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Migrant workers gather at Mumbai’s Bandra station, demand permission to go hometown; lathicharged by cops
Soon after the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement on Tuesday to extend the lockdown, hoards of migrant workers in the afternoon gathered outside Mumbai’s Bandra station in protest against the decision.
The video footage showed thousands of people gathered at the Bandra station thrashing the social distancing appeal which was again made by the Prime Minister in his today’s address to the nation.
As per the reports, hundreds of migrant workers gathered in Bandra, Mumbai demanding permission to return to their native places.
They were later dispersed by the police who resorted to lathi-charge. The site was later sanitized by the authorities after the crowd dispersed.
However, contrary to this, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said they gathered near the station because they thought PM Modi had ordered opening of state borders.
“Migrant workers who gathered near Bandra station in Mumbai may have thought PM Modi had ordered opening of state borders,” Anil Deshmukh was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
It was reported that Home Minster Amit Shah called Uddhav Thackeray and expressed concern over the incident. He stressed that such events weaken India’s fight against coronavirus and administration needs to stay vigilant to avoid such incidents.
He also offered full support to Maharashtra government.
Later, Mumbai Police PRO, Pranaya Ashok, said, “Today at 4 pm, around 1500 people gathered at Bandra railway station premises. Many of them were migrant labourers. They were unhappy with the extension of the lockdown and wanted to go back to their homes. They had placed their demand before administration.”
Narrating the event, he said, “Local Police officials went to the spot, talked to them and tried to convince them. During this, a section of the crowd turned violent so light force had to be used to bring them under control.”
He further told that the crowd was dispersed and Police is deployed there. Situation is normal and peaceful.
Earlier in the day, in his address to the nation at 10 am, PM Modi extended the lockdown further till May 3. The move was not a shocker as it was anticipated that the lockdown will be extended till April 30. However, the government sources said it was due to May 1 being a public holiday and May 2 and May 3 being a weekend that PM decided to stretch it a bit further.
PM Modi in his address said that detailed guidelines related to the second phase of the lockdown will be released tomorrow.
The plight of migrant workers had come up in the first phase of 21-day lockdown itself, which was announced on March 24. Many workers in the hope of returning to their homes reached Delhi’s Anand Vihar Bus Station. The visuals showed a clear breach of social distancing, appealed by the PM to fight the coronavirus.
Many migrant workers were even seen walking 100s of km back to their hometowns due to the absence of public transport.
A petition was filed in the Supreme Court narrating the plight of migrant workers and appealing remedy for them. The court asked the government to ensure availability of proper food and essentials to them.
However, the Centre had asked the State government to seal their borders to restrict the entrance of migrant workers and those migrant workers who were stranded at the state borders were sent in makeshift quarantine centres.
India has witnessed over 9,000 cases of deadly coronavirus with 353 deaths due to the deadly virus.
Image Source: PTI
A survey is being conducted in Delhi to initiate small-sized electric neighborhood buses on congested roads. The Delhi Transport Department has commenced an extensive ground survey to determine suitable routes for neighborhood bus services in different areas of Delhi. This survey will run from June 1st to June 15th, with 23 technical teams deployed in various locations across Delhi for study purposes.
Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot stated that the Delhi government has never purchased more than 2000 feeder buses before this initiative. The 9-meter buses will operate on routes where 12-meter buses are unable to reach. Delhi residents can also share their feedback and suggestions regarding the neighborhood buses at mohallabusfeedback [at] gmail.com.
To ensure the inclusion of public suggestions, teams have been formed by the Transport Department to gather insights from the people of Delhi. This will guarantee that all significant routes are covered by these neighborhood buses.
The technical teams involved in the survey will visit metro stations, bus terminals, bus stops, and different areas of Delhi. The survey will focus on the following four aspects:
- Assessment of travel demand: The survey teams will examine last-mile connectivity in each area and study the transportation needs of the general public for such connectivity.
- Road network: The survey teams will assess road width, encroachments, and obstacles encountered during bus operations.
- Public transport connectivity: All teams will determine the distance travelers need to cover to reach public transport. A Pakistani team will also investigate the availability of other public transport options in the area.
- Para-transit connectivity: The availability of options such as e-rickshaws, auto-rickshaws, and other para-transit services in specific areas will also be surveyed.
According to the information received from the Transport Department, the data collected during this survey will be digitized. It will be used to determine the origin and destination of proposed neighborhood bus services in each area. Additionally, the survey aims to identify potential routes that will benefit the maximum number of passengers through neighborhood buses.
It should be noted that Kailash Gahlot, Delhi’s Finance Minister, who also serves as the Transport Minister, announced the Neighborhood Bus Plan in the budget speech. The objective of this plan is to deploy 9-meter-long electric buses to provide local or feeder bus services. The Kejriwal government has planned to operate a total of 2,180 such buses by 2025. The neighborhood buses will be specifically operated in those areas of Delhi where road width is limited or regular operation of 12-meter buses is difficult due to congestion.
Image: PTI
Delhi has recently witnessed a remarkable drop in temperatures during the month of May, marking it as the coolest May in the past 36 years. This significant shift can be attributed to the abundant rainfall that showered the city over the course of two weeks.
Surprisingly, Delhi encountered an unusual 11 days of rainfall, which is quite uncommon for this hot summer month. Data provided by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reveals that the average maximum temperature recorded in May this year was 36.8 degrees Celsius, the lowest since 1987. It is worth mentioning that in May 1987, the Safdarjung weather station recorded an even lower average maximum temperature of 36 degrees Celsius, according to IMD scientist Kuldeep Srivastava.
To put things into perspective, the average maximum temperature in May last year was a scorching 40.1 degrees Celsius. The stark contrast in temperatures this year can be attributed to the five active western disturbances that affected the northwest plains of India. Srivastava highlighted that while the region usually experiences two to three western disturbances during this period, this year marked the fifth one.
Delhi received a staggering 111 mm of rainfall in May, which was 262 percent above the normal average of 30.7 mm for the month. The city has also witnessed above-normal rainfall in March, April, and May, accumulating a total of 184.3 mm during the pre-monsoon season. This figure represents an excess of 186 percent compared to the average of 64.4 mm.
Furthermore, the Safdarjung weather station did not record any instances of a heatwave throughout May, although other weather stations in the vicinity reported heatwave conditions. The copious rainfall and gusty winds not only provided relief from the scorching heat but also improved Delhi’s air quality. On Wednesday, the Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 85, falling under the ‘satisfactory’ category. In contrast, on May 23, when there was no rainfall, the AQI soared to 198, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Remarkably, data from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) shows that the average PM10 and PM2.5 levels from January to May this year have been the second lowest since 2016. The lowest levels were observed in 2020 due to the summer lockdown.
In conclusion, Delhi’s unusual weather patterns in May, marked by the lowest temperatures in over three decades and abundant rainfall, have brought relief from the scorching heat and improved air quality in the city.
Image: PTI
The Delhi government is taking a big step towards improving the city’s public transportation system by introducing small-sized electric “Mohalla Buses” on the streets. To make sure they identify the areas where these buses are needed and determine the best routes for them, the Transport Department has launched a comprehensive 15-day evaluation campaign. Starting from Thursday, teams of experts will be deployed in different areas until June 15 to conduct the study.
This means that soon we’ll have these convenient and eco-friendly buses operating throughout Delhi! Isn’t that exciting?
But that’s not all! The government has also come up with a plan to purchase over 2,000 feeder buses. These buses will serve routes where the regular 12-meter buses can’t go. So, it will make traveling much more convenient for all the bus commuters out there!
To ensure that they cover all the important areas and connect the major attractions in the city, They are forming teams across Delhi to gather feedback from the people. Their input will help them determine the most suitable routes for these Mohalla Buses. After all, They want to make sure that everyone benefits from this new and improved public transport system!
So get ready, Delhiites! Exciting changes are on the horizon, making your daily commute more comfortable and sustainable.
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Do you want electric buses to operate in your neighborhood too? Send your suggestions here.
Delhi’s Coolest May in 36 Years: Record-Breaking Temperatures and Abundant Rainfall
