Mumbai Metro commuters on the Aqua Line faced delays of up to 20 minutes on Monday evening due to a technical problem, sources said. Around 5 pm, a door closure issue was reported at Worli and Bandra metro stations on the down line, causing trains to run late, they said. The ground staff at CSMT Metro station confirmed that the problem was later resolved. However, officials stated that it could take at least another hour before the train schedules are fully back on time. "Commuters are advised to plan their journeys accordingly," the officials said. Further details are awaited.
15 December,2025 06:39 PM IST | Mumbai | Ritika GondhalekarThe polling dates for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections 2026 have been released by the State Election Commission (SEC). The elections would be held in a single phase on January 15, 2026. The polling would be conducted on 227 wards in the Greater Mumbai region. The counting of votes and declaration of results will take place on January 16. The election code of conduct comes into effect from December 15, 2025. State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare and Secretary Suresh Kakani addressed a press conference at Sahyadari Guest House, Malabar Hill, on Monday at 4 pm. Nominations can be filed between December 23 and December 30, 2025, with the scrutiny of nominations scheduled for December 31. Candidates have until January 2, 2026, to withdraw their candidature, and the allotment of election symbols along with the publication of the final candidate list will take place on January 3, 2026. Twenty-eight of the 29 civic corporations are set to have multi-member wards. The voter turnout is expected to increase significantly by 3 crore 48 lakh. In Mumbai alone, there are 10,111 polling stations. Nomination forms for the elections will need to be submitted offline, as per the latest instructions from the State Election Commission. Earlier, on November 27, the Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) extended the deadlines for finalising voter lists in the 29 municipal corporations across the state. This move aims to provide additional time for voter verification and to ensure the accuracy of the electoral rolls. In the last civic election, in 2017, the undivided Shiv Sena retained its hold on one of the richest municipal corporations in Asia, winning 84 seats while the BJP and Congress bagged 82 and 31, respectively. Subsequently, six out of seven Maharashtra Navnirman Sena corporators joined the Shiv Sena. After the Shiv Sena split in 2022, around 26 former corporators who won in 2017 joined Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Sena faction. The term for elected Corporators in the BMC officially ended in March 2022, leading to the appointment of the Municipal Commissioner as administrator to run the city's affairs until new elections. The Supreme Court of India directed the State Election Commission to complete all local body elections by 31 January 2026, as the polls have been due since 2022. The estimated budget of the BMC for 2025-26 is Rs. 74,427 crore, and expenditure stands at Rs. 43,162 crore, representing 58 per cent of the total budget allocated to development projects. The BMC polls are expected to witness a direct contest between two major alliances in the state: the ruling Mahayuti and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). The Mahayuti, which currently governs Maharashtra, comprises the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, and the Ajit Pawar-led faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The main opposition alliance, the MVA, includes the Indian National Congress, the Shiv Sena faction led by Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray, and the Sharad Pawar-led faction of the NCP-SP. After remaining politically apart for nearly two decades, the Thackeray brothers, Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray, have reunited. The move is being seen as a significant development in Mumbai’s political landscape, with the alliance expected to reshape electoral dynamics in the civic polls.
15 December,2025 06:32 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe State Election Commission (SEC), Maharashtra, on Monday announced the detailed election programme for the general elections to 29 municipal corporations across the state, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The announcement follows directions issued by the Supreme Court in a batch of petitions, which mandate that elections to all local self-government bodies be completed by January 31, 2026, subject to the final outcome of the pending cases. In an official communication to all municipal corporation commissioners, the SEC said the ward structure and reservation process has been finalised, while final ward-wise voter lists were certified and published on December 15, 2025. Poll schedule According to the election programme: Polling will be held on January 15, 2026, from 7.30 am to 5.30 pm Counting of votes and declaration of results will take place on January 16, 2026 Results will be published in the Government Gazette by January 19, 2026 Separate schedules have been notified for 28 municipal corporations and the BMC, though the polling and counting dates remain the same. Nomination process The SEC clarified that nomination forms will be accepted through the traditional offline method only, with candidates required to submit printed forms along with affidavits and supporting documents within the prescribed time. Nomination forms will be issued from December 23 to December 30, 2025, excluding December 25 and December 28. Scrutiny of nominations will be conducted on December 31, while the last date for withdrawal of candidature is January 2, 2026. Election symbols will be allotted on January 3. Caste validity certificate provision Candidates contesting from reserved seats must submit caste and caste validity certificates. However, as per an amendment introduced through a government ordinance dated November 3, 2025, candidates who are unable to furnish a caste validity certificate at the time of filing nominations may submit an acknowledgement receipt instead. Such candidates must submit the caste validity certificate within six months of being elected, failing which their election will be cancelled with retrospective effect, the SEC said. Model code of conduct in force The model code of conduct has come into force with immediate effect and will remain applicable until the declaration of results. The code applies across all municipal corporation areas going to polls. The SEC has prohibited ministers, MPs, MLAs, corporators, and government departments from announcing or distributing freebies or taking any action that could influence voters during the election period. The SEC clarified that elections to all 29 municipal corporations will remain subject to the final decision of the Supreme Court in Special Leave Petition and other connected matters. Municipal commissioners have been directed to monitor court cases related to the elections and immediately inform the commission if any stay orders are issued. The complete election programme has been uploaded on the SEC's website: https://mahasec.maharashtra.gov.in, officials said.
15 December,2025 05:34 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra Minister Sanjay Shirsat on Monday claimed that the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) will face defeat in the upcoming BMC elections, alleging the party has lost both its organisational strength and public connect, reported the PTI. Speaking to reporters, Shirsat, who belongs to Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, said that the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction has been left without a functioning cadre. “They neither meet citizens nor support their own workers. Around 55–57 corporators elected earlier are now with us. They are struggling to even find candidates,” he claimed, according to the PTI. Mumbai Polls a fight for survival Calling the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election crucial, Shirsat said that it was the last major battle for the Uddhav Thackeray-led party. “This election will determine their very existence. It is hard to imagine where the party will stand after the polls,” he said. Criticism of Uddhav Thackeray’s priorities Shirsat accused Uddhav Thackeray of focusing on political posts rather than public issues. “He was more concerned about securing the Leader of Opposition post during the Maharashtra Assembly Winter Session than raising matters affecting ordinary people,” the minister said. High ticket demand in Mahayuti Commenting on local body polls across Maharashtra, Shirsat acknowledged intense competition for tickets within the ruling Mahayuti alliance, which includes the BJP and Ajit Pawar’s NCP. “Only one person can be given a ticket, so dissatisfaction is natural. Some leaders may go here and there, and we cannot stop them,” he said, the news agency reported on Monday. Responding to claims by Bahujan Vikas Aghadi leader Prakash Ambedkar that Eknath Shinde could return as chief minister, Shirsat said the issue was not relevant at present. “Any future decision will be taken collectively by the NDA and the Mahayuti,” he added, the news agency reported,. Former Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator Tejasvee Ghosalkar joins BJP Meanwhile, Tejasvee Ghosalkar joined the BJP on Monday in the presence of the party’s Mumbai president Ameet Satam and MLC Pravin Darekar. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Ghosalkar said she had worked sincerely in the Shiv Sena (UBT) and would now put in even greater effort for her new party.“I will accept any responsibility assigned to me by the party. There are many things I would like to say, but this is not the right time,” she said, according to the PTI. She also voiced disappointment over the slow progress of the investigation into the murder of her husband. “The CBI probe into my husband’s murder is moving at a slow pace. I hope it will be completed at the earliest,” she said. In September last year, the Bombay High Court transferred the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), citing lapses and unresolved aspects in the police inquiry. Ghosalkar served as a corporator of the then undivided Shiv Sena between 2017 and 2022. She later resigned from her positions in the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), citing personal reasons. (with PTI inputs)
15 December,2025 04:26 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn the wake of an alleged molestation of a young woman passenger by a Rapido bike rider in Kalyan, Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has called an urgent meeting of the motor vehicles department (MVD) to review the functioning of app-based bike taxi and cab aggregators operating in the state. According to officials, the emergency meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday at 10.30 am at the minister’s office in Mantralaya. Following the incident, Sarnaik has sought an explanation on why the temporary permits granted to app-based aggregators such as Rapido, Ola and Uber should not be cancelled, amid allegations that they are flouting transport regulations and operating illegal passenger services. The transport minister has directed the department to examine violations related to unauthorised passenger transport and take appropriate action in accordance with the law. He has also asked officials to review safety norms and regulatory compliance, particularly in view of concerns over passenger security. The minister’s move comes days after the Regional Transport Office (RTO) filed a case against Roppen Transport Pvt Ltd, which operates Rapido, for allegedly running illegal bike taxi services in Mumbai despite a government ban. mid-day.com had on December 5 reported that motor vehicle inspectors conducted a decoy operation in Nehru Nagar and Kurla by booking bike rides through the Rapido app to test the legality of the service. According to police, three bike taxis arrived as per the bookings and were fined Rs 10,000 under Sections 66 and 192 of the Motor Vehicles Act for operating without a valid permit, along with Section 142, which pertains to permanent disablement of vehicles. RTO files case against Rapido for operating illegal bike taxi services in Mumbai RTO officers have alleged that Rapido continues to operate without permission from the transport department, in violation of the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2020, and Section 66 of the Motor Vehicles Act, which prohibits private vehicles from carrying passengers for hire. Officers have also raised concerns over passenger safety, especially for women, noting that drivers are not subjected to mandatory character verification or security checks. Officers said the upcoming review meeting will focus on enforcement gaps, legality of bike taxi services, and measures required to ensure commuter safety. Further action is expected after the review, based on the findings and explanations submitted by the department.
15 December,2025 04:20 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe VB Nagar police have now added additional charges of attempt to murder and rioting in the case of a 21-year-old man who was allegedly beaten and set on fire by his childhood friends during his birthday celebration in the early hours of November 25. The five accused, all aged between 18 and 21, have been booked under Section 109 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with provisions related to unlawful assembly and rioting, police said. The case relates to an incident in which five youths allegedly dragged their 21-year-old childhood friend, Abdul Khan, out of his residence, assaulted him with stones and wooden sticks, and set his clothes on fire during his birthday celebration in the early hours of November 25. Earlier, at the time of registration of the FIR, police had invoked only Section 110 of the BNS (attempt to commit culpable homicide), which carries a maximum punishment of three years’ imprisonment. Police said the decision to add the more stringent charge of attempt to murder, which attracts imprisonment of up to 10 years and a fine, was taken after the victim gave an additional statement, citing the extent of the injuries he continues to suffer. “It was the victim’s insistence, coupled with the medical assessment of his burn injuries, that led to the additional sections in the FIR,” a police official said. The victim’s supplementary statement was submitted through his lawyers, advocate Mahesh Vinod Rajpopat and advocate Akshit Devendra Kothari, who appeared before the court on his behalf as complainants. Five accuses arrested The five accused — Ayaz Malik, Ayan Malik, Salman Chaudhary, Ajjubaila Khan and Sarif Shaikh, aged between 18 and 21 — were earlier arrested immediately after filing the FIR. The accused and the victim, Abdul Khan, were childhood friends who grew up in the same locality. According to the police, the accused reached Khan’s residence around midnight with a cake to celebrate his birthday. Shortly after stepping out of the building following the celebration, a sudden quarrel broke out. During interrogation, the accused claimed the incident occurred while they were “having fun”, describing it as “masti masti mein”. Police, however, said the exact trigger for the assault was initially unclear. Further interrogation of the accused and a detailed statement recorded from the victim later revealed what police described as a deep-seated motive driven by jealousy and resentment. The police official investigating the case said that Khan was considered the most good-looking among the group and often received attention from women, which allegedly irked the accused. Police further asserted that one of the accused was particularly upset after a woman he was interested in rejected him and showed a preference for Khan. “This anger built up over time. The intention was to disfigure him by setting him on fire so that he would become less approachable to women,” a police official said, adding that this established a clear motive and intent behind the brutal assault. The attack allegedly began around 12:10 am, when the group dragged Khan outside his home, assaulted him with stones and wooden sticks, and set his clothes on fire using a lighter. Two of the accused allegedly ignited his clothes, while the others continued beating him, police said. As flames spread across his chest, arms and face, Khan screamed for help and ran towards a nearby water tap. Neighbours rushed him to the hospital, where he is still undergoing treatment for serious burn injuries.
15 December,2025 02:09 PM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya IyerFormer Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator Tejasvee Ghosalkar joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in Mumbai on Monday, ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. Tejasvee Ghosalkar, who had served as the Sena (UBT) women's wing head in the Dahisar assembly constituency in north Mumbai, is the daughter-in-law of former MLA Vinod Ghosalkar. #WATCH | Mumbai, Maharashtra: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and former BMC Corporater Tejasvee Abhishek Ghosalkar joins BJP. She is the wife of UBT leader Abhishek Ghosalkar who was murdered in his office by one Maurice Bhai. Senior UBT leader and former MLA Vinod Ghosalkar is her… pic.twitter.com/vsQogzmGWQ — ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2025 Her husband, Abhishek Ghosalkar, was shot dead in early 2024 during a Facebook Live, allegedly by local resident Morris Noronha. Abhishek was also a former corporator of the BMC. She joined the BJP on Monday in the presence of its Mumbai chief Ameet Satam and party MLC Pravin Darekar. I will accept any responsibility given to me by BJP: Tejasvee Ghosalkar Later, speaking to reporters, Tejasvee Ghosalkar said she had worked diligently in the Shiv Sena (UBT) and would now work harder in her new party. "I will accept any responsibility given to me by the party. There are many things I wish to say, but I cannot do so at the moment," she said, reported PTI. She also expressed disappointment over the slow pace of the investigation into the murder of her husband. "The CBI probe into my husband's murder is moving at a slow pace. I hope it will be completed at the earliest," she said, reported PTI. In September last year, the Bombay High Court handed over the probe into the murder to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), underlining certain lapses and loose ends in the police probe. Tejasvee Ghosalkar was a corporator of the (then undivided) Shiv Sena from 2017 to 2022. She had quit her posts in the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena (UBT), citing personal reasons. Differences surfaced between her and her father-in-law during the state assembly elections last year, as both wanted to contest from Dahisar. Vinod Ghosalkar eventually contested the seat on the Sena(UBT) ticket but lost to BJP's Manisha Chaudhary. The latest dispute pertains to the upcoming BMC elections. While Tejasvee Ghosalkar apparently wanted to contest from ward number one in Dahisar, her father-in-law was keen that his second son contest from the seat, sources told PTI. The schedule for polls to various civic bodies, including the cash-rich BMC, has not yet been announced. Elections to the local bodies in Maharashtra are to be completed by January 31, 2026, as per the Supreme Court's order. (With inputs from PTI)
15 December,2025 02:02 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Shiv Sena (UBT) on Monday accused the BJP-led Mahayuti government in Maharashtra of being engrossed in self-celebration and political self-interest even as the state grapples with an alarming rise in cases of missing girls, reported news agency IANS. In a scathing editorial in the party mouthpiece Saamana, the Thackeray camp alleged that the government machinery is being diverted to protect “traitors” and serve a handful of cronies, while public safety -- particularly that of women and girls -- has been pushed to the margins. Terming the Chief Minister Fadnavis’ recent announcement on the establishment of a grand Global Capability Centre in Powai, Mumbai, a “celebratory move”, Thackeray camp claimed it stands in stark contrast to a deeply alarming crisis gripping the state -- the rising number of missing girls, especially from the very city where the new centre is planned. The issue has prompted concerns about the government's priorities and the effectiveness of welfare schemes like the 'Ladki Bahin' Yojana, reported IANS. The Thackeray camp alleged that the government is not at all serious about the safety of mothers, sisters, daughters, and daughters-in-law. “You get Rs 1500 per month under the Ladki Bahin Yojana, take that and keep quiet. Don't utter a word about kidnapping, atrocities, or security. The government is engrossed in its own revelry, but if the public also sits silent and apathetic, the destruction of Maharashtra will not take long; in fact, the destruction has already begun,” it warned, reported IANS. According to the editorial, the Ladki Bahin Yojana was rolled out ahead of the state Assembly elections to garner votes. The editorial also referred to cash transfers announced before the Bihar elections, alleging a pattern of “vote-buying” through financial incentives. "In Maharashtra, beneficiaries of the Ladki Bahin scheme receive Rs 1500 per month, and the Chief Minister says he will soon increase it to Rs 2100 for political gain. However, the government that buys the votes of the 'Beloved Sisters' by giving only Rs 1500 has failed to secure their safety in the state," the editorial alleged, reported IANS. “Exploitation of girls is happening in ashram schools, hostels, but now the rate of girls disappearing from Mumbai, including the rest of Maharashtra, has increased,” it remarked. Maharashtra failing to protect girls, alleges Shiv Sena (UBT) The editorial has highlighted a severe failing in maintaining law and order, particularly regarding the safety of women and girls. “Once considered the safest city for women in India, life for girls and women in Mumbai has become difficult since the Shinde-Fadnavis government took power, with rising cases of atrocities and abductions. Mumbai Police records show 1187 cases of kidnapping of minor girls registered in the last ten months. An average of five to six girls are missing from Mumbai every day. About 136 cases of girls' kidnapping were recorded in just the last 30 days. The situation is reportedly no different in Pune and Nashik,” said the editorial, reported IANS. Further, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena claimed the problem is especially acute in North Maharashtra, with Nandurbar district registering the highest rate of missing girls. It has cited two main causes, including enticement and abduction and economic distress for the girls going missing, with many being traced to the neighbouring states like Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. "Girls are either lured away or directly kidnapped. Driven by extreme poverty and hardship, girls are leaving the state on their own in search of employment. This is a shameful situation for the government," it said, reported IANS. (With inputs from IANS)
15 December,2025 12:19 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAs many as 11,827 pending e-challan cases have been settled by the Lok Adalat in Thane and fines of Rs 1.32 crore deposited in court, officials said on Monday, reported news agency PTI. Under the Motor Vehicles Act, traffic violators are issued e-challans, which are sent directly to their mobile phones, and cases are filed against those who ignore payments, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Pankaj Shirsat said, reported PTI. Following an appeal by the Thane city transport department, vehicle owners were offered an opportunity to clear the outstanding fines. The Lok Adalat was held on Saturday, and 11,827 cases were settled and fines of Rs 1.32 crore were collected, the official said, reported PTI. The drive aimed at resolving long-pending cases against motorists who had failed to pay fines imposed for traffic rule violations. "The Lok Adalat is not only a penal measure but also an awareness initiative to encourage citizens to follow traffic rules, reduce accidents and avoid the burden of fines," Shirsat added. Maharashtra departments default on utilisation certificates, rushed spending in March: CAG Meanwhile, several departments of the Maharashtra government have failed to submit utilisation certificates (UCs) for grants-in-aid of thousands of crores, even as they rushed to incur a bulk of their expenditure in the closing month of 2024-25, says CAG, reported PTI. The Housing Department figured prominently on both counts. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report tabled on the last day of the state legislature's winter session on Sunday stated that non-submission of UCs under the Bombay Financial Rules, 1959, carries the risk that amounts reflected in the Finance Accounts may not have reached the intended beneficiaries, reported PTI. As on March 31, 2025, UCs of Rs 1,77,319.84 crore related to 52,876 cases were outstanding. During 2024-25, the government cleared UCs amounting to Rs 1,37,222.25 crore in about 40,047 cases, the report said, reported PTI. Among the major defaulters, the Urban Development Department led with pending UCs of Rs 11,040 crore, followed by the Planning Department (Rs 5,805 crore), Water Resources Department (Rs 3,602 crore), Housing Development Department (Rs 2,839 crore) and Social Justice and Special Assistance Department (Rs 2,640 crore). The audit also flagged a rush of expenditure in March 2025, in contravention of the Bombay Financial Rules, which advise against bunching of spending at the end of the financial year. It said 18 departments incurred expenditure exceeding Rs 100 crore in March alone, accounting for more than 25 per cent of their total annual spending. The Housing Department recorded the sharpest year-end surge, with 90 per cent of its total expenditure incurred in March, followed by the Environment and Climate Change Department (77 per cent), Planning Department (65 per cent), Minorities Development Department (53 per cent) and Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department (50 per cent), the CAG said, reported PTI. (With inputs from PTI)
15 December,2025 11:49 AM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentA 50 per cent water cut has been imposed across Thane city until December 19, 2025, following damage to a major water pipeline during the Mahanagar Gas works at Kalyan Phata. According to officials, a 1,000-mm-diameter water pipeline that carries water from the Pise Bandhara to the Temghar Water Treatment Plant—one of the key sources supplying water to Thane city—was damaged at four to five locations on December 11, 2025. Repair work on the affected pipeline is currently underway on a war footing. The Thane Municipal Corporation's (TMC) Water Supply Department said that while efforts are being made to complete the repairs at the earliest, the pipeline is old and made of pre-stressed concrete, which has made the restoration process more time-consuming. The repair work is expected to take approximately four more days to complete. In view of the reduced water availability, the civic administration has implemented a 50 per cent cut in water supply across Thane city. To ensure equitable distribution, water will be supplied to different areas for 12 hours a day through a zonal distribution system until December 19. As a result, residents may receive water in limited quantities and at irregular intervals. The civic body has appealed to citizens to use water judiciously and extend cooperation to the municipal corporation during the repair period. Thane civic body begins drive to recover Rs 250 crore in pending water bills Earlier, the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) had launched a major drive to recover unpaid water bills amounting to around Rs 250 crore, officials said. Of the total dues, Rs 92.28 crore are pending arrears, while Rs 157.8 crore pertain to the current financial year. Municipal Commissioner Saurabh Rao has instructed the water supply department to ensure 100 per cent recovery within this fiscal. Since April, the civic body has already recovered Rs 43 crore, about 18 per cent of the total amount, under the ongoing campaign. As part of the recovery efforts, the TMC has begun disconnecting water connections, seizing motor pumps, and sealing meter rooms across all wards. Officials warned that users who reconnect their supply without clearing dues will face legal action.
15 December,2025 11:33 AM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentEvery day without fail from 4.30 pm to 8 pm, Bharat Panchal, 85, mans his ‘post’ at Thakur Complex signal on the Western Express Highway in Kandivli East, managing traffic, preventing vehicles from entering the wrong lane, and urging motorists to wear helmets and seatbelts. Panchal, who claims he isn’t on any medication despite his advanced age, attributes his fitness to his volunteerism and says his only aim is to ensure that people follow traffic rules. The octogenarian resides with his wife in the Highway Park building at Thakur Complex in Kandivli East. Traffic police personnel, tea sellers, coconut vendors, and residents support Panchal daily by offering him tea and coconuts. The traffic police have also felicitated Panchal with gifts in appreciation of his remarkable work. Panchal said, “I have been doing this work for several years only to ensure everyone follows traffic rules. Nobody should break signals, as it increases the chances of accidents. I always carry a whistle and a torch. The traffic police have offered me a green reflector jacket, but I refused.” “I want to stay healthy forever, and that is why I chose this way of life. Managing traffic allows me to communicate with people, meet new faces daily, educate citizens about traffic rules, and prevent vehicles from entering the wrong lane,” Panchal explained. Panchal further said, “Because of this work, I am fit and fine. I have dedicated my life to helping the police manage traffic, and I will continue to do so. Many years ago, I noticed that the Thakur Complex junction on the Western Express Highway was always congested due to traffic violations. That is when I decided to take responsibility. I do not take money from any department for this work. It is my passion, hobby, and dream. In return, I receive love and respect from citizens. The traffic police also support me.” Cop Speak Senior Inspector Jagdish Bhopale of the Kandivli Traffic Division said, “Bharat Panchal is doing excellent work by managing traffic at this signal entirely on his own. We have informed him that it can be risky because vehicles travel at high speed on the highway, but he insists he is doing this so everyone follows traffic rules. The traffic division also presented him with a gift this Diwali. Very few people in Mumbai do such selfless work. Despite his age, Panchal’s energy is like that of a young man. We fully support him. We also offered him the role of a traffic warden, but he refused as he does not want any monetary benefit. We are fortunate to have Panchal at this junction, where he continues to do commendable work every day.” Traffic volunteer Bharat Panchal in action at the Thakur Complex signal on the Western Express Highway in Kandivli East. Pics/Shirish Vaktania Constable Sandip Jadhav of the Kandivli Traffic Division said, “I see this gentleman at his spot every day. He helps us regularly. I usually give him water and biscuits. I feel good seeing the fantastic work he does assisting the traffic police. We have told him several times that managing traffic is a tough and risky job, but he insists that he wants to do it for the greater good.” Constable Sunil Dabhade said, “I salute Panchal. He told me that he had received training at the Tardeo RTO office. We do not have official records confirming whether he worked with the RTO earlier, but his work is excellent. He works with the energy of a young man. Citizens also listen to him, and traffic violations at this junction have reduced because of his presence.” 3.5 hrsLength of Bharat Panchal’s daily ‘shift’
15 December,2025 11:33 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirish VaktaniaADVERTISEMENT
