Construction of the Thane Coastal Road-1 has crossed a key milestone within eight months of commencement, with more than 50 per cent of the foundation work for the elevated viaduct now complete, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) said. According to a project update, pier cap and I-girder construction works are progressing at a rapid pace on the 13.45-km, six-lane, access-controlled greenfield corridor. The project is being constructed using advanced engineering techniques. For the first time in India, a greenfield road project is deploying a single-pile, single-pier system with monopile foundations on land, marking a significant innovation in infrastructure development. Designed as a strategic freight corridor, the corridor aims to decongest the busy Ghodbunder Road and enhance connectivity between NH-160 (Mumbai–Nashik Highway) and Gaimukh along the Thane Creek coastline. Major stretches of the project are being constructed on viaducts and bridges to protect the sensitive mangrove ecosystem in the area. At Gaimukh, the corridor will directly connect with the upcoming Gaimukh–Fountain Hotel Tunnel, facilitating seamless connectivity between Thane and Bhayander. Officials said the combined impact of these projects is expected to significantly ease traffic pressure on Ghodbunder Road, improve urban mobility in Thane, and strengthen freight movement towards Vadhawan Port, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), South Maharashtra and Karnataka. The corridor is also set to integrate with several upcoming infrastructure initiatives, including the Thane Ring Metro, Thane Coastal Road-2, the Saket–Amane Elevated Corridor and the Kasarvadavali–Kharbhav Road. Once completed, the project is expected to serve as a critical component of the region’s next-generation transport network. Officials described the progress as a major step forward in strengthening Thane’s road infrastructure and easing congestion along key arterial routes. Thane environmentalist serves legal notice to police over CRZ dumping Thane-based environmentalist Rohit Joshi has served a legal notice to the Thane police commissioner over alleged illegal dumping and land reclamation in a protected Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) near the Rabodi helipad, with fingers being pointed at the police department. mid-day had earlier reported the matter, following which a site inspection by the Thane tehsildar’s office confirmed that debris dumping had taken place at the location. The notice has also been served on the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority, the Thane district collector and the divisional forest officer of the Mangrove Cell (North Konkan). It pertains to alleged illegal reclamation, dumping of debris and destruction of mangroves in a CRZ-I/CRZ-IB area. Citing violations of the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the notice flags continued damage to inter-tidal wetlands and mangrove patches in the ecologically sensitive zone. Joshi, founder and president of the Yeoor Thane-based environmentalist Rohit Joshi has served a legal notice to the Thane police commissioner over alleged illegal dumping and land reclamation in a protected Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) near the Rabodi helipad, with fingers being pointed at the police department. mid-day had earlier reported the matter, following which a site inspection by the Thane tehsildar’s office confirmed that debris dumping had taken place at the location. The notice has also been served on the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority, the Thane district collector and the divisional forest officer of the Mangrove Cell (North Konkan). It pertains to alleged illegal reclamation, dumping of debris and destruction of mangroves in a CRZ-I/CRZ-IB area. Citing violations of the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the notice flags continued damage to inter-tidal wetlands and mangrove patches in the ecologically sensitive zone. Joshi, founder and president of the Yeoor Environmental Society, told mid-day, “The destruction of mangroves in a CRZ-I zone is a serious offence. The legal notice has been issued as repeated complaints did not translate into ground-level action.” He warned that continued degradation of wetlands increase flooding risks during the monsoon. told mid-day, “The destruction of mangroves in a CRZ-I zone is a serious offence. The legal notice has been issued as repeated complaints did not translate into ground-level action.” He warned that continued degradation of wetlands increase flooding risks during the monsoon.
13 February,2026 04:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA Class 10 Mumbai student from a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) school has secured first place in a state-level essay competition organised by the Maharashtra Energy Development Agency. Manoj Ramkishor Kanojia, a student of the BMC Hindi Secondary School in Santacruz (West), achieved the top rank in the competition based on the theme of ‘Energy Conservation’, an official statement said. "His achievement has brought recognition to civic-run schools in Mumbai," an official said. The competition saw participation from a large number of students across Maharashtra. Manoj impressed the judges with his well-researched content, deep understanding of the topic and effective writing style. In the same competition, Suvarna Patil from Nandurbar district secured second place, while Vedanti Vani from Ahilyanagar district won third place. Officials from the BMC Education Department said that various activities and competitions are regularly organised to encourage students to develop reading and writing skills beyond the academic syllabus. Education Officer Sujata Khare stated that teachers actively motivate students to take part in such competitions to support their overall development. Congratulations pour in Manoj has been congratulated by his teachers, school principal and parents for his achievement. Officials said that this success once again proves that students from BMC schools can excel at the state level and compete successfully with others. Western Railway bags four trophies at Mumbai Flower Show 2026 Western Railway has bagged four trophies at the 29th Mumbai Flower Show 2026, organised by the BMC and Tree Authority at Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Udyan and Zoo (Byculla zoo) from February 6 to 8, officials said. Among the highlights was the First Prize in the garden category for “BOMBARCI”, the garden at the Western Railway General Manager’s residence, an official statement said. According to Chief Public Relations Officer Vineet Abhishek, the annual flower show saw participation from several prominent public and private organisations, including Central Railway, Godrej, BPCL, HPCL, RCF, Hiranandani, MMRDA and Mumbai International Airport. Western Railway showcased thematic floral displays and exhibits, earning recognition across multiple categories. The trophies were presented by BMC dignitaries during the event, it said. Officials stated that Western Railway’s continued participation in the flower show reflects its commitment to environmental awareness, beautification drives and promotion of greenery across its establishments. The railway zone reiterated its focus on supporting eco-friendly initiatives and community engagement through such civic platforms.
13 February,2026 04:14 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentWestern Railway, while sharing Mumbai local train updates, on Friday said that it will carry out a four-hour jumbo block on Sunday, February 15, 2026. The Western Railway said that it will operate the block to undertake maintenance work on tracks, signalling systems and overhead equipment. The block will be in place from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm on the UP Fast line and the 5th line between Ram Mandir and Borivali stations. According to a press release issued by Western Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Vineet Abhishek, several train services will be diverted during the block period. All UP Fast line trains will run on the UP Slow (6th) line between Borivali and Andheri. Meanwhile, all 5th line trains will operate on the Down Fast line between Andheri and Borivali. Some services to remain cancelled Due to the block, some UP and Down suburban train services will remain cancelled. In addition, some Andheri and Borivali services will run only up to Goregaon on the Harbour Line. Passengers can obtain detailed information from Station Masters at all suburban railway stations. Western Railway has requested passengers to take note of the changes and plan their journeys accordingly to avoid inconvenience. The maintenance work is part of routine efforts to ensure the safety and reliability of suburban train services, Western Railway said. North FOB at Naigaon Railway Station to remain closed for 45 days The Western Railway on Thursday said that the North Foot Over Bridge (FOB) at Naigaon railway station will remain closed to commuters for one and a half months starting from February 14, 2026. The FOB connects Platform No. 1 with Platforms No. 2 and 3. The closure is necessary due to construction and extension work of foot over bridges and platforms at the station. During the closure period, passengers can use the remaining three foot over bridges at the station. A subway facility will also remain available for commuters to move between platforms. Railway officials have advised passengers to plan their travel accordingly and use the alternative routes provided. Officials have expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to passengers. The work is part of ongoing infrastructure improvements aimed at enhancing passenger facilities at Naigaon station.
13 February,2026 04:00 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA sessions court in Mumbai on Friday convicted two men in a 2019 kidnapping and robbery case registered at Borivali Police Station. The court, while passing the order, held them guilty under provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). The verdict was delivered by the Court of Additional Sessions Judge S.R. Navandar after the completion of final arguments. The case was registered under Sections 394 (robbery), 363 (kidnapping), 364A (kidnapping for ransom), and 34 (common intention) of the IPC, along with Sections 3(1)(ii), 3(2), 3(4), and 3(5) of MCOCA. After completion of the final hearing, the court held that the prosecution had proved the charges beyond reasonable doubt. The convicted accused have been identified as Praveen Mahadev Helkar (30) and Suresh Omprakash (33). Under Section 394 read with 34 of the IPC, the court sentenced both to six years of imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 each. The court also stated a condition where, in default of payment, they will undergo an additional six months’ imprisonment. MCOCA provisions For offences under Section 3(1)(ii) of MCOCA, the court awarded six years’ imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 5 lakh each, with a default sentence of one year. Under Section 3(4) of MCOCA, both were sentenced to six years’ imprisonment and fined Rs 5 lakh each, with a similar default clause. Additionally, under Section 3(5) of MCOCA, they were sentenced to three years’ imprisonment and fined Rs 2 lakh each, with six months’ additional imprisonment in case of default. The prosecution was led by Assistant Public Prosecutor Vijay Malankar. The investigation was conducted by ACP Sunil Wadke (now retired), PI Arvind Ghag, API Nilesh More, and API Yogesh Patil under the supervision of ACP Santosh Dhanwate and PI (Crime) Nagpure. API Batu Pawar served as the parvi officer in the case. Senior Police Inspector Madhusudan Naik of Borivali Police Station said, "The conviction under stringent MCOCA provisions underscores the strength of the evidence placed before the court and reflects sustained efforts by the investigating team in tackling organised crime.”
13 February,2026 03:56 PM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanThe Maharashtra government on Friday granted administrative approval to procure Artificial Intelligence (AI) infrastructure for the Higher and Technical Education Department to strengthen data analytics and dashboard systems under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. A Government Resolution (GR) issued by the department said the project implementation committee chaired by the Additional Chief Secretary (Higher and Technical Education) approved the proposal at its meeting held on Thursday. The state government has sanctioned an estimated annual expenditure of Rs 22 lakh for procuring the AI infrastructure, which will be acquired through the GeM portal (Government e-Marketplace) or an e-tender process in accordance with existing rules. The GR said the department has appointed consulting firm Ernst and Young LLP to support the strengthening of its dashboards in line with the state's 150-day action plan and long-term strategic reforms, including integration of AI at the ministry, university and directorate levels by setting up analytics cells. Under the first use case, an AI Query Assistant will be deployed on existing Higher and Technical Education Department (HTED) dashboards datasets. The HTED dashboards consolidate institutional, academic and administrative data, and the AI layer will enable advanced querying, real-time data interpretation and decision-support for policy formulation and monitoring. The second use case involves an AI Query Assistant on the Human Resource Management System (HRMS) database. The HRMS platform manages service records, postings, promotions and other personnel-related data of department staff, and the AI integration is expected to facilitate intelligent search, automated responses and improved workforce analytics, the GR added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
13 February,2026 03:42 PM IST | Mumbai | PTIApple, on February 26, unveiled the barricade for Apple Borivali. The Apple Borivali store will be their sixth store in India and second in Mumbai. The first look of the Apple store at the Oberoi Sky City Mall in Borivali features a distinctive peacock-inspired visual identity first introduced at the September 2025 openings of Apple Hebbal in Bengaluru and Apple Koregaon Park in Pune, and more recently at Apple Noida. The design signals confidence, detail, and a sense of arrival, seen through Apple’s lens of creativity. What will be special about Apple's Borivali store? Apple Borivali will serve a growing community of startups and businesses, offering a welcoming space where customers can explore Apple products, unlock creativity, and get expert support from Apple’s store team members. As per the official statement from Apple India, “At Apple Borivali, customers can explore and purchase Apple’s latest product lineup, experience new features, and receive expert support from Specialists, Creatives, Geniuses, and dedicated Business teams.” They also added, “Customers can also take part in Today at Apple sessions – free, daily, in-store experiences, led by Apple Creatives, designed to help people learn, create, and get more out of their devices.” Together with the Apple Store online, the Apple Store app, and services such as Apple Pickup, Apple Trade In, Personal Setup, and help with switching to iOS, Apple Borivali deepens Apple’s commitment to customers in India, offering more personalised, seamless, and secure ways to connect with Apple. The Apple Borivali Store is to open on February 26 Ahead of the opening day, customers are invited to download exclusive Apple Borivali wallpapers, explore a curated Apple Music playlist inspired by the sounds of Mumbai, and learn more about the upcoming store at Borivali on Thursday, February 26, at 1 pm.
13 February,2026 02:44 PM IST | Mumbai | Tarun VermaA fire broke out at a paint manufacturing unit in the Vasai East area near Mumbai on Friday, news agency PTI reported, quoting officials. The blaze broke out around 10.30 am at the factory in Aisha Compound, which houses several industrial units. Thick plumes of smoke and flames rising high into the air were visible from a distance, they added. “Upon receiving information, our teams reached the site with three fire engines. The fire had intensified due to the presence of materials needed to make paint and other highly flammable substances inside the factory,” said a fire official from the Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation. The fire has now been brought under control, PTI reported, quoting the official. Though no injuries were reported, property worth several lakhs of rupees appears to have been gutted in the blaze, he added, noting that the exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. Fire breaks out in Goregaon high-rise; no injuries reported A Level-1 fire broke out in a bedroom on the 9th floor of DB Wood Building on Krushna Vatika Road, Gokul Dham in Goregaon East early on Thursday morning, Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) stated in a press release. The incident was reported by a citizen at 9.11 am. The fire was confined to electric wiring, installations, kitchen items, and household articles in the bedroom of the ground-plus-45-storey residential building. MFB declared it a Level-1 fire at 9.25 am. Firefighting operations were immediately launched with the help of the building’s fixed fire-fighting system. As a precautionary measure, residents were evacuated and shifted to the refuge area and terrace. No injuries have been reported so far. The operation involved an assistant divisional fire officer, two senior station officers, four station officers, four firefighters, four junior firefighters, one assistant water tender operator, one turntable ladder, one hydraulic platform, one heavy rescue fire fighting vehicle, one breakdown van, one quick response vehicle, one water quick response vehicle, and a 108 ambulance. Apart from MFB, local police, staff from the electricity distribution company, 108 ambulance service, and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) staff were also deployed for the firefighting operation. The situation was brought under control quickly and the fire was extinguished by 10.17 am. Further cooling operations were underway to ensure that there are no flare-ups. MFB personnel are investigating the exact cause of the fire. (With PTI inputs)
13 February,2026 01:55 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA Level-1 fire broke out in a bedroom on the 9th floor of DB Wood Building on Krushna Vatika Road, Gokul Dham in Goregaon East early on Thursday morning, Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) stated in a press release. The incident was reported by a citizen at 9.11 am. The fire was confined to electric wiring, installations, kitchen items, and household articles in the bedroom of the ground-plus-45-storey residential building. MFB declared it a Level-1 fire at 9.25 am. Firefighting operations were immediately launched with the help of the building’s fixed fire-fighting system. As a precautionary measure, residents were evacuated and shifted to the refuge area and terrace. No injuries have been reported so far. The operation involved an assistant divisional fire officer, two senior station officers, four station officers, four firefighters, four junior firefighters, one assistant water tender operator, one turntable ladder, one hydraulic platform, one heavy rescue fire fighting vehicle, one breakdown van, one quick response vehicle, one water quick response vehicle, and a 108 ambulance. Apart from MFB, local police, staff from the electricity distribution company, 108 ambulance service, and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) staff were also deployed for the firefighting operation. The situation was brought under control quickly and the fire was extinguished by 10.17 am. Further cooling operations were underway to ensure that there are no flare-ups. MFB personnel are investigating the exact cause of the fire. Massive fire breaks out at Naval Dockyard in south Mumbai A massive fire broke out inside the Naval Dockyard near Gateway of India in south Mumbai on Thursday night. According to preliminary information, the blaze started at around 10.15 pm at waste stockyards within the Naval Dockyard premises. "The blaze was quickly brought under control by Naval fire tenders, who responded swiftly to the incident," a Naval spokesperson said. Officials confirmed that there were no casualties and no injuries have been reported. Sources said that the waste stockyards are located diagonally opposite the Gateway of India in Colaba, one of the city’s prominent landmarks. Following the incident, the Indian Navy officials quickly reached at the site and have launched a firefighting operation. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
13 February,2026 01:49 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentRajya Sabha Member Akhilesh Prasad Singh on Wednesday raised serious concerns over the growing misuse of deepfakes and artificial intelligence (AI) in spreading misinformation and enabling cybercrime, urging the government to amend existing laws to tackle emerging digital threats. Speaking during Zero Hour in the Upper House, the Bihar-based Congress MP warned that the unchecked use of AI technologies poses a grave risk to citizens, democratic institutions, and public trust, news agency PTI reported. Budget Session 2026: Such technologies used to harass citizens, says Congress MP “Today, the entire world is in grave danger of the misuse of deepfake and artificial intelligence,” Singh said. He noted that such technologies are being used to spread false information, impersonate individuals, influence public opinion, harass citizens, and weaken public confidence in democratic systems. According to Singh, deepfake tools/ or synthetic media capable of generating realistic audio, video and images —that realistically manipulate a person's likeness to make them appear to say or do things they never actually did have created unprecedented challenges for administrative, legal and governance frameworks. Highlighting the dangers, Singh said AI-driven manipulation threatens political identity, facilitates fraud and torture, and spreads large-scale misinformation. “The use of deepfakes on a global scale, the rapid theft of political identity, fraud, and the creation of social illusion is increasing rapidly,” he told the House. He added that the speed at which AI spreads false narratives makes it difficult for authorities to respond effectively. Though the technology has proved to have legitimate applications in entertainment, education and art, its rapid expansion in widespread misuse, particularly in harassment, fraud and political misinformation be it in India or globally cannot be ignored, PTI reported. Budget Session 2026: 'Old law needs to be changed' Citing international incidents, Singh referred to a European Commission report that estimates over 90 percent of online content used in cybercrime will be based on deepfakes. He pointed out that during Slovakia’s 2023 presidential election, AI-generated fake audio in a candidate’s voice was broadcasted just before voting, raising concerns over electoral integrity. Singh also mentioned the 2024 US Election, where voters were urged through deepfake technology not to vote for then-President Joe Biden, prompting a government investigation, PTI reported. Similarly, Taiwan reported deepfake activities linked to foreign elements during its elections, he said. "These events show that AI is very fast at spreading false information. Fraud is happening all over the world. Even in India, the old law needs to be changed," Singh stated. Referring to the Indian context, he stressed the need for urgent legal reforms and emphasised that without updated legal safeguards, citizens, and institutions remain vulnerable to large-scale digital manipulation. (With PTI inputs)
13 February,2026 12:09 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMumbai woke up to slightly chilly Friday morning. However, the city is likely to experience warm conditions ahead as the maximum temperature is likely to reach 35 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department's (IMD) latest weather update. The minimum temperature is expected to hover at 19 degrees Celsius. According to the weather bureau's latest predictions issued at 10 am, Mumbai is likely to witness "partly clear skies in the city and suburbs". Meanwhile, Mumbai's overall air quality index (AQI) stood at 114 on Friday morning, placing it in the ‘moderate’ category. According to the Centre's SAMEER app, pollution levels varied significantly across locations, with Bandra-Kurla Complex recording an AQI of 126, Borivali East 61, Andheri East 125, Chembur 104, Deonar 137, Kandivali East 104, and Kurla 110. All these areas reported AQI in the ‘moderate’ category, while Colaba (93), Bhandup West (94), Mulund West (77), and Powai (67) were in the 'good' category. Delhi air quality improves to ‘moderate’ as AQI falls to 183 The national capital’s air quality showed slight improvement on Friday, with the air quality index (AQI) recorded at 183, placing it in the ‘moderate’ category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Delhi had registered a ‘poor’ AQI of 209 on Thursday and 294 on Wednesday morning. CPCB data showed that several monitoring stations across the city continued to record moderate to poor air quality levels. Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 236, Bawana 215, Chandni Chowk 176, DTU 202, Dwarka Sector-8 194, IGI Airport (T3) 144, Jahangirpuri 252, Mandir Marg 145, Mundka 237, Narela 229, Okhla Phase-2 180, Patparganj 193, Pusa 209, R.K. Puram 199, Rohini 232, Shadipur 261, Sonia Vihar 211, Vivek Vihar 211 and Wazirpur 215. Meanwhile, the national capital recorded a temperature of 12 degrees Celsius around 7 am, with humidity at 95 per cent, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). As per AQI classification, readings between 0 and 50 are considered ‘good’, 51 to 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 to 200 ‘moderate’, 201 to 300 ‘poor’, 301 to 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 to 500 ‘severe’. Delhi has been witnessing warmer afternoons over the past few days, though light mist in the early mornings continues to bring a chill. With daytime temperatures gradually rising, the city appears to be moving out of the harsher phase of winter. According to the IMD, the minimum temperature is expected to hover around 11 degrees Celsius, while the maximum may climb to 27 degrees Celsius on Friday. (With inputs from IANS)
13 February,2026 11:05 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentWith 90 days to go before the onset of the monsoon, the BMC administration has sought a larger role from the newly elected representatives in its ongoing Rs 17,000 crore road concreting work. In an administrative review meeting conducted by Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani on Wednesday, following the elections of Mumbai’s mayor and her deputy, the administration has been directed to keep elected representatives informed of the status of all ongoing road work and to take routine feedback back from them. “The feedback received from citizens can be easily communicated to the administration through elected representatives, adding an extra layer of quality checks,” an official said. The BMC has also said all work on all excavated roads will be completed before the monsoon season, to avoid exposing unfinished sections to the rain. According to the civic body, the incidence of potholes due to rain on concrete roads is minimal, resulting in significant savings in maintenance and upkeep costs. Top directives>> Ensure work started from October 1, 2025, is completed by the rainy season>> Complete all excavation work before the monsoon>> It is mandatory for engineers to be present at concreting work sites>> Quality work includes ensuring that all conditions are strictly met at every level Status of workPhase 1Number of roads: 700Completion: 77%Phase 2Number of roads: 1420Completion: 52%Combined length of roadsconcreted so far: 410 km Project detailsTotal cost: Rs 17,000 crTotal no of r ads: 2121Total length of roads: 696.85 kmTimeline of project: January 2023 to 2027Percentage of work completed: 63 per cent Top 4 wards where work has been completed R CentralCompleted: 131In progress: 44Pending: 10P NorthCompleted: 102In progress: 35Pending: 8 P SouthCompleted: 81In progress: 40Pending: 16 K WestCompleted: 78In progress: 54Pending: 15
13 February,2026 09:53 AM IST | Mumbai | Eeshanpriya MSADVERTISEMENT
-1770977075522_d.png "AI Query Assistant to enhance policy monitoring and HR analytics. Representational Image")
-1770204271552_d.png "Rajya Sabha Congress member Akhilesh Prasad Singh. Pic/X @akhileshPdsingh")
