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Shashank Rao

Shashank Rao is a Senior Assistant Editor having worked for over two decades. He reports on Mass Transportation including Railways and Roadways, Automobiles besides Urban Public Infrastructure. With ear to the ground, he is monitors and reports Mumbai's growth trajectory. He is a Rail fan, passionate about Public Policy. When I'm not busy, I read comics and watch anime and football.

Articles by Shashank Rao

Bhuleshwar fire: 300km of ageing BEST underground power cable network to be replaced

Mumbai, India. Oct 22, 2026 - A fire broke out at an imitation jewellery shop building in Third Bhoiwada, Bhuleshwar, in South Mumbai on Thursday, October 22. Mumbai, India. Oct 22, 2026. (Photo by Raju Shinde/HT Photo) (Raju Shinde)

mumbai news

Updated on Oct 23, 2026 02:20 IST

53-yr-old man unloading cargo in Mumbai dies as passing bus hits parked tempo door

Police said the incident took place at 10:15am on October 21 near PMG Colony (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

mumbai news

Updated on Oct 22, 2026 07:19 IST

Space crunch at CSMT slows down CR’s platform extension for 15-car trains

Mumbai, India. Oct 21, 2026 - View of the under-construction Platforms 5 and 6 at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT). Mumbai, India. Oct 21, 2026. (Photo by Raju Shinde/HT Photo) (Raju Shinde)

mumbai news

Updated on Oct 22, 2026 02:09 IST

After attack on Tiger Shroff, Maharashtra govt cracks down on bike taxis

Transport officials are examining compliance with licensing rules after provisional permits expired.

mumbai news

Updated on Oct 22, 2026 03:34 IST

RTOs inspect 6,408 luxury vehicles, find 475 registered outside state

mumbai news

Updated on Oct 21, 2026 02:10 IST

Loud mobile phone use in Mumabi local trains to attract fines of up to ₹5,000

The rail authorities also agreed that while singing loudly, shouting and talking in groups was often checked under the name of causing nuisance, the use of speakers in phones was never included.

mumbai news

Updated on Oct 20, 2026 04:18 IST

On camera, Tiger Shroff shooting suspects seen rushing to catch train in Surat before arrest in Kota

Two of the three assailants seen rushing to catch the train at Surat station.

india news

Updated on Oct 20, 2026 24:49 IST

BKC’s Public Transport Day a dud; MMRDA firms up 3-point redressal plan

While car-free Sundays are a common feature in global cities such as Bogotá, Mexico City, Jakarta and Manila, the BKC’s weekly Public Transport Day was a first-of-its-kind experiment focused specifically on a corporate and commercial district (Hindustan Times)

mumbai news

Updated on Oct 17, 2026 02:17 IST

Railways rolls out tiger safari packages to Tadoba, Pench

While-the-Tadoba-Andhari-tiger-project-also-has-one-the-Maharashtra-government-will-now-be-creating-detailed-project-reports-for-the-other-tiger-reserves-in-the-state-as-well-Photo-credit-Wildlife-Conservation-Trust-USAID-Maharashtra-Forest-Department-Camera-traps-Panthera-Inc

mumbai news

Updated on Oct 15, 2026 16:27 IST

Maha forms task force to prepare blueprint for integrating mass transit systems

Mumbai, India - June 7, 2014:Mumbai Metro Rail preview in Mumbai, India, on Saturday, June 7, 2014. (Photo by Kalpak Pathak/ Hindustan Times) (Hindustan Times)

pune news

Updated on Oct 15, 2026 16:20 IST

Mumbai-Bengaluru Vande Bharat sleeper to commence after Dusshera

mumbai news

Updated on Oct 15, 2026 02:18 IST

30,932 power theft cases since 1993, BEST plans crackdown

BEST supplies electricity to the island city, from Cuffe Parade at the southern tip to Sion and Mahim in central Mumbai. (HT Photo)

mumbai news

Updated on Oct 13, 2026 02:21 IST

3,700 tenements along Kurla-Trombay rail line to get fresh eviction notices

On August 21, a 250-tonne hydraulic crane toppled onto slum tenements in Kurla’s Qureshi Nagar, bringing safety concerns into sharp focus (Raju Shinde/HT Photo)

mumbai news

Updated on Oct 12, 2026 02:09 IST

Five of India’s 10 most crowded railway stations are in Mumbai

Thane, Kalyan, Panvel, Dadar and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus handled a combined 306.7 million passengers, or around 840,000 a day, in 2023-24, according to the latest available data compiled by the railway ministry. (HT Archives)

mumbai news

Updated on Oct 10, 2026 02:32 IST

Safety push leads ₹1,317-cr deficit BEST budget for 2027-28

Mumbai, India - Oct. 28, 2025: CM Devendra Fadnavis launched 157 BEST bus at Colaba Bus depo, in Mumbai, India, on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. (Photo by Anshuman Poyrekar/Hindustan Times) (Anshuman Poyrekar/HT Photo)

mumbai news

Updated on Oct 8, 2026 02:09 IST

Forgotten rail land in Mumbai to be revived for more long-distance trains

At Grant Road, a parcel depot built in 1890 on about 0.9 hectares of land will be redeveloped.

mumbai news

Updated on Oct 7, 2026 02:28 IST

10-day inspection drive to target luxury vehicles registered outside Maharashtra

Officials suspect that many vehicles were registered outside Maharashtra to avail of lower motor vehicle taxes.

mumbai news

Updated on Oct 6, 2026 05:23 IST

10 BEST buses gutted in fire at Anik depot

Though the reasons and chain of events leading to the incident are under probe, sources in the BEST said that the fire may have been sparked by a half-burnt cigarette butt (Raju Shinde/HT Photo)

mumbai news

Updated on Oct 6, 2026 02:17 IST

300 RTO officials face notices over issuing fitness certificates to commercial vehicles

mumbai news

Updated on Oct 3, 2026 02:25 IST

State plans trauma centres every 100 kms to curb accident deaths

mumbai news

Updated on Oct 2, 2026 02:29 IST

WR uses long-distance track for locals to bypass ‘Thambivali’ halt

mumbai news

Updated on Sep 30, 2026 16:05 IST

BEST plans to expand electricity distribution network into city suburbs

mumbai news

Updated on Sep 29, 2026 02:10 IST

‘Top secret’ files from British era, freedom struggle found hidden at CSMT

mumbai news

Updated on Sep 28, 2026 02:24 IST

After string of mishaps, MMRDA tightens Metro 9 safety

Mumbai Metro Line 9 is an extension of the Red Line (Line 7), connecting Dahisar East to Mira-Bhayandar. (Hindustan Times)

mumbai news

Updated on Sep 24, 2026 02:22 IST

BEST fare hike adds ₹500 crore to revenue, trims losses

Daily BEST ridership fell from about 2.5 million to 2.1 million after fares for AC and non-AC buses were increased.

mumbai news

Updated on Sep 24, 2026 05:23 IST

BEST plans to hike fines for wet-lease operators over faulty buses

mumbai news

Updated on Sep 23, 2026 16:23 IST

WR ramps up water tests, installs coolers before PAC visit

mumbai news

Updated on Sep 22, 2026 02:19 IST

After bacteria found at 8 Maharashtra stations, PAC summons railway officials

The PAC has sought written responses from the Railway Ministry, Central Railway and Western Railway on the audit findings.

mumbai news

Updated on Sep 20, 2026 06:31 IST

Residents rally against Dharavi Matunga FOB closure

According to local residents, the FOB is primarily used by students as 10-15 educational institutions, including schools and colleges, are located in Sion. Domestic workers and drivers residing in Dharavi also take the FOB regularly to reach Matunga, King’s Circle and Sion. (Raju Shinde/HT Photo)

mumbai news

Updated on Sep 19, 2026 02:22 IST

898 BEST drivers face action for rash driving, with 789 from wet-lease fleet

The action comes at a time when wet-lease buses, which account for more than 90% of BEST’s 2,850-bus fleet, have been under the spotlight following a series of accidents. (Raju Shinde/HT Photo)

mumbai news

Updated on Sep 17, 2026 02:28 IST