Maratha outfits call for state bandh after protestor kills self

MUMBAI: Maratha outfits called for a statewide bandh on Tuesday, after a 28-year-old protestor from the community died on Monday during their agitation for reservations in education and government jobs. Kakasaheb Shinde staged his protest by jumping into the Godavari river, near Gangakhed in Aurangabad. He was pulled out and rushed to a local hospital, but was declared dead on arrival.

Shinde was a resident of Kanadgaon village and worked as a driver for Santosh Mane, district chief of Yuva Sena, the youth wing of Shiv Sena. His brother Avinash and other protestors refused to accept his body and demanded a criminal case be registered against the CM.

“Kakasaheb’s death is the example of insensitive government. We are not going to accept the body unless Kakasaheb is given the status of martyr, a compensation of ₹ 10 lakh to his family, and government job to his brother,” said Ravindra Kale, who has been leading the protest at Kranti Chowk in Aurangabad.

CONTINUED ON P 10 MUMBAI:THE state’s Public Works Department (PWD) has proposed two elevated road corridors to run above the existing Eastern Express Highway and the Western Express Highway — an ambitious plan, which, if found feasible, could significantly reduce the load on the heavily congested highways. The PWD, which is responsible for the highways, has appointed consultants to study the feasibility and prepare a detailed project plan.

The two elevated roads are

being planned over the entire length of the two highways — the 26.5-km WEH from Dahisar to Bandra, and the 23.5-km EEH from Mulund to Sion.

The project is estimated to cost around ₹2,000 crore.

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