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Mass Japanese Encephalitis vaccination drive begins in Pune
With the Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) outbreak now over, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has initiated a large-scale Japanese Encephalitis (JE) vaccination drive. Launched at the beginning of the month, the campaign targets 1,98,874 children aged 1 to 10 years across multiple city zones, with an overall goal of vaccinating 10.43 lakh children. This effort aims to protect children from the life-threatening mosquito-borne disease, which continues to pose a major health risk in endemic regions. A total of 1238 teams have been deployed for the campaign, covering 603 schools and 637 Anganwadi centres under PMC’s jurisdiction. On a single day, nearly 40,000 children received their vaccinations. As of March 24, the campaign has successfully immunised 1,98,874 children, including 96,694 boys and 1,02,180 girls. Out of the total stock of 6,79,515 vaccine doses, 2,02,032 have been used, leaving a reserve of 4,77,483 doses. Additionally, 8,00,000 auto-disable (AD) syringes were procured for the campaign, with 2,05,293 syringes already utilized and 5,94,707 still available. A vaccine dose is administered on the left thigh of a kid Dr Rajesh Dighe, PMC’s immunisation officer, told mid-day, “The drive will continue after the schools reopen following summer vacations. Currently, due to annual exams and public holidays, school schedules are not available. The vaccine is provided free of cost.” PMC officials stressed the significance of the campaign in preventing JE outbreaks. Mobile vaccination teams have been mobilised to reach underserved areas, ensuring high participation through coordination with local schools and Anganwadi centers. To ensure extensive coverage, PMC has called on private schools to support the vaccination drive. The Maharashtra Public Health Department issued operational guidelines for JE vaccination on February 10, 2025, to districts including Pune, Raigad, and Parbhani. Following a year-long delay, the second phase of the pilot JE vaccination drive commenced in March 2025 across these districts, as well as in municipal corporations of Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and Panvel. In Pune, children aged 1 to 15 years make up approximately 33 per cent of the total population, an estimated 11 lakh individuals. According to immunisation norms, a single dose of 0.5 ml is administered intramuscularly—on the anterolateral aspect of the left thigh for small children and the deltoid region of the left upper arm for older children and adolescents. Under this initiative, a total of 10,43,420 children in Pune city will receive the vaccine. To implement the vaccination drive effectively, 15 regional municipal offices have established dedicated coordination and monitoring units. Health circle officers and regional medical officers have been appointed as coordinating officers for their respective areas. The campaign includes 6692 vaccination sessions conducted across primary and secondary schools, Anganwadi centres, and other designated locations. A workforce of 522 vaccinators is executing the drive, assisted by 365 ASHA workers, 1092 Anganwadi workers, and 848 teachers. To further promote vaccination, the IMA and IAP have been urged to encourage paediatricians and general practitioners to support the initiative. All municipal departments have been directed to coordinate efforts, as per the orders of Additional Municipal Commissioner (General) Prithviraj B.P. Essential supplies, including vaccines, syringes, reporting formats, marker pens, hub cutters, awareness materials, and Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI) kits, have been distributed from the Main Vaccination Office in Narayan Peth to maternity homes and hospitals.
28 March,2025 07:43 AM IST | Mumbai | Archana Dahiwal
Man accused in 22 cases of rape and kidnap walks free once more
Rehan Abdul Rashid Qureshi, an alleged serial rapist, kidnapper, and murderer of several minor girls, has been acquitted in yet another case due to insufficient evidence. The prosecution once more failed to substantiate the charges against him. Qureshi, who faces accusations in 22 cases of kidnapping and sexual abuse, has been incarcerated for several years. Last year, the Dindoshi Sessions Court cleared him in a case concerning the sexual abuse of a 10-year-old minor girl, citing a lack of evidence. Similarly, last week, the Bombay Sessions Court acquitted him in a separate case involving the rape and kidnapping of a 13-year-old minor under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. This incident was reported to the Bhoiwada police station in 2016. Qureshi faced trial under Sections 363 (kidnapping) and 376(3) (rape of a minor) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, as well as Section 6 of the POCSO Act, 2012, related to a case filed against him. The victim’s father stated, “I was at work when my wife informed me that an unknown person had kidnapped our daughter. Upon receiving this news, I immediately rushed home. My wife told me that around 4.30 pm, an unknown man came to our house and claimed that I had sent some items from the hospital, which were kept outside. He then called out to our daughter, but my wife insisted that she would go herself to collect the items. The unknown man and my wife then walked towards Dr B A Road. After covering some distance, the man told her that he had left his bag at our house and asked her to wait near the gate of the Gurudwara while he went back to retrieve it. She waited at the spot, but the man never returned. Sensing something was wrong, she hurried back home and found that our daughter was missing. Panicked, she called me immediately. We searched for our daughter everywhere but could not find her. Eventually, we lodged a missing person’s complaint with the police. During the investigation, it was revealed that the accused had kidnapped the minor girl and sexually assaulted her.” Girl’s statement According to the girl’s account to the police, the unknown man arrived at her home, informed her that her father had sent some clothes, and instructed her to meet him near the Gurudwara to retrieve them. She accompanied him, but rather than meeting her father, he took her to various locations—Naigaon Co-operative Housing Society, Venu Apartment in Kesar Bagh, and a building on D F Road—each time claiming the complainant was absent. When she questioned him, he assured her that her mother and brother were on their way and told her to wait on the staircase. The man then claimed her father had given him Rs 5,000 for stitching her clothes and that he needed to take her measurements. He asked her to remove her clothes, but when she refused, he threatened her and forcibly stripped off her T-shirt and pants. The accused then sexually assaulted her. After the victim vomited, the accused fled the scene. She returned home and told her mother, who subsequently filed a police complaint. No evidence found Bhoiwada police inspected the crime scene, conducted a panchanama, recorded statements, and gathered forensic samples. The medical report showed that the victim’s genital organs were intact, with no signs of genital injury. The forensic report similarly indicated no evidence of recent genital trauma. In cross-examination, the medical officer confirmed that the alleged incident occurred on June 19, 2016, and the victim was examined at the hospital on the same day. He noted that 24 hours had elapsed since the incident and that the observed injuries, possibly from an assault with tiles, dated back one or two days prior. The court determined that no evidence connected the accused to the crime. It found the testimonies of the victim and complainant unreliable and lacking credibility. The statements of prosecution witnesses did not corroborate the charges against the accused. Based on these findings, the court ruled that the prosecution failed to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, resulting in Qureshi’s acquittal. Accused lawyer speaks Qureshi’s attorney, Nazneen Khatri, stated, “My client, Rehan Qureshi, is innocent, and he is falsely implicated in all the cases.”
28 March,2025 07:41 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah Khan
Uddhav Thackeray questions BJP’s ‘Saugat-e-Modi’ drive, calls it ‘satta jihad’
Two political parties, the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the BJP, which some refer to as Hindutva champions are now questioning each other over attempts to reach out to the minorities. On Thursday, while addressing the media at his party’s headquarters, Sena Bhavan in Dadar, Uddhav Thackeray raised questions regarding the BJP’s ‘Saugat-e-Modi’ drive, which includes distribution of Eid celebration kits to the underprivileged. The drive initiated by BJP’s minority wing is said to be an attempt to reach out to the Muslim community. “Has the BJP given up its Hindutva? Or is it that when they [BJP] do such activities, it is a community outreach programme and when others do them, it is appeasement of a community?” Uddhav, son of late Balasaheb Thackeray, asked the BJP, its ally-turned-political opponent. The BJP and Shiv Sena (undivided) once comprised the oldest alliance forged on the common ground of Hindutva. However, the three-decade-old partnership came to an end in 2014, following differences between two saffron parties over the seat-sharing formula. In 2019, when Thackeray, Congress and the Sharad Pawar led-NCP and came together and formed Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), BJP leaders accused Thackeray of abandoning Hindutva. Now that the BJP has initiated the ‘Saugat-e-Modi’ campaign, Thackeray has hit back at the former over the drive, terming it ‘satta jihad’ (power jihad). “This drive is nothing but a move for electoral gains,” the former chief minister of Maharashtra said, accusing the BJP of adopting double standards. Also, during his interaction with the media, the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader slammed the ruling Mahayuti (BJP, Eknath Shinde led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction) for not keeping promises that were made during the Assembly poll campaign. Last year, in June, the Mahayuti government announced monthly financial assistance of Rs 1500 to women from financially weaker sections. However, later in the same year, during the Assembly polls, the Mahayuti, in its poll manifesto, assured of loan waivers for farmers and Rs 2100 per month assistance under the government’s flagship welfare scheme–Ladki Bahin Yojana. The hike in the welfare scheme amount was promised as MVA announced to give R3,000 per month if voted to power. In response to the MVA, the Mahayuti announced that Ladki Bahin beneficiaries would receive Rs 2100 per month.
28 March,2025 07:38 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev Shivadekar
Shinde under fire as MLAs raise concerns over Mumbai’s road concreting
A Political storm is brewing over the concreting of Mumbai’s roads, with BJP and Shiv Sena (UBT) MLAs putting Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde under scrutiny. The debate, which unfolded in the state Legislative Assembly last week, raised serious concerns about the inferior quality and delays in concreting stretches. BJP legislators Amit Satam, Atul Bhatkalkar and Yogesh Sagar demanded a detailed report on the ongoing work. Meanwhile, Opposition parties, including Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress, joined the discussion. While UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray alleged corruption in the project, Congress MLA Amin Patel pushed for a meeting of all Mumbai MLAs—across party lines—with BMC officials and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who heads the Urban Development (UD) department overseeing municipal bodies. The previous government, led by Shinde and then-Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, had initiated the cement concrete (CC) road project to make Mumbai pothole-free. However, as MLAs questioned the BMC over road conditions, the focus shifted to the UD department, which has been under Shinde’s leadership in both the previous and current Mahayuti governments. Interestingly, Shiv Sena MLAs from Shinde’s own faction remained silent during the debate, raising eyebrows and fueling speculation about whether the Shinde-led faction is unhappy with the criticism. The absence of Shinde camp MLAs in a discussion crucial to Mumbaikars sparked talk of possible unease within the faction. Even Speaker Rahul Narwekar suggested that the state government consider an Economic Offences Wing (EOW) inquiry into Mumbai’s CC road project. Following his directive, a meeting was held on Monday at Vidhan Bhavan, attended by Shinde, BMC officials, and Mumbai MLAs, including those from the Shinde camp. The BMC was instructed to ensure the completion of all ongoing concreting work by May 31 and explore the feasibility of using mastic asphalt for roads shorter than 15 metres instead of CC. While speaking to the media after the budget session on Wednesday, Shinde did not directly address the issue but dismissed any speculation about discord within the Mahayuti coalition. “Whenever one of us—Ajit Pawar, Devendra Fadnavis, or myself—is absent from a meeting, the media immediately starts speculating about turbulence. There’s nothing of that sort between us,” he asserted.
28 March,2025 07:35 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev Shivadekar
Radio Club backs Colaba’s ‘No Jetty’ protest, calls for relocation
The Bombay Presidency Radio Club, also known as the Radio Club, has thrown its weight behind protests against the jetty which is proposed to come up in Colaba. The jetty, which is slated to come up between the Gateway of India at one end and the Radio Club on the other, has riled Colaba locals, with many stating that the project will exacerbate an already fraught traffic situation in the South Mumbai pocket. Locals have sent letters to political representatives stating, in a nutshell, that the jetty must not come up in the vicinity. The main concern is that the infrastructure of Colaba, especially its narrow roads leading to the Gateway area, is perennially choked, and cars and vehicles accessing the jetty will add to the bottlenecks. This is also a tourist-dense spot with the Gateway of India and Taj Hotel, besides other hotels in the vicinity seeing a lot of tourist traffic. The jetty will compound the crowding. There is concern about the sea-facing promenade wall being broken too, with some expressing fears that aesthetics too will be affected. Traffic nightmare The Radio Club’s latest letter in a slew of letters dated March 26, addressed to Arvind Sawant, Member of Parliament (MP), Mumbai South constituency, states, “We request the jetty be shifted near the Ballard Estate or Ferry Wharf because between the Radio Club and Gateway of India, this jetty will be a disaster with huge traffic jams”. The letter follows others sent to Rahul Narwekar, Speaker, Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, highlighting the above concerns and adding that “Radio Club members and locals staying in the buildings opposite the proposed jetty will have difficulty as there will be chaos.” Similar letters have been sent to Milind Deora, MP, Rajya Sabha, and the Mumbai Maritime Board last month requesting to, “stop this proposal for the new jetty.” Fears, concerns The letters have been signed by Jt. Honorary Secretary of the Club, Prakash Mirchandani. “There have been many letters from individuals and housing societies/associations about fears and concerns about the jetty. We have many members who are Colaba, Cuffe Parade, and Marine Drive residents. As a club too, we are concerned about the parking problems this will create,” said Mirchandani. Pier or jetty? He added, “We have had a couple of members who are confused and have asked whether the Radio Club pier will be removed for the jetty. We have assured them that this is different. The pier is part of the clubhouse and is used for functions, events, etc. It is part of our club complex and can be accessed directly. There are no boats at this pier. The jetty [where boats can be docked] is between the club and Gateway and has nothing to do with the Radio Club.” Sometimes, loosely, people dub this ‘Radio Club jetty,’ and that leads to confusion, he added. Mirchandani continued, like others, “We are also worried about the sea-facing promenade, used by so many in the vicinity for walks, fresh air, etc. The promenade’s continuity too may be broken by the jetty. As a Colaba institution, a landmark since 1928, we are part of the fabric of this neighbourhood. We also want to add our voice to the protest and highlight the problems the jetty will bring about.” The Radio Club will on April 5 host a meeting in the evening, where residents against the jetty and others seeking information or clarity, all part of the ‘No Jetty Movement in Colaba,’ are to congregate and have a ‘chai pe charcha,’ like they call it, in a show of people power to chart out the way ahead.
28 March,2025 07:32 AM IST | Mumbai | Hemal Ashar
Mumbai: Bhuleshwar, Kalbadevi residents demand relocation of goldsmith factories
The BMC on Thursday held meetings with residents of Bhuleshwar and Kalbadevi, along with members of the Gold Association. During the meeting, representatives of the residents strongly demanded the relocation of goldsmiths’ factories from these residential areas. Civic Chief Bhushan Gagrani chaired the meeting, which included representatives from the Goldsmith Association and local residents. The Urban Development Department of the state government had directed the BMC to conduct this meeting to hear both sides. Deputy Municipal Commissioner Snagit Hasnale stated that the BMC would submit a report on the discussions to the state government. “At this meeting, we listened to both sides. While residents are demanding the relocation of these goldsmith factories from residential areas, the representatives of goldsmith factories claim they are following environmental norms,” an official said. Sharad Bansal, president of the Bhuleshwar Residents Association, voiced concerns over pollution caused by these factories in the residential area. “The BMC has marked this as a residential area, so why are factories allowed here?” Bansal asked. “Residents here suffer from respiratory diseases. The authorities should take this seriously,” he added. Ranjeet Dutta, a representative of goldsmith workers, defended the factories, stating, “This is a century-old market. Around one lakh workers depend on this business. We use air scrubbers to control the fumes generated by chemicals. We are following all norms.” He strongly opposed relocation.
28 March,2025 07:25 AM IST | Mumbai | Sameer Surve
BMC to introduce digital dashboard for Rs 12,000 crore road concreting drive
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to introduce a digital dashboard to monitor real-time updates on its massive 400-km road concreting project. This system will provide senior officials at the BMC headquarters with live updates, allowing better oversight and quicker response times. If successful, the dashboard may also be made available to citizens in the future. To facilitate this, the civic body has approved the appointment of an agency to track and document even minor details of ongoing road and trench work. According to the proposal, the agency will continuously update the roads department’s master data, monitor project progress, and identify potential hurdles and challenges. “Officials claim this agency will maintain the digital dashboard designed for internal use in road-related work. A pothole management system has also been integrated into this dashboard. We have used such dashboards before, but now we have expanded the scope of work,” a senior official said. Through this system, civic chief and additional commissioners can access real-time updates on road projects from their offices. The current contract for the dashboard is for three years, with the possibility of extending access to the public in the future. “Currently, we are using the dashboard internally, but later, citizens may also be able to check the real-time status of road projects,” the official added. In the past, the BMC introduced an online pothole tracking system, which allowed citizens to track complaints, but the initiative was later discontinued. At present, 400 km of roads are being concreted, with a deadline of May 31, 2025. The BMC is investing R12,000 crore in concreting 703 km of city roads. The first phase, covering 324 km, began in October 2023, while work on the second phase, covering 377 km, is also underway. In its budget speech, the civic body assured that 75 per cent of the first phase and 50 per cent of the second phase would be completed before June 2025. The BMC manages a total of 2050 km of city roads, of which 1333 km have already been concreted. Dashboard features£Project details from start to completion £Real-time work progress updates £Identification of project hurdles £Details of officials in charge £Issue escalation to officials concerned£Overall project monitoring
28 March,2025 07:20 AM IST | Mumbai | Sameer Surve
Mumbai Diary: Friday Dossier
The festival’s almost here A man practises spinning the chakra ahead of Gudi Padwa Shobha Yatra in Sion Return of the silver age (From left) A poster of Greta Garbo’s 1928 film, The Mysterious Lady released at Capitol Cinema; a pamphlet from the Royal Opera House. Pics courtesy/Hemant Chaturvedi Intach will host photographer Hemant Chaturvedi (inset) for a talk on Mumbai’s silver screen spaces tomorrow at a venue in Walkeshwar. “Through my personal archive of printed memorabilia, I will try to weave a story around the establishment of drama theatres in erstwhile Bombay, like Elphinstone Theatre, Gaiety Theatre and others. The idea is to construct an exhibition on the history of cinema, lost stars and general anecdotes till the arrival of CinemaScope in 1953,” Chaturvedi shared with this diarist. The 90-minute talk will be a visual walkthrough of the materials that the Chaturvedi has amassed through his research on Mumbai cinemas. “Theatres are a very important part of Indian culture. His [Hemant] work is a well-documented account of the subject and we are glad to have him share his knowledge with us,” Katyayani Agarwal, convener, INTACH said. Celebrations by the shore Fishermen at Uttan in Navi Khadi. Pic courtesy/Yash Sheth Come May, and there will be more to enjoy down at Uttan in Bhayandar than a walk by the beach. Alongside resident Mogan Rodrigues, photographers Yash Sheth and Wigbert Piedade have teamed up to host the first Uttan Kala Mahotsav in the town nearly 45 km north of Mumbai. “I first started exploring Uttan after the first lockdown. The more I visited, I fell in love with the coastal town,” said the Bhayandar resident. “Mumbai is much more than Colaba and Bandra. Uttan has a cluster of villages that have a deep history, culture and heritage that is not only the beaches, but also music, people and language,” he shared. The festival will take place over two days with photography exhibitions, historical and poetry walks, culinary and art pop-ups as well. Those looking to lend a hand can reach out at 9167027622. Another gem from Jussawalla Adil Jussawalla. File pic After Amitav Ghosh released his collection of writings earlier this year with Wild Fictions: Essays, it’s now the turn of Adil Jussawalla to engage with his legion of fans who now have one more reason to celebrate his prose. The Diamond-Encrusted Rat Trap: Writings from Bombay by Adil Jussawalla promises to be a page-turning anthology of essays by one of the finest and most respected Indian writers in English. When he was barely 17 years old, Jussawalla left Bombay for London, in search of something brighter and grander. Thirteen years later, he returned to the city of his birth, and it was the beginning of a lifelong bitter-sweet love affair. The book will bind together Jussawalla’s prose pieces on Bombay-Mumbai, written between 1980 and 2002. “His city,” as Jerry Pinto writes in the introduction, “is built of chance encounters, of laughing liftmen, of departed friends and other ghosts’, and his writing on it gives witness to its ‘bigness and strangeness’, its ‘absent-minded cruelty and sometimes an absent-minded kindness.” Go ahead and indulge in a large slice of vintage Bombay-meets-Mumbai, as only Jussawalla can serve it. A breath of fresh air A moment from a session by the foundation. Pic courtesy/Waatavaran on Instagram The city’s deteriorating air quality has been a matter of concern for a long time now. To find solutions, city-based NGO Waatavaran Foundation is conducting a convention on Mumbai’s path to clean air and better health at IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Churchgate today. “We have been working on the issue for nearly six years now. This will be a one-of-its- kind event where citizens, government officials, experts and think tanks will come together to address the issue of air pollution at its source level, identify pollution causing hotspots in the city and devise strategies to tackle them,” Bhagwan Kesbhat, (right) founder, shared with us. Verses for all A moment from a previous session. Pic courtesy/Nehru Centre Library The Nehru Centre Library will dress up to its nines with poetry tomorrow. Nine poets will participate in a unique multilingual poetry session this weekend. “This is part of our regular bi-monthly literary event. The idea behind this particular session, curated by Paramita Mukherjee Mullick is to promote poetry as a literary genre,” Arati Desai, librarian and documentation officer, shared with this diarist. With poetry recitals in languages like Odia, Bangla, Kutchi and more, this session’s theme is centred on manifestation. “Manifest has been one of the most popular words in the conversation for a while now, and we decided to take it up as our theme,” Desai revealed. Those keen to attend the event can register at nehrucentrelibrary@gmail.com.
28 March,2025 07:16 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-day
Mumbai: Vikhroli’s new connector may see snarls at two junctions
The Vikhroli East-West connector, expected to open by May 2025, is set to ease connectivity but may also trigger massive traffic congestion on both sides of the bridge. The bridge, which links the Eastern Express Highway to LBS Road, is expected to create bottlenecks at the Vikhroli station road junction and Tagore Nagar, as vehicles from both directions converge, leading to long queues and jams. The bridge and its delays For years, Vikhroli residents have struggled with poor east-west connectivity, relying on detours through Ghatkopar or Kanjurmarg. The project, initiated in 2018, faced significant delays due to land acquisition and rehabilitation issues. Originally planned after the closure of the level crossing gate in 2011, the bridge’s cost has now ballooned to Rs 100 crore due to design modifications recommended by IIT experts. Traffic concerns Residents worry that the new connector will worsen congestion, with vehicles heading in multiple directions—towards Thane, Kannamwar Nagar, Ghatkopar and Tagore Nagar—creating a traffic snarl at peak hours. Official Speak “Concerns have been raised after the completion of the new Vikhroli bridge. The landings on both the east and west sides of the structure are expected to be sensitive points. In both instances, we have written to the BMC to initiate the process of setting up a signalised junction at these locations to prevent issues. We are also in consultation with the BMC to explore additional decongestion measures at the landing points,” said a traffic official from the Ghatkopar traffic branch. Residents voice their concerns Ganesh Mahabal Shetty, Activist, who first highlighted the issue in a letter to the Chief Minister’s Office“There are two issues I have taken up. It is crucial to ensure that the Vikhroli East bridge allows direct access to the Eastern Express Highway. Vehicles should not have to use the service roads; instead, they should be able to continue directly on the bridge towards their destination. This design will significantly reduce congestion at the Tagore Nagar junction and resolve a major traffic bottleneck in the area. These small but significant measures, if not implemented in time, will lead to severe traffic problems across the entire Eastern Express Highway corridor. Secondly, the internal roads in Tagore Nagar are very narrow, causing significant traffic congestion, especially with the ongoing bridge construction work in Vikhroli West. The situation is expected to worsen once construction is completed, as the Eastern Express Highway will likely face severe traffic jams due to the bottleneck created by the narrow roads in Tagore Nagar. To mitigate this issue and ensure smooth traffic flow, I request that the road widening project for Tagore Nagar and its connecting roads be expedited. The widening of these roads is crucial to prevent potential traffic jams and ensure safe and efficient travel for residents and commuters.” Jayant Dandekar, Local activist“We’ve raised concerns with traffic authorities well in advance. The issue will be severe on both sides, with a skywalk and Metro alignment in the west and the Eastern Express Highway in the east.” Robert D’Souza, Vikhroli resident“Once the bridge opens, the LBS junction and Tagore Nagar area will turn into a mess with vehicles crisscrossing from three directions.” Mario Jose Rodrigues, Vikhroli resident and former chairman of the Bombay Catholic Sabha’s Vikhroli unit“Traffic signals are a must on the east side due to peak-hour congestion. Authorities must act now to avoid last-minute chaos.”
28 March,2025 07:09 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. Aklekar
Horoscope today, March 28: Check astrological predictions for all zodiac signs
Do you know what the stars hold for you in terms of love life, career, business and personal wellness today? Well, read on to know your astrological predictions as per your zodiac sign for March 28. Aries March 21 – April 20Believing what someone says about another person is hearsay; don’t believe it or confront the person. Cosmic tip: Don’t blindly trust people. There are some things in everyone’s life that should be kept private. Taurus April 21 – May 20There is greater stability and satisfaction from work or business, which allows past insecurity to gradually ebb away. Time resolves some issues and your role in it is clearer in retrospect.Cosmic tip: Exercise regularly. GeminiMay 21 – June 21Singles meet their future spouse after October. Forgive and move on.Cosmic tip: Don’t take family loyalty for granted as a recent situation has brought home the fact of how much you love them. Cancer June 22 – July 23This is a time of learning from life’s circumstances, since a hyper reaction is totally uncalled-for. Cosmic tip: Move to a higher plane of consciousness by understanding why a person behaved the way they did. Leo July 24 - Aug 23Career or business show signs of moving ahead after a minor plateau phase. A family lunch is full of good food, camaraderie and laughter.Cosmic tip: Choose a relationship keeping karma in mind. Virgo Aug 24 – Sept 23Being happy and contented with life in general is such a good feeling. Cosmic tip: Enjoy the simple pleasures of life; a glass of lemon juice, cake, coconut water, etc. the list is endless. Libra Sept 24 – Oct 22A peaceful relationship makes it possible to concentrate on other areas of life to a 100%. Do maintain a healthy diet.Cosmic tip: Disconnect from a fear of commitment in any aspect of life. Scorpio Oct 23 – Nov 22Learning a new skill or hobby is such an exhilarating experience that you promise to work on it at least twice a week. Cosmic tip: Strengthen a relationship by tactfully discussing an issue. Sagittarius Nov 23 – Dec 22Health is good. A mini trip out of town with a friend is fun. Clearly state you aren’t responsible for an issue.Cosmic tip: Look on an unexpected development as God’s Grace towards you. Capricorn Dec 23 – Jan 20Work gets completed quicker than expected, which is great. Younger Capricorns enter a fertile karmic cycle. Buying a vehicle is being considered.Cosmic tip: Enjoy this sense of satisfaction for a job well done. Aquarius Jan 21 – Feb 19Wait for a while till there’s acknowledgment about a compulsory investment. Planning a holiday is half the fun, with you looking ahead to it eagerly. Cosmic tip: Maintain a healthy diet and exercise regime. Pisces Feb 20 – March 20A forgotten issue rears its head once more. True love and a culmination of dreams are revealed.Cosmic tip: Be firm about a decision even if it’s a toss between being popular or unpopular.
28 March,2025 04:59 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirley Bose
'Mesh barriers to be installed along drains near residential areas'
During the visit of the desilting work of the major and minor nullahs, Additional Municipal Commissioner Abhijit Bangar observed that a 250-metre stormwater has been disrupted by the Mumbai Metro railway work at Mankhurd. Bangar asked the officials to explore the idea of installing mesh barriers along the nallahs which are flowing near residential areas. Bangar, along with the officials, had inspected the desilting work at the nullahs located in Mankhurd, Deonar, Ghatkopar, Laxmi Baug, Bhandup and Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road. In Mankhurd, the officials discovered that a 250-metre stormwater drain has been disrupted owing to the Mumbai Metro construction work. The additional civic commissioner directed BMC officials to coordinate with the Mumbai Metro authority to ensure the completion of the work. Large amounts of household solid waste were seen floating in the drain, primarily owing to the dense settlements on both the sides where residents have been dumping waste. Floating solid waste, especially plastic, blocks the narrow sections of the drain, obstructing water flow and leading to an increase in waterlogging incidents. Bangar asked the officials to explore the option of installing tall mesh barriers and close the small alleyways leading to the drains as preventive measures. At Deonar, it was found that several scrap dealer shops along the drain were dumping large amounts of waste into the water body. Given the risk of mesh theft, Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) mesh should be installed at necessary locations instead of standard metal mesh, BMC directed the officials. The work of cleaning the drains started on Tuesday. Bangar directed the officials to ensure that each drain must be cleaned end-to-end with a day-wise schedule. A computerised system has been implemented for real-time progress monitoring. Junior engineers must be physically present at all times to oversee the desilting work, the additional municipal commissioner said. During the inspection, it was also observed that the underpass beneath the railway tracks had not been cleaned for years at Bhandup. Using the swing loader equipment, the municipality has completed the cleaning.
27 March,2025 11:20 PM IST | Mumbai | A Correspondent