Deadline for bids will be extended by 45 days

The Maharashtra government and Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) received another setback on Friday, as there were no bids in the second round for the Mumbai trans-harbour link.

MSRDC officials were optimistic that two to three consortiums would come forward to construct the 22-km sealink.

Mumbai, Feb 27 : Former mafia don and Maharashtra legislator Arun Gawli's party -- Akhil Bharatiya Sena (ABS) on Friday joined hands with the Bahujan Samaj Party
(BSP).

Gawli will contest the Mumbai North Central Lok Sabha seat on a BSP ticket.

"The ABS chief has already given a letter of consent to merge the two parties," BSP state president Vilas Garud said.

Congress's Eknath Gaekwad is presently representing the constituency.

Claim seven wickets among them as MCA thump Cadence Cricket Academy by 9 wickets

Holders, Maharashtra Cricket Association’s under-13 outfit thumped Cadence Cricket Academy by nine wickets in the first semi-final of the Cadence under-13 Cricket championship, at the latter’s ground in Mundhwa, here on Thursday.

In what could be termed as a repeat of last year’s semi-finals, wherein Cadence Cricket Academy did give some fight to the same opponents. This year the Cadence turned out to be a mere pedestrians as their innings was folded for a mere 90 runs and the state under-13 outfits cantered past the target in 16.2 overs to make it to the final of this 7th edition of the championship for the second year in succession.

Kolhapur students write papers barefoot following the divisional board's diktat

The Kolhapur division of the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education has banned shoes, chappals and socks inside the examination centres from this year.

Chairperson of the division Ujjwaladevi Patil said that the step has been taken to prevent students from using their footwear to hide copying material. "Last year, the division had banned footwear at a few examination centres. We were able to curb copying to a large extent and hence decided to implement the ban at all centres," she said.

Bollywood famous actor, director and producer Feroz Khan was hospitalized in a critical condition.

Feroz, who is in his late 60s, was admitted to the intensive care unit of the Breach Candy hospital in Mumbai.

Confirming the news, a worker from the Oncology department of the hospital said, “Yes, Mr Feroz Khan was brought to the hospital in a critical condition. He is admitted in the ICU, occupying bed number 3."

The actor who has been ailing for some time is under the supervision of oncologist, Dr Suresh Advani.

Feroz is suffering from cancer.

Mumbai, Feb 26 : Resul Pookutty, who won the Oscar for best sound mixing, returned to his home to a hero's welcome in Mumbai along with his wife and Slumdog actor Irrfan Khan.

Pookutty, who hails from Kerala's Kollam district, shared the Sound Mixing Oscar with Ian Tapp and Richard Pryke for his work in the Danny Boyle film "Slumdog Millionaire".

Hundreds of fans and friends gave a rousing welcome to them outside the Chatrapati Shivaji Airport.

There were banners, placards and posters all over and slogans of 'Jai Ho' of the song that fetched three Oscars reverberated at the airport.