Malayalam actor Rizabawa passes away at 54
Kochi, Sep 13: Malayalam film actor Rizabawa has passed away due to heart-related ailments on Monday, family sources said. He was 54.
The actor became popular for his role 'John Honai' in the movie 'In Harihar Nagar'. He was admitted to a private hospital here three days ago.
Rizabawa appeared on the silver screen in 1990 through 'Doctor Pashupathi'. Later, he acted in 'Chambakkulam Thachan', 'Kaaboolivala', 'Aniyan bava Chettan bava', 'Niram' and 'Nasrani', among others. He had acted in around 150 movies and over 20 television serials.
Malayalam film actor Dulqar Salman, Prithviraj, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Opposition Leader of the State Assembly V D Satheesan and Ministers expressed condolences over the death of the actor.
Vijayan, in his message, said Rizabawa was a noted actor who won hearts of Malayalam movie-goers.
"He is an artist who won the hearts of the Malayalees...He was also a popular face in television serials," Vijayan said.
Higher Education Minister R Bindu said villain John Honai, the character Rizabawa is known for, carved a special place in the hearts of film buffs.
"...Adieu, Shri Rizabawa. You will forever be remembered through your work," Bindhu tweeted.
Satheesan said Rizabawa came into cinema world at a time when he was a busy dramatist.
"Around 150 films in which he proved his talent as a villain and a character actor. He was active in television serials, too. He was noted for his dubbing and received a State award," Satheesan said in a statement.
Rest in peace! 🙏 pic.twitter.com/rzLMDQrIr6
— Prithviraj Sukumaran (@PrithviOfficial) September 13, 2021
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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.
