Swapnil Rawal
Swapnil Rawal is Principal Correspondent with the Hindustan Times. He covers urban development and infrastructure. He had long stints with leading national dailies and has experience of over a decade in journalism.
Articles by Swapnil Rawal
Mumbai, brace for traffic snarls: Repairs on Eastern and Western Express Highway begin
By Swapnil Rawal | Hindustan Times, Mumbai
UPDATED ON APR 27, 2017 02:30 PM IST
The 26.2km WEH, which stretches from Dahisar toll naka to Bandra, and the 23.5km EEH, which stretches from Mulund toll naka to Sion, are two of the city’s main arterial roads.
Airports authority to give land for Metro-7 car shed at Dahisar in Mumbai
By Swapnil Rawal | Hindustan Times, Mumbai
UPDATED ON APR 23, 2017 01:50 AM IST
The AAI and MMRDA will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on April 24 to formalise the handing over of 40 acres near the toll naka at Dahisar to MMRDA
Mumbai commute: Google Maps mobile app to help you avoid traffic on your way to Metro
By Swapnil Rawal | Hindustan Times, Mumbai
UPDATED ON APR 23, 2017 01:44 AM IST
While the Metro is one of the fastest modes of transport in Mumbai, this will make trips to and from the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar corridor even faster
Soon, travel between Borivli and Thane in 10 minutes using underground SGNP tunnel
By Swapnil Rawal | Hindustan Times, Mumbai
UPDATED ON APR 19, 2017 09:51 PM IST
Currently, the 23-km distance between Thane and Borivli — via Ghodbunder Road — takes almost an hour or even more, if there is a traffic jam
Eastern waterfront revamp: Mumbai to get second ‘Marine Drive’
By Swapnil Rawal | Hindustan Times, Mumbai
UPDATED ON APR 19, 2017 12:05 AM IST
Currently, the entire 28-km eastern coastline of Mumbai — from Colaba to Wadala — bordering 742 hectares, is locked under MbPT and does not feature prominently in the cityscape
After tepid response on land-pooling, Maharashtra govt turns to buying land for Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway
By Swapnil Rawal | Hindustan Times, Mumbai
PUBLISHED ON APR 08, 2017 11:43 PM IST
With farmers still wary of land-pooling for the state government’s ambitious Mumbai-Nagpur Super Communication Expressway, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) plans to acquire land with one-time payments to owners under the Land Acquisition Act.
Will act against builders if they handover flats without occupation certificate: Devendra Fadnavis
By Swapnil Rawal | Hindustan Times, Mumbai
PUBLISHED ON APR 08, 2017 12:54 AM IST
According to civic norms, flat owners cannot live in a flat until it has been given an OC from the building proposal department of the BMC. Anyone occupying a flat without an OC is liable to be prosecuted. Buildings without OCs are not given a water connection and are charged a higher property tax.
Organisational changes on the cards for the Shiv Sena as Uddhav calls for meeting
By Swapnil Rawal | Hindustan Times, Mumbai
UPDATED ON APR 06, 2017 12:11 PM IST
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has called for a meeting on Thursday of senior party functionaries and legislators to take stock of the political scene in the state and also gauge the mood in the party as he would soon make organisational changes.
Mumbai: Technical issues delay BKC hybrid bus service
By Swapnil Rawal | Hindustan Times, Mumbai
UPDATED ON APR 05, 2017 10:06 AM IST
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which had ordered 25 hybrid/electric buses, planned to start the bus service between Bandra, Kurla and Sion suburban railway stations from BKC for the convenience of the commuters.
Shiv Sena chief targets Maha CM over farm loan waiver in UP
By Swapnil Rawal | Hindustan Times, Mumbai
UPDATED ON APR 10, 2017 07:23 AM IST
Uddhav Thackeray demanded that Devendra Fadnavis should follow in the UP chief minister’s footsteps and announce a loan waiver for farmers across Maharashtra...
Mohan Bhagwat as President will fulfil Hindu-rashtra dream: Shiv Sena
By Swapnil Rawal | Hindustan Times, Mumbai
UPDATED ON APR 04, 2017 07:11 AM IST
In a column in the party’s mouthpiece ‘Saamana’, senior leader and Rajya Sabha MP, Sanjay Raut said that Sena feels that since the BJP has won many states in the recent assembly elections, there is an overall atmosphere of “Hindutva” in the country.
Redevelopment of govt colony in Bandra to start soon: Maharashtra
By Swapnil Rawal | Hindustan Times, Mumbai
PUBLISHED ON APR 02, 2017 11:37 PM IST
Public Works Department minister Chandrakant Patil said that the government has prepared a plan to redevelop the colony
Maharashtra govt may revoke suspension of 19 MLAs
By Swapnil Rawal | Hindustan Times, Mumbai
UPDATED ON APR 01, 2017 12:15 AM IST
On March 18, Opposition MLAs had interrupted Sudhir Mungantiwar’s presentation of the annual budget to demand farm loan waivers
Long wait over: Work on Mumbai Transharbour Link to begin this October
By Swapnil Rawal | Hindustan Times, Mumbai
UPDATED ON APR 01, 2017 01:11 AM IST
MMRDA has already started the bidding procedure for the 22-km link that will connect Sewri in the island city and Nhava Sheva on the mainland
₹1.5-lakh stents will now cost ₹7K: Maharashtra govt
By Swapnil Rawal | Hindustan Times, Mumbai
UPDATED ON APR 24, 2017 12:14 AM IST
The state identified eight major hospitals in Mumbai that hike the prices of medical devices.
Shiv Sena wants NDA to consider RSS chief Bhagwat as President of India
By Swapnil Rawal | Hindustan Times, Mumbai
UPDATED ON MAR 28, 2017 07:17 AM IST
To fulfill the dream of a ‘Hindu rashtra’, the Shiv Sena has suggested that the NDA should consider making RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat India’s next President.
Shiv Sena calls for bandh, to demand action against Air India for grounding MP who thrashed airline staffer
By Swapnil Rawal | Hindustan Times, Mumbai
UPDATED ON MAR 27, 2017 11:52 AM IST
The Shiv Sena indicated on Monday it intended to back controversial party MP Ravindra Gaikwad, who triggered a storm of criticism after thrashing an elderly Air India employee last week.
No need to discipline MP who assaulted 60-year-old: Shiv Sena
By Swapnil Rawal | Hindustan Times, Mumbai
UPDATED ON MAR 25, 2017 12:49 PM IST
The dressing down from Thackeray could be the extent of the party’s action against Gaikwad. Sena leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut said that Thackeray hadn’t summoned the MP for disciplinary action and that he didn’t in fact need to be disciplined.
Shiv Sena asks Ravindra Gaikwad to ‘watch his behaviour’ over slipper assault
By Swapnil Rawal | Mumbai, Hindustan Times
UPDATED ON MAR 24, 2017 06:15 PM IST
The defiant MP has refused to apologise and his brazen statements justifying his actions has caused major embarrassment to his party, which is in the ruling alliance in the state.
Sena MP, who beat up AI official, summoned by party chief Thackeray
By Swapnil Rawal | Hindustan Times, Mumbai
UPDATED ON MAR 24, 2017 09:38 AM IST
Ravindra Gaikwad allegedly beat the official with slippers after his seat was changed from business to economy class.
Despite malnutrition deaths in Maharashtra, child development budget cut by 31%
By Swapnil Rawal | Hindustan Times, Mumbai
UPDATED ON MAR 23, 2017 11:37 AM IST
Till August 2016, malnutrition claimed lives of 254 children in Palghar district of Maharashtra
Metro 2B in way of Kalanagar decongestion plan
By Swapnil Rawal | Hindustan Times, Mumbai
PUBLISHED ON MAR 17, 2017 01:13 AM IST
With vehicles coming from five directions, the stretch between Kalanagar and BKC witnesses crippling jams during peak hours. A survey by MMRDA showed more than 12,000 cars pass the BKC junction every hour
Mumbai Metro 3 work: Residents of old SoBo buildings to shift to hotels
By Swapnil Rawal | Hindustan Times, Mumbai
PUBLISHED ON MAR 13, 2017 11:27 PM IST
Tunneling work is expected to start by October
Soon dine aboard a floatel in Mumbai
By Swapnil Rawal | Hindustan Times, Mumbai
PUBLISHED ON MAR 10, 2017 12:06 PM IST
The city’s first floating hotel or floatel will be inaugurated by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday evening.
You can use your debit cards to pay for a Metro ride
By Swapnil Rawal | Hindustan Times, Mumbai
PUBLISHED ON MAR 08, 2017 01:00 AM IST
The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) is planning to put in place machines to facilitate automatic fare collection. MMRC officials called this the “open-loop” system and said it was a first in the country
In Mumbai: Versova-Bandra Sea Link gets Maharashtra govt’s green nod
By Swapnil Rawal | Hindustan Times, Mumbai
PUBLISHED ON MAR 06, 2017 09:31 AM IST
The MSRDC has already secured the coastal regulatory zone (CRZ) clearance from the central agencies for the 9.5km sea link...
Colaba-SEEPZ Metro likely to be built in two phases
By Swapnil Rawal | Hindustan Times, Mumbai
UPDATED ON MAR 03, 2017 11:17 PM IST
The Metro-3 corridor is crucial north-south rail connectivity and will supplement the existing suburban rail network that is already overburdened
Tunneling for Metro-3 to begin by October
By Swapnil Rawal | Hindustan Times, Mumbai
UPDATED ON MAR 03, 2017 11:38 AM IST
Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) officials said twin tunnels of 33.5-km each will be dug
MMRC says its new plan for Metro-3 car shed at Aarey Colony in Mumbai will help save trees
By Swapnil Rawal and Tanushree Venkatraman | Hindustan Times
UPDATED ON MAR 03, 2017 01:22 AM IST
MMRC officials said the earlier design took 30 hectares space, while the new plan would cover 25 hectares
Sena, BJP keep suspense on; mayoral polls process begins
By Swapnil Rawal, Mumbai
UPDATED ON MAR 03, 2017 12:49 AM IST