The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Tuesday announced a 24-hour water cut in parts of Mumbai on December 12 and 13. An official statement said that the Mumbai civic body officials will carry out major water pipeline connection work in the K/East, H/East and G/North wards from 9 am on Friday, December 12, 2025, to 9 am on Saturday, December 13, 2025. Due to this work, water supply will be completely shut in several areas, while some parts of the K/East ward will receive low-pressure supply. The work involves connecting large pipelines, including the 1800 mm Tansa West water main, the 1200 mm water main, the 2400 mm Vaitarna water main, and a 1500 mm water main in the G/North ward. The BMC has said the shutdown is necessary to ensure smooth future supply, the statement said. The BMC also shared a list of the areas in the city that will be affected during the period. These include the following: - G/North Ward - Dharavi No water on December 12: Dharavi Loop Road, A.K.G. Nagar, Dharavi Main Road, Ganesh Mandir Road, Dilip Kadam Road, Jasmine Mill Road, Mahim Phatak No water on December 13: Jasmine Mill Road, Matunga Labour Camp, Sant Rohidas Road, 60 Feet Road, 90 Feet Road, Sant Kakkiya Road, M.P. Nagar, Mahatma Gandhi Road K/East Ward No water on December 12: Marol, Military Road, Vasant Oasis, Gaondevi, Gundavali, Chakala, Bamanwada, Maheshwari Nagar, Bhawani Nagar, Kondivita, Airport Road areas, JB Nagar, Bagaraka Road and others Low pressure on December 12: Koldongri, Old Police Galli, Vijay Nagar (Sahar Road), Mogarpada No water on December 13: Om Nagar, Kanti Nagar, Rajasthan Nagar, Sahar Village, Sutar Pakhadi H/East Ward No water on December 12: Entire Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) area, Motilal Nagar No water on December 13: Prabhat Colony, CST Road (south side), Yashwant Nagar, Sunder Nagar, Golibar Road to Kherwadi, Behram Nagar, Government Colony, Bandra (East) The BMC has advised residents to store sufficient water, use water carefully during the repair period, and boil and filter water for the next few days as a precaution. It has also appealed to citizens to cooperate with the maintenance work.
09 December,2025 11:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIIT Bombay on Tuesday unveiled its strategy plan 2026–2030, presenting a roadmap to position the Institute among the world’s top technology universities by 2030. The plan focuses on excellence in education, cutting-edge research, innovation, and societal impact. The new strategy plan is built around three main themes Learning-Centric Education, Frontier Research Leadership and Industry and Society Relevant Research & Translation, an official statement said. It said that IIT Bombay plans a major shift towards student-driven and experiential learning. The Institute will expand global academic pathways through joint degree programmes and increase its online education efforts, offering more digital degrees and certificate courses to learners worldwide. The Institute aims to strengthen its research leadership in priority fields such as AI and Machine Learning, Climate Technology, Healthcare and MedTech, Quantum Technologies, Semiconductors, Advanced Materials, and Space and Defence. This will be supported by new interdisciplinary centres and targeted recruitment of top faculty in high-impact areas, the statement said. IIT Bombay will deepen its engagement with industry, support more start-ups, and accelerate the conversion of research into market-ready products and societal solutions, it further said. To achieve these goals, the plan identifies six key enablers -- faculty development, world-class infrastructure, a net-zero campus, modernised management, financial sustainability, stronger alumni and corporate partnerships, and enhanced wellness support for students, staff, and faculty, the statement said. It said that the strategy plan was developed through wide consultation with faculty, students, alumni, industry leaders and staff, the plan lays out a clear and ambitious direction for IIT Bombay’s next decade of growth and global impact. IIT Bombay inaugurates new hostel 19 for over 1,000 students Meanwhile, the IIT Bombay on Tuesday inaugurated the Hostel 19, located next to Hostel 18 on campus. The ceremony was led by Dr K. Radhakrishnan, the newly appointed Chairperson of the Board of Governors, along with Director Prof. Shireesh Kedare and senior institute officials. Designed to house 1,051 students, Hostel 19 features a G+9 structure spread across 3 lakh sq ft, built around a courtyard-style layout to increase natural light, ventilation and community interaction. Rooms are ergonomically designed, and common facilities are spread across various levels. Amenities include a 650-seat dining hall, a fully equipped kitchen, a 24/7 cafeteria, gym, indoor games rooms, music, and dance and yoga rooms, and computer/study spaces. A recreational terrace sits atop the dining block.
09 December,2025 10:51 PM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentWith large gatherings expected across Mumbai for New Year 2026 celebrations, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced a week-long special fire safety campaign to ensure compliance and prevent fire-related incidents. The drive will be carried out by the Mumbai Fire Brigade between December 22 and 28 in hotels, restaurants, pubs, bars, banquet halls, malls, and establishments that are likely to see high footfall. The initiative comes in the wake of the recent tragic Goa nightclub fire incident which claimed 25 lives. BMC said enhanced vigilance and stricter enforcement are essential to safeguard citizens during festive gatherings. The campaign will be conducted under the guidance of Municipal Commissioner and Administrator Bhushan Gagrani and Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Dr Ashwini Joshi. Dr Joshi said the Goa incident served as a stark reminder of the importance of preparedness and adherence to fire safety measures. She added that Mumbai’s Fire Brigade is equipped to handle emergencies with advanced systems, equipment and trained personnel, but public awareness and preventive measures remain crucial to avoiding disasters. Last year, a similar special drive was undertaken, during which the Fire Brigade inspected 731 establishments across the city. Action was taken against 12 properties for failing to comply with fire safety norms under the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2006. The BMC noted that the inspections proved effective in preventing fire incidents at those locations. This year too, teams will inspect a wide range of establishments, including starred hotels, gyms, party halls, lodging and boarding facilities, crowded malls and popular restaurants. Strict action will be taken against those found violating mandatory safety norms. Chief Fire Officer Ravindra Ambulgekar said non-compliant establishments will face action under the provisions of the 2006 Act. He reiterated that adherence to fire safety conditions is compulsory for the safety of both patrons and property. Under Section 3(1) of the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2006, property owners and occupiers are responsible for implementing prescribed fire prevention and life safety measures in their buildings. The Act also mandates that fire safety systems must be kept fully functional. As per Section 3(3) and Rule 4(2), establishments must obtain a biannual fire safety compliance certificate—issued in January and July—from a government-authorised agency. The list of licensed agencies is available on the Maharashtra Fire Services Directorate website. The BMC urged all establishments to ensure their systems are in working condition and to cooperate fully with the Fire Brigade during inspections to ensure a safe start to the New Year. The civic body will also deploy lifeguards, rescue boats and other lifesaving equipment at major beaches across the city on New Year’s Eve, as crowds are expected to gather in large numbers.
09 December,2025 09:33 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Maharashtra Transport Department on Tuesday issued a public advisory, warning to vehicle owners and drivers to stay alert against fake websites, suspicious mobile apps and fraudulent e-challan links, as cases of financial cyber fraud continue to rise in the state. In its advisory, the transport department, stated that several citizens are being cheated through fake services claiming to offer driving licence, vehicle registration and e-challan facilities. "Fraudsters are reportedly sending SMS or WhatsApp messages with threatening notes such as "pending challan" or "licence will be suspended", along with unauthorised payment links to steal money," it said. Officials clarified that the RTO or the Transport Department never sends payment links through WhatsApp. The Maharashtra Transport Department also cautioned that downloading unknown APK files such as "RTO Services.apk", "mParivahan_Update.apk" or "eChallan Pay.apk" can lead to theft of sensitive information like OTPs and banking details. Citizens have been urged to use only official government websites with the gov.in domain, including the following: - VAHAN (vehicle registration) – vahan.parivahan.gov.in - SARATHI (driving licence services) – sarathi.parivahan.gov.in - Transport Services – parivahan.gov.in - E-Challan Portal – echallan.parivahan.gov.in The transport department advised the public not to enter their details on websites ending with .com, .online, .site, .in or any other non-official domain. "For any suspicious messages or links, citizens should immediately report the matter to the National Cybercrime Portal (cybercrime.gov.in), call the Cyber Fraud Helpline 1930, or visit the nearest district cyber police station," said an official.
09 December,2025 09:29 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarTrain services on the Bandra Terminus–Gorakhpur route will be partially affected in December owing to an operational block on the North Eastern Railway for the ongoing doubling work. According to a press release issued by Western Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer Vineet Abhishek the block has been planned until December 18 to facilitate the commissioning of patch-doubling work between Mau–Pipri Dih–Dullahapur and Mau–Khurahat stations in (Uttar Pradesh). As a result, the Bandra Terminus–Gorakhpur Express (19091/19092) will face partial cancellations on select days. Train No 19091 Bandra Terminus–Gorakhpur Express, departing on December 15, will short-terminate at Varanasi instead of completing its journey to Gorakhpur. The service will therefore remain cancelled between Varanasi and Gorakhpur. Similarly, Train No 19092 Gorakhpur–Bandra Terminus Express, scheduled to depart on December 16, will originate from Varanasi instead of Gorakhpur. Consequently, the section between Gorakhpur and Varanasi will be cancelled for this service. Western Railway has advised passengers to check train updates before travel and plan their journeys accordingly. WR collects Rs 140-crore fine from ticketless travellers; Rs 2.4 crore recovered from Mumbai’s AC locals WR has intensified its efforts to curb ticketless and irregular travel, with its ticket-checking staff recovering nearly Rs 140 crore from defaulters across its network during the current financial year. According to a press release by WR’s Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Vineet Abhishek, rigorous checks were conducted on Mumbai suburban locals, long-distance Mail/Express trains, passenger services, and holiday special trains under the supervision of senior commercial officers. Between April and November, more than 21.70 lakh cases of ticketless travel and irregularities, including unbooked luggage, were detected, resulting in the recovery of fines worth around Rs 140 crore, which is a 50 per cent increase over the same period last year. In November alone, over 2.80 lakh cases were recorded, in which Rs 18.25-crore fines were collected, marking a 40 per cent rise from 2024. WR has also focused on air-conditioned (AC) suburban local trains, where surprise checks were conducted to prevent unauthorised travel. Around 75,000 penalty cases were booked in AC locals between April and November, lead to a fine collection of more than Rs 2.40 crore, which is an 85 per cent increase over the previous year. Highlighting the contribution of individual staff, the CPRO lauded Ashutosh Kumar Singh, deputy chief ticket inspector in the flying squad at Mumbai’s Churchgate Station. Over the past 11 months, he detected more than 9,200 cases, collecting nearly Rs 1.08 crore – averaging Rs 40,000 per day. On 18 October, he recorded a single-day collection of Rs 2.24 lakh by detecting over 150 cases. “Ticket checking is a continuous responsibility that demands tact, skill, and courteousness. Western Railway is proud of its dedicated ticket checking staff, whose efforts not only protect revenue but also enhance travel discipline,” the CPRO said.
09 December,2025 09:19 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Western Railway (WR) has intensified its efforts to curb ticketless and irregular travel, with its ticket-checking staff recovering nearly Rs 140 crore from defaulters across its network during the current financial year. According to a press release by WR’s Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Vineet Abhishek, rigorous checks were conducted on Mumbai suburban locals, long-distance Mail/Express trains, passenger services, and holiday special trains under the supervision of senior commercial officers. Between April and November, more than 21.70 lakh cases of ticketless travel and irregularities, including unbooked luggage, were detected, resulting in the recovery of fines worth around Rs 140 crore, which is a 50 per cent increase over the same period last year. In November alone, over 2.80 lakh cases were recorded, in which Rs 18.25-crore fines were collected, marking a 40 per cent rise from 2024. WR has also focused on air-conditioned (AC) suburban local trains, where surprise checks were conducted to prevent unauthorised travel. Around 75,000 penalty cases were booked in AC locals between April and November, lead to a fine collection of more than Rs 2.40 crore, which is an 85 per cent increase over the previous year. Highlighting the contribution of individual staff, the CPRO lauded Ashutosh Kumar Singh, deputy chief ticket inspector in the flying squad at Mumbai’s Churchgate Station. Over the past 11 months, he detected more than 9,200 cases, collecting nearly Rs 1.08 crore – averaging Rs 40,000 per day. On 18 October, he recorded a single-day collection of Rs 2.24 lakh by detecting over 150 cases. “Ticket checking is a continuous responsibility that demands tact, skill, and courteousness. Western Railway is proud of its dedicated ticket checking staff, whose efforts not only protect revenue but also enhance travel discipline,” the CPRO said.
09 December,2025 08:50 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarThe Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Tuesday completed the challenging replacement of a 2,750-mm-diameter aging pipeline that supplies water from the Tansa Dam to the Bhandup Water Treatment Plant. The project marks a key milestone in BMC’s ongoing initiative to modernise the city’s aging water infrastructure. The work, which began on Monday at 10 am was completed by 2 pm on Tuesday, taking approximately 28 hours. The residents of 17 administrative wards cooperated with the civic body by using water judiciously during the process. Following the completion of the work, water supply across these wards is expected to become more consistent and reliable. As part of its comprehensive measures to upgrade Mumbai’s water network, BMC has been replacing pipelines that are 70–75 years old, worn out, or have lost carrying capacity. The new high-capacity pipelines, laid in stages, aim to reduce water loss, prevent contamination, and minimise road disruptions. During the inspection, BMC officials highlighted the technical challenges of replacing such large-diameter pipelines and the meticulous planning required. Thane to face 30 per cent water cut for three days after major pipeline damage A major water pipeline supplying Maharashtra's Thane city has been damaged, forcing the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) to impose a 30 per cent water cut for the next three days. The 1,000 mm diameter pipeline, which carries water from the Pise Weir to the Temghar Water Treatment Plant, was damaged near Kalyan Phata on the morning of December 6 during work undertaken by Mahanagar Gas Limited. According to the TMC’s Water Supply Department, repair work has been ongoing for the past two days, but the pipeline, being old and built using prestressed concrete technology, requires additional time for restoration. With repairs expected to take three more days, the water supply to Thane has been reduced significantly. To manage the limited supply, the corporation will implement zonal water distribution until December 11, 2025. During this period, residents will experience reduced and irregular water supply across several parts of the city. The Water Supply Department has appealed to citizens to use water judiciously and cooperate with the municipal authorities until normal supply is restored.
09 December,2025 08:17 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Bike Taxi Association (BTA) in Mumbai has raised concerns over the Maharashtra Government’s recent directive that only electric two-wheelers can operate as bike taxis. The association, in an official press statement, said that the sudden rule has left riders without work and commuters struggling for transport. The statement, issued on Tuesday, said that the government should allow a minimum one-year transition period for riders to move from petrol-powered bikes to electric vehicles (EVs). It stated that while the association supports EV adoption, immediate implementation is unrealistic due to ongoing EMI payments, lack of charging infrastructure, and unavailability of affordable commercial EV models. The BTA further stated that the Maharashtra EV Policy 2021 intended EV transition to be voluntary and incentive-led, aiming for 10 per cent of new vehicle registrations to be EVs by 2025, not an overnight replacement of all bike taxis. It requested that during the transition period, the government must - Provide access to affordable electric bikes for commercial use - Simplify the registration process across RTOs - Establish charging stations in key areas - Offer subsidies or loans for bike taxi riders - Clarify insurance and road permits for e-bike taxis The statement also stressed that bike taxis are a daily livelihood for thousands of riders and an affordable, safe transport option for college students, working women, office-goers, and senior citizens. The BTA appealed to the government to allow a fair transition period, enabling riders to contribute to the EV future without losing their income.
09 December,2025 07:40 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarCrisis-hit IndiGo on Tuesday said the airline is back on its feet and that operations have stabilised, even as it continues to address all passenger concerns. In a fresh video message, IndiGo Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Peter Elbers said lakhs of passengers — whose flights were cancelled or delayed during the recent disruption — have already received full refunds, with the process continuing every day. IndiGo Operations Normalised | A Message From Pieter Elbers, CEO, IndiGo pic.twitter.com/VVB2yTsIBy — IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) December 9, 2025 Elbers, however, did not comment on compensation for passengers whose flights were cancelled at the last minute or faced long delays. Under the Civil Aviation Ministry’s passenger charter, airlines must provide mandatory compensation if they fail to inform travellers of a cancellation at least two weeks before departure. This compensation must also be issued automatically, without passengers having to request it. "IndiGo is back on its feet, and our operations are stable. We’ve let you down when a major operational disruption happened, and we’re sorry for that," Elbers said. He added that while the airline had earlier indicated that normalcy would return between December 10 and 15, operations had already stabilised. "I can confirm now that today, as of December 9, our operations are fully stabilised, which means flights reflecting on our website are scheduled to operate with an adjusted network," he said. Acknowledging the inconvenience caused, he noted, "Thousands of you could not travel, and we are profusely apologetic about that." He said the airline first focused on getting all stranded and delayed passengers safely to their destinations or back home before initiating refunds. Elbers said lakhs of passengers have received full refunds, though he did not disclose the total amount disbursed. He added that most bags stuck at airports had been returned to passengers’ homes, and teams were working to deliver the remaining luggage soon. "We also continue to address all customer needs," he emphasised. He described the restoration of IndiGo’s network as being carried out on a “war footing.” "On December 5, we could only fly 700 flights. Thereafter, gradually yet steadily improving to 1,500 on December 6, 1,650 on December 7, 1,800 on Monday and Tuesday, more than 1,800," Elbers said. As of Monday, IndiGo had resumed services to all 138 destinations in its network, he confirmed, adding that the airline’s on-time performance had also returned to normal. (With PTI inputs)
09 December,2025 06:35 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThane District Collector Dr Shrikrishna Panchal inaugurated a public awareness campaign against child marriage on Tuesday, urging citizens to actively participate in efforts to eliminate the social practice, reported news agency PTI. The district-level awareness programme, held under the Child Marriage Free India Campaign, was organised by the Women and Child Development Department in collaboration with the Maharashtra Social Development Trust (MSVT/SEVA). Emphasising the need for collective vigilance, Dr Panchal said, "Widespread social awareness is essential to stop child marriages. If any suspicious activity related to child marriage is noticed, citizens should immediately contact 1098. The administration will take all necessary action." According to officials, 14 child marriage cases were recorded in Thane district between February and November. Ministry of Women and Child Development launches 100-day 'Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat' campaign The 100-Day Intensive Awareness Campaign for a Child Marriage Free Bharat was launched on December 4 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, marking one year of the 'Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat' campaign, which was launched on November 27, 2024. As per the release, the launch event was attended by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Annpurna Devi, in the august presence of the Minister of State, Savitri Thakur. According to a press release, the programme featured the National Pledge to End Child Marriage, a specially produced film showcasing inspiring change stories from across the country, and testimonies from frontline champions, celebrating collective progress and strengthening momentum for the next phase of the mission. A live telecast of the event was available on the webcast platform of the Ministry. The 100-Day Campaign (27 November 2025 - 8 March 2026) As stated in the release, the campaign followed a structured, three-spell plan designed to energise communities and encourage sustained action: Spell 1 (27 Nov – 31 Dec 2025): Awareness activities were conducted in schools, colleges, and universities, including debates, essay competitions, interactive sessions, and pledge ceremonies.Spell 2 (1 – 31 Jan 2026): Engagements were held with faith leaders, community influencers, and marriage service providers to amplify messages on child rights, safety, and empowerment.Spell 3 (1 Feb – 8 Mar 2026): Gram panchayats and municipal wards were mobilised to pass resolutions declaring their jurisdictions child-marriage-free. This national drive was implemented in close coordination with the ministries of health and family welfare, panchayati raj, rural development, and education, ensuring seamless collaboration and extensive grassroots reach. Through this 100-day campaign, the Centre called upon citizens, institutions, and community leaders across the nation to join the movement and reaffirm India’s commitment to building a Child Marriage Free Bharat. (With PTI inputs)
09 December,2025 05:34 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentThe Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) on Tuesday announced a revised schedule for preparing the voter lists for the upcoming elections to 29 municipal corporations across the state. The date of the elections has not yet been declared. According to officials, the deadline for verifying and publishing the final ward-wise voter lists after considering objections has been extended from December 10 to December 15. Similarly, the last date for publishing the list of polling stations has been pushed from December 15 to December 20. The polling station-wise voter lists will now be published by December 27 instead of the earlier deadline of December 22. The SEC has instructed municipal officials to contact its computerisation cell by email or phone if they face any technical issues during the voter list preparation process. Earlier, the Maharashtra State Election Commission has convened a meeting of the commissioners of 29 municipal corporations in the state on December 4 to discuss the finalisation of voter rolls. The meeting was called to deliberate on the finalisation of the electoral list and the issue of duplicate voters, said officials on Wednesday. The 29 corporations include Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Nashik, Nagpur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Navi Mumbai, Vasai-Virar, Kalyan-Dombivali, Kolhapur, Ulhasnagar, Pimpri Chinchwad, Solapur, Amravati, and Akola, according to the PTI. The civic chiefs from Latur, Parbhani, Chandrapur, Bhivandi-Nizampur, Malegaon, Panvel, Mira-Bhayandar, Nanded, Sangli, Jalgaon, Dhule, Ahilyanagar and the commissioners of the newly formed Ichalkaranji and Jalna were also reportedly called for the meeting, reported PTI. The elections to local bodies in Maharashtra have to be completed before January 31 2026, as directed by the Supreme Court. Polling for the first phase of 264 municipal councils and nagar panchayats across the state was held on December 2 amid allegations of bogus voting and violence, with even supporters of ruling allies BJP, NCP and Shiv Sena in face-off at some places. Meanwhile, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court on Tuesday directed the Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) to hold the counting of votes for all the local body polls on December 21, instead of December 3, reported PTI. The court also prohibited exit polls until December 20. (With inputs from PTI)
09 December,2025 04:12 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
