Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray’s son, Amit Thackeray, is scheduled to visit the Shiv Sena (UBT) headquarters, Sena Bhavan, in Dadar on Friday afternoon. This will mark Amit Thackeray’s first visit to the Shiv Sena (UBT) party office. He will be accompanied by his cousin, Aaditya Thackeray, who is a Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and the sitting MLA from Worli. The visit is scheduled for around 2 pm. Raj Thackeray to visit Sena Bhavan on January 4, says Sanjay Raut Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Friday said that Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray is scheduled to visit Sena Bhavan on January 4. He added that the joint manifesto of the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections will be unveiled at a joint press conference at Sena Bhavan on Sunday. The press meet will be jointly addressed by the Thackeray cousins, marking a coordinated political outreach ahead of the civic polls. Uddhav Thackeray meets Raj Thackeray to discuss manifesto, campaign details On Thursday, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray met Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray to discuss the manifesto and campaign details for the January 15 civic polls. Uddhav met Raj at the latter's residence 'Shivtirth'. Earlier, the MNS chief had visited Matoshri, the residence of Uddhav.
02 January,2026 10:12 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarUnion Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat launched a sharp attack on the Congress following remarks by its leader Nana Patole, who allegedly compared Rahul Gandhi to Lord Ram, reported news agency ANI. Shekhawat slammed the opposition party, pointing out that it had previously submitted an affidavit in the Supreme Court stating that “Lord Ram was an imaginary personality.” Speaking to reporters, the minister further criticised Congress, claiming that the party “almost has no identity now,” and questioned its credibility on cultural and historical matters. "Anyone is free to compare anyone with anyone in this democratic India. The country's people see and understand these issues. The Congress party almost has no identity now. These are the people who filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court that Lord Ram was an imaginary personality," Shekhawat said, reported ANI. Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday also disregarded Patole's remarks, saying the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) does not have time to respond to such statements and remains focused on governance and public service. "We don't have time to think about such statements or comment on them. We are engaged in serving all people and working for them. We are engaged in establishing Ram Rajya under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi in the country and under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Maharashtra," Goyal said, reported ANI. He further said the opposition was in political decline and accused it of being disconnected from the public mandate. "The opposition leaders are in a very unfortunate situation. Look at the condition of Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP-SCP in the assembly and municipal corporation elections. Our job is to form a triple-engine government and work for the people," he added. The Union Minister said, "We don't get involved in these controversies. The Prime Minister has encouraged us to serve the people, and we work by putting the country first, the party second, and ourselves last." Earlier, Congress leader Nana Patole responded to criticism of his remarks comparing Rahul Gandhi to Lord Ram, saying those reacting without understanding his statement had "lost their mental balance". "What I said in my statement needs to be understood first. Those who respond without understanding my statement have lost their mental balance. I do not wish to talk about such people," Patole told ANI. A political row erupted after Patole compared Rahul Gandhi to Lord Ram, drawing sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies. On Wednesday, while responding to questions over Rahul Gandhi not visiting the Ram Temple, Patole said that the Congress was carrying forward the work of Lord Ram. "Our leader, Rahul Gandhi, is doing the work of Lord Shri Ram. You know that Lord Shri Ram worked for the oppressed, the suffering, the deprived. Our leader, Rahul Gandhi, is doing the same work throughout the country; his fight to give justice to the people of the country has begun," he said. Referring to the Ram Janmabhoomi issue, Patole added, "When Ram Lalla was locked, our late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had ordered the gates to be opened. When Rahul Gandhi visits Ayodhya, he will offer prayers." Patole has earlier also drawn criticism for similar remarks. During Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra in October 2022, he had said that it was a "coincidence" that both Lord Ram and Rahul Gandhi's names begin with the letter 'R'. "Even Lord Sri Ram also walked (PadaYatra) from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, and even Shankaracharya walked the same way, and so is Rahul Gandhi doing in the form of a padayatra. People are joining him, so it's not a comparison with Lord Ram but a coincidence that both Lord Ram and Rahul Gandhi's names begin with 'R'. But we don't compare Rahul with Lord Ram, while BJP leaders compare their leaders with God. God is God, and Rahul Gandhi is a human being, and he is working for humanity, and everyone can see it," Patole had said, ANI reported. His remarks had then drawn sharp criticism from BJP leaders, including CR Kesavan, who termed the statement a "grievous insult" to Hindu sentiments. (With ANI inputs)
02 January,2026 09:46 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Thursday suspended a junior auditor working with its finance department for alleged misconduct and obstructing the ongoing BMC elections 2026 process, reported news agency PTI. In a release, the BMC said the action against the auditor was ordered by Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Dr Ashwini Joshi, reported PTI. The suspended auditor, Deepak Johare, who worked with the civic body's finance department, was deputed to the central election office (RO) as part of election-related duties, the release said. A complaint supported by prima facie evidence was received against the official alleging serious misconduct and interference in the election process, the BMC stated, reported PTI. "The municipal corporation administration received a complaint and strong evidence that Johare had committed very serious misconduct during the election process and obstructed the election process," the release stated, reported PTI. A preliminary inquiry found the charges to be of a grave nature, following which Joshi ordered the auditor's suspension with immediate effect. The Additional Municipal Commissioner has cautioned that strict action will be taken against any civic employee found indulging in acts that hamper or interfere with the election process, according to the release, reported PTI. The BMC, along with civic bodies of 28 other cities and towns in Maharashtra, will go to polls on January 15. Scrutiny of nominations filed by candidates is over and January 2 is the last date for opting out of the race for the 227-member civic body, India's largest and richest. BMC finalises 10,231 polling stations Meanwhile, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has finalised 10,231 polling stations across the metropolis for civic polls to be held on January 15. In a release issued on Thursday evening, BMC said 4,386 of these will be located in government and semi-government buildings, 702 in cooperative housing societies and 5,143 in private buildings. The polling stations include closed, semi-closed and open structures, selected based on population, voter density and local geographical conditions to ensure a smooth polling process, the release said. Elaborate preparations have been made to ensure smooth, transparent and accessible voting for over 1.03 crore electors, the release quoted BMC chief and District Election Officer Bhushan Gagrani as saying. "The final ward-wise list of polling stations for all 227 wards has been published in accordance with State Election Commission guidelines. Voters must verify their designated polling stations in advance to avoid inconvenience on polling day," Gagrani said. The BMC said special facilities will be provided for senior citizens, women and persons with disabilities, including ramps, electricity, drinking water, toilets and voter assistance centres near polling locations. Votes will be counted on January 16. (With inputs from PTI)
02 January,2026 09:22 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) on Thursday sought a detailed report from Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation chief Bhushan Gagrani following allegations by some candidates that returning officers in south Mumbai's Colaba area refused to accept their nomination forms for the BMC elections 2026 on the last day of the filing process. Allegations linked to Colaba wards 225, 226, 227 An official said the issue pertains to wards numbered 225, 226, and 227 in the Colaba constituency, where kin of BJP leader and Maharashtra assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar are in the fray for the January 15 civic polls. Rahul Narwekar’s relatives contesting from key wards Rahul Narwekar's brother Makrand Narwekar, sister Gauri Shivalkar and sister-in-law Harshita Shivalkar are contesting the civic polls from wards 225, 226 and 227. The three filed their nomination papers on Tuesday in the presence of Rahul Narwekar. Media outrage prompts Election Commission action "BMC commissioner Bhushan Gagrani had received complaints from some candidates alleging that returning officers in the three wards did not accept their nomination forms on the final day of submission. After receiving complaints and in view of media outrage, the commission has sought a report from Gagrani, who is the election officer for civic polls in the metropolis," a senior SEC official told PTI. SEC awaits BMC commissioner’s report The SEC could not confirm the names of the political parties that filed the complaints or the allegations levelled against any particular political figure, adding that an appropriate call will be taken once the BMC commissioner's report is received. Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS alliance candidate levels serious charge Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT)-Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) alliance candidate Babban Mahadik alleged the assembly speaker tried to threaten local officials to prevent the acceptance of nomination forms of some candidates, reported PTI. Despite being in the queue, paying the security deposit, and reaching the office before the deadline, his nomination form from ward 226 was not accepted, Mahadik told reporters. Social media claims suggest multiple candidates blocked As per allegations doing the rounds on social media, 12 candidates were prevented from filing their nomination forms in Colaba constituency on the last day. These candidates alleged that pressure was exerted on officials, with some independent candidates being threatened inside the nomination filing hall. Makrand Narwekar denies allegations, defends democratic process The speaker's brother and civic poll candidate, Makrand Narwekar, rubbished the allegations. "Speaker Rahul Narwekar was present at the election officer's office only to support official BJP candidates. We believe in fighting elections in a democratic and fair manner," he said, reported PTI. Key dates for BMC elections 2026 December 30 was the last date for filing nominations for BMC elections 2026 and 28 other municipal corporations across Maharashtra. Polling is scheduled for January 15, with counting to be held on January 16. (With inputs from PTI)
02 January,2026 09:15 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMumbai city and suburbs on Friday will experience a partly cloudy morning with haze, clearing up to a mainly clear sky by afternoon and evening. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to hover around 30 degrees Celsius and 17 degrees Celsius, respectively. The air quality index (AQI) for Mumbai today is 63 (satisfactory), indicating minimal health impacts, though sensitive individuals may experience slight breathing discomfort. AQI across Mumbai Bandra-Kurla Complex: 89Borivali: 64Byculla: 78Andheri: 68Chembur: 49Deonar: 78Ghatkopar: 37 Meanwhile, in 2025, Mumbai recorded ‘satisfactory’ air quality for nearly 40 per cent of the year, with January reporting all 31 days as ‘moderate’. Other months with a high number of satisfactory days included December (29), February (26), and November (24). The city logged just one ‘poor’ day on October 11, when AQI spiked to 211 due to high ozone levels. The monsoon months — from May to September — brought clean air to the city, with all days recorded as green. December saw two green days: December 21 (AQI 91) and December 24 (AQI 86). Concerns remain Environmentalists caution that AQI numbers may hide persistent risks. Sumaira Abdulali, environmentalist and founder, Awaz Foundation, which has partnered with BMC for awareness and initiatives to curb noise and air pollution in the city, said, “PM2.5 levels in the air continue to be high. This is a major concern as PM2.5 poses severe health risks. The particles are so small that humans can inhale them, and they accumulate in the lungs, causing severe health problems. While the overall AQI may be low, high levels of PM2.5 concentrations in the air pose a severe problem.” Rare rain for city Mumbaikars woke up to unpredictable showers between 6.30 am and 8.00 am on Thursday. Rushikesh Agre, a city-based certified meteorologist from Harvard University, said, “This phenomenon is due to western disturbances originating in the Mediterranean Sea. When these disturbances are weak, they move southward, resulting in rainfall.” How AQI is calculated India’s AQI considers eight major pollutants: PM10, PM2.5, carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), ammonia (NH3), and lead (Pb). Calculations require data from at least three pollutants, including PM10 or PM2.5. PM2.5 trends A CREA study found that for at least 35 per cent of 2025, every station in Mumbai reported PM2.5 levels above the city’s annual mean of 34 µg/m³. Within the city, Deonar was the most polluted, followed by Worli and Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), while Kandivli East recorded the most days exceeding the daily PM2.5 NAAQS in 2025.
02 January,2026 08:57 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentWith patient load rising tremendously and tertiary hospitals in the island city stretched to the limit, the renewed focus on strengthening suburban healthcare infrastructure marks a crucial shift in policy. From modern diagnostic facilities and expanded bed capacity to upgraded operation theatres and specialist services, the proposed improvements aim to reduce referral pressure, cut treatment delays and bring quality healthcare closer to where patients live. ESIC Model Hospital and ESIC Post Graduate Institute of Medical Science and Research, Andheri. PIC/Shadab Khan However, while the plans promise to bridge glaring gaps in public healthcare delivery, their success will hinge on timely execution, adequate staffing and sustained funding — factors that have historically hampered civic hospital reforms. Authorities state that for the 1.25 crore floating population of Mumbai on any given day, there are and will be sufficient beds. However, the challenge is to strengthen the super specialty services and maintain highest level of quality in providing these services needs to be bettered. What to look forward to 1 490-bed each at MT Agarwal Hospital in Mulund and Bhagwati Hospital in Borivli to begin operations by mid-2026 with all super specialty facilities in place 2 Phases 2 and 3 of Bhabha Hospital in Bandra to be completed making the newly-built super specialty hospital available for patients in the first quarter of the year 3 The emergency and cancer buildings of Nair Hospital to become functional 4 While the Bhoomi poojan was conducted in 2025, the redevelopment works of Sion Hospital and Rajawadi Hospital to convert them into 2200 and 1100 beds hospitals respectively will begin in 2026, paving way to better medical access in the coming years 5 580-bed at Shatabdi Medical College in Govandi to begin under the PPP model 6 ESIC medical college of Andheri to begin complete operations; Andheri ESIC’s services that were shifted to Kandivli ESIC after the fire accident will be brought back to the Andheri hospital lowering the burden from the Kandivli hospital 7 ESIC Hospital in Mulund to be redeveloped 8 The new building of JJ Hospital, which was supposed to be handed over to the hospital administration in December 2025 to begin process of medical equipment and furniture installation, will be ready to provide all medical super specialty facilities by 2026-end 9 GT Hospital’s medical college and boys’ hostel building to be completed along with the hospital possibly getting approval to run 100-student medical college from the current capacity of 50 students 10 Services at Railway Hospital to be expanded under PPP model 11 By 2026-end, the aim is to provide all super specialty facilities across all 16 peripheral hospitals with each hospital having an MRI, CT Scan machines, component blood bank, dialysis centre, and cath lab
02 January,2026 08:10 AM IST | Mumbai | Ritika GondhalekarThe long-delayed building project at Sir JJ Hospital has missed yet another deadline, raising serious concerns over accountability and patient infrastructure in one of Mumbai’s largest public healthcare facilities. The contractor tasked with constructing the new hospital building was expected to complete and hand over the fully constructed structure by December 2025. However, as of now, neither has the handover taken place nor has the contractor formally applied for an extension. Dr Ajay Bhadarwar, dean of the hospital, said, “We have not received any communication from the contractor regarding the completion or handover of the project. There has been no official handover of the building to date. We are still waiting for clarity on when the work will be completed.” Officials from the public works department (PWD) also confirmed that no request for an extension of time had been submitted by the contractor. “As per our records, the contractor has neither completed the project within the stipulated time nor sought a formal extension. This is a clear violation of contractual timelines. Our seniors have conducted meetings with him, and a meeting is scheduled next week,” said Shashi Jamdar, junior engineer from the PWD. While the contractor had asked for an extension till next March, the PWD department asked the company to finish work by November this year and hand over the building to the hospital by December at the latest. The repeated delays have sparked concern among the medical community. “If these delays hadn’t happened, some load would have been reduced from the already-stretched public healthcare system,” said health activist Dr Jamila Shaikh. Delay timeline July 21, 202: Original contract duration 36 months from when the project began July 20, 2023: Original date of project completion March 30, 2025: A 20-month extension was given as only 29 per cent of the work had been completed. This ended on December 2025: The contractor asked for another extension till March 2026. But PWD directed it to complete the work and hand over the new building to the hospital administration
02 January,2026 08:03 AM IST | Mumbai | Ritika GondhalekarAhead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Elections, the Mumbai North Central District Forum (MNCDF), an NGO representing diverse communities across Mumbai, have made a 30-point list of citizen-centric needs to be placed in front of all candidates contesting the elections. These demands reflect the collective aspirations of citizens for a transparent, accountable, and people-centric civic administration, built on dignity, safety, and sustainability. The aim is to ensure that the city’s governance is done keeping in mind the fundamental needs of the citizens. The citizens forum’s demands 1 Municipal corporators must compel BMC’s PRO department to rework its grievance redressal mechanism to make complaint resolution via social media robust, time-bound, and accountable. 2 Councillors must push for a secure, multilingual portal for lodging anonymous complaints, with whistleblower protection 3 Corporators must hold monthly citizen forum meetings with mandatory attendance of ward officers. Unresolved complaints must be escalated to BMC commissioner’s ‘sabhas’ 4 Constitute a committee to conduct annual independent audits of BMC departments’ redressal of grievances. Bring transparency by setting up a 24x7 multilingual helpline. 5 Prioritise pedestrian safety and accessibility in urban planning by implementing the pedestrian-first policy in letter and spirit 6 Push for the creation of dedicated pedestrian zones, safe crossings, and universal accessibility standards. 7 Enforce strict criminal action against illegal hawkers and illegal encroachments on footpaths and roads. Corporators must refrain from protecting illegal hawkers. 8 Develop a policy framework for the removal, relocation, and rehabilitation of ‘Aarey shops/milk centres’ which are now being used to run illegal food stalls 9 Corporators must convene joint meetings with citizen forums, resident welfare associations, before any road concreting project to avoid re-digging of roads 10 Implement a zero-pothole policy with real-time reporting apps linked to contractor accountability. Corporators must coordinate to take criminal action regarding substandard quality 11 Install mobile public toilets across the city at densely populated tourist locations. 12 Coordinate with BMC and other authorities to enhance east-west connectivity and work to revamp the Khar subway 13 Appoint fresh ALMs to revive solid waste management initiatives at the source 14 Enforce SWM rules and laws in slums with penalties for non-compliance 15 Appoint marshals for the enforcement of SWM rules in slums 16 Address poor cleanliness, hygiene, infrastructure and shortage of manpower in municipal hospitals 17 Conduct mandatory annual audits of hygiene, equipment, medicines, and staffing levels in civic-run hospitals 18 Develop age-friendly infra, reserved hospital beds, transport concessions, digital ID cards for seniors 19 Establish mental health counselling centres in municipal hospitals and conduct awareness campaigns in BMC schools and communities 20 Monitor wards’ AQI in real time, and enforce stricter norms for construction dust and vehicular emissions 21 Enforce laws strictly on violation of air and noise mitigation guidelines issued by BMC for all construction sites 22 Relocate kabutarkhanas to designated non-residential areas with regulated feeding zones, and implement notification of the state government 23 Raise awareness that relocation of domesticated dogs and cats is illegal. Run sterilisation programmes in collaboration with reputable NGOs 24 Integrate BEST buses, Metro, and suburban rail with one app/smart card 25 Implement AI-enabled traffic signals and adopt a tech-driven approach to avoid malfunctions in traffic lighting, leading to traffic jams and accidents 26 Enforce the parking policy and provide a real-time parking availability app 27 Take strict action against illegal parking 28 Demand a process for mandated asset disclosure of all BMC officials, especially engineers 29 Provide digital classrooms in all BMC schools. Build infrastructure and manpower to enable AI skill development training 30 Develop accessible sports complexes, libraries, and cultural hubs in every zone
02 January,2026 07:56 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentA new dawn The Moon casts a halo behind the Statue of Progress above the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus on the last night of 2025 Songs from the desert Members of the Tinariwen group in performance. Pic courtesy/@Tinariwen There is a desert wind blowing towards the city in 2026. The Grammy Award-winning collective of Tuareg musicians, Tinariwen, will make a return to Indian shores this year. The group will headline the inaugural edition of the India Jazz Project that will be hosted in the city on February 7. The group had last toured India in 2023, and will be part of the three-city tour of the festival stopping by in Delhi and Bengaluru as well. Winners of the 2012 Grammy Award for Best World Music Album, the band have influenced world music and will join a number of Indian names that will be part of the debut edition of the festival. Having stopped by in Mumbai during their last tour as well, it seems the group has a soft spot for the shores of the Maximum City. A city’s history in faces Portrait of Dr BR Ambedkar, oil on canvas, VB Pathare; (right) MF Husain, Self-Portrait, acrylic on canvas. Pics Courtesy/DAG The New Year has barely begun, and the city’s art world is already busy at work. Coinciding with the Mumbai Gallery Weekend, DAG will host an exhibition that celebrates the many personalities who shaped its political, cultural, and civic life. Titled Face to Face: A Portrait of a City, the exhibition, opening on January 8, will feature thirty works that reflect the city’s evolving social fabric and artistic landscape from the 19th to the 20th Century. Portrait of Albert Schweitzer, watercolour on paper, GS Haldankar From the portrait of Sir Jamsetji Jeejeebhoy, India’s first baronet to the definitive image of Dr BR Ambedkar by VB Pathare, the works offer a fascinating insight. The showcase will also include the contributions of Bombay’s Progressive Artists’ Group, including a certain MF Husain. Organised across sections focusing on princely representation, influential figures, the Parsi community, artists’ self-portraits and portraits of common everyday folk, the exhibition strings together the diverse threads of the city’s narrative. Back to the roots A performer showcases lavani at a previous edition All set to experience the folk culture of the state? TyoHaara, a three-day, multi-art, transformational festival, will open in the city from February 13 to 15 at Kamshet. The festival will focus on community building and the interconnection between humans, art, and nature. An artist conducts a slacklining workshop. Pics Courtesy/@tyohaarafestival With more than 40 artists performing across multiple genres, alongside eight immersive workshops, community circles, the venue will also have an adventure playground. The festival endeavours to revive the folk culture of Maharashtra by infusing traditional heritage with modern fusion art. The idea is to inspire future generations to discover the region’s rich artistry. APRE is on the move It is moving time for APRE Art House. This diarist learned that the Colaba art space is set to move out of Sanghvi House to a new venue. Patrons need not worry though as the gallery will retain its Colaba address, with the new venue located just down the road from its current position. With the Mumbai Gallery Weekend upon us already, gallerist Prerna Jain (left) is now busy wrapping up the final details of the new space. The upgraded gallery space is expected to be ready to welcome visitors in the second week of January; in time for the 2026 art season. It is the right time for a fresh new start, after all.
02 January,2026 07:48 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-dayMumbai’s New Year celebrations came at a cost for errant motorists, as the city’s traffic police launched a strict overnight crackdown on drunk driving. Over 300 offenders were booked in a coordinated operation spanning the night of December 31 to the morning of January 1. According to police sources, this year marked a shift in enforcement. Earlier, drunk driving cases often ended with fines in court. However, the Mumbai Police have now adopted a zero-tolerance policy, registering cases and filing charge sheets against the accused. Offenders will face full-fledged trials, with provisions for both punishment and monetary penalties upon conviction. Cops screen drivers driving at Marine Lines. Pic/Shadab Khan “The intensified crackdown was part of a citywide operation. 41 traffic divisions conducted coordinated checks, ensuring strict action against violators,” said a senior officer. Offenders were booked under Section 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act, which deals with driving under the influence of alcohol. Vehicles were seized, and driving licences confiscated and sent to the Regional Transport Office (RTO) for suspension. Police said the tougher stance is aimed at deterring drunk driving and ensuring public safety during major celebrations. North Mumbai’s traffic division alone booked around 50 people for drunk driving.
02 January,2026 07:42 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanMumbai started 2026 on a cleaner note as unseasonal drizzles swept parts of the city and neighbouring districts Thursday morning. The overall AQI stood at 90, in the ‘satisfactory’ category, while the highest pollution readings were recorded at Deonar (110), BKC (105), and Colaba (104) — all in the ‘moderate’ range. In 2025, Mumbai recorded ‘satisfactory’ air quality for nearly 40 per cent of the year, with January reporting all 31 days as ‘moderate’. Other months with a high number of satisfactory days included December (29), February (26), and November (24). The city logged just one ‘poor’ day on October 11, when AQI spiked to 211 due to high ozone levels. The monsoon months — from May to September — brought clean air to the city, with all days recorded as green. December saw two green days: December 21 (AQI 91) and December 24 (AQI 86). Concerns remain Environmentalists caution that AQI numbers may hide persistent risks. Sumaira Abdulali, environmentalist and founder, Awaz Foundation, which has partnered with BMC for awareness and initiatives to curb noise and air pollution in the city, said, “PM2.5 levels in the air continue to be high. This is a major concern as PM2.5 poses severe health risks. The particles are so small that humans can inhale them, and they accumulate in the lungs, causing severe health problems. While the overall AQI may be low, high levels of PM2.5 concentrations in the air pose a severe problem.” Rare rain for city Mumbaikars woke up to unpredicted showers between 6.30 am and 8.00 am on Thursday. Rushikesh Agre, a city based certified meteorologist from Harvard University said, “This phenomena is due to western disturbances originating in the Mediterranean sea. When these disturbances are weak, they move southward, resulting in rainfall.” How AQI is calculated India’s AQI considers eight major pollutants: PM10, PM2.5, carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), ammonia (NH3), and lead (Pb). Calculations require data from at least three pollutants, including PM10 or PM2.5. PM2.5 trends A CREA study found that for at least 35 per cent of 2025, every station in Mumbai reported PM2.5 levels above the city’s annual mean of 34 µg/m³. Within the city, Deonar was the most polluted, followed by Worli and Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), while Kandivli East recorded the most days exceeding the daily PM2.5 NAAQS in 2025.
02 January,2026 07:37 AM IST | Mumbai | Eeshanpriya MSADVERTISEMENT
