A new 157-kilometre stretch of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is expected to open by next week, improving road connectivity between Gujarat and Maharashtra and providing an alternative route for traffic currently using the old NH-48. The new section will extend from the Navsari side towards areas around Palghar and Virar, according to the information reported in the source material.

The opening is expected to be particularly useful for motorists travelling between southern Gujarat and parts of Maharashtra. The stretch will bypass several busy areas, including Vapi, Valsad and Dahanu, before connecting towards the Palghar-Virar region. However, the development should not be interpreted as the entire Delhi-Mumbai Expressway becoming operational as one continuous route.

New 157-Km Stretch

The upcoming section will add around 157 km to the operational network of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. The route is expected to provide a faster alternative for traffic travelling between Gujarat and Maharashtra, while also reducing dependence on existing highway corridors.

The new connectivity will cover the route beyond Navsari and provide access towards the Palghar and Virar areas. Once opened, commuters are expected to have an additional high-speed road option for inter-state travel.

Relief for NH-48 Traffic

One of the key expected benefits of the new stretch is a reduction in traffic pressure on NH-48, the existing highway that carries significant traffic between Gujarat and Maharashtra.

The expressway is designed to divert a portion of long-distance traffic away from older and more congested road corridors. For motorists travelling towards Mumbai and surrounding areas, the additional expressway connectivity could make journeys more predictable, particularly on busy stretches of the existing highway.

Full Delhi-Mumbai Route Not Yet Complete

Despite the upcoming opening, the entire Delhi-Mumbai Expressway route is not yet available as one uninterrupted expressway corridor.

A substantial portion between Delhi and Vadodara is already operational. However, some sections between Vadodara and Navsari are still under development. As a result, motorists travelling from Delhi towards Mumbai may still need to use a combination of the expressway and existing highways on certain portions of the journey.

The opening of the new section beyond Navsari is therefore an important step, but it does not mean that the complete Vadodara-Mumbai section has become fully operational.

Areas Likely to Benefit

The new stretch is expected to improve connectivity for several areas along the Gujarat-Maharashtra corridor. Travellers from Navsari, Vapi and Valsad will gain an additional high-speed road connection towards Maharashtra.

Further south, the route is expected to benefit travellers heading towards Dahanu, Palghar and Virar, while also improving connectivity towards the Mumbai region.

The bypassing of urban and heavily trafficked sections could help long-distance vehicles avoid some of the congestion associated with existing road routes.

Impact on Gujarat-Maharashtra Travel

The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is being developed as a major road corridor connecting the national capital with Mumbai through several states. The project is intended to reduce travel time, improve logistics connectivity and create alternative routes for long-distance traffic.

The latest stretch, once opened, will strengthen the connection between southern Gujarat and northern Maharashtra. It could also provide benefits for commercial vehicles and freight movement between the two states.

What Commuters Should Know

Travellers should keep in mind that the 157-km stretch is expected to open soon, but the complete Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is not yet a continuous operational corridor from Delhi to Mumbai.

Motorists planning long-distance journeys should check the latest traffic and road-opening information before travelling. Once additional sections become operational, connectivity between different parts of Gujarat and Maharashtra is expected to improve further.

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested five more persons in connection with an alleged terror module linked to the Pakistan-based banned terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), taking the total number of arrests in the case to 13.

The latest arrests were made from Khadiyal village in Siddhpur taluka of Patan district. The accused have been identified as Bilal Abidbhai Shera, Mohammad Ayub Kadiwala alias Mohammed Khadiyasan, Mohammad Palanpuri alias Khali Ayub Sunsara, Shafia Rais Mukhti alias Shafi Chapi and Mohammad Hasan Kardia alias Hasan Haidarpuri.

Five Accused Sent to ATS Custody

The five accused were produced before Judicial Magistrate R.M. Bhatia in Kadi, Mehsana district. The court remanded them to Gujarat ATS custody until July 24 to facilitate further investigation.

The arrests come days after coordinated raids conducted by the ATS across Gujarat and neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, during which eight suspects were taken into custody.

Investigation into Alleged Terror Network

According to ATS officials, the investigation suggests the accused were allegedly part of a wider network linked to the banned terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed. Investigators are examining allegations of radicalisation, recruitment and logistical support activities.

Officials claim the accused were allegedly in contact with handlers based in Pakistan through encrypted messaging applications and social media platforms. These allegations are part of the ongoing investigation and have not yet been tested in court.

Electronic Devices Seized

During the searches, the ATS seized mobile phones, laptops and other electronic devices from the accused. The devices have been sent for forensic examination to recover communication records and digital evidence.

Investigators are also analysing financial transactions, bank accounts and online activities to determine whether the alleged network received foreign funding or maintained links with operatives in other states.

Further Investigation Underway

The ATS has not disclosed whether the alleged module had identified any specific targets, stating that the investigation is at a sensitive stage.

Officials said further arrests and searches cannot be ruled out as forensic analysis and interrogation of the accused continue. The investigation is being carried out in coordination with central and state security agencies to determine the full extent of the alleged network.

The accused remain under investigation, and the allegations against them will be subject to judicial proceedings.: 

Security agencies crack down on alleged terror network operating across Gujarat and MP; investigation into funding and recruitment continues

In a major anti-terror operation ahead of the annual Rath Yatra, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested eight suspected operatives allegedly linked to the banned terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). The coordinated operation was carried out across Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh following intelligence inputs indicating efforts to expand the outfit's network in western India.

According to officials, the arrests were made during simultaneous raids conducted at multiple locations. Investigators believe the accused were actively working to strengthen the organisation's presence by recruiting individuals, circulating extremist material and maintaining contact with handlers linked to the terror outfit.

Among those arrested is Bilal Durrani, who was apprehended from Dewas district in Madhya Pradesh. Police sources said he had allegedly been living in the city's Warsi Nagar area for a considerable period without attracting attention from local authorities.

The remaining accused include Ahmed Abdullah Ghaziwala, Ibrahim Mohammad Hussain Ghagha, Mudassir Abdullah Ghaziwala, Zakariya Durrani, Mufti Fauzan, Mohammad Amin Shera and Mohammad Abdul Rehman Savdi, most of whom belong to Gujarat.

Officials said two of the accused are teenagers aged 18 and 19, while others are between their early twenties and forties. Initial investigations suggest that the suspects were allegedly operating under instructions from Jaish-e-Mohammed handlers and attempting to establish a stronger organisational base in Gujarat.

Digital evidence and alleged funding trail recovered

The ATS has reportedly recovered mobile phones containing alleged extremist literature, videos, audio recordings and handwritten notes. Investigators are examining the digital devices to determine the extent of the alleged network and identify additional contacts.

Officials also suspect the accused received financial support for their activities. Preliminary findings indicate that around ₹3 lakh may have been transferred through suspected terror-funding channels. Authorities are tracing the origin of these transactions to identify possible financiers and foreign connections.

Investigators are also scrutinising communication records, encrypted messaging applications and social media activity as part of the ongoing probe.

Operation launched ahead of Rath Yatra

The arrests assume significance as they were made just days before Gujarat's annual Rath Yatra, one of the state's largest religious processions that attracts thousands of devotees and involves extensive security arrangements every year.

Security agencies routinely intensify surveillance ahead of major public events, and officials said the operation was part of preventive measures aimed at neutralising potential security threats.

Charges under UAPA and BNS

The ATS has registered a case against all eight accused under multiple provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA), including Sections 13, 17, 18, 38 and 39, which relate to unlawful activities, terror funding, conspiracy and support to terrorist organisations.

Additional charges have also been invoked under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

All the accused remain in ATS custody and are being questioned to determine the full extent of the alleged network, recruitment activities, financial transactions and any possible links with handlers operating outside India.

Officials said further arrests cannot be ruled out as the investigation progresses.

In a major counter-terrorism operation conducted just 13 days before the annual Rath Yatra, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested eight suspected operatives allegedly linked to the banned terrorist outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). The arrests were made during coordinated raids across Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh following specific intelligence inputs, officials said.

According to the ATS, the suspects were allegedly attempting to strengthen the terror organisation's network in Gujarat. Multiple ATS teams simultaneously carried out search operations at different locations, leading to the detention of all eight accused. They are currently being interrogated to determine the extent of their alleged involvement and identify any wider network or operational plans.

Officials said the action is part of heightened security measures being implemented ahead of the annual Rath Yatra, one of Gujarat's largest religious processions that attracts thousands of devotees and remains under extensive security surveillance every year.

The arrested suspects have been identified as Ahmed Abdullah Gajiwala alias Abu Ubaida (19), Ibrahim Mohammad Husen Ghagha alias Abu Hamza (30), Mudassir Abdullah Ghaziwala alias Abu Aya (22), Zakariya Durani Mohammad Ammar Ghagha alias Ibn Ammar and Zakariya Palanpuri (21), Mufti Faujan Ismail Dauwa alias Mufti Sahab (40), Mohammad Amin Shera alias Amin Palanpuri (21), Mohammad Abdul Rahman Savdi alias Mohammad Palanpuri and Abu Unisa (22), and Bilal Durani Mohammad Ammar Ghagha alias Abu Dujana, Abu Sufiyan, Abu Zundal and Umar bin Khattab (18), who hails from Dewas in Madhya Pradesh.

Investigators said the accused are being questioned over their alleged involvement in anti-national activities, recruitment efforts and suspected links with Jaish-e-Mohammed. Security agencies are also examining their communication records, financial transactions, digital devices and possible contacts with other individuals associated with extremist organisations.

The ATS has not disclosed whether the group had any immediate plans to target the Rath Yatra or any other public event. Officials maintained that the investigation is at a preliminary stage and further details will emerge after sustained interrogation and forensic examination of the seized material.

A criminal case has been registered against all eight accused under Sections 13, 17, 18, 38 and 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967, along with Sections 148 and 61 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. These provisions deal with unlawful activities, raising funds for terrorism, conspiracy, membership and support to terrorist organisations, as well as offences related to criminal conduct.

Officials said additional legal action could follow depending on the outcome of the ongoing investigation. The ATS is also coordinating with central intelligence agencies and law enforcement authorities in other states to trace any interstate or cross-border links connected to the accused.

Security agencies routinely intensify surveillance before major religious gatherings such as the Rath Yatra due to the large public participation. The latest operation is being viewed as part of preventive security measures aimed at disrupting suspected terror modules before they can establish operational capabilities.

Authorities have appealed to the public not to circulate unverified information on social media and assured that all necessary security arrangements are in place for the smooth and peaceful conduct of the upcoming Rath Yatra.

The Gujarat High Court pulled up former cricketer and TMC MP Yusuf Pathan on Monday over his occupation of a Vadodara plot that was never formally allotted to him, warning that the land must be vacated or penalties would follow.

Court Demands Explanation

The Gujarat High Court on Monday sharply questioned former Indian cricketer and sitting Trinamool Congress MP Yusuf Pathan over his possession of a disputed municipal plot in Vadodara — land, the bench pointedly noted, that he was never legally allotted.

"If the land was never allotted, how did you take possession of it?" the division bench asked during the hearing, underlining that not a single rupee had been paid, no lease deed had been executed, and none of the required formalities had been completed.

The court went further — it asked Pathan to identify which official had handed over possession of the plot, indicating that an inquiry could be initiated against that person.

The Core of the Dispute

The case has its roots in a 2012 application filed by Pathan seeking a plot in Vadodara. The Standing Committee of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation approved a proposal to allot the land to him at market value. The General Body later endorsed the proposal, and it was forwarded to the Gujarat government for final approval.

The state government, however, rejected the proposal in 2014, citing the absence of a public auction process. Under its position, no allotment of public land could be made through a selective process without following prescribed norms.

Pathan challenged this rejection — along with a June 2024 VMC order directing removal of his possession — before the Gujarat High Court in 2024.

His Legal Argument

Pathan's counsel argued that the plot falls under municipal corporation jurisdiction and that state government approval was not required in the first place. The petition also invoked a 1999 state policy that allegedly made international cricketers eligible for land allotments, pointing out that both Yusuf and his brother Irfan Pathan had represented India at the highest level.

His legal team further contended that the allotment proposal had cleared both the Standing Committee and the General Body, and that Pathan had at all times expressed willingness to pay prevailing market value. The petition also cited security concerns, noting that the plot is situated near his residence.

Single Judge Had Already Dismissed His Plea

This is not the first time the matter has gone against Pathan. A single-judge bench had earlier dismissed his challenge, observing that he held no allotment letter and no legal order granting him possession.

The single judge had noted that despite the complete absence of any legal allotment, a boundary wall had been constructed around the property — an action the court described as an attempt to create pressure for eventual allotment. The judgment had been unambiguous: public land cannot change hands through a selective process.

Corporation Stands Firm

The Vadodara Municipal Corporation told the division bench that state government clearance was always mandatory given that the process bypassed public auction. It submitted that Pathan had been informed of this requirement and that the state's rejection had been duly communicated to him over the years.

The corporation's position was that no valid allotment had ever come into existence — the Standing Committee's resolution was a proposal, nothing more.

Court Warns of Penalties

The bench on Monday made its views plain: unauthorized occupation of public land amounts to an offence. It said the conduct was unexpected from an international cricketer, and stressed that even if the plot was lying unused, compensation and rent would still be payable for the period of occupation.

If the land is not voluntarily vacated, the court indicated it could direct authorities to reclaim possession and assess dues for the entire period it has remained under Pathan's control.

The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for June 15.