Madhav Viradiya from Mumbai is among the 12 candidates who secured a perfect 100 percentile in the first session of JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech.). The 17-year-old student, originally from Gujarat, moved the city to pursue his engineering dream and has now emerged as one of the country’s top scorers. Currently a resident of Andheri, Madhav chose the city of dreams as his study destination, avoiding the competitive nature of typical coaching hubs such as Kota. “Mumbai helped me strike a balance. Previously, I used to reside in Kota with my elder sibling. While helpful, it was immensely competitive and you felt unseen if you did not perform well,” he told mid-day. The student now finds time for a game of cricket and some music every now and then to relieve the stress of exam preparation. Read more: 12 candidates score a perfect 100 percentile; check all toppers list Family support and future plans “My parents have made many sacrifices to help me achieve my dream. My father lives in Vadodara, handling our business, and my mother moved to Mumbai with me. I hope to study at IIT Bombay after my JEE Advanced,” said the student, who attended junior college at Narayana e-Techno in Mumbai. Interest in astronomy Apart from preparing for the entrance exams, the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics kept the student occupied. “I studied for these tests once, and since then I have been hooked on these subjects. So far, this is a hobby. But we will see where it goes,” he told mid-day.
16 February,2026 11:29 PM IST | Mumbai | Aditi AlurkarCentral Railway on Monday announced it will operate 186 special train services between Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Sawantwadi Road, Banaras, Gorakhpur, Samastipur, Danapur, and Hazrat Nizamuddin. This includes 94 Holi 2026 special trains and 92 regular special trains. These services are to manage the extra passenger rush during the upcoming Holi festival. The services cover a mix of daily, bi-weekly, and weekly trains connecting major routes in Maharashtra and beyond. Special services CSMT-Nagpur-CSMT Bi-weekly specials (10 services) Train no. 02141 Bi-weekly special will leave CSMT every Sunday and Tuesday at 00:20 hrs from 22.02.2026 to 08.03.2026 and will arrive at Nagpur at 15:10 hrs. Train no. 02142 Bi-weekly special will leave Nagpur every Sunday and Tuesday at 20:00 hrs from 22.02.2026 to 08.03.2026 and will arrive at CSMT at 13:30 hrs next day. These trains will run as Special Trains on 22.02.2026 and 24.02.2026 (4 services) and as Holi Special Trains on 01.03.2026, 03.03.2026, and 08.03.2026 (6 services). Composition: 1 AC-2 Tier, 6 AC-3 Tier, 9 Sleeper Class, 4 General Second Class, and 2 General Second Class cum Guard’s brake van. Halts: Dadar, Thane, Kalyan, Nashik Road, Manmad, Jalgaon, Bhusaval, Malkapur, Shegaon, Akola, Murtizapur, Badnera, Dhamangaon, and Wardha. CSMT-Sawantwadi Road-CSMT Weekly specials (4 services) Train no. 01171 Weekly special will leave CSMT every Thursday at 00:20 hrs on 26.02.2026 and 05.03.2026 and arrive at Sawantwadi Road at 12:30 hrs same day. Train no. 01172 Weekly special will leave Sawantwadi Road every Thursday at 17:20 hrs on 26.02.2026 and 05.03.2026 and arrive at CSMT at 03:45 hrs next day. These trains will run as Special Trains on 26.02.2026 (2 services) and as Holi Special Trains on 05.03.2026 (2 services). Composition: 1 AC-2 Tier, 6 AC-3 Tier, 9 Sleeper Class, 4 General Second Class, and 2 General Second Class cum Guard’s brake van. Halts: Dadar, Thane, Panvel, Pen, Roha, Mangaon, Veer, Khed, Chiplun, Sawarda, Arawali Road, Sangameshwar Road, Ratnagiri, Adavali, Vilavade, Rajapur Road, Vaibhavwadi Road, Nandgaon Road, Kankavali, Sindhudurg, and Kudal. CSMT Mumbai-Gorakhpur-CSMT Daily specials (32 services) Train no. 01079 Daily special will leave CSMT daily at 22:30 hrs from 21.02.2026 to 08.03.2026 and arrive at Gorakhpur at 10:00 hrs on the third day. Train no. 01080 Daily special will leave Gorakhpur daily at 14:30 hrs from 23.02.2026 to 10.03.2026 and arrive at CSMT at 00:40 hrs on the third day. These trains will run as Special Trains from 21.02.2026 to 02.03.2026 (16 services) and as Holi Special Trains from 01.03.2026 to 10.03.2026 (16 services). Composition: 1 AC-2 Tier, 6 AC-3 Tier, 9 Sleeper Class, 4 General Second Class, and 2 General Second Class cum Guard’s brake van. Halts: Dadar, Thane, Kalyan, Nashik Road, Manmad, Jalgaon, Bhusaval, Khandwa, Itarsi, Bhopal, Bina, Virangana Lakshmibai Jhansi, Orai, Kanpur Central, Lucknow, Gonda, Basti, and Khalilabad. LTT–Sawantwadi Road–LTT Weekly Special (4 services) Train no. 01119 Weekly Special will leave LTT every Thursday at 22:15 hrs on 26.02.2026 and 05.03.2026 and will arrive at Sawantwadi Road at 09:30 hrs the next day. Train no. 01120 Weekly Special will leave Sawantwadi Road every Friday at 17:20 hrs on 27.02.2026 and 06.03.2026 and will arrive at LTT at 04:05 hrs the next day. These trains will run as Special Trains on 26.02.2026 and 27.02.2026 (2 services) and as Holi Special Trains on 05.03.2026 and 06.03.2026 (2 services). Composition: 1 First AC, 3 AC 2-Tier, 7 AC 3-Tier, 8 Sleeper Class, 1 Pantry Car, and 2 Generator Cars. Halts: Thane, Panvel, Pen, Roha, Mangaon, Veer, Khed, Chiplun, Sangameshwar Road, Ratnagiri, Adavali, Vilavade, Rajapur Road, Vaibhavwadi Road, Nandgaon Road, Kankavali, Sindhudurg, and Kudal. LTT–Banaras–LTT Bi-Weekly Special (8 services) Train no. 01073 Bi-Weekly Special will leave LTT every Wednesday and Thursday at 12:15 hrs on 25.02.2026, 26.02.2026, 04.03.2026, and 05.03.2026 and will arrive at Banaras at 01:10 hrs on the third day. Train no. 01074 Bi-Weekly Special will leave Banaras every Friday and Saturday at 06:35 hrs on 27.02.2026, 28.02.2026, 06.03.2026, and 07.03.2026 and will arrive at LTT at 16:40 hrs the next day. These trains will run as Special Trains on 25.02.2026, 26.02.2026, 27.02.2026, and 28.02.2026 (4 services) and as Holi Special Trains on 04.03.2026, 05.03.2026, 06.03.2026, and 07.03.2026 (4 services). Composition: 1 AC 2-Tier, 6 AC 3-Tier, 9 Sleeper Class, 4 General Second Class, and 2 General Second Class cum Guard’s Brake Vans. Halts: Thane, Kalyan, Igatpuri, Nashik Road, Jalgaon, Bhusaval, Khandwa, Itarsi, Rani Kamlapati Jn, Bina, Virangana Lakshmibai Jhansi, Orai, Govindpuri, Fatehpur, Subedarganj, and Varanasi Jn (for 01073 only). LTT–Samastipur–LTT Weekly AC Special (4 services) Train no. 01043 Weekly Special will leave LTT every Tuesday at 12:15 hrs on 24.02.2026 and 03.03.2026 and will arrive at Samastipur at 23:45 hrs the next day. Train no. 01044 Weekly Special will leave Samastipur every Thursday at 03:00 hrs on 26.02.2026 and 05.03.2026 and will arrive at LTT at 16:25 hrs the next day. These trains will run as Special Trains on 24.02.2026 and 26.02.2026 (2 services) and as Holi Special Trains on 03.03.2026 and 05.03.2026 (2 services). Composition: 1 First AC, 3 AC 2-Tier, 15 AC 3-Tier, 1 Pantry Car, and 2 Generator Cars. Halts: Thane, Kalyan, Igatpuri, Nashik Road, Jalgaon, Bhusaval, Khandwa, Itarsi, Jabalpur, Satna, Manikpur, Prayagraj, Cheoki, Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyay, Buxar, Ara, Danapur, Patliputra, Sonpur, Hajipur, and Muzaffarpur. Bookings for special trains 02141, 02142, 01171, 01079, 01119, 01073, 01043, 01143, 01469, 01470, 01457, 01458, 01481, 01449, 01431, 01415, and 01491 will open on Wednesday at all computerised reservation centres and on the official IRCTC website. Passengers planning trips beyond the current ARP can book tickets on the corresponding subsequent ARP dates. Bookings for unreserved coaches at normal charges will continue to be available through the UTS system, the CR officials said. For more details check IRCTC website, the Central Railway said.
16 February,2026 10:47 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Mumbai Water Metro project, which aims to introduce battery-powered ferries to ease traffic congestion in the metropolis and surrounding areas, is expected to roll out in phases starting in December, Maharashtra Ports Minister Nitesh Rane said on Monday. Speaking to PTI, Rane said a Detailed Project Report (DPR) on the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) water metro is expected to be submitted by his department by February 28. The state government has proposed six to eight routes in the MMR to be connected through a network of electric-powered boats under the water taxi project, estimated to cost Rs 1,200 crore, according to the minister. He said that after the DPR is submitted, discussions would be held with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on the feasibility of routes, and two of the finalised routes will be taken up first for implementation. "We have decided to start with Mumbai city and then expand to the wider MMR, which includes adjoining districts," Rane said. Water metro services within Mumbai city will focus on Nariman Point–Worli–Bandra–Juhu–Versova routes, he added, noting, "We plan to take up two routes in the first phase." "Once the Radio Club jetty near the Gateway of India in south Mumbai is ready, the water metro will take just 40 minutes to ferry people to Navi Mumbai International Airport," he said. Rane added that a formal announcement regarding the project, modelled on the Kochi Water Metro in Kerala, will be made by Fadnavis in the state budget scheduled for March 6. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
16 February,2026 10:47 PM IST | Mumbai | PTIFormer Mumbai mayor and Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator Kishori Pednekar on Monday became the first woman to hold the post of Leader of Opposition (LOP) in BMC’s 227-member general body. The post of LOP was first created in 1999 following the reversal of the "Mayor-in-Council" system. According to information from BMC: “The Mayor-in-Council system was done away with, and the old setup of the Municipal Corporation was revived (vide Maharashtra Act XXVII of 1999). Accordingly, the Mayoral election was held on 29th April 1999. This led to the introduction of the offices of the Deputy Mayor and Leader of Opposition (vide Maharashtra Act No. XXVII of 1999).” Since then, Mumbai has only had male corporators as leaders of the opposition, including Gunwant Sheth, Rajhans Singh, Gyanraj Nikam, Devendra Amberkar, Praveen Chheda, and Ravi Raja. Pednekar was announced as the LOP by Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde. Shiv Sena (UBT), with 65 elected representatives, is the largest opposition party in BMC.
16 February,2026 09:41 PM IST | Mumbai | Eshanpriya MSThe Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Monday announced that the 25 per cent admission process under the Right to Education (RTE) Act for the academic year 2026-27 will commence from Tuesday. The online RTE admission 2026 process will be conducted for children from economically weaker and disadvantaged sections seeking entry into self-financed and unaided schools (excluding minority institutions). Under the RTE Act, selected students will receive free education up to Class 8. According to the BMC’s education department, a total of 5,939 seats are available across 323 schools in Mumbai. Of these, 4,558 seats are in 252 schools affiliated to the Maharashtra State Board, while 1,381 seats are available in 71 schools affiliated to other boards. Parents can fill out online applications from February 17 to March 10, 2026, on the official portal https://student.maharashtra.gov.in The admission process will cover entry-level classes such as pre-primary and Class 1. Officials said parents must upload all required documents while submitting the online application. Schools located within a one-kilometre radius of the applicant’s residence will be visible on the RTE portal. Parents are advised to carefully select up to 10 schools while filling out the form. Authorities clarified that students who have already secured admission under the RTE 25 per cent quota in previous years will not be eligible to apply again. After completion of the application process, a date will be announced for the online lottery system. Parents have also been instructed to keep original and attested copies of all submitted documents ready at the time of admission, the BMC said. Maharashtra approves 'Free School Bag' scheme for classes 1 to 8 The Maharashtra government last week approved a major scheme to provide free school bags to students studying in Classes 1 to 8 in local authority schools across the state. The decision follows the implementation of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, which has been in force since April 1, 2010. The law guarantees free and quality education to every child between the ages of 6 and 14. The scheme also aligns with the goals of the National Education Policy 2020, which aims to create a joyful and supportive learning environment and develop well-rounded individuals equipped with 21st-century skills. Under the new government resolution, administrative approval has been granted to provide free school bags within a financial limit of Rs 165 crore. The benefit will cover a total of 4,143,054 students enrolled in Classes 1 to 8 in schools run by local self-government bodies across Maharashtra. However, students studying in municipal corporations that already run their own free school bag schemes using their own funds will not be included in this state-funded programme.
16 February,2026 07:57 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentKey Western Railway (WR) stations in south Mumbai – Mumbai Central, Grant Road and Charni Road – will soon be upgraded with sliding gates and beautification works, aimed at making the areas encroachment-free and more passenger-friendly, an official statement, released by the WR said on Monday. Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha met Western Railway General Manager Pradeep Kumar at the Churchgate headquarters to discuss the proposed improvements. Local residents were also present during the meeting, it said. Lodha highlighted that illegal vendors and unauthorised encroachments have become a problem around south Mumbai stations, causing inconvenience to commuters and pedestrians. Some of these vendors are reportedly migrants, including Bangladeshi Rohingyas, though this is unconfirmed, the statement said. Unauthorised hawkers and clear streets Lodha urged the Western Railway to take immediate action against unauthorised hawkers and clear the streets to ensure smooth movement for passengers and pedestrians. The minister also pointed out that the bridge connecting Charni Road station to Girgaon is unfinished and requested railway cooperation to complete it. Installing sliding gates at stations was suggested to provide easier access for senior citizens and improve overall security. Western Railway to prepare detailed report Pradeep Kumar stated that after understanding the issues, his team has been instructed to prepare a detailed report. Action will be taken based on the report to resolve commuter concerns. He also confirmed that proposals for station beautification are pending but assured that the areas will soon be cleaned and upgraded. Local residents, including Kaushik Shah, were present at the meeting and welcomed the initiative.
16 February,2026 07:49 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarThe Central Railway will run Holi 2026 special trains between Mumbai and Sawantwadi Road, officials said. These special services are announced ahead of the festival which will be in March. According to a statement issued by Konkan Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer Sunil Narkar, two weekly special services will be run on select dates in February and March. Train No. 01171 will depart from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus at 12.20 am on February 26 and March 5 (Thursdays) and reach Sawantwadi Road at 12.30 pm the same day. The return service, Train No. 01172, will leave Sawantwadi Road at 5.20 pm on the same dates and arrive at CSMT at 3.45 am the following day. The train will halt at key stations including Dadar, Thane, Panvel, Roha, Chiplun, Ratnagiri, Kankavali, Sindhudurg and Kudal, among others. It will comprise 22 coaches, including AC, sleeper, general and SLR coaches. In addition, Train No. 01119 will run between Lokmanya Tilak Terminus and Sawantwadi Road. The service will depart from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus at 10.15 pm on February 26 and March 5 (Thursdays) and reach Sawantwadi Road at 9.30 am the next day. Halts include Thane, Panvel and Ratnagiri The return service, Train No. 01120, will leave Sawantwadi Road at 5.20 pm on February 27 and March 6 (Fridays) and arrive at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus at 4.05 am the following day. This train will also halt at major Konkan Railway stations, including Thane, Panvel, Chiplun, Ratnagiri and Kankavali. The 01119/01120 service will run with 22 LHB coaches, including First AC, AC 2-tier, AC 3-tier, sleeper coaches, a pantry car and generator cars. Bookings for Train Nos. 01172 and 01120 will open on Wednesday, through Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters and the IRCTC website. CR extends Surat-Mangaluru bi-weekly special train till March The periodicity of Train No. 09057/09058 Surat–Mangaluru Junction Bi-Weekly Express Special has been extended till March 2026, railway officials announced on Monday. According to a statement issued by Konkan Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer Sunil Narkar, the service, which was earlier notified up to February 25 and 26, has now been extended up to March 29 (ex-Surat) and March 30 (ex-Mangaluru Junction). Revised timings for the train will come into effect from March 1, 2026. Train No. 09057 (ex-Surat) will commence its journey under the new schedule from March 1, while Train No. 09058 (ex-Mangaluru Junction) will operate with revised timings from March 2. Train No. 09057 to depart Surat at 7.35 pm on Wednesdays, Sundays Train No. 09057 will depart from Surat at 7.35 pm every Wednesday and Sunday and reach Mangaluru Junction at 7.45 pm the following day. In the return direction, Train No. 09058 will leave Mangaluru Junction at 10.30 pm every Thursday and Monday, arriving in Surat at 11.45 pm the next day. The train will halt at several key stations en route, including Udhna Junction, Valsad, Vapi, Palghar, Vasai Road, Bhiwandi Road, Panvel, Roha, Chiplun, Ratnagiri, Kankavali, Thivim, Madgaon Junction, Karwar, Udupi and Surathkal, among others. Passengers can check detailed halt timings on the official railway enquiry website and are requested to avail the extended services.
16 February,2026 07:06 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMumbai local train operations were briefly affected after a 'drunk man' lay down on the tracks at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) station on Monday, officials said. They said that the man, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, lay down between the railway tracks, disrupting suburban train services at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus. Watch | Railway services disrupted as man sleeps between tracks Top of the world! Drunk man sleeps on track at the city's biggest rail terminus at Mumbai CSMT, holds up local train on harbour line. pic.twitter.com/e3mPuJGu5B — Rajendra B. Aklekar (@rajtoday) February 16, 2026 According to sources, the 3.28 pm Panvel-CSMT local slowed down after the motorman spotted the man lying on the tracks with a white cloth covering himself. The train was brought to a halt in time, preventing any mishap and causing brief delays. Railway officials said that around 3 pm, the apparently intoxicated person was found lying on the tracks near Platform No. 1. The approaching train was stopped short of him. He was later removed from the tracks, and train services were restored. No injuries were reported in the incident. Officials said a case is being registered under Section 147 of the Railway Act.
16 February,2026 06:55 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarThe periodicity of Train No. 09057/09058 Surat–Mangaluru Junction Bi-Weekly Express Special has been extended till March 2026, railway officials announced on Monday. According to a statement issued by Konkan Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer Sunil Narkar, the service, which was earlier notified up to February 25 and 26, has now been extended up to March 29 (ex-Surat) and March 30 (ex-Mangaluru Junction). Revised timings for the train will come into effect from March 1, 2026. Train No. 09057 (ex-Surat) will commence its journey under the new schedule from March 1, while Train No. 09058 (ex-Mangaluru Junction) will operate with revised timings from March 2. Train No. 09057 to depart Surat at 7.35 pm on Wednesdays, Sundays Train No. 09057 will depart from Surat at 7.35 pm every Wednesday and Sunday and reach Mangaluru Junction at 7.45 pm the following day. In the return direction, Train No. 09058 will leave Mangaluru Junction at 10.30 pm every Thursday and Monday, arriving in Surat at 11.45 pm the next day. The train will halt at several key stations en route, including Udhna Junction, Valsad, Vapi, Palghar, Vasai Road, Bhiwandi Road, Panvel, Roha, Chiplun, Ratnagiri, Kankavali, Thivim, Madgaon Junction, Karwar, Udupi and Surathkal, among others. Passengers can check detailed halt timings on the official railway enquiry website and are requested to avail the extended services. Konkan Railway to run Mumbai-Sawantwadi special trains ahead of Holi 2026 The Central Railway will operate Holi special trains between Mumbai and Sawantwadi Road, officials said. These special services are announced ahead of the festival of Holi, which will be in March. According to a statement issued by Konkan Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer Sunil Narkar, two weekly special services will be run on select dates in February and March. Train No. 01171 will depart from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus at 12.20 am on February 26 and March 5 (Thursdays) and reach Sawantwadi Road at 12.30 pm the same day. The return service, Train No. 01172, will leave Sawantwadi Road at 5.20 pm on the same dates and arrive at CSMT at 3.45 am the following day. The train will halt at key stations including Dadar, Thane, Panvel, Roha, Chiplun, Ratnagiri, Kankavali, Sindhudurg and Kudal, among others. It will comprise 22 coaches, including AC, sleeper, general and SLR coaches. In addition, Train No. 01119 will run between Lokmanya Tilak Terminus and Sawantwadi Road. The service will depart from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus at 10.15 pm on February 26 and March 5 (Thursdays) and reach Sawantwadi Road at 9.30 am the next day. Key halts include Thane, Panvel and Ratnagiri The return service, Train No. 01120, will leave Sawantwadi Road at 5.20 pm on February 27 and March 6 (Fridays) and arrive at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus at 4.05 am the following day. This train will also halt at major Konkan Railway stations, including Thane, Panvel, Chiplun, Ratnagiri and Kankavali. The 01119/01120 service will run with 22 LHB coaches, including First AC, AC 2-tier, AC 3-tier, sleeper coaches, a pantry car and generator cars. Bookings for Train Nos. 01172 and 01120 will open on Wednesday, through Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters, the internet and the IRCTC website.
16 February,2026 06:52 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) on Monday unveiled its surplus budget for 2026-27 with a total outlay of Rs 48,072.57 crore, with plans for metro expansion, growth hubs and climate-resilient Mumbai. The announcement marks its first surplus budget since 2017-18. With estimated receipts of Rs 48,072.57 crore and proposed expenditure of Rs 48,072.40 crore, the authority projects a surplus of Rs 17 lakh, reflecting a decisive financial turnaround, an official statement said. It said that this surplus follows three years of recovery after a Rs 7,468 crore deficit in 2024-25, signalling fiscal stability and improved revenue mobilisation through land monetisation, the Urban Transport Fund, project-linked revenues, and institutional financing. The budget demonstrates a strong development-first approach, with Rs 42,026.14 crore — 87 per cent of the total expenditure — allocated to infrastructure projects, the statement said. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the budget reflects global investor confidence and positions Mumbai as a modern, investment-ready region. The budget is 58.57 per cent higher than the revised estimate of Rs 30,316.18 crore for 2025-26, highlighting MMRDA’s commitment to large-scale urban development, the statement said. Deputy Chief Minister and MMRDA Chairman Eknath Shinde noted that the 87 per cent allocation demonstrates accountable governance under the Growth Hub framework. Mega infra projects and underground corridors planned The statement said that the MMRDA has planned mega infrastructure project and underground corridors including: - High-capacity underground tunnels are being developed to decongest the city: - Orange Gate-Marine Drive Coastal Road Tunnel - Rs 1,250 crore - Thane-Borivali Four-Lane Tunnel - Rs 3,029.51 crore - Mumbai Integrated Tunnel (BWSL-BKC-HSR-T2) - Rs 1,189 crore -The total allocation is Rs 5,543.51 crore, official statement said. Arterial roads and expressways The budget supports multi-ring roads and elevated corridors to redistribute traffic: - Worli-Sewri Elevated Corridor - Rs 936.07 crore - Mumbai-Vadhavan Expressway Corridor - Rs 2,000 crore - Eastern Freeway Extensions - Rs 1,106.75 crore It said that the total allocation for these are Rs 12,816.53 crore. Metro network expansion MMRDA continues India’s largest metro expansion project: - Metro Line 4 (Wadala-Kasarvadavali) - Rs 3,630.71 crore - Metro Line 5 (Thane-Bhiwandi-Kalyan) - Rs 1,309.30 crore - Metro Line 6 (Swami Samarth Nagar-Kanjurmarg) - Rs 2,407.78 crore - The total allocation is Rs 13,838.88 crore in the budget for these, the statement said. Social infrastructure and sustainability The MMRDA has also planned projects for social infrastructure and sustainability, these include: - Slum Rehabilitation and Housing - Rs 731.33 crore - Water Supply & Regional Sustainability - Rs 980.87 crore - Climate Resilience & Green Infrastructure - Rs 250 crore - Iconic Memorials (Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Balasaheb Thackeray) - Rs 571.50 crore - IT and Digital Governance - Rs 235.34 crore Growth hubs and economic decentralisation Under the Mumbai 3.0 initiative, Rs 4,000 crore is allocated to the KSC New Town Growth Hub, with additional funding for Raigad Pen and Kharbav business parks, supporting structured urban expansion, employment creation, and global investment. Revenue and fiscal strategy MMRDA’s revenue streams include: - Land Sale - Rs 11,177.95 crore -Urban Transport Fund - Rs 6,368.42 crore - Borrowings - Rs 23,711.16 crore - Government Grants and TDR - Rs 1,189.14 crore - Ground Rent and Interest - Rs 1,664.19 crore "The budget reflects disciplined fiscal planning, debt management, and structured capital mobilisation," the official statement said. A turning point for MMR It said that the 2026-27 budget combines fiscal prudence with massive infrastructure deployment at MMR, signalling: - Financial stability after years of deficits - Acceleration of mobility corridors - Implementation of Mumbai 3.0 and Growth Hubs - Strengthened water and climate resilience - Decentralised economic growth
16 February,2026 06:44 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTen months after a terror attack in Pahalgam claimed her father's life, Asawari Jagdale is still waiting for the Maharashtra government to deliver on its promise of a state job. While Asawari voiced her concern on Monday in Pune, BJP leader Navnath Ban promised to escalate the delay directly to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Asawari's father, Santosh Jagdale, was one of 26 victims who died when terrorists opened fire in Pahalgam's Baisaran meadows on April 22 last year. Following the massacre, the state government had announced Rs 50 lakh in financial aid to the families of the six victims from Maharashtra and government employment to their next of kin. "It has been 10 months since a promise was made that I would be getting a job in the government, but unfortunately, there has not been any development in this regard," Asawari told media persons. She said Rajya Sabha MP Medha Kulkarni has written to Union Minister Amit Shah, apprising him about the state government's assurances. "I have been in contact with the offices of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Officials have only been telling us that they have been following up on the issue," she said. The family has been facing financial hardship since her father's death, and their savings have depleted, she said, urging officials to try to address the matter soon. Asked about Asawari's pleas, Ban, the Maharashtra BJP's media in-charge, said he would take up the issue with the chief minister. Speaking to reporters, he said, "The BJP's stand is to support the Jagdale family and other families affected by the terror attack. I assure that I will personally take up the matter with the chief minister and the state party leadership." The BJP corporator said that Fadnavis is a sensitive leader who would look into the issue and try to ensure justice at the earliest. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
16 February,2026 06:11 PM IST | Mumbai | PTIADVERTISEMENT
