Around 200 unauthorised hawkers and illegal encroachments on footpaths along Ram Ganesh Gadkari Marg (Irla Marg) in Andheri West were removed on Thursday by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) K West ward. Officials said unauthorised encroachments were found on the footpaths of Ram Ganesh Gadkari Marg, which connects Swami Vivekananda Marg and Gulmohar Marg and is located near the entrance of the Cooper Hospital. Hawkers had set up illegal stalls, obstructing the movement of ambulances carrying patients in emergency situations to the hospital. The demolition drive was carried out using four encroachment removal vehicles, three JCBs, and other equipment. Nearly 100 BMC officers and staff, along with police personnel, were deployed during the operation. Joint drive clears illegal obstructions on three congested Andheri West roads Earlier on Wednesday, a joint drive by the Amboli police, traffic police, and the BMC brought major relief to residents of Andheri West, with three chronically congested roads finally cleared of illegal obstructions. Sawant Road, Veera Desai Road, and Duttaji Salvi Road — which routinely witnessed severe traffic snarls — were freed of illegal hawkers, abandoned vehicles, and unauthorised parking of dumpers, tankers, and JCB machines. As a result, commute time on these stretches has dropped sharply from nearly 25 minutes earlier to about 10 minutes now. Residents said repeated complaints to civic and police authorities in the past had failed to yield results. The breakthrough came after the Amboli police initiated a joint meeting with the BMC and traffic police, leading to coordinated enforcement on the ground. Sanjay Sawant, a resident of Gundecha Symphony Society on Veera Desai Road, said daily travel had become exhausting due to congestion. “Every day, we struggled to cross our own area. We were stuck for at least 25 minutes just to pass one lane. Tankers and JCB machines were parked everywhere. Despite several complaints, nothing changed earlier,” he said, adding that emergency services were frequently affected. “School buses and ambulances were often stuck. Now we can actually see the road. Earlier, all we saw were vehicles and traffic jams. More than 60 societies on this stretch were impacted. We are thankful to the BMC, traffic police, and Amboli police, and have even invited them for a felicitation,” Sawant said. Another resident, Nakul Vaid, said the situation had earlier turned unsafe. “There was no footpath left for walking as everything was encroached. Dumpers and tankers dominated the area, and residents were threatened whenever issues were raised. Traffic kept increasing, and public urination was common. We only hope this problem does not return,” he said. Suresh Makhija, a committee member of Gundecha Society, said the clearance had restored basic dignity for residents. “For years, heavy dumpers, cranes, and JCBs were parked here. Their drivers created a nuisance by bathing and urinating on the roads. For the first time in many years, the issue has been resolved. I am 76 years old and can finally walk safely on a footpath,” he said. SK Rout, chairman of Palash A and B Wing Cooperative Housing Society, said residents had noticed a visible change. “There is no unauthorised commercial vehicle parking, no roadside urination, and no antisocial elements gathering. Earlier, it took 25 minutes to cross Veera Desai Road. Now it barely takes 10 minutes,” he said. A senior police officer from Amboli police station said three FIRs were registered for illegal parking that posed a threat to public safety. “More than 150 illegal hawkers were removed. Earlier, only one lane was usable due to encroachments. All lanes are now clear. We have towed 37 abandoned vehicles and continue to tow 50 to 60 illegally parked vehicles daily,” the officer said. Senior Inspector Pramod Kokate of Amboli police station said the enforcement drive would continue. “We seized abandoned vehicles, JCBs, tankers, and trucks. Three FIRs were registered for dangerous parking that endangered lives. The action will continue in coordination with the BMC and traffic police to ensure congestion does not return,” he said. Malad Similar action was also carried out in Malad, where the police and P-North Ward officials jointly acted against 15 unauthorised hawkers. Legal action was also initiated against 53 individuals. Authorities emphasised that the campaign to keep roads safe will continue. दि. २९/०१/२०२६ रोजी मालाड पोलीस ठाणे आणि BMC पी उत्तर यांच्यातर्फे १५ अनधिकृत हॉकर्सवर संयुक्त निष्कासन कारवाई करण्यात आली, तसेच ५३ जणांवर कायदेशीर कारवाई झाली. रस्ते सुरक्षित ठेवण्यासाठी आमची मोहीम सुरूच राहील.#MaladPolice #MumbaiPolice #BMC #PublicSafety #CleanMumbai pic.twitter.com/RMJuPTkQcY — मालाड पोलीस ठाणे - Malad PS Mumbai (@Malad_PS) January 30, 2026
30 January,2026 11:14 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe body of a newborn baby boy was recovered from Juhu Beach near Mora Gaon early on Friday morning. A morning walker spotted the infant at the seashore and alerted nearby residents, who then informed Mumbai Police. The body has been sent to Cooper Hospital for a post-mortem examination. According to police, the incident came to light around 7 am when locals were walking along the beach in the Mora Gaon area. A police officer said the newborn appeared to be no more than 15 days old. Cause of death yet to be ascertained, say Mumbai Police Speaking to mid-day.com, Senior Inspector Sunil Jadhav of Juhu Police Station said, “Local residents found the body of a newborn boy at the seashore. We rushed to the spot and confirmed that the baby was dead. The body has been sent to Cooper Hospital for post-mortem. We are awaiting the report to determine the exact cause of death.” He added, “We are checking all possible CCTV cameras in the area and verifying hospital records to trace the parents. We are also reviewing missing persons reports to see if any newborn baby boy has been reported missing in the past few days.”
30 January,2026 11:06 PM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanThe Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has registered a complaint with the police against an advertiser for allegedly illegally constructing iron structures and advertising hoardings in Shivaji Park at Mumbai’s Dadar area. A case in this regard has been filed at the Shivaji Park Police station. The hoardings were removed by the G-North Ward (covering West, Mahim, and Matunga) officials on Friday morning. Unauthorised advertising hoardings with images of sportspersons were constructed on both the sides of gate number 5 of Shivaji Park without permission from the municipal corporation. Iron structures were also put up at both the locations for these hoardings, which measured approximately 20 X20 feet. Mumbai advertiser fails to comply with BMC notice; action taken under public property laws According to BMC's statement, the ward office issued a notice to the advertiser concerned, Abhishek Chavan, on Thursday to remove the unauthorised advertising hoardings and iron structures. "However, as he did not remove the hoardings and structures, a complaint was registered against him at Shivaji Park Police Station on January 30, 2026," an official said. The action was taken under the Maharashtra State Prevention of Defacement of Public Property Act, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888, and Indian Penal Code, for defacing public property.
30 January,2026 10:50 PM IST | Mumbai | Eeshanpriya MSBrihanmumbai Municipal Commissioner and Administrator Bhushan Gagrani has directed officials to expedite the construction work on the upcoming 2,000 million litres per day (MLD) ultra-modern water treatment plant (WTP) at the Bhandup complex, stating that the project will significantly strengthen the city’s water supply system once completed. Gagrani said the project would ensure the supply of higher-quality and safer drinking water to Mumbaikars, while also addressing future demand arising from population growth, industrial requirements, and rapid urbanisation. He stressed the need to adopt modern technology during implementation to ensure an efficient, environment-friendly, and long-term sustainable water supply system. The Mumbai civic body has set a deadline of April 2029 to complete the project. Gagrani visited the project site on Friday to review progress. Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Special Engineering) Purushottam Malwade, Chief Engineer (Water Supply Projects) Mahendra Ubale, along with other senior engineers and officials, were present during the inspection. Mumbai’s water supply is primarily sourced through two major systems. Under the Tansa–Vaitarna system, water from reservoirs such as Tansa, Modak Sagar, Middle Vaitarna, and Upper Vaitarna is conveyed to the Bhandup complex through gravity-based pipelines. The water is then treated at the old and new treatment plants at Bhandup before being supplied across the city through service reservoirs. At present, around 2,600 MLD of water is supplied every day to Mumbai. The existing 1,910 MLD water treatment plant at Bhandup was constructed around 46 years ago and has become structurally weak, necessitating its replacement. The new 2,000 MLD plant will process water every day and is crucial for enhancing supply capacity to Mumbai’s western suburbs and island city. Mumbai: Work underway on 7.4-hectare plant; focus on capacity boost and long-term water security Gagrani said the new plant, spread over 7.4 hectares, will replace one of Asia’s largest existing water treatment facilities, enabling Mumbai to receive water at a higher capacity. He noted that soil testing, excavation, site barricading, relocation of power transmission towers and plantation work are currently underway, while civil, mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation works are being carried out simultaneously. He directed officials to complete as much work as possible before the monsoon. Emphasising the importance of clean water, Gagrani said access to safe drinking water is vital not only for public health but also for economic development and environmental sustainability. He said that, considering Mumbai’s rapid growth and urbanisation, it is essential to strengthen water supply planning and ensure long-term sustainable management. Gagrani added that the BMC remains committed to bridging the gap between water demand and supply through innovative technology and robust infrastructure investments.
30 January,2026 10:35 PM IST | MumbaiElectricity supply in several parts of Mumbai's Andheri West, Bandra West, Khar West, Juhu, Goregaon West, Malad West, and Kandivali West in western suburbs, was disrupted on Monday evening, leaving residents without power for nearly an hour. Internet services in the affected areas were also reportedly down. Dhaval Shah, president of the Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizens Association (LOCA), said, “The electricity went off around 7.20–7.30 pm, affecting the entire Lokhandwala area in Andheri West. The electricity supply has been restored in some buildings now. The supply company had assured that service would resume by 8.30 pm, but the cause of the outage was not specified.” SVP Nagar resident Sudhakar Ahire added, “I was told by the power supply company that the power supply has been disrupted in parts of Mumbai’s western suburbs due to some technical issue. They have begun work on a war footing to resolve the problem and restore electricity at the earliest.” Versova resident Hitendra Pachkale said, “There has been no electricity supply in my area since 7.30 pm. Seven Bungalows has also been affected. Residents contacted the power supply company, which assured us that electricity would be restored by 8.30 pm.” Residents in Goregaon reported a similar situation, with power and internet services down. Reacting to the outage, Varsha Gaikwad said, “This is a rare occurrence in Mumbai. I hope a proper investigation is undertaken to determine the cause so it doesn’t recur. I also hope alternate sources of power have been provided by the administration to emergency services like hospitals.” This is a rare occurrence in Mumbai. I hope proper investigation is undertaken to determine the cause so it doesn't recur again. Also hope that alternate sources of power have been provided by the administration to emergency services like hospitals etc. https://t.co/tdddlor7Qg — Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad (@VarshaEGaikwad) January 30, 2026 Meanwhile, Adani Electricity said the disruption was caused by a rare technical failure that triggered network protection systems. In a statement, the power distributor said restoration work began immediately, with around 50 per cent of supply restored within 30 minutes and nearly 90 per cent within an hour. The company said it regretted the inconvenience caused and thanked consumers for their patience. In a post on social media platform X, Adani Electricity wrote, "There is currently a power outage in the western parts of Mumbai due to a tripping issue. Our team is actively working to resolve the problem and restore the power supply as quickly as possible. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience and support during this time." #PowerOutageUpdate There is currently a power outage in the western parts of Mumbai due to a tripping issue. Our team is actively working to resolve the problem and restore the power supply as quickly as possible. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience… — Adani Electricity (@Adani_Elec_Mum) January 30, 2026
30 January,2026 10:31 PM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavThe Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has called a meeting of all its party legislators in Mumbai to decide on the further course of action following the demise of its chief and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister (CM) Ajit Pawar in a tragic air crash on Wednesday. According to party leaders, NCP will elect its legislative leader and also propose the name of Pawar’s wife, Sunetra, as the new leader, and urge her to take responsibility as Maharashtra’s Deputy CM. She would be the first woman to hold the post in the state. According to an official notice issued by the NCP legislature party office, the meeting of all Members of Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council will be held on Saturday at 2 pm in Vidhan Bhavan, Mumbai. The NCP has made it mandatory for its legislature members to attend the meeting. The notice, signed by NCP's Legislature Party leader and Maharashtra President Sunil Tatkare, however, does not specify the agenda for the meeting. It has been circulated to all legislators. Earlier, senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal said, “Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra Tai should take charge. There is nothing wrong with Sunetra Ajit Pawar taking charge as the Deputy Chief Minister. After all, everyone wants it to happen. In the legislative party leader meeting on Saturday, a final decision will be taken on this.” In fact, the veteran NCP leader claimed that if everything goes smoothly, one can even expect the swearing-in ceremony on Saturday itself. “As it is said, the show must go on,” Bhujbal added. mid-day, in its Friday edition, had reported that Sunetra Pawar is likely to take the Deputy CM’s post in the Devendra Fadnavis-led Mahayuti government. Ajit Pawar death: NCP MP holds meeting with CM Devendra Fadnavis Meanwhile, Tatkare, while speaking to the media in Mumbai, said that the Pawar family is occupied with religious rituals following the deputy CM’s death. “Once the rituals are completed, we will discuss the issue with all the family members of the Pawar clan,” Tatkare added. On Friday morning, Tatkare had a closed-door meeting with CM Fadnavis in Mumbai. Though there has been no official communication about the meeting, NCP sources claim that Fadnavis has agreed to stand firmly with any decision taken by the Pawar family and NCP. VIDEO | Nagpur: On the appointment of the Maharashtra Deputy CM, CM Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) said, “Whatever decision is taken will be taken by the Nationalist Congress Party. We will stand by the decision taken by the Nationalist Congress Party. Whether it is Ajit… pic.twitter.com/ZGK2XQJ1KC — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 30, 2026 Ajit Pawar was the leader of NCP’s Legislative Party and held crucial portfolios such as finance and planning, along with a few other departments. He died on Wednesday, January 28, in a plane crash near Baramati.
30 January,2026 10:14 PM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarSuburban rail services remain the lifeline of urban commuting in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), carrying the highest number of passengers and passenger-kilometres. Even as metro networks expand, suburban rail will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping the region’s mobility future. A multidisciplinary team from the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B) has launched a year-long study commissioned by Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC). The project aims to examine critical aspects of the suburban rail system’s economic and financial sustainability and develop a robust framework to ensure its long-term viability as a key urban transport mode in the MMR. This framework will guide proposals for infrastructure investments, operational logistics, and service enhancements. Mumbai local commuters invited to share feedback on rollout, fares, and accessibility Key focus areas include the proposed rollout of air-conditioned (AC) services over the next decade, which is expected to significantly improve service quality. The study will also address challenges such as fare structuring, accessibility for diverse user groups, and technical implementation—including phased deployment across Central and Western Railway lines, timetabling, and maintenance planning. “We seek inputs from all stakeholders, including commuters, on the evolving role of suburban rail in the MMR,” said a team member. Feedback can be shared at mrvproject@ee.iitb.ac.in." .
30 January,2026 10:03 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarNominations for Thane Municipal Corporation’s (TMC’s) mayoral and deputy mayoral elections were filed on Friday, the civic body said in a press release. Sharmila Rohit Pimpalolkar of Shiv Sena submitted her candidature for the mayor’s post, while Krishna Dadu Patil of the Bharatiya Janata Party filed his nomination for the deputy mayor’s post, TMC Secretary Manish Joshi stated. The nominations were filed in the presence of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena head Eknath Shinde, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, Member of Parliament (MP) Naresh Mhaske, legislator Niranjan Davkhare, along with party leaders and newly elected corporators. Thane mayoral elections to be held on February 3 The elections for the mayor and deputy mayor are scheduled to be held on February 3 at 11.30 am at the Bharat Ratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Hall on the second floor of the municipal building. Thane District Collector Dr Shrikrishnanath Panchal will preside over the proceedings as the returning officer.
30 January,2026 09:39 PM IST | MumbaiThe reconstruction of the Sion railway flyover is progressing as scheduled, with all works expected to be completed by July 15, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said on Friday. Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijeet Bangar inspected the project site on Thursday, reviewing the current status and outlining timelines for the remaining work. A foot overbridge is being used for east–west pedestrian movement, and one of the two public underpasses is likely to open in the next two weeks. “Work on the Sion flyover within railway limits, approach roads, and the two underpasses is being executed by BMC in coordination with the railway administration. The underpass on LBS (Lal Bahadur Shastri) Road is complete, and once operational, the pedestrian traffic on the western side of the railway bridge will be reorganised. Detailed planning for all four phases of work on the western side has been finalised, and these are expected to be completed by May 31, 2026,” Bangar said. He added that the eastern approach road will be handed over by the railways by May 31, after which remaining works will require an additional 30 to 45 days. “Considering this, the entire flyover project is expected to be completed and opened to traffic by July 15, 2026. Engineers and officials must remain on-site daily and resolve any issues immediately,” said Bangar. The work on the second underpass on the Dharavi side is progressing rapidly, BMC informed. Dismantling of the northern portion of the old railway bridge is complete, while work on the southern side has begun. Once half of the girder on the northern side is installed, the eastern approach will be transferred to BMC. Final girder installation by railway likely to be completed by May 31, says BMC The final girder installation by the railways is expected to be completed by May 31. Bangar emphasised the importance of availability of girders on schedule and urged both BMC and railway officials to work in close coordination to minimise inconvenience to commuters. The inspection was attended by BMC Chief Engineer (Bridges) Uttam Shrote, Deputy Chief Engineer (City) Rajesh Mulye, and Central Railway Deputy Chief Engineer (Construction) Rohit Mehla, along with other project engineers.
30 January,2026 07:36 PM IST | MumbaiLocal train services on Mumbai’s Central line were disrupted during the evening peak hours on Friday after a fire broke out next to the tracks between Kalwa and Thane stations, leading to heavy smoke and operational restrictions. The blaze was reported at around 5.27 pm in garbage accumulated in a drain beneath the railway tracks ahead of Kalwa station in Thane (West). Thick black smoke engulfed the tracks, creating hazardous conditions for train movement. In view of reduced visibility, a caution order was imposed, and local trains on the UP and DOWN Fast lines were instructed to proceed on hand signals until around 7.30 pm, affecting services on the Central line during the rush hour. Kalwa track fire doused at 7 pm Railway Police personnel, fire brigade teams, and staff from the Thane Municipal Corporation’s Disaster Management Cell doused the fire at 7 pm. No injuries were reported in the incident.
30 January,2026 07:23 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarThree Mumbai local commuters fell off a train onto the tracks at Sion station during the morning rush hour on Friday following a fight, prompting the railways to switch off power to save the passengers and stop other trains from running over them. The action affected the punctuality of trains on the Central Line. "Around 10 am, there was a fight between a few commuters, and in the melee, they fell off the CSMT (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus)-bound slow train, which had just started off from Sion station. The three passengers have been injured. Sion is a non-operating station without a station master. As we received information at the control room, we switched off the power for eight to nine minutes so that no other train comes from the opposite direction till the three were rescued," a Central Railway (CR) official said. Condition of passengers stable, says Central Railway "Three persons were injured at Sion station around 10 am. There was some quarrel among themselves and they had ended up falling down beside the CSMT-bound track in the station area of Sion station. The OHE (overhead equipment) of the CSMT-bound and Kalyan-bound track was turned off for the same. They were taken to hospital and all are stable as of now," an official statement said.
30 January,2026 06:45 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarADVERTISEMENT
