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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

IRCTC records highest 1-day booking of over 2mn tickets ahead of festive season

About 89% of all reserved railway tickets are currently booked online. (PTI/Representative)

india news

Updated on Sep 11, 2026 06:38 IST

New AC locals to have cushioned seats, enhanced cooling and higher speeds

The new trains would have cushioned seats, replacing the steel and carbon fibre seats in existing AC locals, following complaints from railway passenger associations about steel seats becoming extremely cold due to the air-conditioning (HT Photo)

mumbai news

Updated on Sep 11, 2026 02:18 IST

BEST driver diverts bus to Nair hosp to save passenger, but 46-yr -old dies

The bus involved in the incident bore the registration number MH-03-CV-5797 and is operated by wet lease company SMTATPL from the Mumbai Central Depot Division

mumbai news

Updated on Sep 8, 2026 02:04 IST

Autos, taxis to queue up for meter recalibration from Monday; cost fixed at ₹700

Autos, taxis to queue up for meter recalibration from Monday; cost fixed at <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>700

mumbai news

Updated on Sep 6, 2026 02:05 IST

CSMT revamp may further hit long-distance trains

Platforms 16 and 17 have been unavailable since February 1, forcing CR to short-terminate 10-14 long-distance trains, at Dadar and Thane (Anshuman Poyrekar/HT Photo)

mumbai news

Updated on Sep 4, 2026 16:29 IST

BEST asks for shorter double deckers to pass under flyovers

The AC electric double-decker buses were introduced three years ago as part of BEST’s efforts to modernise its fleet and replace the iconic diesel-powered double-deckers that were gradually phased out. (HT PHOTO)

mumbai news

Updated on Sep 4, 2026 02:23 IST

BEST proposes ₹1,111-cr wage revision; wet-lease hike alone ₹475 crore

The proposal follows a recent agitation by the BEST Sanyukt Kamgar Kruti Samiti, the joint action committee of employee unions (Hindustan Times)

mumbai news

Updated on Sep 3, 2026 16:13 IST

Metro 1’s mixed-loop plan draws commuters’ ire

Mumbai,India 8-14-2018 Mumbai's reliance metro rail has eased traffic congestion on Andheri Kurla road. More and more people are travelling by metro in the city (Shutterstock)

mumbai news

Updated on Sep 3, 2026 02:55 IST

Commuters fume as 2 peak-hour locals skip Borivali halt

Photo for representation (Hindustan Times)

mumbai news

Updated on Sep 1, 2026 17:03 IST

6.22pm, 7.05pm Churchgate-Virar locals won’t stop at Borivali from today

Both the 6.22pm Churchgate-Virar AC local and the 7.05pm Churchgate-Virar local will skip the halt at Borivali on trial basis, but will halt at Dahisar

mumbai news

Updated on Sep 1, 2026 05:18 IST

Sharp-eyed ticket checker spots fake RailOne app over tiny font mismatch

mumbai news

Updated on Aug 29, 2026 02:41 IST

Govt revives plan to raze Mumbai airport slums, in situ rehab proposed

The land around Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport is owned by the Airports Authority of India and leased to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority and the airport operator. Over decades, slums encroached on the AAI land, occupying 275 acres. (Satish Bate/Hindustan Times)

mumbai news

Updated on Aug 28, 2026 02:53 IST

Auto, taxi fares in Mumbai set to rise from September 1

The revised fares will apply to the first 1.5 km.

mumbai news

Updated on Aug 27, 2026 08:23 IST

Railways launch drive amid allegations of impure Rail Neer water

india news

Updated on Aug 26, 2026 04:42 IST

Rlys begin drive to check quality of food and water, including railway brand Rail Neer, at stations

Image for representation (Hindustan Times)

mumbai news

Updated on Aug 26, 2026 02:56 IST

Mumbai commuters bear the brunt as Marathi rule sparks autorickshaw strike

Parked autorickshaws on a road at the Gazdar Bandh area in Santacruz. (Raju Shinde/HT Photo)

mumbai news

Updated on Aug 25, 2026 04:03 IST

New AC trains from next year but where will they be parked?

Mumbai, India - October 03, 2022: Scores of commuters stranded at the Borivali station as they had a harrowing time on Monday morning, the first day of revised air-conditioned local services on the Western line. Commuters struggle to board the packed AC local train on Monday at 7.45am from Borivali station. It was only after the police intervened and asked a few commuters to alight did the train move. (HT Photo) (Hindustan Times)

mumbai news

Updated on Aug 24, 2026 02:46 IST

10 hurt as crane on demolition duty topples onto Kurla slums

Nazim Shaikh, whose home was damaged after a 250-tonne crane toppled onto slum tenements in Qureshi Nagar, Kurla, early Friday

mumbai news

Updated on Aug 22, 2026 06:27 IST

RTO tests 1,430 drivers’ Marathi, issues notices to 422 for not knowing language

The enforcement has come at a difficult time for many drivers, who say the process of obtaining Marathi training and certificates has itself been cumbersome. (Satish Bate/Hindustan Times)

mumbai news

Updated on Aug 21, 2026 02:55 IST

150 AC double-decker e-buses set to return to Mumbai roads after a delay of more than two years

mumbai news

Updated on Aug 20, 2026 02:37 IST

Western Railway shuts 22 food stalls over hygiene lapses in Maharashtra

The closure of food stalls along Mumbai's Western Railway has affected stalls at some of the busiest stations, including Bandra, Lower Parel and Charni Road.

mumbai news

Updated on Aug 20, 2026 08:47 IST

Prabhadevi station to get wider entry to ease crowding

mumbai news

Updated on Aug 19, 2026 02:55 IST

Chaos at RTOs over Marathi proficiency certificates for cab, auto drivers

Mumbai, India. Aug 18, 2026 - Auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers are waiting at the Tardeo RTO office to collect their Marathi language learning certificates. The state government has made Marathi language compulsory for these drivers to improve communication between public transport drivers and the public. Mumbai, India. Aug 18, 2026. (Photo by Raju Shinde/HT Photo) (Raju Shinde)

mumbai news

Updated on Aug 19, 2026 04:14 IST

BEST workers to go on indefinite hunger strike from today

mumbai news

Updated on Aug 18, 2026 02:53 IST

Not again! BEST bus rams 6 parked vehicles in Mumbai

According to the BEST’s preliminary report, the bus suddenly moved forward when the driver released the handbrake, hitting six vehicles parked ahead (Raju Shinde/HT Photo)

mumbai news

Updated on Aug 18, 2026 03:07 IST

Centre cracks whip on ride aggregators prompting passengers for advance tips

Representational image (Hindustan Times)

mumbai news

Updated on Aug 17, 2026 02:54 IST

BEST steps up power network expansion across island city as demand rises

Mumbai, India. Aug 10, 2026 - View of the Dosti Eastern Bay high-rise building located in the Wadala area of central Mumbai. Mumbai, India. Aug 10, 2026. (Photo by Raju Shinde/HT Photo) (Raju Shinde)

mumbai news

Updated on Aug 17, 2026 02:52 IST

Auto, taxi drivers get one more month to learn Marathi, clear test

The clarification comes at a time when tens of thousands of auto and taxi drivers are flocking to regional transport offices (RTOs) across the state to appear for Marathi language tests. (Anshuman Poyrekar/HT Photo)

mumbai news

Updated on Aug 15, 2026 02:44 IST

CR adds 22 longer-rake services on CSMT-Khopoli corridor from today

mumbai news

Updated on Aug 15, 2026 02:41 IST

WR appoints nodal officers to keep railway stations free of stray dogs

The move comes amid concerns about a growing number of stray dogs at railway stations, particularly in crowded areas where their presence can pose a safety risk to commuters, officials said. (HT PHOTO)

mumbai news

Updated on Aug 14, 2026 03:15 IST