The Bhandup police have reported the discovery of an unidentified woman’s body in the flooded basement of Dreams Mall, Bhandup West. The incident came to light at around 9:40 am when a mall employee noticed the body floating in the waterlogged basement. Authorities were immediately alerted, and the body was transported to Mulund General Hospital, where doctors declared the woman dead upon arrival. Initial investigations suggest that the victim, believed to be in her 30s, likely drowned as water was found in her lungs. However, the exact cause of death will be confirmed after a postmortem examination. “Since the mall has been closed for several years, a significant amount of water has accumulated in its basement. The abandoned premises are often frequented by drug users and couples,” stated Sanjeev Kumar, a social worker. Police are working to identify the woman and ascertain her whereabouts. Dreams Mall has been non-operational for several years following two fire incidents. One of the fires occurred at Sunrise Hospital, which operated on the mall's top floor, and the other engulfed a major portion of the structure. The building also housed the head office of Punjab Maharashtra Cooperative Bank, infamous for a financial scam involving thousands of crores. The mall was originally owned by HDIL, the developers of the Dreams Heights residential buildings located behind the mall. Since its closure, the premises have turned into a haven for vagrants and anti-social elements. When the fire broke out in Dreams Mall on a Thursday night, emergency access was hampered as the rear fire exit had become a dumping ground. “We couldn’t utilise the rear fire exit due to heaps of garbage blocking the way. We evacuated patients using fire ladders,” stated an employee from the Vikhroli fire station. Residents of Dreams Tower, situated near the fire exit, claimed to have repeatedly complained about the poor upkeep of the mall's surroundings, but their grievances were ignored. Poonam B, a resident of Dreams Building 1, shared, “The occupants initially collected funds for basic housekeeping, but the efforts didn’t last. Eventually, the fire exit became a garbage yard, and the parking area in the basement became unsafe.” Poonam added, “I used to run a kindergarten with over 100 toddlers in the mall, but I had to shut it down during the pandemic due to its deteriorating condition.” Residents of the lower floors in the 20-storey Dreams Building 1 are the worst affected by the neglect. Binu Geevarghese, chairman of the society, said, “We wrote several letters to the civic authorities, but nothing was done. The fire exit area is now a breeding ground for mosquitoes and a hideout for rodents. It’s filled with dry waste, mostly inflammable materials like carton boxes, plastic containers, and papers.” The narrow road between the mall and the building is used for illegal parking, further hampering emergency vehicle access. Binu added, “This incident should be an eye-opener for the authorities to act and clear the waste entirely.” The mall has been the site of two major fires. On March 25, 2021, a blaze broke out at Sunrise Hospital, claiming 11 lives. Barely a year later, another fire gutted a large portion of the mall, spreading rapidly from the basement to the dome. The fire brigade responded promptly but faced challenges due to poor maintenance and inaccessibility of fire exits. “The electricity had been disconnected after the first fire incident, and the mall was empty at the time. The fire spread rapidly across all parts of the structure,” said Hemant Parab, Chief Fire Officer of the BMC. Despite the efforts of 15 fire engines and 11 water tankers, the blaze was only brought under control after several hours. The cause of the fire remains uncertain, and investigations are ongoing. The latest discovery of the body in the flooded basement adds to the mall's growing list of tragedies, highlighting the urgent need for intervention and proper maintenance of such neglected spaces.
21 January,2025 04:05 PM IST | Mumbai | Vinod Kumar MenonThe Bhandup police have reported the discovery of an unidentified woman’s body in the waterlogged basement of Dreams The Mall in Bhandup West. The incident came to light around 9:40 am when a mall employee noticed the body floating in the flooded basement. He alerted the police, who subsequently transported the body to Mulund General Hospital. Doctors declared the woman dead on arrival. Preliminary reports indicate that the victim was in her 30s. Initial findings suggest drowning, as her lungs were filled with water; however, the exact cause of death will be confirmed after a postmortem examination. “Since this mall has been closed for several years, a large amount of water has accumulated in its basement. Additionally, the abandoned premises are frequented by drug users and couples,” said Sanjeev Kumar, a social worker. Police are investigating the matter to identify the woman and her whereabouts. 60-year-old woman found dead in 5-star hotel in Nariman Point A 60-year-old woman was found dead in her room at the Trident Hotel, police said on Sunday. The woman had been staying alone at the hotel since January 6. Police said they received a call on Saturday (January 18) afternoon from the hotel about the body. According to the hotel staff, during her stay, the woman had on Friday (January 17) instructed the housekeeping to not come into her room and said she would order food and water as needed. However, as there was no response from her for over 24 hours, the hotel staff grew suspicious, and using a duplicate key, they entered the room and discovered her body. During the investigation, police said they detected no foul play and even the initial post mortem report revealed no injuries on the body, following which an accidental death report (ADR) was registered at the Marine Lines police station. “While nothing suspicious has been detected so far, the viscera has been preserved for further examination. Further investigations are underway to ascertain the cause of death,” said Pravin Mundhe, DCP, Zone 1. Police said that the woman’s family had been informed about the incident. According to the family of the deceased, the woman was suffering from a skin condition and had been battling depression. Before her stay at the Trident Hotel, the woman had stayed alone at the Taj Hotel for nearly a month.
21 January,2025 02:52 PM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya IyerMaharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar criticised the local administration in Jalna for failing to maintain cleanliness in the city, expressing strong disapproval during a speech at the inauguration of a private hospital on Monday. Highlighting the deteriorating conditions, he pointed out the alarming presence of garbage heaps across public spaces, questioning the efforts of both officials and public representatives. “I was horrified to see the condition of the city. Why are public representatives not paying attention to this mess? What are you doing? Do you not see this?” Pawar asked pointedly while addressing the gathering. According to PTI reports, the Deputy Chief Minister referred to the state government’s 100-day cleanliness drive, questioning its impact in Jalna. Despite the extensive campaign, its results were not visible in the city, Pawar stated. Pawar also brought attention to Maharashtra’s substantial annual revenue of Rs 7 lakh crore, out of which Rs 3.5 lakh crore is spent on government employees' salaries and pensions. He demanded accountability from officials, asking why these resources were not effectively utilised for maintaining basic standards of cleanliness. “Why are these officials not being held accountable for maintaining cleanliness?” he asked. The Deputy Chief Minister further referred to his visit to the residence of local MLA Arjun Khotkar, noting that the surrounding area of the legislator’s home was clean and well-maintained. Drawing a comparison, he questioned why the same standards of cleanliness could not be extended across the rest of the city. “If their residences can be clean, who is responsible for ensuring the rest of the city is clean?” he asked in a sharp tone. Pawar also pulled up the district collector for the lack of cleanliness at the collectorate itself, making it clear that lapses at administrative levels would not be tolerated. In addition to criticising waste management, Pawar expressed concern over industrial pollution caused by factories in the area. He singled out the Pollution Control Board for failing to take action against factories violating environmental norms. The Deputy Chief Minister urged officials to take immediate steps to address pollution, which he said was a growing issue in Jalna. (With inputs from PTI)
21 January,2025 02:23 PM IST | MumbaiThree individuals, including a four-year-old girl, tragically lost their lives, and two others sustained severe injuries in an autorickshaw accident in Maharashtra's Nashik district, police confirmed on Tuesday. The accident took place on Monday evening along the Sinnar-Ghoti Road in Igatpuri taluka. According to officials, the autorickshaw collided head-on with a container truck. The impact of the collision was so severe that it claimed the life of the auto driver, Amol Vinayak Ghuge, 25, on the spot. Ghuge’s young daughter, Swara, and another passenger, Martand Piraji Awad, 60, succumbed to their injuries at a nearby hospital, as per PTI reports. The two remaining passengers of the autorickshaw sustained critical injuries and are undergoing treatment. Their current condition remains unknown, the police stated. Authorities have detained the driver of the container truck, who is believed to be responsible for the collision. A case has been registered against him under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Motor Vehicles Act. Investigators are looking into whether negligence or over-speeding was a factor in the accident. “The accident highlights the importance of ensuring road safety on this busy stretch of the Sinnar-Ghoti Road,” an official remarked. Local residents have also raised concerns about the frequent accidents on this route, attributing them to reckless driving and poor road infrastructure. This tragedy has left the family and the Igatpuri community in mourning. Villagers and family members of the deceased have gathered to express their grief and demand strict action against the truck driver. The police are currently recording statements from witnesses and conducting further investigations to ascertain the exact circumstances leading to the crash. Meanwhile, appeals for safer driving practices and better traffic regulation in the area have resurfaced following the incident. The Sinnar-Ghoti Road is a key route in the Nashik district, frequently used by heavy vehicles and local commuters, making it prone to accidents. As per PTI reports, the authorities have assured stricter monitoring of this route to prevent further mishaps. This incident serves as a grim reminder of the need for vigilance and adherence to traffic norms to avoid such devastating accidents. (With inputs from PTI)
21 January,2025 02:06 PM IST | MumbaiMumbai police have informed the Bombay High Court that they have investigated former NCB Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede's Atrocities Act case against senior NCP leader Nawab Malik and decided to file a closure report citing lack of evidence, reported news agency PTI. Additional public prosecutor S S Kaushik on January 14 informed a division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Neela Gokhale that after probing into the 2022 Atrocities case, the police have decided to file a 'C Summary Report', reported PTI. A 'C-summary report' is filed in cases where, after investigation, the police come to the conclusion that there is no evidence and the Atrocities case is neither true nor false. Once such a report is filed before the concerned trial court, the complainant in the Atrocities case can challenge the same, and after hearing all parties, the court can either accept or reject the closure report. Last year, Wankhede filed a petition in the High Court through his counsel, Rajiv Chavan, claiming police inaction on his plaint against former minister Malik under the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, reported PTI. Wankhede, an additional commissioner in the Directorate General of Taxpayer Services (DGTS) and a member of the Mahar Scheduled Caste, had sought for the Atrocities case to be transferred to the CBI, reported PTI. The bench, in its order of January 14, a copy of which was made available on Tuesday, disposed of the petition, noting that in view of the police's statement, nothing survives for consideration, reported PTI. The court, however, said it was open for Wankhede to take appropriate steps before the appropriate forum in accordance with the law. "Needless to state, we have not gone into the merits of the petitioner's complaint nor the investigation carried out by the police and as such, all contentions of all parties are kept open," the court said, reported PTI. In December 2024, the high court told the police to probe the Atrocities case and bring it to its logical conclusion. The police had then told the court that two more sections had been included in the case, section 3(1) q and r of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. These sections pertain to giving false or frivolous information to any public servant to cause injury or annoyance and to intentionally insult or intimidate a member of a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe, reported PTI. The Indian Revenue Services (IRS) officer had, in August 2022, lodged a complaint with the suburban Goregaon police against Malik under the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, reported PTI. The complaint alleged that during interviews and on his social media, Malik made defamatory remarks against Wankhede and his family members based on his caste. The NCP leader has not been arrested in the case, and a chargesheet has not been filed to date. In his petition filed in the high court, Wankhede claimed the police had not carried out any probe in the case to date and sought for the same to be transferred to the CBI. The IRS officer also sought for the probe to be monitored by the court. (With inputs from PTI)
21 January,2025 01:42 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA major leakage was detected early this morning near the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road Bridge, affecting the Tansa West Water Pipeline at Powai. The leakage has led to an immediate suspension of water supply from the Tansa pipeline, said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Tuesday. The BMC has initiated urgent repair work to fix the issue, which is expected to take approximately 24 hours to complete. During this period, the water supply from Powai to Dharavi via the pipeline will remain suspended, the civic body said. The water supply disruptions will impact several areas in Mumbai, including parts of the S Ward, K-East Ward, G-North Ward, and H-East Ward. "Residents in these areas are advised to conserve water during the repair period to mitigate the impact," the civic body said. The BMC has appealed to citizens to use water judiciously and minimise consumption until the pipeline is fully restored. Affected Areas: S Ward: Gautam Nagar Lower Level, Jaybhim Nagar, BEST Nagar, Filter Pada, Gavdevi, Pathanwadi, Mahatma Phule Nagar, Murarji Nagar, Aarey Road, Milind Nagar, L&T Area K East Ward: Om Nagar, Sahargaon, J. B. Nagar, Lelewadi, Marol Water Supply, Kadamwadi, Shivaji Nagar, Seven Hills Hospital Area, Chimatpada, Takpada, Sagbagh, Tarun Bharat, Chakala, Kabir Nagar, Bamanwada, Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) Area G North Ward: Dharavi H East Ward: Behrampada, Bandra Railway Terminus Aaditya Thackeray meets BMC chief, discusses coastal road opening and water supply in city The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on January 10 met the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) chief Bhushan Gagrani and discussed the Mumbai Coastal Road project, water supply in the city apart from other issues. Aaditya shared the details of his meeting with the Mumbai civic chief in a social media post. He wrote on X, this afternoon, we met with the Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani with the following issues. "1) Water: Mumbaikars have been facing water woes- be it less pressure of water/ less supply of water or polluted water. The BMC must speak about it openly and transparently and give an answer to the people and rectify it. 2) Coastal Road- a dream project of Uddhav Thackeray, would have been completed by December 2023 had we been in government. The regime delayed it and is still not complete. We have asked for a quick opening of the remainder of the road. 3) Road Scam: for the past 2 years, the regime looted Mumbai, through various scams. The road scam was the most blatant one, that I have exposed. I repeated my demand for a free and fair inquiry on these 2 scams," he said.
21 January,2025 12:36 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAn official said on Tuesday that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered a crackdown on encroachments at forts across the state, aiming to remove illegal structures by May 31, reported news agency PTI. The district collectors have been asked to prepare fort-wise lists of encroachments by January 31, the official said, reported PTI. The chief minister has said that to ensure a systematic approach, district-level committees under the chairmanship of collectors will be formed, and these will oversee the phased removal of encroachments from February 1 to May 31. He said the government will also set up vigilance committees to prevent future encroachments. "Public demand for decisive action had been growing, and the government has responded accordingly," Fadnavis said, reported PTI. Maharashtra is home to 47 forts that are centrally protected, 62 state-protected, and approximately 300 unprotected forts. The initiative aims to preserve the historical and aesthetic significance of these cultural landmarks, reported PTI. On Monday, the state government issued a government resolution (GR) ordering the formation of committees to address encroachments at forts. Elaborating on the government's strategy, State Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar said, "The district-level committees will comprise police commissioners, municipal corporation chiefs, forest officers, and representatives from archaeological departments. They will ensure encroachments are addressed efficiently and that law and order is maintained," reported PTI. He said the committees will meet monthly to review progress and submit regular reports to the state government, reported PTI. The move comes in light of encroachments at Vishalgad Fort in Kolhapur district. Shelar said the initiative involves removing existing encroachments and ensuring these historical sites are well-protected for future generations. Maharashtra working with 360-degree approach on investments: Devendra Fadnavis Maharashtra has adopted a 360-degree approach in attracting investments with several focus sectors ranging from manufacturing to technology to data centres to healthcare to clean energy, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said in Davos. Fadnavis, who arrived in this ski resort town to attend the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, told PTI that he has several meetings lined up with potential for fruitful results in terms of investments in his state. "I started my Davos visit with a meeting with World Economic Forum Founder and Chairman Klaus Schwab where we discussed collaboration between WEF and Maharashtra," he said. "We also discussed clean energy, electric vehicles and several other new-age industries. I'm holding a number of bilateral meetings here, including for potential investments in Maharashtra," he said. (With inputs from PTI)
21 January,2025 12:32 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentWestern Railway has announced major blocks on the nights of 24th/25th January 2025 (Friday/Saturday) and 25th/26th January 2025 (Saturday/Sunday) for the rebuilding of the southern abutment of Bridge No. 20 located between Mahim and Bandra stations. The blocks will necessitate significant alterations to train schedules on these dates. The blocks will be as follows: 24th/25th January 2025: From 23:00 hrs to 08:30 hrs on UP & Down Slow lines and 00:30 hrs to 06:30 hrs on the Down Fast line. 25th/26th January 2025: From 23:00 hrs to 08:30 hrs on UP & Down Slow and Down Fast lines and from 23:00 hrs to 07:30 hrs on the UP Fast line. According to a press release issued by Shri Vineet Abhishek, Chief Public Relations Officer, Western Railway, the execution of this critical work will impact suburban and long-distance services. The detailed repercussions are as follows: Impact on Suburban Services – 24th/25th January 2025 (Friday/Saturday): The last Slow service towards Virar will depart from Churchgate at 23:58 hrs. All Slow services departing Churchgate after 23:00 hrs on Friday will operate on the Fast line between Mumbai Central and Santacruz, bypassing stops at Mahalaxmi, Lower Parel, Prabhadevi, Matunga Road, Mahim, and Khar Road. Similarly, after 23:00 hrs, Slow services departing from Virar, Bhayandar, and Borivali will operate on the Fast line between Santacruz and Mumbai Central, skipping the same intermediate stations. Services between Churchgate and Dadar will run on Fast lines during the block period. Select services between Goregaon and Bandra on Western & Central Railways will operate on Harbour lines. On the morning of 25th January, Slow and Fast services originating from Virar, Nallasopara, Vasai Road, Bhayandar, and Borivali will run only up to Andheri. The first Fast train service for Churchgate after the block will depart Virar at 05:47 hrs, reaching Churchgate at 07:05 hrs. The first Down Fast line service post-block will depart from Churchgate at 06:14 hrs. The first Down Slow line service post-block will leave Churchgate at 08:03 hrs. On Friday/Saturday, approximately 127 suburban services will be cancelled, and 60 services will be partially cancelled. Impact on Suburban Services – 25th/26th January 2025 (Saturday/Sunday): During the block, services between Churchgate and Dadar will operate on Fast lines. Both Slow and Fast services originating from Virar, Nallasopara, Vasai Road, Bhayandar, and Borivali will terminate at Andheri during the block period. Select services between Goregaon and Bandra on Western & Central Railways will be diverted to Harbour lines. The last local train on the UP Fast line will be the Virar-Churchgate service departing Virar at 22:07 hrs, while the last service on the UP Slow line will be the Borivali-Churchgate train departing Borivali at 22:22 hrs. The last local train on the Down Fast line will be the Churchgate-Borivali service, leaving Churchgate at 22:33 hrs, while the last Down Slow line train will be the Churchgate-Bhayandar service departing Churchgate at 22:26 hrs. These services will be extended to Virar. The first train after the block on the Down Fast line will depart from Churchgate for Virar at 08:35 hrs, while the first train on the Down Slow line will be a Churchgate-Borivali service departing at the same time. On the UP Fast line, the first service after the block will be the Virar-Churchgate train, departing Virar at 07:38 hrs, and the first service on the UP Slow line will depart Virar at 07:35 hrs. On Saturday/Sunday, approximately 150 suburban services will be cancelled, and 90 services will be partially cancelled. Cancellation of long-distance trains: 12267 Mumbai Central–Hapa Duronto Express (25th January 2025) 12268 Hapa-Mumbai Central Duronto Express (26th January 2025) 12227 Mumbai Central–Indore Duronto Express (25th January 2025) 12228 Indore-Mumbai Central Duronto Express (26th January 2025) Short termination/origination of trains: 09052 Bhusaval–Dadar Special (25th January 2025) – Short terminates at Borivali. 12927 Dadar–Ekta Nagar Superfast Express (25th January 2025) – Short originates from Borivali. 19003 Dadar–Bhusaval Khandesh Express (26th January 2025) – Short originates from Borivali. 19015 Dadar–Porbandar Saurashtra Express (26th January 2025) – Short originates from Borivali. 22946 Okha–Mumbai Central Saurashtra Mail (25th January 2025) – Short terminates at Borivali. 12902 Ahmedabad–Dadar Gujarat Mail (25th January 2025) – Short terminates at Palghar. 59024 Valsad–Mumbai Central Passenger (26th January 2025) – Short terminates at Borivali. 59045 Mumbai Central–Vapi Passenger (26th January 2025) – Short originates from Borivali. 12904 Amritsar–Mumbai Central Golden Temple Mail (24th January 2025) – Short terminates at Andheri. 19016 Porbandar–Dadar Saurashtra Express (24th January 2025) – Short terminates at Borivali. Rescheduling and regulation of trains: 20901 Mumbai Central–Gandhinagar Vande Bharat Express (25th January) – Rescheduled to 06:15 hrs. 20901 Mumbai Central–Gandhinagar Vande Bharat Express (26th January) – Rescheduled to 08:15 hrs. 22953 Mumbai Central–Ahmedabad Gujarat Superfast Express (25th January) – Rescheduled to 06:40 hrs. 22953 Mumbai Central–Ahmedabad Gujarat Superfast Express (26th January) – Rescheduled to 08:15 hrs. 12928 Ekta Nagar–Dadar Express (25th January) – Rescheduled to 23:25 hrs. 14707 Lalgarh–Dadar Ranakpur Express (25th January) – Rescheduled to 10:00 hrs. 12962 Indore–Mumbai Central Avantika Express (25th January) – Rescheduled to 19:40 hrs. 12956 Jaipur–Mumbai Central Superfast Express (25th January) – Rescheduled to 16:30 hrs. 12268 Hapa–Mumbai Central Duronto Express (25th January) – Regulated by 45-50 minutes. 12952 New Delhi–Mumbai Central Rajdhani Express (25th January) – Regulated by 20-25 minutes. Passengers are requested to take note of these changes and plan their journeys accordingly.
21 January,2025 12:24 PM IST | MumbaiThe Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) has decided to consider a formal request from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for a prime land parcel at Nariman Point. The central bank has sought the land parcel for its offices. The Request for Proposal (RFP) for property development at this premium location, issued on October 3, 2024, via the CPPP Portal, was widely disseminated through publications in prominent national and international newspapers. MMRC also conducted outreach through roadshows in Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Delhi in the months of October and November last year. After receiving RBI’s proposal, the MMRC Board convened to deliberate on the matter. The board has now approved the consideration of the central bank's request, leading to the cancellation of the tender associated with the land parcel. MMRCL allots 1.3-lakh square feet commercial space across 27 Mumbai Metro-3 stations Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) awarded 1.3 lakh square feet of retail commercial space at 27 Mumbai Metro Line-3 stations. These spaces, offered through an open tender process, cater to diverse commercial segments, including office food & beverage (F&B), retail, banking ATMs, and vending machines. The available spaces include 40,000 square feet large floor plates to smaller kiosks of about 100 square feet. The commercial spaces are strategically located in high footfall areas of the metro stations and attracted prominent bidders across various sectors. Major retail players such as Tata Trent, India Retail & Hospitality, Naman Group Rozeus Retail, Mystical Group and individual brands like Amar Tea, Warna Sahakari, Delicia Foods, and Chitale Bandhu participated in the bid. The response underscores the attractiveness of the location, the exclusivity of large spaces, and the high anticipated ridership once the metro line is fully operational. The annual lease rentals from this transaction would offset the O&M cost and JICA loan repayments. The Non-Fare Box Revenue (NFBR) transactions are being facilitated by Auctus Advisors. “By maximising revenue from non-fare sources, we can keep ticket fares in check, ensuring that the metro remains affordable and accessible to a larger segment of the public. This is critical to making public transport in Mumbai more sustainable and promoting its use. As more and more passengers opt for environment-friendly modes of transportation, we will contribute to decongesting the city and improving Mumbai's liveability ranking," said Ashwini Bhide, Managing Director, MMRCL, on the development.
21 January,2025 11:52 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe lack of burial space for children has become a pressing concern for residents of Ulhasnagar. Previously, bodies were buried at the cemeteries in Camp 4 and Camp 5. However, as these facilities ran out of space, residents turned to a cemetery in the Venus area. Despite sufficient available space, this cemetery remains underutilised due to poor maintenance and lack of cleanliness. In order to address the issue, advocate Prashant Chandanshiv has written to Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation’s (ULMC) Additional Commissioner, Kishore Gavas, urging immediate intervention. The Venus cemetery was rarely used in the past, as residents preferred the Camp 4 and Camp 5 facilities. However, with these locations fully occupied, the Venus cemetery has begun receiving increased attention. “Only half of the Venus cemetery is being used, and even that is now nearly full. The rest of the space is littered with garbage, discarded flowers, garlands, and plastic waste. There is no one to clean or maintain the cemetery,” said resident Rajesh Gaikwad. “While people are struggling to find burial space for their loved ones, the authorities have failed to provide any assistance.” Due to the space shortage, there have been instances of children’s bodies being buried in existing graves. “It’s tragic. Many parents had no choice but to bury their child in an already occupied grave. With no alternatives, they had to endure this heart-wrenching ordeal,” a local resident told mid-day. Advocate Chandanshiv has urged the municipal corporation to take immediate action and has also appealed to the chief minister of Maharashtra, the secretary of the Women and Child Welfare Department, and the tehsildar for their intervention and support. ULMC's additional commissioner, Kishore Gavas, told mid-day, “We will look into the issue, and necessary actions will be taken to resolve the problem.”
21 January,2025 11:50 AM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya IyerMumbaikars are set to face a double whammy this weekend as over 270 suburban train services are set to be cancelled, with 150 partially affected, due to a major block for Bandra-Mahim rail bridge work. Adding to the woes, a traffic block on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway will disrupt travel from Wednesday to Friday afternoon. The work of replacing the Indian Railways’ last screw pile found bridge at Bandra has entered the next phase. Work on the south abutment of Bridge No 20, located between Mahim and Bandra stations, will result in a block on the nights of January 24-25 (Friday-Saturday) and January 25-26 (Saturday-Sunday). Motorists travelling on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway will face delays on three days this week. File pic On Friday-Saturday, the block will impact the up and down slow lines from 11 pm to 8.30 am and the down fast line from 12.30 am to 6.30 am. On Saturday-Sunday, similar disruptions will occur across slow and fast lines. The Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, Vineet Abhishek, has announced that suburban and long-distance train services will be affected during maintenance work. MSRDC urged travellers to plan accordingly Commuting by train? Here’s how your weekend is going to pan out Friday–Saturday (Jan 24–25) 1. Slow Services>> Last slow train to Virar departs Churchgate at 11.58 pm. >> All slow trains from Churchgate post-11 pm will run on the fast line between Mumbai Central and Santacruz, skipping stops at Mahalaxmi, Lower Parel, Prabhadevi, Matunga Road, Mahim, and Khar Road. >> Similar rerouting for slow trains from Virar, Bhayandar, and Borivli. 2. Changes in Service Operation >> Churchgate-Dadar services will run on fast lines. >> Some services between Goregaon and Bandra will operate on Harbour lines. >> Early morning on Jan 25, slow and fast trains from Virar, Nallasopara, Vasai Road, Bhayandar, and Borivli will terminate at Andheri. 3. Key First Trains Post-Block >> First fast line train from Virar departs at 5.47 am for Churchgate (reaches at 7.05 am). >> First down fast train from Churchgate departs at 6.14 am. >> First down slow train from Churchgate departs at 8.03 am. 4. Cancellations >> Approximately 127 suburban services cancelled; approximately 60 partially cancelled. Saturday–Sunday (Jan 25–26) 1. Service Adjustments>> Churchgate-Dadar services on fast lines. >> Late-night trains (after 10 pm) terminate at Andheri. >> Some Goregaon-Bandra services on Harbour lines. 2. Last Trains Before BlockUp fast line: Virar-Churchgate departs Virar at 10.07 pm. Up slow line: Borivli-Churchgate departs Borivli at 10.22 pm. Down fast line: Churchgate-Borivli departs Churchgate at 10.33 pm. Down slow line: Churchgate-Bhayandar departs Churchgate at 10.26 pm. 3. Key First Trains Post-Block Down fast: Churchgate-Virar departs Churchgate at 8.35 am. Down slow: Churchgate-Borivli departs Churchgate at 8.35 am. Up fast: Virar-Churchgate departs Virar at 7.38 am. Up slow: Virar-Churchgate departs Virar at 7.35 am. 4. Cancellations >> Approximately 150 suburban services cancelled; approximately 90 partially cancelled. Short-Terminated/Originated Trains Several trains will be short-terminated or short-originated between Borivli, Palghar, and Mumbai Central. Key affected trains include: 12927 Dadar–Ekta Nagar Superfast 12902 Ahmedabad–Dadar Gujarat Mail 19016 Porbandar–Dadar Saurashtra Express Rescheduled/Regulated Trains 1. RescheduledMumbai Central–Gandhinagar Vande Bharat (20901): Jan 25 departure: 6.15 am. Jan 26 departure: 8.15 am. Other affected trains include: 22953 Mumbai Central–Ahmedabad12956 Jaipur–Mumbai Central 12962 Indore–Mumbai Central) 2. Regulated>> Hapa–Mumbai Central Duronto delayed by 45–50 mins. >> New Delhi–Mumbai Central Rajdhani delayed by 20–25 mins. For detailed timings, commuters are advised to check railway updates before travel. Mumbai-Pune Expressway Traffic Block Motorists travelling on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway will face delays from January 22 to 24, between 12 pm and 3 pm. This is to facilitate girder installation near Dongargaon/Kusgaon. Pune-bound traffic will be diverted via NH-48 during this period, while Pune-to-Mumbai traffic remains unaffected. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has urged travellers to plan accordingly and use alternate routes. HelplinesFor assistance, motorists can contact the expressway control room at 98224 98224 or the Highway Police at 98334 98334.
21 January,2025 11:17 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-dayADVERTISEMENT
