On 1st January 2025, at approximately 07:33 AM, the Disaster Management Cell received information regarding a fire incident at Damani Estate, located on LBS Road, Thane. The fire, reported to be in the thatched roof and debris of an unoccupied building near the Datt Mandir, was swiftly contained. Firefighters from the Fire and Rescue Department, along with Disaster Management staff, responded promptly with one fire vehicle and one rescue vehicle. Fortunately, no injuries were reported at the scene. The blaze was extinguished by 07:50 AM, thanks to the combined efforts of the Fire and Rescue personnel and the Disaster Management team. The situation is now under control, and there is no further threat to public safety. Fire breaks out at Heera Panna Shopping Centre in Haji Ali, no injuries reported A Level-01 fire broke out on Sunday morning at the Heera Panna Shopping Centre located on Pandit Madanmohan Malavia Marg near Haji Ali, Mumbai. The fire, which was reported at 9:09 am, was confined to two closed shops on the ground floor of the commercial complex, according to a report by the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB). Thick smoke filled the ground floor of the single-storey shopping centre, prompting an immediate response from emergency services. Fire extinguishing efforts were initiated promptly using one small hose line and two high-pressure first aid lines connected to four motor pumps. As of the last update at 12:52 pm, firefighting work has been done. The operation was being conducted with the deployment of significant resources, including four fire engines, one multi-purpose water tanker, three jumbo tankers, one advanced water tanker, one breathing apparatus van, and an ambulance from 108 services. Senior officials, including one Additional Divisional Fire Officer (ADFO), one Senior Station Officer (SrSO), and three Station Officers (SO), were present at the site to supervise the operation. No injuries have been reported in connection with the incident so far. The authorities are yet to determine the cause of the fire. The Heera Panna Shopping Centre is a well-known retail hub in South Mumbai, housing a variety of shops and attracting significant footfall, making the swift action by the fire brigade crucial in preventing further damage or casualties. Emergency personnel remain on site, and the situation is being monitored closely.
01 January,2025 08:53 AM IST | MumbaiIf all goes well, CIDCO will play Santa to the common man of the satellite township—Navi Mumbai—in 2025, with hosts of infrastructure and housing projects, which are either ready or expected completion in the coming quarters. mid-day reached out to Vijay Singhal, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, CIDCO, who is at the helm of overseeing the various infrastructure projects, which will connect the twin city to the rest of the world. “The year 2025 will be a dream come true with actual operations and completion of certain turnkey projects. Large-scale investment will come into Navi Mumbai through Navi Mumbai International Airport. The project will also boost tourism. The Corporate Park project will create commercial opportunities in the city on a large scale and make its economy robust. Several connectivity projects will not only facilitate seamless commute but also bolster the development of the city. Some socio-cultural projects are also in the pipeline,” said Vijay Singhal. Navi Mumbai Int’l Airport (NMIA) NMIA, one of the world’s largest Greenfield International Airports proposed for development in the country, is planned to handle a minimum of 90 million passengers and 2.5 million metric tons of cargo annually. The airport is aimed to ease off the traffic pressure on the Mumbai airport. Along with CSIA, the NMIA will form part of the first multi-airport city system in India with excellent physical and social infrastructure. Current status of NMIA All the predevelopment works including the work of diversion of the Ulwe River, the most challenging one, have been completed successfully. The structural steel work of 10,000 metric tonnes at the passenger terminal building and the 3,700 runway work is completed and ready. The signal test and instrument landing system test were conducted successfully by the Airport Authority of India at NMIA on July 17, 2024, and 13 August, 2024, respectively. Phase-I of the project is expected to be operational from April 2025. And the international flights are presumed to start by the end of 2025. Aerocity CIDCO plans to develop Aerocity on the lines of Delhi Aerocity by developing hotels and ancillary facilities As the first flight is all set to take off from NMIA, CIDCO has planned to develop world-class infrastructure on land falling in the periphery of the airport. CIDCO has planned to develop Aerocity on the lines of Delhi Aerocity by developing hotels and ancillary facilities on this land. Taking advantage of the proximity of NMIA and MTHL, CIDCO has come up with a mixed development plan with multi-model connectivity. The project will include amenities like lounges and supporting infrastructure at the airport, enhancing the overall experience for passengers. Navi Mumbai: Coastal road, Airport, Mass housing Kharghar and Ulwe Coastal RoadMultimodal connectivity to the new Navi Mumbai airport is becoming a reality, linking Atal Setu with the Kharghar and Ulwe Coastal Road. Future plans aim to connect these roads to all metro lines in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). The tender for the Kharghar and Ulwe Coastal Road was floated in October 2024, with work starting early 2025. To address congestion on the 6 km Sion-Panvel Expressway stretch between Kharghar and Belapur, CIDCO plans a 9.5 km Kharghar Coastal Road along Panvel Creek, boosting water and cargo transport from JNPT while offering an alternative route. UlweThe 7 km long Ulwe Coastal Road with 6 (3+3) lanes will be an elevated road commencing from Amra Marg and will be connected to the 5.8 km interchange at MTHL. The road will also include a 0.903-km elevated stretch connecting Navi Mumbai International Airport. Centre of Excellence, a FIFA-compliant stadium with four practice pitches Centre of excellenceThe Football Maharashtra Centre of Excellence, a FIFA-compliant stadium with four practice pitches, is nearing completion on a 10.5-hectare site near the proposed International Corporate Park (BKC 2). Inaugurated on October 12, 2024, by former Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, it will host tournaments starting in 2025. A standout feature is its 4,000-seat gallery with state-of-the-art LED floodlights, ideal for night matches, making it a major attraction for international sports events. Panvel to Karjat railway corridorThe much-talked-about Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP), phase 3 connecting Panvel to Karjat, suburban rail corridor, is all set to meet the deadline of the end of December 2025, as 67 per cent of work has been completed on the stretch as of December 2024. Once the rail corridor is made operational, it will enhance the suburban railway network and thereby cut down the travel time of commuters significantly. The Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) will be spending approximately over Rs 2,782 crores for the project. Mass housing schemeThe need for affordable housing is critical for a large portion of the population. Under this scheme, 67,000 tenements will be constructed across Navi Mumbai for EWS and LIG groups near transit hubs. CIDCO’s 2022 housing project gained international attention for building 96 apartments in 96 days using precast technology, achieving a remarkable national record. The Kharghar-Turbhe tunnel road will provide direct connectivity between Turbhe in north Navi Mumbai and Kharghar in south Navi Mumbai Kharghar-Turbhe tunnelThe six-lane road with an approximate length of 5.490 km will branch out from the Sion-Panvel Expressway in front of Juinagar Railway Station and will carry on till the Central Park in Kharghar. The tunnel route will be constructed by the cut and cover method and will have a length of 1.763 km out of the total length of 5.490 km. MSRDC arm connectivityTo reduce congestion on the Sion-Panvel highway, a new three-lane bridge near the Vashi toll naka (Mumbai to Navi Mumbai) opened in late 2024. The second bridge, linking Navi Mumbai to Mumbai, will be operational by early 2025. Toll exemptions for cars have already eased traffic. Estimated cost of the project will be Rs 775 crore. The Corporate Park is being built to make Navi Mumbai a viable finacial hub International Corporate ParkThe Corporate Park of international standard is being planned to attract financial institutions, information & communication and IT-enabled services, hospitality, medical services, retail professions, and residential complexes. The park will included all modern amenities, including 24-hour uninterruptible powe and water supply, solar power, and security.
01 January,2025 04:49 AM IST | Mumbai | Vinod Kumar MenonThe Cable-Stayed Road Over Bridge (ROB) at Reay Road will open in 2025. This will be the first cable-stayed road over bridge in Mumbai suburbs to open for traffic. >> Construction work on this cable-stayed ROB began on February 14, 2022.>> Estimated cost of the project: R175 crore.>> Length of the ROB: 385 metres with 2 down ramps.>> Number of lanes: 6 lanes.>> Total project length: Approximately 1.52 kilometres. The bridge features a centre pylon system, with stay cables erected on the central spine of the structure. MahaRail has designed this cable-stayed ROB with limited piers and reduced foundation requirements, utilising cable-stayed technology. The longer span of the bridge minimises interference with underground utilities. The new bridge will provide 6 lanes for vehicular traffic, along with footpaths for pedestrians, ensuring smoother and more efficient traffic movement. Khar StationWork at Khar station on the Western Railway is in an advanced stage and is expected to be completed by March 2025. The station, currently used by 1.6 lakh passengers daily, will feature an elevated deck to reduce crowding on the platforms. Key upgrades include:>> Construction of an elevated deck over island platforms 1 and 2.>> A home platform on the west side.>> Improvements to the west-side entrance.>> Relocation of the booking office and other buildings.>> Installation of 4 escalators and 3 elevators.
01 January,2025 04:47 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentThis is not about a player smashing a century at Dadar’s Shivaji Park (SP) maidan. In 2025 it is the park, the maidan as it is called, itself that will notch 100 on the scoreboard. The park, the shiniest jewel in Mumbai’s cultural column stretching from Siddhivinayak to Mahim, was established in 1925 by the Bombay Municipal Corporation, during British Rule. It was known as Mahim Park until 1927 when it was renamed as Shivaji Park. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) renamed the ground from Shivaji Park to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park on March 12, 2020. Given its physical location and strategic importance, this space has been politicised. Political parties want a slice of the Shivaji Park pie. Its high visibility makes it coveted for rallies, both political and public. Ravi Agarwal, the founder of SoBo Cyclists, said, “The park is synonymous with cricket but other sports are played here too. For cyclists, SP is a get-together point. For many, it is the starting point. Other groups finish off their cycle ride at SP, like the final flourish on the signature. Yet others use it as a ‘let’s hang out in between the cycle ride’ spot. It must be retained as open space,” emphasised Agarwal. Runner Anand S Kane of the 5G (Five Gardens) running group said, “We run at SP very often; this is an iconic location, What used to be an oxygen factory has transformed itself into a highly polluted area with unchecked concreting inside and around the park. Like in most developed countries, it is time to create a circular track ‘inside’ the ground which could be used for walk and run activities.” He added, “As our beloved SP turns 100, we are looking forward to more trees being planted. All permissions for public events have totally stopped.”
01 January,2025 04:44 AM IST | Mumbai | Hemal AsharMost local self-government polls used to be held before the state Assembly elections until their last term recently. These elections, to a mix of urban and rural bodies, gave parties an idea of where they stood in terms of popularity because these polls (except in village panchayat ones) are fought on election symbols. Because of their outcome and strategic importance, the local body polls are called mini-Assembly elections. It will be the other way around this year. The local body polls, if held anytime in 2025, will find the Mahayuti alliance under pressure to maintain the top position it reached in the recent Assembly elections. The BJP-led combine set a new record in November 2024 by winning 237 out of 288 seats, a massive mandate that should encourage the new government to go for the municipal and district bodies that are currently under the administrator (duly appointed bureaucrat) in the absence of elected representatives for about two to three years. Legal matter before Supreme Court The elections could not be held even after the local bodies’ term expired because some litigation related to delimitation and reservation are pending before the Supreme Court. The BJP-led state government expects these cases to be expedited because it is prepared to withdraw some of the litigation. As of now, all municipal corporations (29, including two new ones) are being run by the administrators. Like Mumbai, where the municipal commissioner acts as the BMC’s administrator, the elections were to be held in February 2022. Similarly, the respective commissioners are running their city bodies elsewhere. In addition, there are 391 municipal bodies of smaller sizes—city councils (nagar parishad) and nagar panchayats. Of these, 280 are governed by the administrators. In rural areas, 26 out of 34 district councils (zilla parishads or ZPs) don’t have elected representatives. These ZPs’ 289 panchayat samitis (tehsil-level bodies) are also under administrative rule. By February 2025, six more ZPs and 44 panchayat samitis will have their terms over, and switch over to the administrator regime, if the elections are not held. When it is under an administrator, a local body is directly ruled by the state government. The Shinde government had the longest hold. The CM was also the urban development minister, who controlled the municipal bodies. The BJP had a rural development minister, who controlled the ZPs and panchayat samitis. A lot will depend on who has got these two important portfolios in the Fadnavis government. Even after they have the elected representatives, the ministers concerned and the CM will have a say in the matters related to the urban and rural bodies that actually strengthen the parties in power and weaken the Opposition at the ground level. It is the local bodies that give the parties new leadership that can be fostered and elevated. There have been instances of municipal body chiefs getting elected as MLAs and ministers, and even chief ministers.BJP single largest in 2016-17 In 2016-17, the BJP, then the single largest party, had claimed the highest number of municipal seats, followed by the Congress, undivided NCP and undivided Shiv Sena. Generally, the local bodies are contested in alliance depending on the wishes of the local workers. Coming elections will be no different. In the 2017 Mumbai elections, the BJP and Sena had contested against each other despite being together in the previous BMC polls and despite being ruling partners in the state government. The BJP proved its decision right when it almost destroyed the Sena’s hold on the BMC. The BJP took its numbers from 31 to 82. Sena won 84, just two more than its frenemy. BJP was in a position to poach corporators to install its mayor, but it let Sena run the BMC. The BJP’s strategy was to use the 2017 foundation to win the numbers to have its mayor five years later. However, the state politics altered so much since then that the Sena stands separated, with Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde sharing spoils in the latest Assembly elections in Mumbai. The BJP has gained maximum and has set its eyes on installing its mayor in Asia’s richest and biggest municipal body. BJP’s third partner, Ajit Pawar’s NCP, has not much stake in Mumbai. It will be a multi-corner fight if the alliance doesn’t happen in the MVA and Mahayuti, not just in Mumbai but also in the rest of Maharashtra. Local leadership upset The upcoming elections will be more important in view of party politics. The local leadership has been upset because it has lost an opportunity and precious time. When MVA partners were in power, their cadres expected the government to hold polls. Mahayuti workers felt the same after the MVA fell. Now, it is Fadnavis’s turn to try to open the electoral field that had made him a city corporator and mayor at a very young age. The BJP, in particular, has not been able to rehabilitate its local leadership that has its aspirations higher ever since the party came to power again in 2022. Those elected during the BJP’s first government have not contested another poll, though they have worked hard for the party in the two Lok Sabha and two Assembly elections between 2019 and 2024. Similar is the case with all other parties. Another thing that is common between all major parties is that their workers and ticket aspirants are worried about the sharing of seats if the alliance happens. The fear is real and serious. No wonder, senior leaders of rival alliances have begun talking about going solo in local body elections. For the Opposition bloc that has been alleging the misuse of electronic voting machines, the local body polls should be an opportunity to establish their claim to popularity.
01 January,2025 04:42 AM IST | Mumbai | Dharmendra JoreRanjeet Jadhav, Dipti Singh, Sameer Surve and Rajendra B. Aklekar The city of Mumbai is set to undergo a remarkable transformation in 2025 with a host of urban infrastructure developments across transportation, education, civic amenities, and health services. From cutting-edge road projects like the elevated Vakola connector and the completion of the Samruddhi Highway’s final stretch to significant milestones in Metro rail connectivity with the Aqua Line Phase 2 and Red Line extensions, the city’s transport network will witness unparalleled upgrades. Aqua Line Phase 2Phase 2 of Mumbai’s first underground Metro line, running from BKC to Acharya Atre Chowk in Worli, is expected to open in May 2025. The first phase of the Aqua Line, spanning 12.69 km from Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) to Aarey, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 5, 2024, with commercial operations beginning on October 7, 2024. Key Phase 1 Highlights>> First day of operations: 20,482 passengers between 6.30 am and 9 pm.>> Highest single-day ridership: 27,108 passengers on the first Sunday after opening.>> First-month ridership: Over 600,000 passengers, with an average daily ridership of around 20,000. Multi-Modal Integration (MMI)>> Churchgate Metro Station: Direct connection to Churchgate Railway Station via ground-level access for easy transfers.>> CSMT Metro Station: A subway connects the Metro station to the existing CSMT subway, facilitating transfers to both suburban and intercity trains.>> Jagannath Shankar Sheth Metro Station: Metro entry/exit points are integrated with the Mumbai Central Railway Station and the State Transport (ST) bus stand.>> Mahalaxmi Metro Station: Ground-level access connects the Metro station with Mahalaxmi Railway Station. A foot-over bridge links the Metro station to the monorail station. Phase 2 Stations1. Dharavi2. Shitaladevi Mandir3. Dadar Metro4. Siddhivinayak5. Worli6. Acharya Atre Chowk7. Science Centre8. Mahalaxmi Metro9. Jagannath Shankar Sheth Metro10. Grant Road Metro11. Girgaon12. Kalbadevi13. CSMT Metro14. Hutatma Chowk15. Churchgate Metro16. Vidhan Bhavan17. Cuffe Parade Santacruz Chembur Link Road (SCLR) Elevated Vakola connectorMotorists travelling via the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR) towards Andheri on the Western Express Highway will no longer have to stop at the Vakola signal, as the elevated connector—India’s first sharp-curvature span with an orthotropic steel deck supported by stayed cables—is nearing completion. Currently, vehicles heading from the SCLR to the Vakola junction face traffic congestion due to the signal and ongoing construction of the connector. Hindu Hurudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Samruddhi Mahamarg Samruddhi Highway’s last stretchThe 76-km-long final stretch of the highway connecting Igatpuri to Amane, initiallly planned to open by end of 2024, is expected to open in 2025. The opening was delayed due to prolonged construction of the road connecting Mumbai-Nashik Highway with the Samruddhi Highway near Amane interchange. Commuters travelling between Mumbai and Nagpur must use old Mumbai-Nashik Highway up to Igatpuri before joining the Samruddhi Highway. Metro Line 2A. File pic/Satej Shinde Mumbai MetroRed Line 9/2BWork on Red Line 9 between Dahisar and Kashimira is nearing completion. If the timeline is maintained, the line could be ready for commissioning, enabling trains to reach Kashimira directly. A small stretch of Line 2B, from Mandale to Diamond Garden in Chembur, is also nearing completion and is tentatively expected to open in 2025, pending train trials and approvals from the Commissioner of Railway Safety. Amrit Bharat Stations and Foot Over BridgesBasic upgrade works at smaller halt stations, such as Kanjurmarg, will be completed in 2025. Additional projects include ongoing work on foot over bridges at various stations on both the Central Railway (CR) and Western Railway (WR). Health The BMC will implement a Hospital Management System in all its hospitals. This system will assign a unique number to each patient, which will serve as their health identity. The system will provide civic doctors with access to patients’ medical history. Additionally, hospitals will transition to paperless operations under this initiative. Walkway at Malabar Hill. Pic/Shadab Khan Nature walkThe city’s first elevated nature trail walkway at Malabar Hill will open to the public in January 2025. The walkway is 470 metres long and 2.4 metres wide, featuring an elevated wooden deck, railings, and vertical supports. Gokhale Bridge. File pic/Ashish Raje BridgesThe Gokhale bridge in Andheri will be completed, and the Vikhroli East-West connector will open for vehicular traffic. Coastal Road at Haji Ali. File pic/Ashish Raje Coastal RoadAll phases of the Worli-to-Nariman Point Coastal Road will be completed by January 2025. Currently, only one portion of the girder remains to be connected to the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. Changes in Marathi assessment system Starting from the academic year 2025-26, the Marathi language will no longer be assessed as a graded subject in non-state-board schools, including those affiliated with CBSE, ICSE, and others. Instead, evaluation for this compulsory subject will transition to a marks-based system. The Maharashtra school education department recently issued a directive clarifying that the earlier grading system for Marathi was a temporary, post-pandemic measure introduced to address challenges caused by school closures during lockdowns. Going forward, all schools will evaluate students in Marathi using marks rather than grades, as mandated by the directive. This move aligns with the provisions of the Maharashtra Compulsory Teaching and Learning of Marathi Language in Schools Act, enacted in 2020, which made Marathi a compulsory subject in all schools across the state, regardless of board affiliation. While the state education department had announced in April 2023 that Marathi would be assessed through grades in non-state-board schools, this system will now be replaced with marks-based evaluation starting from the 2025-26 academic year. More jobs-oriented courses in the offing In June 2023, the Maharashtra government announced plans to convert popular bifocal courses in Mumbai into employment-oriented specialised courses aligned with the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF), starting from the academic year 2024-25. However, a recent government resolution has postponed the rollout to the academic year 2025-26. The decision to defer implementation aims to facilitate a smoother transition and ensure that junior colleges are adequately prepared for the introduction of these NSQF-aligned vocational courses. The state had introduced bifocal vocational courses to equip youth with professional training, promote employment and self-employment, and curb the increasing preference for collegiate education. These courses currently account for 30 per cent of vocational subjects and span technical, commerce, agriculture, and fisheries disciplines. However, in June 2023, the government resolved to align all bifocal courses with the NSQF. Under the revised timeline, institutions planning to start or continue vocational courses must implement the NSQF-upgraded curriculum starting from the academic year 2025-26. “This extension allows institutions to adapt to the new framework and ensures a streamlined launch of the revamped vocational programs,” said a senior official from the state education department. 20,000Average daily ridership on Aqua Line 12.69 kmLength of Aqua Line from Aarey to BKC October 7Day operations of Aqua Line began
01 January,2025 04:38 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-dayThe last day of the year was rife with public transit mess-ups that led to disruptions, delays and cancellations. In the first incident, a rare track buckling (bending) incident near Virar delayed all services for nearly 30 minutes. “The incident occurred at 1.08 pm between Nallasopara and Virar. The approaching AC train halted just before this and commuters had to take to the railway tracks. Sources and retired railway officials expressed shock over the incident and said the incident raised questions about the quality of work on Western Railway. The railway track section near Virar where buckling occurred “Buckling does not happen under normal circumstances. There are no extreme weather conditions in Mumbai. This is a clear indication of shoddy work,” a retired official said. Senior officials rushed to the spot and refuted the allegations, saying the track was replaced and services resumed immediately after that. In the second incident, suburban services on all six lines of Central Railway’s Mumbai division were delayed after a truck carrying construction sand got stranded at Diva station’s level crossing. The BEST bus that was damaged in Byculla on Tuesday The lorry was stranded after its steering wheel was jammed and could not turn straight. The driver tried to go straight across the crossing, but his vehicle veered left. This led to the reversal and detention of the vehicle, keeping the level crossing gate open. The vehicle then just managed to cross the gate before halting due to a breakdown. This led to the detention of services for nearly ten minutes. In a third incident, a 12-metre Olectra electric bus hit a pier of the new Byculla bridge. While turning towards Ismail Merchant Chowk, Mazagaon, the bus driver had swerved to avoid a biker, causing the vehicle’s battery to scrape against an under-construction bridge pillar. Black smoke emerged from the battery, but the driver quickly used the bus’s extinguisher to prevent fire from breaking out. The bus was on route number A-126 and none of its passengers were injured in the incident.
01 January,2025 04:31 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarChief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed the state forest department to act against the blocking of fresh water flow to the DPS flamingo lake in Navi Mumbai. The blocking has rendered the 30-acre lake with filthy and stagnant water, which is home to hundreds of flamingos. The direction comes following complaints raised by environmentalists and environmental conservationists and experts. A high-level committee headed by Forest Secretary Venugopal Reddy had earlier decided to recommend the protection of the DPS lake as a conservation reserve and asked CIDCO to ensure uninterrupted water flow to the wetland. Yet, the lake, which has been attracting hundreds of flamingos, is now full of moss and muck as the water flow has been blocked for a few months, according to a complaint raised by the NatConnect Foundation to the chief minister and other top state officials. NatConnect Foundation director B N Kumar, however, thanked the chief minister and expressed the hope that the wetland would again be flamingo-fit. “We are happy that Devendra Fadnavis acted promptly and asked Reddy to take appropriate action,” he said. The environmentalists had earlier raised complaints that the 600-metre road that is being constructed by the CIDCO between the 30-acre area of mangroves and the wetland will lead to environmental destruction. NatConnect had earlier complained to the state as well as the Centre that CIDCO’s project violates the CRZ norms. It is essential to preserve the migratory bird destinations such as the DPS lake and NRI, TS Chanakya, and Panje wetlands to avoid bird strike threats to the aircraft at the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), Kumar said, quoting BNHS study reports. Sandeep Sareen of the Navi Mumbai Environment Preservation Society said that even after more than three months of the DPS lake Committee’s decision, the wetland continues to be in terrible shape. Flamingos have started arriving at TCFS (Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary), though in very small numbers, but the DPS lake, one of the resting places for the pink birds during the high tide, is not in a fit condition, said Jyoti Nadkarni, convenor of the Kharghar Wetlands and Hills forum. Kumar said that flamingos would land at mudflats around the airport if not in the wetlands during high tides at the TCFS—a fact noted in the environmental impact assessment report submitted by the Adani airports to the Centre. The environmentalists have also called for the removal of the debris, earth from the inlets on both eastern and western sides, digging the channel one or two feet down and refixing the cement pipes, maintaining security to check the water flow, sensitising the local community to alert against any future violations and above all, launch inquiry into the persistent and consistent sabotage of the flamingo abode.
01 January,2025 04:29 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentMiss you didi. The accused should be hanged to death’, reads a huge hoarding put up at the main entrance of a bylane in Kalyan that leads to the houses of the 12-year-old victim who lived in a chawl and the accused who stayed in a building opposite her home. On the evening of December 23 (after 6 pm), as the victim’s parents were frantically searching for their missing daughter until late in the night, the accused, Vishal Gawli, 28, had not only sexually abused the girl, but had already killed her by strangulation. He also, allegedly, not only convinced the woman believed to be his third wife (also an accused in the case) to help him dispose of the body, but also lied to a neighbour before borrowing his autorickshaw to transport the body in a trolly bag. He passed through the lane where the victim lived a little after 9 pm and returned home two hours later, while her parents were still searching for her. A banner seeking the death penalty for the accused. Pics/NIMESH DAVE “No one in the vicinity had any doubts about Gawli. In fact, the girl’s parents had named a relative of their neighbour, whom they suspected to have abducted their daughter, as he had a year ago on the same day (December 23, 2023), threatened to teach them a lesson after an altercation,” recalled the investigating officer, Police Inspector Ganesh Nhayade of Kolsewadi police station, where the offence is registered. The case has been registered for kidnapping of the minor, murder, destruction of evidence, etc under numerous sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 4 and 6 of the POCSO Act. The murder On December 23, the victim had left her house a little after 4 pm to visit a shop nearby to buy some eatables with the money her father had given her. She stepped out of her house but never returned. Two hours later, her parents looked for her at every possible location, they kept moving in and out of their chawl, also passing through the building where the accused stayed, but still had no clue about her whereabouts, the police pointed out. Vishal Gawli, the accused “A little past 1.30 am on December 24, the parents visited the police station and registered an FIR for kidnapping of a minor and named a suspect. A police team visited the locality to carry out a preliminary probe, but could not make any headway,” said the investigating officer. Body discovered While Kolsewadi police were clueless as to the whereabouts of the missing 12-year-old, around 10.30 am on December 24 a police wireless message flashed about the unidentified body of a girl—matching the description of the missing girl—being found within the jurisdiction of Padgha police station (under Thane rural police). The location was almost 15 km from the place where the victim lived. “The police team rushed to the spot with the girl’s parents, and they confirmed that the body was of their missing daughter. Subsequently, the Padgha police transferred the case to Kolsewadi police station, where additional charges were slapped on the unknown accused,” explained DCP (Zone III) Atul Zende. Autopsy reports awaited The semi-nude body of the victim was sent to the J J hospital postmortem centre, where the forensic surgeon conducted a detailed autopsy on the deceased. All vital organs, slices from the viscera and material evidence from the deceased have been preserved for chemical analysis, blood grouping and DNA analysis, and sent to the State Forensic Science Laboratory, Kalina.. “The final postmortem report is awaited. However, the autopsy surgeon has given the provisional reason for death as ‘asphyxia due to compression of mouth and neck’,” said the DCP. Police bandobast Amidst heavy police bandobast, the mortal remains of the victim were finally cremated. The local residents in the area expressed their anguish over the incident and called for protests to voice their concerns. The police have continued to maintain a presence in the area to prevent any untoward incident. Arrest of accused Acting on both human and technical investigation, the police managed to first nail Sakshi, 23, the wife of the accused. She initially gave evasive replies but eventually broke down and admitted to supporting her husband in disposing of the body. Gawli was picked up the next day (December 25) by a police team that had gathered technical leads on his whereabouts and tipped counterparts in Buldhana, from where he was arrested and handed over to Kolsewadi police. Gawli was produced before the special POCSO court in Kalyan and remanded to police custody till January 2, 2025.
01 January,2025 04:26 AM IST | Mumbai | Vinod Kumar MenonAre you aware that Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) claims about 100,000 lives annually in the US? Or that India, as a whole, has no comprehensive precautions in place to prevent ADR? Do you ensure that a pharmacist is present at your local chemist shop? Do you insist on a bill after buying medicine? These are some basic questions rooted in various laws enacted in India to safeguard consumers. However, few bother to follow them, says Mahesh Zagade, former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Maharashtra and a retired IAS officer. He was reacting to the recent exposé by Nagpur rural police regarding a spurious drug case, which, according to him, is just the tip of the iceberg. “Unless the public becomes more vigilant in enforcing laws, the situation will not improve,” he warned, while speaking to mid-day in its last of a three-part series on spurious drugs. Former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Mahesh Zagade. Pic/Ashish Raje Zagade explained, “The spurious drug issue has been documented as far back as 1937 when Elixir Sulfanilamide caused over 100 deaths in 15 US states. The drug had not been tested for toxicity, as safety studies were not mandated at the time. One of the drug’s ingredients, diethylene glycol—commonly used as antifreeze—proved to be a deadly poison.” He added, “In 2023, 66 children under the age of five in Gambia died after ingesting a contaminated cough syrup. The common symptom among them was an inability to urinate due to kidney damage. The culprits were four products manufactured by Maiden Pharmaceuticals, a company in Haryana. To date, the company has not provided assurances about their safety.” FDA’s limited scope “Why is the state FDA laboratory restricting itself to Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) testing only,” Zagade asked, “When it could easily go beyond API checks to identify other harmful chemicals used in spurious drugs? The state has three state-of-the-art laboratories capable of uncovering the root of such rackets. Their refusal to conduct more comprehensive tests reflects a lack of seriousness.” Asked about the size and growth of the pharmaceutical industry, he said, “Globally, the pharma industry is growing faster than many economies. I estimate it has surpassed $1.48 trillion (approximately Rs 12.66 lakh crore). In India, the industry is worth around R1.72 lakh crore. While India is the third-largest producer of medicines by volume due to our dominance in generic drugs, we rank 13th or 14th by value since generics are priced lower than branded drugs.” The Drug and Cosmetics Act of 1940 was meant to safeguard public health, but its poor enforcement has allowed antibiotic misuse and counterfeit drugs to flourish, warns Zagade. “Antibiotics are sold like candy,” he said, adding that over-the-counter sales without prescriptions are rampant. Dirty nexus and corruption Zagade exposes a “systemic plan” to keep drug inspector posts vacant—just 80 of 200 sanctioned positions were filled. “Drug inspectors divided chemist outlets alphabetically, not geographically. This allowed cozy arrangements with chemists for monthly bribes while ignoring violations,” he said. During his tenure (2011–2014), Zagade cancelled 6,000 pharmacy licences for operating without qualified pharmacists. "For chemists, bribing inspectors was easier than hiring full-time professionals," he recalled. Zagade highlights cases of regulatory failure, including action against an MNC using ethylene oxide to sterilise baby powder, exposing newborns to cancer risks. “The company didn’t even follow FDA procedures. I ensured an FIR was filed. Similarly, faulty implants were sold in India while recalled globally. They treated India as a third-rate market, ignoring our regulations,” he added. Way forward Zagade called for strict enforcement of the Drug and Cosmetics Act, enhanced surveillance, and public awareness campaigns to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and counterfeit drugs. "Leadership with integrity is essential. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and the time to act is now," he said.
01 January,2025 04:23 AM IST | Mumbai | Vinod Kumar MenonMaharashtra braces for an unusually warm start to 2025, with temperatures expected to soar in the coming days. As Mumbaikars ring in the New Year, they’ll need sunblock and water bottles close at hand. While the mercury is set to remain high for the first few days, experts anticipate some relief by early January when nighttime temperatures are likely to drop. Weather experts note that a surge in easterly winds will drive daytime heat well above normal levels in coastal areas, while north India enjoys a comparatively cooler spell. On Monday, Mumbai’s temperature soared above the seasonal average, creating a sharp sense of afternoon heat. Experts highlighted that the active western disturbance system over Maharashtra continues to cause fluctuating conditions and a rise in maximum temperatures. Forecasts from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and independent meteorologists suggest these elevated readings will persist as the New Year begins. Though the impact of the western disturbance is fading, easterly winds remain a factor, pushing up daytime highs. On Monday, the mercury hit 34.5°C at Santacruz and 33°C at Colaba, reflecting a rise of 1°C in Santacruz and 2.8°C in Colaba compared to Sunday. Citizens are urged to prepare for more warm weather in the coming days. On Tuesday, Santacruz recorded a maximum of 34.2°C, while Colaba dropped slightly to 31°C. However, relative humidity stayed high at 86 per cent and 85 per cent, respectively. The IMD advises residents to stay indoors during peak heat, stay hydrated, and monitor updates, as the year kicks off with a sweltering start. According to climatologist Rajesh Kapadia of ‘Vagaries of the Weather,’ Mumbai could see daytime temperatures climb to 34°C-36°C through the week. “Hot weather is expected during the day, but nights, currently around 20°C, will gradually cool to a pleasant 17°C by January 3 and 4,” he said, adding that Thane and Palghar’s interiors might enjoy cooler nights than Mumbai. In Pune, days will remain relatively warm, with maximum temperatures around 30°C-32°C and mild nights at 16°C until January 1-2. “By January 4, nighttime temperatures in Pune may dip to13-14°C,” Kapadia noted. Independent weather enthusiast Rushikesh Agre, known as “Mumbai Rains” on X, warned of a “New Year Heatwave,” predicting suburban Mumbai could sizzle at 36°C-37°C on December 31 and January 1. “With a temperature of 34.6°C on Monday, Mumbai recorded the highest this week,” Agre wrote, urging citizens to stay cool and hydrated.
01 January,2025 04:21 AM IST | Mumbai | Dipti SinghADVERTISEMENT
