmedabad: Scrutiny of tax revenue at the Vastral Regional Transport Office (RTO) revealed that Rs 1.83 crore had been siphoned off between January 2019 and February 2022. The discrepancy was noticed by the office of the transport commissioner when they found that revenue from the Vastral RTO was falling and ordered an audit on February 5, 2022. The audit led to M N Prajapati, the head cashier of the RTO, who allegedly simply pocketed the cash, a police official said on Monday. Of the Rs 1.83 crore, Prajapati returned Rs 94.14 lakh between February 16 and March 11, in 11 tranches, but is yet to return Rs 89.02 lakh. He was suspended on March 21, said Inspector C R Rana of Ramol police station. “A case of criminal breach of trust by a public servant was registered against Prajapati on Sunday, based on the complaint by an assistant regional transport officer, Kanaksinh Parmar. No arrest has been made so far,” Rana said. According to the FIR, Prajapati was responsible for collection of tax from vehicle owners in the jurisdiction of Vastral RTO, which serves residents of the eastern part of Ahmedabad city. “He was to deposit the cash collected in the RTO’s bank account every day. He would deposit only part of it and keep the rest. The embezzlement came to light when the transport commissioner’s office in Gandhinagar noticed a drop in revenue and had an audit conducted,” the complaint said. Confronted by his superior officials, Prajapati admitted to the crime and returned Rs 94.14 lakh in parts between February and March. However, when he stopped depositing the money on March 11, the authorities decided to place him under suspension and lodged a police complaint.

  • Gujarat: Head cashier of Vastral RTO in Ahmedabad booked for swindling Rs 1.83 cr

    • Nyoooz

    Ahmedabad, Apr 11 (PTI) The head cashier of Vastral Regional Transport Office (RTO) in Gujarat"s Ahmedabad city was booked for allegedly siphoning off Rs 1.83 crore between January 2019 and February 2022, a police official said on Monday. Of the Rs 1.83 crore, a sum of Rs 94.14 lakh has been returned by accused MN Prajapati, while he was yet to pay back the remaining Rs 89.02 crore, due to which he was suspended last month, said Inspector CR Rana of Ramol police station. "A case under IPC section 309, which deals with criminal breach of trust by public servants, was registered against Prajapati on Sunday on the complaint of Assistant Regional Transport Officer KD Parmar. No arrest has been made as yet," Rana said. As per the complaint, Prajapati was responsible for collection of taxes from vehicle owners in the jurisdiction of Vastral RTO, which caters to residents living in eastern part of Ahmedabad city. "He was supposed to deposit the collected amount into the RTO"s SBI account on a daily basis. He would deposit only a small amount. The irregularities committed by Prajapati came to light when the Transport Commissioner"s office in Gandhinagar, which controls all the RTOs, noticed a drop in Vastral RTO"s collection and got an audit conducted," Parmar has said in the complaint. When confronted by higher authorities, Prajapati admitted to his crime and returned Rs 94.14 lakh in installments to the treasury between February and March. However, when he stopped depositing money after March 11, authorities decided to place him under suspension and lodge a police complaint against him. PTI PJT BNM BNMYour support to NYOOOZ will help us to continue create and publish news for and from smaller cities, which also need equal voice as much as citizens living in bigger cities have through mainstream media organizations.

6.11 lakh used metrorail in three years
Times of India | 2 months ago
Times of India
2 months ago

Ahmedabad: If the metrorail authorities are to be believed, a total of 6.11 lakh people rode on the metro in the last three years. The Ahmedabad metro currently runs only on a 6.5-km stretch, between Vastral Gam and Apparel Park, in the east of the city.Officials said total fares from these 6.11 lakh passengers was Rs 51.21 lakh. The average fare per passenger was Rs 9.52, with a daily passenger average of 559.Officials said during the lockdown from April to August 2020, there were no riders. The number of passengers in the next four months was below 5,000 a month. Officials said the most passengers used the metro in May 2019, where about 50,000 users paid Rs 4.93 lakh for tickets. Metro officials plan to open the first phase of the project in August. At present, other than the 6.5km operational stretch, pre-trials are being conducted between the Gyaspur depot and Jivraj Park station. Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation (GMRC) told the state assembly that it is yet to acquire 0.48 hectares of land in the city for the first phase of the project.

6.11 lakh used metrorail in three years
Woman gets kidnapped by mom, husband files complaint
Ahmedabad Mirror | 2 months ago
Ahmedabad Mirror
2 months ago

A 24-year-old youth has registered an FIR with the Sarkhej police station against his in-laws for allegedly kidnapping his wife and threatening him with a knife. The couple recently got married against the wish of the woman’s family.Lalit Khandvi (24), a resident of Sarkhej, met Bharuch resident Simran Multani four years ago at a friend’s wedding. The two began to meet regularly during Simran’s frequent visits to the city.They soon fell in love and last December Simran told Lalit that her family had arranged her marriage. The couple then eloped to Delhi where they got married. They returned to the city and first lived in Vastral but some time later moved back to Lalit’s place in Sarkhej.On Wednesday, Simran’s mother Zulebanu, brother in-laws Javen and Taiyab along with three others visited the couple’s house and forcefully kidnapped Simran in a car. When Lalit tried to intervene they threatened him with a knife and pushed him. Lalit then approached the cops for help.AM

Woman gets kidnapped by mom, husband files complaint
  • Womans family kidnaps her, assaults husband

    • Times of India

    Ahmedabad: A 24-year-old man from Sarkhej has accused three of his wife’s family members of abducting her and three others of thrashing him because of their objection to the interfaith marriage. Filing a complaint on Thursday, Lalit Khandvi, who works as a delivery boy with a food delivery service, said that he met his wife Simran Multani at a common friend’s wedding in Vatva around four years ago. At the time, Khandvi lived in Vatva while Simran, a resident of Bharuch, was visiting a relative here. “We exchanged numbers and gradually fell in love,” said Khandvi in his FIR. On December 25, 2021, Simran called Khandvi and told him that her mother was about to fix her marriage to someone else. “We ran away to Delhi and got married at an Arya Samaj temple there before returning to Ahmedabad. The two of us stayed with my family in Vastral for some time before moving to Sarkhej around three months ago,” he told police.He added, “During the wee hours of Thursday, Simran’s mother Zulekha, her sons-in-law Javed Multani and Taiyab Multani barged into my home and dragged Simran away. Three other men, aged around 25, had accompanied Simran’s family. They began beating me when I tried to intervene.” Khandvi said that the three men thrashed him badly and they fled towards Bakrol Circle on Dholka road.He called up the police control room and registered a case of abduction, causing hurt and abetment against the six accused.

Scrap your old car or pay 8 times the fees to renew registration
Ahmedabad Mirror | 2 months ago
Ahmedabad Mirror
2 months ago

The Centre’s decision to hike rates for renewal of registration for vehicles over 15 years old will impact as many as 20 lakh vehicle owners. The number of such vehicles as of April 4 in Ahmedabad includes three lakh cars, 14 lakh two-wheelers, one lakh rickshaws and two lakh other vehicles.The rise in fuel charges including CNG coupled with the hike in registration renewal fees which is as high as eight times the current rate is likely to hit hard those who love their old cars and motorbikes.The renewed registration rates will be effective from April 4. The registration renewal of a 15-year-old car will now cost Rs 5,000 from the earlier Rs 600, while it will be Rs 1,000 for a motorcycle from the earlier Rs 300. The registration renewal cost for an imported car isRs 40,000 from the earlier Rs 15,000, while for a motorcycle it is Rs 10,000 from April 1 as per a notification bythe Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.​​​​​​​Khalil Khan (35), an entrepreneur and collector of bikes has 17 old bikes including Rajdoot, two old Yamaha RX 100s and Kawasaki bikes. Khan who customises and personally uses such bikes said the hike in registration renewal charges is a cruel joke.He said only three types of people keep old vehicles. “One is a collector like me, the other who has a sentimental value attached to a vehicle and the third cannot afford a new vehicle,” said Khan.He said many people ended up selling their old houses and vehicles at throwaway prices during Covid. Khalil has travelled to Bhutan on his old CBZ and buys old two-wheelers and four-wheelers.Beena Barot (37), a school teacher who owns a 1991 Maruti 800 and a 1989 Kinetic scooter told Mirror said she has an emotional value attached to the vehicles as it was owned by her father. She rued the fact that fuel charges are galloping even as people faced massive job loss and salary cuts due to Covid. “The government should not play jokes on people who are already burdened with inflation. The hike in registration renewal charges should be withdrawn,”said Barot.Sources at the state transport department also believe that the Centre’s decision to massively hike renewal charges will face a backlash from the people.As per information shared by the govt in the state assembly on March 23, the state has 41,20,451 old vehicles that are 15 years or older more including 26,45,959 motorcycles/scooters, 6,34,049 motorcars, 1,11,552 tractors, 1,34,153 three wheelers (passengers), 41,827 three wheeler goods vehicles and 1,76,498 goods carriers.In all Ahmedabad has 20,58,166 vehicles that are older than 15 years registered with the three RTOs (Subhash Bridge, Vastral and Bavla) in the city.

Scrap your old car or pay 8 times the fees to renew registration
70 of 78 seized passports are from Mehsana
Ahmedabad Mirror | 3 months ago
Ahmedabad Mirror
3 months ago

Gujarat police’s seizure of 78 passports from accused immigration agents Haresh Patel and his son Hardik Patel has brought to light that 70 of these belonged to people from various Mehsana villages who wanted to travel to the US. The passports were seized after officials of US consulate and Canadian security shareddetails of illegal immigration agents during their visit to the cityrecently.A senior police official said that till now they have summoned about eight of the persons, whose passports were recovered from the office of Haresh Hardik Patel. The eight are all from Nikol and Vastral areas in Ahmedabad.“We summoned two passport holders from Nikol recently. While one had given his passport to Haresh Patel for travel to US, the other turned out to be cancelled one. Inquiry revealed that the passport holder had given his passport to go to US about three years ago when he was a minor. However, after things did not move forward he got his earlier passport cancelled and got a new one issued,” said the official.The passports procured based on forged documents were directly sent to a US citizen in Delhi, one Charanjeet Singh, who used to ferry between the US and Delhi. “We have managed to get his WhatsApp number on which agents from Gujarat used to chat. The number has been given to the service provider to obtain the IP address to trace him,” he said.Meanwhile, a team of Gujarat police is camping in Delhi with a file containing phone numbers, which are to be legally intercepted, for approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs. Sources said these could be the numbers of several agents who are at large, including that of brothers Santosh and Sushil Roy who had abducted and tortured 15 foreign aspirants in Delhi to extort money from their family.The crackdown started after the incident involving the death of four of a family from Dingucha village in Mehsana who froze to death while crossing into the US from Canada. An inquiry was ordered and the police in the state were asked to track down immigration agents who cheat people by pushing them into the US through various illegal means.CID crime, Crime Branch and Mehsana police have launched a widespread operation to nab illegal agents. “Several have been detained after border security officials from US and Canada gave names of suspect agents operating from Mehsana. We are also summoning suspects and recording their statements,” said a CID crime official.When asked, DGP CID crime (anti human trafficking) Anil Pratham said they are conducting an operation to unmask agents who use Nigeria, Canada and Istanbul routes to send people to US.

70 of 78 seized passports are from Mehsana
US, Canadian officials give names of 12 ‘notorious’ visa agents
Ahmedabad Mirror | 3 months ago
Ahmedabad Mirror
3 months ago

Officials of the US consulate, US Embassy and Canada’s border security, who came to the city on Tuesday, have extended their visit by two more days. Senior police officials said that the foreign officials have given them names of about 12 immigration agents notorious for using forged documents for visas to Canada and US.While the city police officials who met the delegation did not divulge the names of the dubious agents involved in faking visa documents, as it would hamper efforts to nab them since they are from Mehsana, the Gujarat police have identified another four families who had given their passports to agents Haresh Patel and his son Hardik Patel to go to US.​​​​​​​“Haresh Patel and his son Hardik, who used to run a passport and visa consultancy office in Kadi taluka in Mehsana district, have been arrested. They have confessed that four families from Vastral and Nikol areas had contacted them for US visas. They have also confessed that they had taken the applicants’ passports and asked them to contact them later. We are summoning all 78 passport holders, who had submitted passports to the agents,” said a Gujarat police official.“We have also arrested one more foreign travel aspirant, Shilpa Patel of Karnagar in Mehsana, who allegedly wanted to go to the US based on illegal documents. We are verifying documents provided by the passport holders,” said the official.Meanwhile, CID crime sources said that Canadian authorities have communicated to them that the autopsy report of the four who froze to death on the border with US will take some more time. “We are waiting for the autopsy report to know the cause of death,” said a CID crime official.A state police team is also camping in Delhi and is in contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to write a letter rogatory to authorities in Canada, US, Mexico and Nigeria to provide them with names of local agents who are connected to agents in Gujarat and are based in their country.The four of a family from Dingucha of Mehsana froze to death while crossing over into US from Canada in December 2021. After their death, the state police cracked down on illegal immigration agents.During the drive, 15 foreign aspirants from Gujarat, who were confined and tortured in Delhi, were rescued by Gandhinagar police. Two persons, Santosh and Sushil Roy who ran a travel agency in Ahmedabad, are key accused in the case.

US, Canadian officials give names of 12 ‘notorious’ visa agents
Property tax dues: 210 units sealed
Times of India | 3 months ago
Times of India
3 months ago

Ahmedabad: The city civic body on Monday sealed 210 properties in various areas falling under its East Zone such as Viratnagar, Nikol, Gomtipur, Odhav, Vastral and Amraiwadi for defaulting on property taxes. On March 17, the civic body had sealed 316 properties for defaulting on taxes.So far, the tax department has sealed 1,291 properties in the East Zone under its ongoing drive. The department has also issued notices to 11,658 property owners. A statement from the civic body states that if even after notices are issued and sealing is done, the owners of properties fail to pay their dues, the department will cut their water supply and drainage. Moreover, such properties can be seized and auctioned to recover the tax amount.Last week, the civic body’s revenue department had issued pending tax demands amounting to Rs 325.48 crore to 102 entities that include liquidated mill properties, properties of Western Railway, Gujarat Cricket Association, and many utility firms. The department has also warned these entities of judicial action and seizure of properties and auctioning to recover the pending taxes.

Property tax dues: 210 units sealed
AMC ill-prepared to tackle scarcity
Times of India | 3 months ago
Times of India
3 months ago

Ahmedabad: The Congress on Monday said that the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation is ill-prepared to tackle the city’s looming water shortage. In a statement, Shehzad Pathan, leader of opposition in the AMC, said that the civic body has announced another water treatment plant, with a capacity to treat 300 million litres per day to supply the West and Central Zones. However, at present, people are forced to buy water from private suppliers in areas such as Gomtipur, Rajpur, Rakhial, Hathijan, Vastral, Ramol and Viratnagar. As the summer advances, the city will face a water shortage and the civic body has no plan in place to tackle the situation, Pathan said. tnn

AMC ill-prepared to tackle scarcity
Hiding to urinate spurs suspicion, beating
Times of India | 3 months ago
Times of India
3 months ago

Ahmedabad: A 28-year-old man from the Vastral area of the city on Sunday filed a complaint that he was assaulted by three unknown men who found him peeing behind a parked truck near Wonderpoint Crossroads near CTM late on Saturday evening as the accused found him doing something suspicious, said police officers.Akshay Patel, a resident of Kailashpark society, said in his FIR with Ramol police that he had gone to meet his friends at SP Ring Road in Vastral on Saturday night.Patel had returned from there at around 10.25pm and went to the crossroads. He parked his scooter on roadside and went to relieve himself behind a parked truck.At that time, three men rushed there and asked him what Patel was doing behind the truck. Patel tried to tell him that he was peeing only, but they did not listen to him and began thrashing him.Scared, Patel began running from there, but they chased and caught him. This time, they assaulted him with a stick and an iron rod with which they attacked him on his forehead and hands.Soon people gathered there and rescued him from the three men. He was taken to the LG hospital on Saturday night where he is undergoing treatment.An officer of Ramol police said that the accused might have assaulted him under the suspicion that he was hiding to steal something or was doing some obscene act. The accused were charged with causing grievous hurt and abetment.

Hiding to urinate spurs suspicion, beating
Patient slaps ambulance driver
Times of India | 3 months ago
Times of India
3 months ago

Ahmedabad: An ambulance driver has filed a complaint with Gomtipur police stating that a patient slapped him several times over hospital preference. The driver said the patient also threatened the emergency medical technician (EMT) of the ambulance.Mehul Damor, 26, who drives for the 108 ambulance service, filed his complaint on Saturday. He is a resident of Ratanpura village near Vastral. Damor said in his FIR that he along with the EMT, Jyoti Chavda, are stationed near the Shaherkotda police station and serve the area.On Saturday evening, they received a message from the control room to reach a residential society in the Saraspur area. The patient, Sajid Khan, had a stomach ache. Khan told them to take him to a private hospital in the Vastral area. Damor told Khan that their instruction is to take patients to the nearest hospital and therefore driving to the Vastral hospital was not possible.But Khan insisted that he be taken to the private hospital of his choice. Damor told Khan that he would talk with his seniors and get back. But Khan began arguing aggressively with Damor and Chavda.Damor told Khan to sit quietly. But Khan began abusing and slapped Damor. Damor then called the police control room but before cops could arrive, Khan fled from the ambulance. Damor said in his FIR that Khan threatened to kill him after his recovery.

Patient slaps ambulance driver
Man loses 2L on fake loan site
Times of India | 3 months ago
Times of India
3 months ago

Ahmedabad: A 34-year-old Vastral resident on Wednesday filed a complaint at Ramol police station alleging that cyber cheats created a website purportedly disbursing Mudra loans and cheated him of Rs 2.43 lakh when he sought a loan of Rs 3 lakh in October 2021.Ketan Panchal, a resident of Shivsukhnagar Society in Vastral, filed a complaint of cheating and breach of trust and under the IT Act.

Man loses 2L on fake loan site
Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation proposes penalties for vehicle tax default, delay
Times of India | 4 months ago
Times of India
4 months ago

Ahmedabad: If you delayed paying the lifetime vehicle tax to the municipal corporation on buying a new vehicle, there are no penalties presently, nor does the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) levy interests on delayed payments. It is the only municipal tax without a penalty clause. But this is to change soon. After almost two decades, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) will introduce a penalty clause for vehicle tax. A proposal is being prepared by the municipal tax department to charge interest if payment of tax is delayes. This year, the AMC collected Rs 117 crore in vehicle tax.One of the reasons the AMC wants to introduce this penalty clause is because of a 2019 survey of 1.2 lakh new vehicles registered at the Subhash Bridge and Vastral RTOs, which found that 20,000 vehicle owners had not paid their vehicle tax. “Most of these owners availed of Rs 1,200 to Rs 2,000 discounts by not paying the municipal vehicle tax. We issued notices to all such vehicle owners,” added a senior AMC official. Another major move that is on cards is linking vehicle registration data on the RTO’s computer network to that of the vehicle tax division of AMC. This integration between RTO and AMC will help identify owners who have not paid vehicle tax on buying new vehicles. “We are introducing penal provisions for dealers and vehicle owners who fail to or delay paying vehicle tax,” added the senior AMC official.

Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation proposes penalties for vehicle tax default, delay
Ahmedabad: National monument authority approves construction of NHSRCL station on platform 12
Times of India | 4 months ago
Times of India
4 months ago

AHMEDABAD: The National Monument Authority after the site inspection has finally granted the no-objection certificate for the construction of the station of the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) at platform number 12 towards Saraspur. The historical monuments protected by the Archaeological Survey of India – Jhulta Minar and Brick Minar were falling within the 100-meter radius of the construction of the elevated corridor for the bullet train. The NHSRCL has already prepared the design for the station on platform 12 which will be a multimodal station that would have connectivity with Indian Railways, Ahmedabad Metro connecting Thaltej and Vastral and Bullet train. The metro station passes underground. The NHSRCL has already issued civil tenders for the station at Kalupur station. However, the construction was held back as the ASI approval was awaited. On Saturday Tarun Vijay, Chairman, National Monument Authority, New Delhi along with the Officials of National Monument Authority and Gujarat State Archaeology Authority visited proposed National High Speed Rail Corporation site near Platform no. 12. The inspection was carried out after NHSRCL has applied Application to the National Monument Authority, New Delhi regarding No Objection Certificate for the construction of NHSRCL corridor in the buffer zone of two heritage structures Jhulta Minar and Brick Minar in Kalupur Area in the city. Jhulta Minar is situated 244 m away from proposed High-Speed Rail alignment and Brick Minar is situated 127 m away from the proposed High Speed Rail alignment and 200 m away from proposed elevated station. Tarun Vijay, chairman, NMA assessed the Archaeological, Visual, Cultural, Vibration and Pollution impact, due the proposed High-Speed Rail alignment on two nationally important historical monuments i.e. Jhulta Minar and Brick Minar. Impact in all aspects are found under limit and satisfactory said the NHSRCL sources. The case was long pending and it will accelerate the progress of Bullet Train Project.

Ahmedabad: National monument authority approves construction of NHSRCL station on platform 12
City of GATES NOW city of flyovers
Ahmedabad Mirror | 4 months ago
Ahmedabad Mirror
4 months ago

Once known as the city of eight darwazas that encircled the Walled City, Ahmedabad on its 611th Foundation Day today has become the city of flyovers. Ahmedabad was founded on February 26, 1411. Today, the number of flyovers in the city outnumber the gates it had in the olden times by more than the factor of ten.At present there are 79 flyovers in the city with construction of 10 in progress and 13 more proposed. Ten more flyovers are in the planning stage. The area of the city has also expanded way beyond the circular Walled City. At present, Ahmedabad is spread across 480.88 square km area with many new areasrecently merged into the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation.The Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) has constructed four flyovers on the SP Ring Road and another 6 are under construction. There’s a plan to construct nine more flyovers for which grant has been approved and tenders would be issued shortly. In all, the city will have 120 flyovers soon. If one were to include 6 flyovers on the Sarkhej- Gandhinagar Highway, the total number would be 126.The city has 10 bridges over the Sabarmati and tender process for one barrage-cum-bridge is in progress. There are 22 flyovers over the railway lines criss-crossing the city while construction of three is in progress. Also, there are 18 underpasses below the same railway lines and work is ongoing at four new sites.At present work on flyovers at Raisan, Sanathal, Mahmmadpura crossroads, Shantipura junction, Science City is in progress along with Vastral pedestrian bridge. Besides, there is a proposal to construct a flyover over the railway line at Ghuma. In all, there will be one underpass and 19 flyovers on the SP Ring Road.AMC has announced 13 new flyovers/railway overbridges in its budget for 2022-23. Work on railway overbridge between Naroda-Dhabodha station, Jagatpur, river bridge connecting Vivekanand- Vinobha Bhave Nagar, Ghodasar cross roads split flyover, Pallav char rasta flyover, Anupam Khokhra railway overbridge, underpass from silver Char Rasta to Dev City in Chandlodia is in progress.Flyovers at Sattadhar crossroads and Naroda Patiya have been announced. Work on Punitnagar railway overbridge, Vastrapur railway station overbridge and Thaltej-Hebatpur overbridge will begin soon. Besides, 8 other under-passes are being constructed.10 new flyovers onSP Ring Road1. Bakrol junction2. Hathijan junction3. Ramol junction4. Vastral Panjrapole junction5. Nikol junction6. Dastan junction7. Tapovan junction8. Ognaj junction (underpass)9. Shilaj junction10. Sindhu Bhavan junctionUnder-constructionflyovers on SP Ring Road1. Science city three-lane2. Mohammadpura crossroad3. Ranasan junction4. Sanathal junction5. Shantipura junction6. Vastral (pedestrian bridge)

City of GATES NOW city of flyovers
Monitoring by Gujarat HC: STPs functioning improves
Times of India | 4 months ago
Times of India
4 months ago

Ahmedabad: Following the intervention by the Gujarat high court to curb pollution in the Sabarmati, the functioning of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC)-run 14 Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) appears to have improved considerably. The STPs have been meeting up to 95% of wastewater treatment parameters. In August 2021, when the high court took suo motu cognizance of malfunctioning of Pirana STP, which had resulted in the release of improperly treated water into the river, the condition of all 14 STPs were reported to be poor. On the court’s direction to find out the causes, one of the major reasons behind the quick corrosion of the STPs was found to be illegal discharge of trade effluents in AMC’s sewage network. Experts told the court that STPs are not equipped and meant to treat trade effluents. The mixing of industrial waste and sewage had not only corroded the STPs but also adversely affected their efficiency, resulting in discharge of polluted water into the Sabarmati. The HC directed the AMC and the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) to immediately snap illegal drainage connections of industrial units that were discharging trade effluents into sewage. The authorities undertook an aggressive disconnection drive and severed 393 drainage connections of industries across the city. They even severed the drainage connections of textile units that released treated effluents into sewage network. Since August, the functioning of the STPs has been regularly monitored. In January, the quality of outflow from these STPs has improved considerably— the plants are meeting almost 95% parameters. From the results obtained in January on four occasions, Vastrapur Lake STP and Vastral STP were found releasing treated water with PH limits that were beyond permissible. The STP at VS Hospital defaulted twice on this count. The level of suspended solids found in outflow from all STPs were within parameters for nine STPs. The TDS levels were also found within permissible limits in treated water. The discharge at Vasna STP was once found to have Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) above permissible limits and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) higher than the standard parameters. The high court will continue to hear the matter on Friday.

Monitoring by Gujarat HC: STPs functioning improves
Teen held for vehicle theft
Times of India | 4 months ago
Times of India
4 months ago

Ahmedabad: Amraiwadi police on Friday arrested on Niraj Bhardwaj, 19, a resident of Odhav, for stealing a vehicle. According to police, during patrolling they got information that a person crossing the road near RTO Vastral is involved in vehicle theft and he is driving a stolen vehicle. Acting on the tip-off, the cops stopped Bhardwaj and sought papers of the vehicle, which he couldn’t produce. During interrogation, the accused told the cops that an unidentified person had come to the garage where he was working and had left the vehicle. As the person didn’t return to take his vehicle, the accused had been using it. The cops found out that a complaint of vehicle theft was registered with Amraiwadi police and on Friday Niraj was arrested allegedly for his involvement in vehicle thefts. The cops are now inquiring if Niraj was involved in other thefts also. tnn

Teen held for vehicle theft

Read About


AHMEDABAD WEATHERAHMEDABAD WEATHER