The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday announced that it will contest the upcoming BMC Elections 2026 independently, fielding candidates in all 227 wards and ruling out any alliance with other political parties, party leaders said. The party said that the decision marks its formal entry into Mumbai’s civic politics and aims to provide an alternative to what it described as decades of misgovernance by established parties. Addressing the media, Preeti Sharma Menon, AAP Mumbai chief, said that despite Mumbai’s status as India’s Urbs Prima, civic governance had deteriorated sharply. “The BMC has an annual budget of Rs 74,447 crore, the largest in Asia. Mumbaikars pay the highest taxes in the country, yet receive poor-quality public services,” she said. BMC has become plagued by corruption Menon alleged that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has become plagued by corruption and inefficiency. She pointed to the closure of BMC-run schools, declining educational standards, lack of functional primary healthcare centres, overburdened public hospitals, and the steady decline of BEST’s bus fleet. She also highlighted issues such as poor garbage management, shrinking green cover, rising pollution levels, and the discharge of untreated sewage into the sea. Dharavi redevelopment project Criticising the Dharavi redevelopment project, Menon claimed it represented “the biggest land grab in independent India’s history”. She further noted that the BMC had functioned without elected representatives for the past four years and alleged that the civic body’s fixed deposits had fallen significantly during this period. “This is avoidable suffering inflicted on Mumbaikars by a self-serving political class. Every party has looted Mumbai,” she said. Party prepared to offer a governance-focused alternative: Singh AAP MP Sanjay Singh said the party was prepared to offer a governance-focused alternative, citing its record in Delhi and Punjab under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann. “AAP has delivered quality education, healthcare, electricity, and water without corruption and without debt. Mumbai needs the same model,” he said. Singh added that even a small presence in the BMC would ensure meaningful participation. “With just seven corporators, AAP will have a house leader and representation on all statutory committees, including Standing, Improvement, Health, Education, and BEST,” he said. Referring to AAP’s past performance, Singh recalled that the party secured a 5.16 per cent vote share and over 2.73 lakh votes in Mumbai during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. “We are confident of improving on that performance. Mumbai needs AAP, and we will contest all 227 seats on our own strength,” he said. AAP's first list AAP also released a list of 21 candidates who will be contesting the elections. According to the party, the first list includes candidates from wards numbered 3, 23, 29, 31, 40, 43, 48, 53, 54, 83, 90, 134, 146, 148, 151, 190, 206, 211, 221, 225, and 227. List of candidates Ward 3: Rajendra (Rajan) Ramadhar Mishra Ward 23: Tilak Kumar Choudhari Ward 29: Rajbali Rambaran Sahani Ward 31: Poonam Ashish Das Ward 40: Jilajeet Ramshabad Yadav Ward 43: Irfan Nawab Khan Ward 48: Larzy Varghees Ward 53: Ravindra Dodiye Ward 54: Mahendra Bhosle Malusare Ward 83: Preeti Sunder Padhmukh Ward 90: Suresh Keshav Acharya Ward 134: Nasreen Sajid Khan Ward 146: Bahusaheb Rangnath Varthe Ward 148: Neeta Kiran Sukhtankar Ward 151: Jyoti Vijay Kshirsagar Ward 190: Pranali Girish Raut Ward 206: Ashok Ramdular Upadhyay Ward 211: Mohd. Aslam Muneer Merchant Ward 221: Zunaid Jamil Khan Ward 225: Deepaq Rajan Silan Ward 227: Maraaret Hermit Dacosta After a delay of almost three years -- exactly 34 months, elections to the BMC will finally be held on January 15, 2026, with counting on January 16. The previous five-year term ended in February 2022.
19 December,2025 07:58 PM IST | Mumbai | Ronak MastakarShiv Sena leader Milind Deora on Thursday expressed concern over the growing chaos and sectarian violence in Bangladesh, warning that political intolerance and instability have serious consequences. In a post on X, Deora said, “The growing chaos & sectarian violence in #Bangladesh is a stark warning of what happens when politics descends into intolerance & instability. India’s democracy is anchored in the rule of law, pluralism & economic growth. In a collapsing neighbourhood, stability is power & a strong India remains the region’s only anchor.” His remarks come amid escalating violence in Bangladesh following the death of prominent leader Sharif Osman Hadi. Tensions flared after Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus confirmed Hadi’s death in a televised address, triggering widespread protests, attacks and vandalism on Thursday night. Meanwhile, in the wake of the unrest, security arrangements have been bolstered at the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, news agency PTI reported. “We have intensified security arrangements at the Bangladesh High Commission on Thursday night. No one will be allowed to breach law and order condition,” a senior police officer said. Amid the growing violence in Bangladesh, a Hindu man was lynched to death and his body set on fire over alleged blasphemy in Mymensingh District, marking the latest incident of violence against a religious minority. The victim, identified as 25-year-old Dipu Chandra Das, was a factory worker, PTI reported, quoting the Bangla Tribune news portal. Police said Das was first beaten up by a mob outside the factory on Thursday night over blasphemy allegations and later hanged from a tree. “After the incident, the angry crowd left the body of the deceased on the side of the Dhaka–Mymensingh highway and set it on fire. This stopped traffic on both sides of the highway,” Inspector (Investigation) of Bhaluka Model Police Station Abdul Malek was quoted as saying. The body was later recovered and sent to the Mymensingh Medical College morgue for autopsy. Malek said the incident created tension in the area and that police were trying to control the situation. A video of the incident has gone viral on social media. Condemning the violence, Bangladesh’s interim government said, “We strongly and unequivocally condemn all acts of violence, intimidation, arson, and destruction of properties.” It added, “At this critical hour, we call upon every citizen to honour Hadi by rejecting and resisting violence, incitement and hatred,” referring to the death of the prominent July Uprising leader six days after he was shot by masked gunmen in Dhaka. The Hindu population in Bangladesh has witnessed a series of incidents targeting minority communities following the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August last year. (With PTI inputs)
19 December,2025 07:04 PM IST | MumbaiMaharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President Harshwardhan Sapkal on Thursday said that the people’s strong sentiment to name the Navi Mumbai International Airport after land rights leader DB Patil must be respected, warning that no other name would be accepted under any circumstances. Addressing the media at Tilak Bhavan in Mumbai, Sapkal accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti Government and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of deliberately delaying the decision to name the airport after DB Patil. “If needed, we will take to the streets and intensify our agitation. We will not tolerate any other name,” he said, adding that the Congress would actively participate in the protest scheduled for December 22. Sapkal said local residents had sacrificed their land for the development of Navi Mumbai and that Patil had led a prolonged struggle to protect the rights of the ‘sons of the soil’. “The 12.5 per cent land allotment scheme became possible only because of DB Patil’s movement. He had a long political career as an MLA and MP, and his contribution cannot be ignored when projects such as JNPT, NAINA and the Navi Mumbai airport were developed,” he said. He alleged that despite assurances given earlier, the Chief Minister was avoiding a clear decision on the issue. “There is growing suspicion over the airport being referred to as ‘NM Airport’ and the letters ‘NM’ being engraved on the boundary walls. People fear this could be a ploy to rename it after Narendra Modi, similar to how the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad was renamed,” Sapkal said, warning the BJP against what he called political manoeuvring. Sapkal said Congress MPs had already raised the issue in the Lok Sabha and that the party would continue to press the demand in the Rajya Sabha as well. State Congress questions delay in Manikrao Kokate's arrest Sapkal also questioned the delay in action against MLA Manikrao Kokate, who was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment three days ago. “His membership has not been cancelled and he has not been arrested yet. Under the guise of medical treatment at Lilavati Hospital, time is being wasted and police protection has been provided. Immediate action should have been taken,” he said, alleging selective action against Opposition leaders. Demand for Eknath Shinde’s resignation Raising the Satara MD drugs factory case, Sapkal demanded the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, alleging that the land where the illegal drug manufacturing unit was found was in the name of Shinde’s brother. “The Congress first exposed this racket and demanded strict action. Despite the seriousness of the matter, the chief minister claims Shinde has no connection with the case. This is unacceptable,” Sapkal said, calling the issue extremely serious. Senior Congress leaders RC Gharat, Raigad District Congress President Mahendra Gharat, Panvel City District Congress President Sudam Patil and Rajabhau Thakur, Fishermen Congress President Martand Nakhwa, and several party office-bearers from Navi Mumbai, Thane, and Raigad were present at the press conference.
19 December,2025 06:47 PM IST | MumbaiPune district in Maharashtra have recorded 14,234 property registrations in November 2025, marking a 6 per cent year-on-year increase, according to a report by real estate consultancy Knight Frank, reported the IANS. During the same month, stamp duty collections reached Rs 565 crore, reflecting strong revenue growth. Revenue growth remains strong The report noted that stamp duty revenue rose 19 per cent year-on-year in November. On a month-on-month basis, property registrations increased by 12 per cent, while stamp duty collections grew by 7 per cent, indicating sustained buyer activity despite a slowdown after the festive season, according to the IANS. Best performance in four years Between January and November 2025, Pune recorded its highest property registrations and stamp duty collections in the past four years. During this period, a total of 1,73,578 properties were registered, generating Rs 6,675 crore in revenue. Compared with the same eleven-month period last year, registrations rose by 0.5 per cent, while stamp duty collections increased by 3 per cent, as per the IANS. Affordable homes continue to dominate The distribution of property prices remained largely unchanged. Homes priced up to Rs 1 crore accounted for 85 per cent of total transactions, while properties priced above Rs 1 crore made up the remaining 15 per cent. In November, 27 per cent of transactions were for properties priced below Rs 25 lakh and 29 per cent were in the Rs 25 lakh-Rs 50 lakh range, the IANS reported. "29 per cent fell within the Rs 50 lakh-Rs 1 crore bracket and 13 per cent were in the Rs 1 crore-Rs 2.5 crore segment," officials said. Central Pune leads transactions Central Pune continued to dominate residential sales. Areas including Haveli Taluka, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) together accounted for 66 per cent of total property transactions in November. Expert view “While activity moderated after the festive peak earlier in the year, the market has remained resilient and well balanced. With year-to-date registrations and revenues now at a four-year high, Pune’s residential market continues to show stability with sustainable volumes,” said Shishir Baijal, Chairman and Managing Director, Knight Frank India, the news agency reported. (with IANS inputs)
19 December,2025 06:04 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondentThe Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Friday said that parts of Mumbai would face 99-hour water supply disruption due to Mumbai Metro 7A works. During the period, water supply would be affected in Dharavi, Andheri and Bandra of Mumbai area of Mumbai. "Major water pipeline connection works will be taken up which will affect water supply in parts of G North, K East and H East wards," the Mumbai civic body said. It said that the work will be carried out from Monday, December 22, 2025, 10 am to Friday, December 26 2025, 1 pm, for a total duration of 99 hours. During this period, residents in the affected areas will experience low-pressure water supply, along with changes in regular supply timings. Water supply disruption in parts of city The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is executing works for Metro Line 7A, which require the diversion of a section of the 2,400 mm diameter Upper Vaitarna main water pipeline. As part of this diversion, cross-connection works will be undertaken by the BMC. These works are technically critical and will be executed in a planned and systematic manner, adhering strictly to engineering and safety standards. Necessary arrangements have been made to minimise inconvenience to citizens. Areas to be affected and revised water supply schedule 1. G North Ward (Dharavi Area) Morning supply areas- Dharavi Loop Road, A.K.G. Nagar, Jasmine Mill Road, Matunga Labour Camp, Sant Rohidas Road, 60 Feet Road, 90 Feet Road, Sant Kakeya Road, M.P. Nagar, Dhorwada, Mahatma Gandhi Road. Regular timing: 4 am to 12 noon Low pressure supply: 22-25 December 2025, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily Evening supply areas- Dharavi Main Road, Ganesh Mandir Road, Dilip Kadam Road, Jasmine Mill Road, Mahim Junction, A.K.G. Nagar Regular timing: 4 pm to 9 pm Low pressure supply: 22-25 December 2025, 5 pm to 10 pm daily 2. K East Ward Afternoon supply areas- Kabir Nagar, Bamanwada, Parsi Wada, Airport Area, Tarun Bharat Colony, Islampura, Deulwadi, P&T Colony Regular timing: 2 pm to 5:30 pm Low pressure supply: 22-25 December 2025, 2 pm to 5:30 pm daily Evening supply areas- Koldongri, Old Police Lane, Vijay Nagar (Sahar Road), Mogarpada Regular timing: 5 pm to 10 pm Low pressure supply: 22-25 December 2025, 5 pm to 10 pm daily 3. H East Ward Late night supply areas- Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), including Motilal Nagar Regular timing: 10 pm to 11:40 pm Low pressure supply: 22-25 December 2025, 10 pm to 11:40 pm daily Early morning supply areas- Prabhat Colony, TPS-3, Agripada, Kalina, CST Road (South Side), Hans Bhugra Road, University Area, Yashwant Nagar, Sunder Nagar, Kolivery Village, Teen Bangla, Shantilal Compound, Patel Compound, Golibar Road, Khar Subway to Kherwadi, Navpada, Behram Nagar, A.K. Road, Government Colony, Bandra (East) Regular timing: After 3:30 am to 9:00 am Low pressure supply: 23-25 December 2025, after 3:30 am to 9 am daily Advisory for citizens Residents in G North, K East and H East wards are advised to: - Store adequate water as a precaution - Use water sparingly during the disruption period - Boil and filter drinking water for the next few days - Extend cooperation to the BMC during essential maintenance works "The BMC has appealed for public understanding while these critical infrastructure works are completed," the officials said.
19 December,2025 05:54 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMumbai Police have announced parking restrictions on a stretch of road in Khernagar and Nirmal Nagar areas in Bandra East, to ease traffic congestion and improve pedestrian safety, an official notification said. The notification was issued by the Mumbai Traffic Police on Thursday. It said that the odd-even parking restrictions will be in force from 12.01 am on December 19, 2025 until January 17, 2026, round the clock. Heavy vehicle movement causing traffic problems According to the traffic notification, the residential societies and urban settlements are located on both sides of the road near Khernagar Building No. 35 and Nirmal Nagar Buildings No. 12 and 14. Due to ongoing redevelopment work in the Khernagar area, there has been a sharp rise in the movement of heavy vehicles carrying construction materials such as cement and iron rods. This has placed extra pressure on roads that are mainly used for daily commuting. A similar situation exists near Nirmal Nagar, where improper parking and heavy traffic movement have led to congestion and increased the risk of accidents, it said. Thousands affected daily Traffic authorities estimate that 3,000 to 4,000 pedestrians and 800 to 1,200 vehicles use this road every day. Indiscriminate parking has caused serious inconvenience to local residents and has created unsafe conditions for pedestrians, the officials said. To address these concerns, traffic officials have decided to introduce temporary parking controls. Odd-Even parking system Under the new arrangement, an odd-even parking system will be implemented on the road in front of: - Khernagar Building No. 35 - Nirmal Nagar Buildings No. 12 and 14, Bandra East Parking Rules: - On even dates (2, 4, 6, etc.), vehicles must be parked on the south side of the road - On odd dates (1, 3, 5, etc.), vehicles must be parked on the north side of the road The system will follow the Gregorian calendar, police said. The notification was issued by Dr Dipali Dhate, Deputy Commissioner of Police (H.Q. & Central), Traffic, Mumbai Police. Officials said that the move aims to ensure the smooth flow of traffic, protect pedestrians, and prevent accidents and inconvenience to local residents.
19 December,2025 05:28 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA fire broke out on Friday afternoon in the meter box room on the ground floor of the New Narsimha Building in Thane (West), civic officials said. According to the Thane Municipal Corporation’s Disaster Management Cell, the incident was reported at around 12.48 pm by the Jawaharbagh Fire Station. The fire, triggered by a cable inside the meter box room, occurred in the ground-plus-eight-storey residential Thane building located near Deluxe Hotel in the Mahagiri Koliwada area. Personnel from the Thane Nagar Police, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL), the Disaster Management Cell—along with one pickup vehicle—and the fire brigade, which deployed a fire engine, rushed to the spot. The fire at the Thane building was swiftly brought under control and completely extinguished. No injuries were reported, and the situation is now stable, officials said. Fire breaks out at Thane banquet hall More than 1,000 wedding guests escaped without any injury after a fire broke out at a banquet hall in Maharashtra's Thane city, officials said on Friday. The incident occurred around 11 pm on Thursday at the marriage hall premises in the Ovala area along the Ghodbunder Road in the city, they said. According to Yasin Tadvi, chief of the Disaster Management Cell of the Thane Municipal Corporation, "Mandap decoration materials kept outside a cabin on the lawn of 'The Blue Roof Club' caught fire. A wedding reception was underway at the venue at the time." The official said that 1,000 to 1,200 guests had gathered at the venue at the time of the incident. "As soon as the fire was noticed, guests were safely moved out of the venue, preventing any casualties," he said. Fire officials said timely alertness and swift evacuation played a key role in "averting a major tragedy". The firefighting operation involved two fire engines, one rescue vehicle, and one utility vehicle. An official said the fire was extinguished by around midnight. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, he added. Fire erupts at three warehouses in Thane; none hurt Earlier, a fire broke out at three warehouses in Maharashtra's Thane district on Sunday afternoon, triggering panic in the industrial area, officials said. There was no report of any casualty, they said. The blaze was reported at around 2.30 pm in three warehouses at Gayatri Nagar in Bhiwandi town, the officials said, adding it was not yet known what was stored there. Multiple fire engines were rushed to the spot, Bhiwandi Nizampur Municipal Corporation's disaster management cell chief Saquib Kharbe said. The exact cause of the blaze was yet to be ascertained.
19 December,2025 02:07 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentA fire broke out late Thursday night at The Blue Roof Club in Thane (West) while a wedding reception was underway, officials from the Thane Municipal Corporation’s Disaster Management Cell said. More than 1,000 wedding guests escaped without any injury after a fire broke out at a banquet hall in Maharashtra's Thane city, the officials said. The incident occurred around 11 pm on Thursday at the marriage hall premises in the Ovala area along the Ghodbunder Road in the city, they said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by mid-day (@middayindia) According to Yasin Tadvi, chief of the Disaster Management Cell of the Thane Municipal Corporation, "Mandap decoration materials kept outside a cabin on the lawn of 'The Blue Roof Club' caught fire. A wedding reception was underway at the venue at the time." The official said that 1,000 to 1,200 guests had gathered at the venue at the time of the incident. "As soon as the fire was noticed, guests were safely moved out of the venue, preventing any casualties," he said. Fire officials said timely alertness and swift evacuation played a key role in "averting a major tragedy". The firefighting operation involved two fire engines, one rescue vehicle, and one utility vehicle. An official said the fire was extinguished by around midnight. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, he added. Fire breaks out near tunnel on Mumbai Coastal Road; none hurt In another incident, a fire erupted outside a tunnel on the Coastal Road in south Mumbai on Wednesday evening, but no injuries were reported, civic officials said, reported PTI. The blaze outside the tunnel at Marine Lines opposite the Police Gymkhana was reported to the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) at 7.12 pm, they said, reported PTI. No injuries were reported in the fire, which was doused in less than an hour, said the officials. A civic official said the blaze may have been caused by a short circuit. The structure where the fire started was used for the storage of some materials, he added. Fire erupts at three warehouses in Thane; none hurt Earlier, a fire broke out at three warehouses in Maharashtra's Thane district on Sunday afternoon, triggering panic in the industrial area, officials said, reported PTI. There was no report of any casualty, they said. The blaze was reported at around 2.30 pm in three warehouses at Gayatri Nagar in Bhiwandi town, the officials said, adding it was not yet known what was stored there. Multiple fire engines were rushed to the spot, Bhiwandi Nizampur Municipal Corporation's disaster management cell chief Saquib Kharbe said, reported PTI. "So far, there are no reports of anyone being injured," he said, adding that efforts were on to ensure the fire does not spread to adjoining structures. The exact cause of the blaze was yet to be ascertained. Earlier in the day, a fire broke out at a godown storing autorickshaws at Kalher in Bhiwandi town, officials said. No casualties were reported, they said. (With inputs from PTI)
19 December,2025 11:05 AM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentA routine inspection by the Regional Transport Office (RTO) in Mulund has exposed an alleged fake vehicle registration and chassis number scam involving Orchids International School, after officials found a school-linked vehicle running with forged documents and mismatched chassis details. The irregularity, which allegedly went undetected for over two years, has led to an FIR at Navghar police station, with the RTO estimating a Rs 8.66 lakh loss to the Maharashtra Transport Department. According to Sanket Chavan, the RTO motor vehicle inspector who detected the irregularity, the issue came to light on Tuesday afternoon, during a routine inspection near the fire brigade office at Gavhanpada in Mulund East. When the RTO team checked a bus, they noticed discrepancies in its registration details. A physical verification of the vehicle revealed that the chassis number stamped on the bus did not match the registration and number plate details available in official records, following which the vehicle was detained and its documents were subjected to a detailed verification. “This raised serious suspicions as the chassis number is the primary identity of a vehicle,” Chavan said, adding that further scrutiny showed the bus had allegedly been operated without valid registration for over two years (since October 2023). This led to evasion of motor vehicle tax and other statutory dues payable to the transport department, amounting to Rs 8,66,421. What is the irregularity Orchid allegedly purchased the bus from VE Commercial Vehicle Ltd — a dealer located at Dapoda village in Bhiwandi, Thane district — for use as a school vehicle in Mulund East. However, officials allege that mandatory protocols under the Motor Vehicles Act were not followed, including proper registration, verification, and payment of applicable motor vehicle tax. Instead, the bus was allegedly operated using forged registration details and a mismatched number plate, allowing it to run on city roads without valid authorisation. Cops take action The FIR names the educational institute, its director and principal, the vehicle dealer, the driver, and others as accused, alleging that their acts resulted in cheating the Maharashtra Transport Department of government revenue. Based on these findings, police have invoked sections related to endangering life or personal safety of others, cheating, forgery and conspiracy under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, in addition to provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act. “It is the school’s responsibility to ensure its buses comply with all rules, not just legally but also for children’s safety. In this case, the school failed to verify the vehicle’s registration for over two years, during which the bus was run illegally,” said Chavan. “This is also about public awareness, and parents should check whether school buses are properly registered.” School’s response mid-day tried to contact several individuals from the school management but couldn’t reach any of them. The school principal, Rachana Kamath, said she has no information about the incident. OctMonth in 2023 bus was pressed into service What transpired… . School-linked unregistered bus operated for over two years. Vehicle displayed number plate not matching chassis number. Operator managed to avoid paying road tax and RTO fees. Irregularity detected during a routine RTO inspection What is chassis number? It is a vehicle’s unique ID code. It is stamped on the vehicle’s frame. RTOs use it to verify registration, ownership, tax. Any mismatch could mean forgery, illegal operation. What parents should check . Valid registration number. Registration Certificate (RC) matching the bus. School name in permits. Fitness certificate and insurance. Driver’s licence and badge How evasion amount got to Rs 8.66 lakh Motor vehicle tax Rs 8.61LRegistration fee Rs1,200LInspection fee Rs 800LSmart card fee Rs 200Postal charges Rs 58Loan endorsement Rs 3,000charges Total Rs 8,66,421
19 December,2025 10:49 AM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya IyerMahim residents have complained to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) about personnel from a construction site ramming iron rods into the trunks of nine old but healthy trees near Paradise Cinema on Bhagoji Keer Road. In response to the complaints, officials from the civic body’s G North ward inspected the site on Thursday morning and issued a warning to the developer to remove the rods. The issue On Wednesday night, residents of the area noticed workers installing steel sheets around a construction site and informed them not to damage trees surrounding the compound wall of the plot, noticing that the rods holding up the sheets would pass through the trees. However, on Thursday morning, it was noticed that a peepal tree on the periphery of the plot was affected due to the work. A non-governmental organisation (NGO) named Bombay Indigenous People’s Association (BIPA) from the area complained to the BMC about the issue. Residents have decided to file a complaint against those responsible with the Mumbai Police under the Tree Act, 1972; the spot where the peepal trees were damaged, around Mahim’s Paradise Cinema. Pics/By Special Arrangement Residents speak Luke Mendes, founder of the NGO and a professor at St Xavier’s College, who resides in the area, said, “The Paradise Cinema site is undergoing redevelopment, and sheets are being installed around the periphery of the site. Metal rods that support the sheets run right through a tree. We are afraid this will damage it in the long run. Past experiences have shown us that these events are planned to eventually get rid of these trees.” “This is a 15-foot-tall peepal tree, easily 50 to 60 years old. It towers over the rooftop terrace of a six-storey building,” Mendes added. Residents have decided to file a complaint with the Mumbai Police under the Tree Act, 1972. “There are several other old trees in the compound, and this issue will persist if the BMC does not act in time,” Mendes added. Authorities speak After complaints from residents of the area, the civic body’s gardens department inspected the property on Thursday morning and issued a warning to the developer to remove the scaffolding. A senior civic official of the G North ward, with jurisdiction over the area, said, “We received complaints on Wednesday night and Thursday morning from several residents of the area. The scaffolding is being installed by the developer as part of prep work for demolition and reconstruction of an existing building on this plot.” After inspection of the site, BMC issued a warning to remove the scaffolding by Friday morning. The official said, “We will inspect the site again on Friday. If the scaffolding is not removed, we will serve a notice to the developer, as damaging trees during construction work is not prohibited.” Dec 17Day civic first received complaints Dec 18Day civic officials inspected site
19 December,2025 10:48 AM IST | Mumbai | Eshanpriya MSDissent within the BJP over issuing civic election tickets to family members of office bearers and public representatives is slowly beginning to surface. Advocate Vivekanand Gupta has written to BJP Mumbai president Ameet Satam, urging the party to ensure that the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections do not turn into a “family business.” Gupta, a secretary of the BJP’s Mumbai unit, has raised concerns over granting tickets to relatives such as wives, sons, daughters, or grandchildren of party office bearers, MLAs, and other public representatives. In his letter, he said tickets should be allotted only to deserving grassroots workers. He added that candidates for the BMC polls should be party workers who have stood by the BJP for years, and not relatives of influential leaders taking advantage of changes in seat reservations from general to women, OBC, or other reserved categories. Gupta warned that using reservation changes as a pretext to accommodate family members demoralises long-serving karyakartas who work at the ground level, hoping for a fair opportunity to contest elections. Stating that the BJP is a party built by its workers, Gupta urged the leadership to resist pressure while finalising candidates and ensure transparency and fairness in ticket distribution. He said the BMC elections should reflect the party’s commitment to merit, with loyalty and hard work—not family connections—deciding who gets to contest.
19 December,2025 10:47 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarADVERTISEMENT
-1766120812616_d.png "There have been no casualties or injuries. PIC/ RDMC-TMC")
