Mumbai Maglev

Randeep Ramesh in New Delhi
Wednesday December 19, 2007
The Guardian

India's financial capital, Mumbai, is considering a £3.75bn futuristic magnetic levitation high-speed train network as a part of a radical overhaul of the infrastructure.

Mumbai's railways were boycotted only last week by thousands of commuters because of the "deadly" overcrowding. Passenger groups say that on average every square metre of railway carriage accommodates 17 people on each trip.

The Maharashtra state government wants up to six maglev routes, of between 16 to 30 miles, linking the port city to the suburbs.

The role model appears to be Shanghai's maglev train.

Tensions in Hyderabad

Police in India have arrested a Muslim man in connection with last week's bombing of a historic mosque in Hyderabad, that killed 11 people.

Officials say the suspect was detained Tuesday in Jalna, in western Maharashtra state. He is the first person to be detained for questioning about the attack.

There has been no claim of responsibility for the attack.

Security remains tight around the Hyderabad mosque with thousands of police deployed in the area. Shortly after Friday prayers, police used batons to beat back worshippers protesting the official inquiry into the bombing.

Five people died in police shootings during riots that erupted after the bombing of the 17th century mosque.

News source: AP and Reuters.