News / Author / Abhay Khairnar

Abhay Khairnar

Articles by Abhay Khairnar

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

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

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

cities

Updated on Sep 08, 2018 04:48 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar, Pune

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

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

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

cities

Updated on Sep 09, 2018 03:10 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar and Prachi Bari

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

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

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

cities

Updated on Sep 02, 2018 05:07 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar

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

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

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

cities

Updated on Sep 02, 2018 02:53 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar, Pune

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

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

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

cities

Updated on Aug 30, 2018 03:55 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar

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

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

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

cities

Updated on Aug 26, 2018 03:15 PM IST

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

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

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

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

cities

Updated on Aug 21, 2018 03:07 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByShalaka Shinde and Abhay Khairnar

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

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

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

cities

Updated on Aug 19, 2018 04:51 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar, Pune

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

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

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

cities

Updated on Aug 18, 2018 05:01 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar

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

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

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

cities

Updated on Aug 18, 2018 03:22 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar

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

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

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

cities

Updated on Aug 17, 2018 03:13 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar

Pune riverfront development project awaits environment ministry’s nod

The Pune municipal corporation has resubmitted the Mula-Mutha riverfront development report to the central environment ministry for final clearance

A pictorial representation of the ambitious riverfront development project.(HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Aug 13, 2018 03:31 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar

State drive to check exorbitant food and beverage prices at Pune multiplexes fails to file any violation

NP Udamale, assistant controller, said that the department is checking only packed food products sold at maximum retail price (MRP) rates. As per the law, the department cannot check items that are sold lose

Weight and measures department visited City Pride Kothrud, Amanora Mall and other multiplexes in the city.(HT FILE PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Aug 08, 2018 04:45 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar

For encroaching on judge’s parking lot, Pune corporator, nephew made to apologise with folded hands

The security guard at PMC tried to convince the corporator’s nephew to not park the car in the reserved space. Ignoring the guard’s warning, he parked the car in the parking space reserved for the judge.

The police put a jammer on the corporator’s car.(HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Aug 04, 2018 05:13 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar

Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar Metro: State to give 13.83 acres in Balewadi to top bidder as viability gap funding

Land will be given on lease for 35 years under a viability gap funding scheme. The firm can use it for commercial purposes

The decision was taken during the state cabinet meeting on Tuesday, where it was decided to give 13.83 acres government land to the operator who will win the bid.(Sanket Wankhade/HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Aug 01, 2018 03:50 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar, Pune

Pune civic body issues legal notice to Ecoman over bid rigging

PMC issued the notice to the Ecoman Enviro Solutions Pvt Ltd and pointed out how they had violated the contract with PMC and asked the latter as to why they should not end the contract between the two.

The nexus between PMC officials and contractors for rigging the bids was exposed in detail by Hindustan Times in a series of reports in October 2017.(HT FILE PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Jul 31, 2018 05:44 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar

Pune’s underground metro work: Maha-Metro begins laying vertical shafts, eye 2021 deadline

The Maha-Metro has also floated tenders for carrying out the underground metro rail and is expecting to finalise the tenders by August. It is expected that the actual work of digging the tunnel would start on the ground by October or November, said Pramod Ahuja, executive director for underground metro rail, Pune.

Ahuja said the underground metro, which is a part of the Pimpri Chinchwad municipal corporation (PCMC) to Swargate corridor, will start from Range hills, or more specifically from Agriculture ground, and end at Swargate.(Rahul Raut/HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Jul 26, 2018 04:31 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar, Pune

Environment status report: Pune’s carbon footprint per person high due to large number of private vehicles

According to the Environment status report (ESR) for 2017-18, released by the Pune municipal corporation (PMC) on Wednesday, the ratio of carbon dioxide equivalent to population was 1.42 tonnes per person in 2012 and 1.64 tonnes CO2e per person in 2017.

Even the ratio of carbon monoxide (CO) and ozone (O3) pollutants is high in Pune, as per the ESR, when compared to that prescribed by the Central pollution control board.(HT FILE PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Jul 27, 2018 03:09 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar, Pune

PMC employees’ salaries won’t be rationalised, says CM Devendra Fadnavis

The PMC employees’ union had opposed the administration’s move and had condemned the state government’s instructions to revise the salary structure in an agitation on July 17.

cities

Updated on Jul 25, 2018 04:51 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar, Pune

Protect interests of Maharashtra students in admissions through NEET, says Raj Thackeray

He warned that his party will launch an agitation “in our own style” if it is found that medical colleges are giving priority to students from other states, instead of those from Maharashtra.

Raj Thackeray, chief, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena said his party would be forced to agitate if students from outside Maharashtra are given priority in admissions.(RAVINDRA JOSHI/HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Jul 19, 2018 03:56 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar

Pune, Ahmednagar have walls stained in red

After an Ahmednagar head constable who was ordered to clean stained walls for chewing tobacco in court was suspended, HT takes a look at how clean government offices in the city are

In spite of being a government-run one, almost all the walls of Sassoon General Hospital are covered in stains.(SANKET WANKHADE/HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Jul 15, 2018 03:26 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar and Nadeem Inamdar

Department of defence issues height restrictions, now 4 FSI along Pune Metro corridors not possible

As per the defence department’s notification, a copy of which is with HT, high-rise buildings will not be allowed in Aundh, Baner, Karvenagar, Kothrud, Koregaon park, Warje, Kalyaninagar, Kharadi, Dhanori, Vimannagar, Lohegaon, Dhayari and Ahmednagar road areas.

The survey of India is already flooded with 200 applications and have now put a notice at their office stating that they will not entertain any proposal till August 31, 2018.(HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Jul 04, 2018 04:32 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar, Pune

Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar Metro route to be extended till Hadapsar: PMRDA

Commuters in Hadapsar sought facility; DMRC to prepare a detailed project report for revised route

The second corridor would also be carried out based on the public private partnership (PPP) model.(HT File Photo)

cities

Updated on Jul 03, 2018 04:54 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar

Will Fadnavis protect Pune’s bio-diversity zone?

Tremendous pressure from politicians, land owners to allow construction on hills

Buildings have been constructed on hilltops of newly included villages within PMC limits. A view of Ambegaon Khurd.(RAVINDRA JOSHI/HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Jun 28, 2018 05:41 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar

Pune’s guardian minister proposes 8 per cent TDR on biodiversity park land

BJP claims that the state will take a decision on whether to allow construction or just give transfer of development rights on the land

In August 2015, the government had issued a notification stating that no construction would be allowed in the BDP.(Ravindra Joshi/HT PHOTO)

cities

Published on Jun 27, 2018 04:38 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar, Pune

Plastic ban day 3: Pune’s Chitale, Kaka Halwai, Budhani participate in bandh

If plastic is not used food items lose their crispness, traders claim

Municipal officials conduct a check-up at a sweet mart in Nigdi on Monday.(HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Jun 27, 2018 03:05 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar

Pune civic body enforces plastic ban, collects Rs 3.69 lakh on the very first day

The statewide ban on the use of plastic products began on Saturday with civic staff assisted by police personnel doing the rounds of shopping areas to enforce the ban.

Following the state government’s decision, the PMC undertook an awareness drive among the citizens to dissuade them from using plastic.(HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Jun 23, 2018 10:35 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar

IAF vs PMC: Deputy mayor ‘negotiates’ drinking water for drainage clearance

PMC cut the water supply to the Air Force station on Tuesday evening after station authorities blocked a drainage line

Deputy mayor Siddharth Dhende (centre) with Indian Air Force station officials at the Air Force station in Lohegaon.(HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Jun 21, 2018 03:14 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar

Pune’s Bhama Askhed dam: Work progresses cautiously as officials weary of erupting protests

A contractor, on condition of anonymity, said that villagers damage barricades erected along the road for safety at night.

Labours busy working on a new water pipeline at Bhama Askhed Dam near Khed in Pune.(RAHUL RAUT/HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Jun 19, 2018 04:53 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar

Pune to get Hyperloop track, Virgin Hyperloop One to invest ₹3,000 crore, PMRDA to provide land

A 15-km-long demonstration track will be built from Gahunje cricket stadium to Wakad, says PMRDA

Representative Hyperloop station. Hyperloop is high-speed travelling in tubes, where a pod-like vehicle travels through a tube at a speed which is more than the usual airline speed.(HYPERLOOP)

cities

Updated on Jun 19, 2018 04:45 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar, Pune

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Abhay Khairnar

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Pune municipal corporation has resubmitted the Mula-Mutha riverfront development report to the central environment ministry for final clearance

NP Udamale, assistant controller, said that the department is checking only packed food products sold at maximum retail price (MRP) rates. As per the law, the department cannot check items that are sold lose

The security guard at PMC tried to convince the corporator’s nephew to not park the car in the reserved space. Ignoring the guard’s warning, he parked the car in the parking space reserved for the judge.

Land will be given on lease for 35 years under a viability gap funding scheme. The firm can use it for commercial purposes

PMC issued the notice to the Ecoman Enviro Solutions Pvt Ltd and pointed out how they had violated the contract with PMC and asked the latter as to why they should not end the contract between the two.

According to the Environment status report (ESR) for 2017-18, released by the Pune municipal corporation (PMC) on Wednesday, the ratio of carbon dioxide equivalent to population was 1.42 tonnes per person in 2012 and 1.64 tonnes CO2e per person in 2017.

The PMC employees’ union had opposed the administration’s move and had condemned the state government’s instructions to revise the salary structure in an agitation on July 17.

He warned that his party will launch an agitation “in our own style” if it is found that medical colleges are giving priority to students from other states, instead of those from Maharashtra.

After an Ahmednagar head constable who was ordered to clean stained walls for chewing tobacco in court was suspended, HT takes a look at how clean government offices in the city are

As per the defence department’s notification, a copy of which is with HT, high-rise buildings will not be allowed in Aundh, Baner, Karvenagar, Kothrud, Koregaon park, Warje, Kalyaninagar, Kharadi, Dhanori, Vimannagar, Lohegaon, Dhayari and Ahmednagar road areas.

Commuters in Hadapsar sought facility; DMRC to prepare a detailed project report for revised route

Tremendous pressure from politicians, land owners to allow construction on hills

BJP claims that the state will take a decision on whether to allow construction or just give transfer of development rights on the land

If plastic is not used food items lose their crispness, traders claim

The statewide ban on the use of plastic products began on Saturday with civic staff assisted by police personnel doing the rounds of shopping areas to enforce the ban.

PMC cut the water supply to the Air Force station on Tuesday evening after station authorities blocked a drainage line

A contractor, on condition of anonymity, said that villagers damage barricades erected along the road for safety at night.

A 15-km-long demonstration track will be built from Gahunje cricket stadium to Wakad, says PMRDA

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