'Gully Boy' fame rapper MC Tod Fod passes away, Ranveer Singh, Zoya Akhtar pay tributes
Mumbai(PTI): Actors Ranveer Singh, Siddhant Chaturvedi and filmmaker Zoya Akhtar on Tuesday mourned the loss of rapper Dharmesh Parmar, popularly known as MC Tod Fod, who passed away on March 20.
The Dadar-based rapper died aged 24.
His death was confirmed by the Mumbai hip-hop group Swadesi, of which he was a part of, on Monday. The cause of his death is not yet known.
Parmar was known for his rap songs in Hindi and Gujarati and was also a part of Akhtar's 2019 drama "Gully Boy", contributing to its music.
Singh, who fronted the story of a rapper's rise from the streets, took to Instagram and posted a photo of Parmar with a heartbreak emoticon.
Chaturvedi, who also starred in the film, took to Instagram and shared a screenshot of his chat with Parmar.
In the chat, the actor had congratulated him for his "Gully Boy" track "India 91".
"RIP Bhai," Chaturvedi wrote.
Akhtar posted a picture of the rapper on her Instagram feed.
"You have gone way too soon. I can only be grateful our paths crossed. Rest in peace Bantai," she wrote.
The official Instagram page of Swadesi Movement posted a video of the rapper's perfomance from 'Swadesi Mela'.
"You had to be there to experience it, his thrill, his love for playing live music. You are never forgotten, you will always live through with your music," the post read.
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Metro ridership in Haryana sees over 13 pc rise in 2025-26
Chandigarh (PTI): Haryana's urban transit system witnessed a strong growth in 2025-26, with metro ridership registering a robust 13.55 per cent increase, the state government said in a statement on Thursday.
The progress was reviewed in the 64th board meeting of Haryana Mass Rapid Transport Corporation (HMRTC) chaired by Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi.
Between April 2025 and February 2026, the metro network recorded over 1.74 crore passengers, compared to 1.53 crore in the corresponding period the previous year.
July recorded the highest monthly growth at 22.93 per cent, while all months showed consistent positive trends.
Financial performance has also remained strong, with fare revenue rising 12.64 per cent till January 2026, the statement said.
Non-fare revenue surged by 108 per cent, driven by effective monetisation of station spaces, advertisements and commercial activities, resulting in an operating surplus for Rapid Metro.
Further initiatives, including the auction of station naming rights and additional advertisement sites, are expected to strengthen HMRTC's financial position, the statement said.
Appreciating the performance, Rastogi stated that the consistent rise in ridership and revenue reflects the success of Haryana's integrated transport strategy, rising commuter confidence and a clear shift towards public transport.
HMRTC Managing Director Chander Shekhar Khare said that, alongside operational gains, the state is making steady progress on an ambitious pipeline of metro and regional transit projects.
Metro connectivity from Gurugram Sector 56 to Panchgaon is under active consideration, with Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited studying the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and layout plan, and finalising a depot location in Sector 36A near Sihi village, he said.
The Gurugram-Faridabad Namo Bharat corridor has achieved a key milestone, with alignment and station locations finalised and approved by the Haryana government. The National Capital Region Transport Corporation is preparing the DPR, he added.
Similarly, the Delhi-Kundli metro extension is proposed to be placed before the Haryana Cabinet for approval.
The 136.3-kilometre Delhi-Panipat-Karnal RRTS Corridor has also progressed, with the revised DPR submitted for financial concurrence ahead of Haryana Cabinet consideration.
Within Gurugram, DPR preparation has been approved for key intra-city corridors, including the 17.09-kilometre Bhondsi-Subhash Chowk-Rajeev Chowk-Sohna Chowk Railway Station corridor, enhancing connectivity along Sohna Road, Khare said.
