The Indian Express | 2 hours ago | 01/01/2023 | 5:40 a.m
Citizen PollsMaharashtra’s citizen elections could take place in the first quarter of 2023, with the Supreme Court (SC) due to issue its verdict on the quota of the other backward classes (OBC) on January 17. Local body elections across the state have stalled due to reorganization of municipal borough boundaries and the SC’s decision to remove the OBC quota from local elections. However, several political parties have approached the SC with a request to restore the OBC-based reservation in local elections. The case is currently under court hearing, and the hearing is expected to take place early next year.New mayor and new political equationsWhile faction leaders Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray of the Shiv Sena are at odds over control of the party’s old office at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is clear that the upcoming citizenship elections will be a tricky one. The BMC has now been the bastion of the Senas for more than two decades. The elections will be a real tour de force and put old party loyalty to the test for the election of the new mayor. Opening of the coastal road The ambitious and controversial project could finally be inaugurated towards the end of 2023, as a significant part of the complex tunneling work has already been done. The BMC has set a deadline of November 23 and is ready to complete 70 percent of the project before the start of the new year. New Metro Lines The 35km stretch of Mumbai Metro Lines 2A and 7 will open to the public in the New Year. Metro Lines 2A and 7, connecting Dahisar to DN Nagar and Dahisar E to Andheri E, respectively, will serve offices and residential areas along the Western Express Highway (WEH) and Link Road. These two new lines will carry 3 lakh passengers per day. The number of commuters is expected to increase to 11.31 thousand passengers by 2031. In April 2022 the 20 km line between Aarey and Dhanukarwadi will be operational and open to the public until December 2023. The 22km pier, built at an estimated budget of Rs 17,800 crore, will relieve the island city, opening up development opportunities in the Raigad region and reducing travel time between South Mumbai and Navi Mumbai in 20 minutes. The 701 km long Samruddhi Mahamarg (Nagpur-Mumbai Super Communication Expressway) is scheduled to be completed by July 2023. In 2022, a 520 km route between Shirdi and Nagpur was opened for commuters. The expressway is said to be one of India’s longest greenfield road projects and will connect two key cities in the state – Mumbai and Nagpur. The expressway will run through 10 districts and is expected to spur development in the eastern region of the state. Boost for underground subway By the end of 2023, Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ Mumbai Subway Line 3 is scheduled to start Phase I operations between BKC and SEEPZ. The Line 3 BKC station has the Back-up Control Center (BCC) which will control all activities of Phase I operations (BKC-SEEPZ) until the Operation Control Center (OCC) at Depot Aarey is fully operational. In 2022, the much-controversial Metro 3 depot works began after the new government led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis decided to move the depot from Kanjurmarg back to Aarey. SCLR Extension BridgeWork on the Santacruz – Chembur Link Road (SCLR) extension is expected to be completed by April 2023. The elevated corridor is designed to alleviate traffic issues, reduce travel time and allow for seamless commuting between the Bandra Kurla Complex and the Western Express Highway. It will relieve Kurla and provide east-west connectivity.Trials in Elgaar Parishad and AntiliaWith the trial of the defendants in the Elgaar Parishad and Antilia cases, the trials in these two high-profile cases are expected to resume in 2023. Fifteen people are on trial in the Elgaar Parishad case on charges including under the Illegal Activities (Prevention) Act. In August, the Supreme Court ordered the trial court to decide within three months whether to indict and acquit the defendants in the Elgaar Parishad case. On February 25, 2021, outside Antilia, Mukesh Ambani’s Mumbai residence, a note was posted threatening further violence against the industrialist Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Mumbai, has lost his attempt to appeal to the UK High Court against the UK High Court’s extradition order. While Modi still has some legal options, authorities will try to successfully extradite him to stand trial in India. Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi are accused of channeling transactions worth around Rs 13,600 through fraudulent Letters of Commitment (LoUs) from the Punjab National Bank. For the first time, trans people will be part of the police force. After completing the recruitment process, trans people will be deployed in various positions in the state police for the first time. Maharashtra will become the 12th state to appoint trans people to government jobs.The Promise of DramaAfter live shows and other cultural activities at the National Center for Performing Arts (NCPA) in Mumbai ground to a halt due to the pandemic, the center plans to do so under the Led by Bruce Guthrie, NCPA’s Head of Theatre, who joined the team in 2019, launch a range of theater activities and outreach programs. The much talked about production of ‘Every Good Boy Deserves Favour’, a political satire by playwright Tom Stoppard and conductor/composer André Previn, returns with new shows in March. The NCPA will also host “Darpan,” a new Marathi writers’ initiative, as well as conduct a boot camp for young adults to train them for a month and stage a production at the end. In association with the National Theatre, UK, it will launch Connections India to provide access to theater for young artists aged 13-19 and create quality theater for and by young people, with access to industry experts and opportunity to perform in a professional environment.Lollapalooza in IndiaThe very first edition of Lollapalooza India is scheduled to take place on January 28th and 29th at the Mahalaxmi Race Course in Mumbai. Lollapalooza, which will feature over 40 artists, four stages and over 20 hours of live music, arts and culture, promises to bring its multi-genre music experience to India along with its brand of unique, diverse and exciting flavors from the world of music. This musical extravaganza will also welcome the freshest of international sounds and homegrown superstars including Prateek Kuhad, Divine, Japanese Breakfast, Madeon, Alec Benjamin, Jackson Wang, Chelsea Cutler, The Wombats, Imanbek, Kasablanca, Apashe, Raveena, The Yellow Diary, Bloodywood , Sandunes, Aswekeepsearching, The F16s, Kayan, Tejas, House of Hashbass, Madboy/Mink, T.ill APES, Kumail, Kavya, Mali, Tanmaya Bhatnagar, Easy Wanderlings, Abhi Meer, Bombay Brass, Parimal Shais , Siri, Tracy De Sat, Aadya.Van Gogh: Up, CloseStarting January 20, the city’s art lovers will have the opportunity to experience the work of one of the greatest artists when Van Gogh 360 opens at the World Trade Center. This immersive 45-minute show showcases the work of Vincent Van Gogh, whose paintings are held in galleries and collections around the world. Van Gogh 360, which runs through February 17, brings together over 300 of his most popular works in one dynamic show. The show uses augmented and virtual reality to create a multimedia exhibition to visualize Van Gogh’s art in a three-dimensional format.
