Senior IAS officer Dr. Harshdeep Kamble on Tuesday took over the charges of General Manager (GM) of Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking, the officials said. Dr. Harshdeep Kamble, a 1997 batch IAS officer, has taken over as the General Manager of BEST undertaking on Tuesday, an official said. He had been earlier posted as Principal Secretary (Industries) in the Energy and Labour Department, Mantralaya. The present incumbent Anil Diggikar has been transferred and posted as Additional Chief Secretary, Divyang Kalyan Department, Mantralaya, Mumbai. BEST, under Diggikar, had been facing flak following the accident at Kurla which led to the death of nine persons and injuring 42. An electric bus wet-leased by the civic-run BEST undertaking had rammed into several vehicles on the night of December 9 in Kurla, killing nine and injuring more than 42 persons. Several vehicles were totalled in the incident. Bus driver Sanjay More was employed by a third-party agency that supplies drivers to EVEY TRANS, a subsidiary of electric bus manufacturer Olectra. He had been driving mini-buses of BEST's wet lease operators for the last four years and was deployed to the drive the 12-metre e-bus, the kind that was involved in the accident, from December this year after he joined the new company, officials had earlier said. As per RTO records, More's transport category licence, initially valid for light motor vehicles like tempos and taxis, was issued on July 5, 1990 and on August 8, 1991 he got a heavy vehicle licence required to drive trucks and buses. More also has a driver's badge, which is mandatory for driving public service vehicles, including buses in the fleets of BEST and Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC). This badge was issued to him by the RTO on December 18, 1999, records showed.
24 December,2024 10:49 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarBrihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) chief Bhushan Gagrani on Tuesday held a high-level meeting on air pollution in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). Gagrani has called for strict action from all concerned authorities to control air pollution. Speaking at the fifth meeting of the Coordination Committee for Air Pollution Control, held at the BMC headquarters in south Mumbai, he stressed the importance of collaborative efforts to improve air quality in the region, an official statement said. The meeting was attended by senior officials, including Dr. Avinash Dhakne, Member Secretary of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, Kailas Shinde, Commissioner of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation, Sanjay Katkar, Commissioner of Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation, and other officials from the BMC, pollution control, and traffic departments. The Coordination Committee was established in compliance with the directives of the High Court to take action on air pollution in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The committee includes representatives from various municipal corporations, police departments, and environmental agencies, including the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA), CIDCO, MHADA, and the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation. During the meeting, Gagrani stated that air quality in the region had been worsening, which is a serious concern for the health and well-being of residents. He said that it is essential for all municipal corporations, police departments, and related authorities to prioritize air pollution control and implement strict measures to improve air quality, the statement said. Gagrani further pointed out that the High Court had given specific instructions to address the deteriorating air quality in the city and urged all agencies to focus particularly on areas where the Air Quality Index (AQI) has dropped significantly. He recommended paying special attention to areas within a 5-kilometer radius of regions with high pollution levels and identified sources contributing to air pollution. "The control of air pollution is a collective responsibility of all agencies in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Even if one agency performs exceptionally well, it will not be sufficient if other areas are facing deteriorating air quality. Therefore, every agency must work together in a highly coordinated and effective manner to combat air pollution," Gagrani said, the official statement stated. The meeting concluded with a commitment to implement targeted actions in the most affected areas and ensure that all relevant authorities work together to control air pollution effectively, it said
24 December,2024 08:26 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentShiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray on Tuesday urged Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to ensure cities are free of political banners and hoardings, he also assured support if a "no banner" initiative is taken. In a post on X, Aaditya Thackeray wrote, "I have written to CM Devendra Fadnavis ji, to take the initiative to appeal to all political parties and social organisations to refrain from putting the political hoardings in our cities." The former Maharashtra minister said that the Shiv Sena (UBT) will support the it if the CM implements a "no banner" initiative and strictly follow directives. The Bombay High Court had last week expressed displeasure over illegal hoardings and banners dotting Mumbai, noting that civic officials have not taken concrete measures despite instructions. The high court had observed that political parties seemingly lack respect for the court's orders after taking note of several photographs submitted by an advocate. सर्व राजकीय पक्ष आणि सामाजिक संघटनांनी आपल्या शहरांमध्ये राजकीय होर्डिंग लावण्याचे टाळावे, असे आवाहन करण्यास मी मुख्यमंत्री देवेंद्र फडणवीस जी ह्यांना निवेदनाद्वारे विनंती केली आहे.फडणवीस जी ह्यांनी 'नो बॅनर' उपक्रमासाठी पाऊल उचलले, तर आम्ही देखील त्यांना साथ देऊ आणि त्याचे… pic.twitter.com/oU8vKZdgmM — Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) December 24, 2024 The images depicted a swell of hoardings at several places including in front of the high court premises in Fort area after the results of Maharashtra assembly elections 2024 were announced on November 23. Meanwhile, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had earlier this month began cracking down on illegal hoarding and banners. The highest number of banners, hoardings and flags, 766 in total, were pulled down from the A ward which comprises the Colaba and Fort areas. Azad Maidan, where the chief minister and his deputies were sworn in on Thursday evening, is also located in this ward. mid-day had reported on December 9 how the number of these eyesores had risen in the city, with many hoardings covering traffic signals. Following the report, the civic body swung into action. According to BMC officials, around 1,963 hoardings, banners, posters and flags were removed from the city. Of the banners and hoardings, 576 and 473 were political and religious in nature, respectively. About 912 flags were pulled down. From the A ward, 56 political hoardings and banners, 105 religious banners and hoardings and 605 flags were removed, according to civic officials. From the G North ward, which includes Dadar, Mahim and Dharavi, 106 political banners and hoardings were removed. (with PTI inputs)
24 December,2024 07:36 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Western Railway on Tuesday said that it collected Rs 93.47 crore as fines during ticket checking drives. In an official statement, the Western Railway said, in order to ensure hassle-free, comfortable travel and better services to all bonafide passengers over, intensive ticket checking drives are being carried out continuously over Mumbai suburban local services, Mail/Express as well as passenger trains and holiday special trains so as to curb the menace of ticketless/irregular passengers. It said that the highly motivated ticket checking team under the supervision of senior commercial officers of Western Railway organised several ticket checking drives during the months of April to November 2024, thereby recovering an amount to the tune of Rs. 93.47 crore, which also includes Rs. 30.63 crore from Mumbai suburban section. According to a press release issued by Vineet Abhishek – Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, during the month of November 2024, an amount of Rs. 12.91 crore was recovered through detection of 2.01 lakh ticketless/irregular passengers, including unbooked luggage cases. Also, in the month of November, Western Railway collected fines amounting to Rs 4.03 crore through detection of 82 thousand cases over Mumbai suburban section. To prevent unauthorized entry in AC local trains, frequent surprise ticket checking drives are carried out. As a result of these drives almost 40,000 unauthorised passengers have been penalized from April to November 2024 and over Rs. 131 lakh collected in fines.
24 December,2024 07:04 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarAs the festive season kicks off across India, Mumbai is gearing up for the celebrations of Christmas and the New Year. Several government offices, courts, and banks in Mumbai, Maharashtra, will remain closed to observe Christmas on December 25, and New Year's Day. This closure will impact residents who may need to visit these institutions for official or banking matters during this time, so plan accordingly. Here is a list of key offices and institutions that will be closed: 1. Bombay High Court will be closed from December 24th till January 1st. 2. Bombay Stock Market will be closed on December 25th on the occasion of Christmas. 3. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation will be closed on December 25th. 4. Reserve Bank of India observes a bank holiday on December 25th. All banks in Mumbai will be closed. 5. Government of Maharashtra will be closed on December 25th. 6. State Secretariat will be closed on December 25th. 7. MMRDA will be closed on December 25th. 8. Mumbai Port Trust will be closed on December 25th. 9. Byculla Zoo will be closed on December 26th instead of December 25th, as per BMC. 10. Post offices in Mumbai will remain closed on December 25th. Schools, colleges, businesses, and government offices will remain closed on December 25th.
24 December,2024 05:45 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe BMC has allocated Rs 850 crore Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking in the current financial year, an official statement said on Tuesday. The statement said that the BMC has taken steps to secure Rs 493 crore for the purchase of electric buses. Furthermore, the BMC has provided Rs 80 crore as Diwali bonuses for BEST employees this year. Plans are also in place to allocate more funds in the upcoming budget. It said that BEST is considered one of the largest public transport services in India and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has consistently extended help and support to BEST to ensure that the citizens of Mumbai experience a comfortable, affordable, and high-quality travel service. The importance of public transport and the challenges faced while running such a system are well understood by the municipal administration. To address these challenges, the BMC has been providing financial assistance to the BEST Undertaking for many years. It further said that in the last decade, the municipal corporation has provided over Rs 11,232 crore in support to BEST. Between the fiscal years 2019-2020 and 2023-2024, the BMC has allocated a substantial sum of Rs 8,594.24 crore to BEST. The statement further said that recently, representatives from the BEST workers' unions met with the Municipal Commissioner and presented their demands to the BMC. During the meeting, there was a constructive dialogue between the municipal authorities and the representatives. The civic chief reassured the workers that the BMC has always supported BEST and will continue to do so in the future. In recognition of the importance of BEST, the BMC has stopped the auction of its land in Malabar Hill to support the undertaking. The BMC has also made its land available to BEST as needed. It said that the reports suggesting that the BMC is refusing to provide financial assistance to BEST is completely false and baseless. "As the governing body of Mumbai, the BMC is committed to ensuring that the citizens of Mumbai do not face any inconvenience. It will continue to support the BEST Undertaking to the best of its ability," the statement said.
24 December,2024 05:41 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentResidents of Thane district's Badlapur in Maharashtra have to pay more for a loaf of bread as the area's bakery owner's association hiked the price of the staple food item from Rs 20 to Rs 23 from Tuesday, PTI reported. The increased cost of raw materials has left them with no option but to revise the prices, says Ayub Gadkari, the office-bearer of Kulgaon-Badlapur Bakery Owners Welfare Association. "The cost of flour, oil, and other ingredients has gone up by nearly 20 per cent over the past year. We've held off raising prices for as long as we could, but the situation has now become unsustainable," said a member of the association. Bread is consumed on a daily basis in various forms by a large number of households. The increase in price is likely to impact families as well as small businesses that rely on bread for their meals, PTI reported. While some consumers acknowledged the bakers' compulsion given the inflationary pressures, others raised concern about the collective impact of the increasing prices on their household budget. "From edible oil to groceries, the prices of raw materials required for bread production have seen a steep increase over the past months. This has significantly impacted the operational costs for bakeries, leaving no choice but to revise the prices," Gadkari said. The representatives of the bakery owners' association also claimed that they will monitor the market conditions and strive to ensure a balance between quality and affordability. PTI reported. CREDAI urges govt to reconsider 18% GST imposition on FSI charges, warns of increase in housing prices The Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (CREDAI) has strongly opposed the proposal to levy an 18 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) on Floor Space Index (FSI) and Additional FSI charges imposed by local authorities for real estate projects. In a letter addressed to the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, CREDAI urged the central government to reconsider the move, warning that it could lead to a significant increase in housing prices and adversely affect both supply and demand in the real estate sector. According to CREDAI, imposing GST on FSI charges—whether retrospectively or prospectively—would escalate project costs by as much as 10 per cent, pushing up housing prices across various regions of India. The industry body claims that the additional burden would make affordable housing projects economically unviable, exacerbating the housing affordability crisis and potentially affecting the purchasing power of middle-class homebuyers, who make up 70 per cent of the total market. The proposed tax on FSI charges, which are fees paid to local authorities for the additional space developers are allowed to build, could also create substantial financial pressures on developers. (With PTI inputs)
24 December,2024 05:04 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentThe Dr Bhau Daji Lad City Museum, the city’s oldest such institution, is likely to re-open on Republic Day. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has spent around R6 crore on the restoration of the iconic museum in Byculla, mainly tackling the building’s leakage issues. We are trying to re-open the museum for the public by January 26, 2025,” said Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani. “The museum has been closed for the past three years. The restored building will represent the heritage of Mumbai,” he added. The first colonial building in Bombay to be built for the specific purpose of housing a museum, it depicts the story of the city and is home to original artefacts, including maps, documents, statues and images. BMC officials said there would be no additions to the museum’s collection and that the institute itself was being revived. The Dr Bhau Daji Lad City Museum, which was first opened to the public in 1857. File pic A civic official involved in the project told mid-day that the building was facing leakages at several places, which posed a threat to artefacts. “We have carried out civil repairs without damaging the beauty of the 167-year-old building. It was an extremely challenging task as we had to ensure the original structure stayed intact while carrying out the restoration,” the official said. An enviable history As per the Dr Bhau Daji Lad City Museum’s website, the institute—formerly known as the Victoria and Albert Museum—was first opened to the public in 1857. On November 1, 1975, the museum was named after Dr Bhau Daji Lad, the first Indian sheriff of Mumbai, a philanthropist, historian, physician and surgeon. By the end of the millennium, the museum had fallen into disrepair. Extensive restoration work was then carried out between 2003 and 2008—during which the museum was closed—to restore it to its former glory, leading to it winning UNESCO’s 2005 Award of Excellence in the field of Cultural Conservation. This time, the museum was closed for over three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic that coincided with this necessary maintenance and repair work. Its reopening comes as good news for the arts and cultural landscape in Mumbai. With inputs from Fiona Fernandez
24 December,2024 04:52 PM IST | Mumbai | Sameer SurveThe Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), while sharing the latest Maharashtra weather updates, has stated that some parts of state were likely to witness thunderstorm and rains. The IMD Mumbai said, "Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, gusty winds (speed 30-40 kmph) and light to moderate rainfall are likely at isolated places in North Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada and Vidarbha districts." उत्तर मध्य महाराष्ट्र, मराठवाडा आणि विदर्भातील जिल्ह्यांमध्ये तुरळक ठिकाणी विजांच्या कडकडाटासह वादळ, सोसाट्याचा वारा (30-40 किमी प्रतितास वेग) आणि हलका ते मध्यम पाऊस पडण्याची शक्यता आहे. — Regional Meteorological Center,Mumbai (@RMC_Mumbai) December 24, 2024 The IMD stated that there was a possibility of cloud to ground lightning at isolated places and fall of weak trees or weak structures due to gusty winds. The weather department has advised citizens to avoid working in open areas and fields while thunderstorms are taking place and avoid taking shelter under tall trees and structures when a thunderstorm is occurring. It suggested that the citizens shall immediately get away from water bodies and keep away from all objects that conduct electricity. Meanwhile, according to the IMD), Mumbai residents can expect partly cloudy skies with a touch of haze on December 24. The weather will remain relatively stable in the coming days, with slight fluctuations in temperature. The daytime temperatures are predicted to peak at 32 degrees Celsius, with an early morning low of around 22 degrees Celsius. Today, December 24, 2024, Mumbai is experiencing moderate weather conditions, with the temperature hovering at 25 degrees Celsius. The forecast for the day indicates a range of 23 degrees Celsius to 31 degrees Celsius, accompanied by 52 per cent humidity. The winds are expected to blow at 8 km/h. The sun rose at 07:08 am and will set at 06:07 pm, marking a relatively pleasant day with some haze lingering in the atmosphere. The weather in Mumbai is set to remain consistent, with similar conditions expected over the next several days. On December 25, the temperature will range between 24 degrees Celsius and 34 degrees Celsius, with partly cloudy skies and occasional haze. Similarly, December 26 will witness temperatures ranging from 25 degrees Celsius to 34 degrees Celsius, with some clouds dotting the sky throughout the day. The weather will remain much the same on December 27, with temperatures fluctuating between 24 degrees Celsius and 34 degrees Celsius. However, a slight dip in the minimum temperature is anticipated on December 28, with the day beginning at 23 degrees Celsius and reaching a high of 34 degrees Celsius.
24 December,2024 04:28 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentChief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has expressed confidence that through the use of solar energy, farmers in Maharashtra will play a pivotal role in bringing about a second Green Revolution. He was speaking at the inauguration of the Chief Minister’s Solar Agricultural Feeder Scheme 2.0, which aims to harness renewable energy for sustainable farming practices. The event, held at Mumbai's Sahyadri Guest House, saw the Chief Minister inaugurating solar agricultural projects in Umbertha (Washim district) and Narangwadi (Dharashiv district). The inauguration was done via video conferencing, with Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik, Additional Chief Secretary of the Energy Department Abha Shukla, Additional Chief Secretary of the Water Resources Department Deepak Kapoor, and several other senior government officials attending the event. Chief Minister Fadnavis highlighted the significant impact of the scheme, which aims to provide farmers with reliable and free electricity during the day. "Through the Chief Minister’s Solar Agricultural Feeder Scheme, farmers will receive continuous solar power for their agricultural needs. The state already provides 16,000 megawatts of electricity to the farming community, and over the past two years, efforts have been underway to transition all feeders to solar energy," he said. The programme, which focuses on sustainable energy solutions, aims to gradually convert all agricultural feeders across the state to solar power. This will ensure that farmers will have access to uninterrupted electricity during daylight hours, aiding their irrigation and other agricultural activities. Chief Minister Fadnavis believes this move will not only help improve agricultural productivity but also contribute to Maharashtra’s green energy initiatives. At the event, farmers from Umbertha and Narangwadi were able to participate through the video conferencing system. The initiative is seen as a game-changer, allowing farmers to significantly reduce their dependence on conventional, often unreliable, electricity sources while also contributing to the state's renewable energy goals. This initiative is expected to significantly transform the agricultural landscape in Maharashtra, ensuring that solar energy becomes an integral part of farming in the state, much like it has in other sectors. It is part of the government’s broader vision to empower farmers with the tools and resources they need for sustainable growth, marking a crucial step in the state’s journey towards a green and energy-efficient future. With the government's continued push for renewable energy, Maharashtra is poised to lead the way in using solar energy to benefit its farming community, potentially inspiring other states to follow suit.
24 December,2024 01:57 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentShiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday honoured Arif Bamane for his courageous actions in rescuing several survivors after a Navy speedboat collided with the passenger ferry, Neelkamal, off the Mumbai coast. The tragic incident, which occurred on December 18, claimed the lives of 15 individuals. A post shared by the party on X (formerly Twitter) stated, “Arif Bamane, who showed bravery in saving the lives of 35 passengers in the Neelkamal boat accident, was honoured by party chief Hon. Uddhavsaheb Thackeray. Shiv Sena leaders MP Arvind Sawant, Secretary MLA Milind Narvekar, and Deputy Leader MLA Manoj Jamsutkar were also present at the occasion.” The fatal maritime collision occurred on December 18 near Mumbai, when an Indian Navy boat collided with the passenger ferry, Neelkamal, while it was en route from the Gateway of India to the Elephanta Caves. The impact of the collision caused the ferry to capsize, leading to the tragic loss of 13 lives, including 10 civilians and three Navy personnel. However, 101 individuals were successfully rescued in the operation. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who expressed his grief over the incident, announced an ex-gratia of ₹5 lakh from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund for the families of those who lost their lives in the tragic accident. Fadnavis also provided an update on the situation, stating that the rescue operation was being carried out with the help of the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, and local police, who deployed 11 crafts and four helicopters in the operation. The accident took place near Buchar Island, with authorities confirming the loss of life by 7:30 pm on the day of the tragedy. In addition to the fatalities, two individuals were critically injured and were being treated at the Navy Dockyard Hospital. Elephanta boat tragedy: Poor maintenance, lack of safety measures at Gateway of India ferry services The Tourist Guides Association of Mumbai (TOGA) has been raising concerns about the hazardous conditions of civilian ferry services operating between the Gateway of India and Elephanta Island. Despite these warnings, the authorities have failed to address issues, including overcrowding on boats and the lack of life jackets for passengers. On August 2, Jerroo Bharrucha, the president of TOGA, wrote to the chairman of the Mumbai Port Trust (MPT), highlighting the “disaster waiting to happen.” A follow-up reminder was sent on August 16, reiterating the complaint about the unsafe conditions of the ferries servicing Elephanta Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that draws millions of tourists, both domestic and international. “We all agree that the tragic incident, in which an Indian Navy speedboat collided with the civil boat Neelkamal, resulted in the loss of over a dozen lives, with two others, including a child, still missing. However, the death toll could have been lower if the boat had not been overcrowded and if passengers had been wearing life-saving jackets,” underlined Bharrucha.
24 December,2024 01:39 PM IST | MumbaiADVERTISEMENT
