Traffic on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway was restored early on Thursday morning after a massive gridlock that lasted nearly 36 hours, following an accident involving a chemical tanker carrying highly flammable propylene gas near the Adoshi tunnel in the Khandala ghat section. The incident led authorities to completely halt traffic as a precautionary measure due to a gas leak, resulting in long queues of vehicles stretching up to 25 km and leaving lakhs of commuters stranded since Tuesday evening. Clearance and gas-transfer operations were completed around 4.15 am on Thursday, after which traffic movement towards Pune resumed smoothly. However, minor congestion persisted on the Pune–Mumbai carriageway near the accident spot. Mumbai–Pune Expressway traffic jam: Thousands stranded without basic facilities Thousands of stranded motorists faced severe hardship during the prolonged jam, reporting acute shortages of food, drinking water and toilet facilities, with many families, senior citizens and patients forced to spend the night inside their vehicles. Emergency teams, traffic police and chemical experts worked round the clock to safely neutralise the situation and clear the highway, after which authorities said traffic conditions were gradually returning to normal.
05 February,2026 11:24 AM IST | Mumbai | Archana DahiwalMumbai weather is expected to be slightly hazy conditions during the morning hours on Thursday, with visibility likely to improve as the day progresses. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the sky will remain mainly clear from the afternoon through the evening, allowing temperatures to rise steadily. The maximum temperature is likely to hover around 34 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature is expected to be around 19 degrees Celsius, indicating warm daytime conditions with relatively cooler early mornings. The combination of morning haze and clear skies later in the day is typical of the ongoing winter transition period, with no significant change in weather conditions anticipated over the next 24 hours. Data from the Sameer app indicated that the overall air quality index (AQI) in Mumbai stood at 128 on Thursday, placing it in the ‘moderate’ category. Pollution levels varied significantly across locations, with Bandra-Kurla Complex recording an AQI of 140, Borivali East 94, Byculla 141, Andheri East 157, Chembur 115, Colaba 118, and Kandivali East 132. Ghatkopar registered an AQI of 148, Kandivali East 132, Malad West 152, and Mazgaon 132, Mumbai is likely to witness moderate air quality across the city today, with hazy conditions during the morning hours. Skies are expected to gradually clear by the evening, bringing improved visibility later in the day. Delhi's air quality improves slightly, AQI remains in 'poor' category at 275 The national capital saw a little improvement in air quality on Thursday morning, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at around 7 am recorded at 275. However, it remained in the 'poor' category, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Air quality improved compared to Wednesday, when the AQI was over 312. Despite this improvement, a thin layer of smog persists in parts of the city, and overall air quality remains poor. According to CPCB data, several areas in the capital recorded the 'very poor' air quality, including Anand Vihar (332), Bawana (306), Ashok Vihar (320), Dwarka Sector 8 (328), RK Puram (314), Rohini (322) and Patparganj (307).However, some areas of the city had better air quality than others. For instance, Aya Nagar recorded an AQI of 214, Chandni Chowk (218), and Sonia Vihar (299) experienced improved air quality, though the levels still fell within the 'poor' category. Light rain brings slight AQI relief to Delhi, air quality still ‘poor’ As per AQI classification, a reading between 0 and 50 is 'good', 51 to 100 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor' and 401 to 500 'severe'. The IMD stated that the rainfall signalled the beginning of an active weather phase, with thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds, and hail likely to affect several states during the day. Light rain lashed several parts of the city and adjoining NCR areas in the early morning hours. (With inputs from ANI)
05 February,2026 11:03 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe ongoing high-profile Kala Ghoda Arts Festival (KGAF) has been hit by a controversial curveball. Festival organisers have cancelled an event/discussion titled ‘Incarcerated: Tales from Behind Bars.’ This discussion was scheduled for today (Thursday) evening and featured journalist and writer Neeta Kolhatkar, author of the book The Feared: Conversations with Eleven Political Prisoners, and activist Anand Teltumde. The event has been reportedly cancelled on orders of the Mumbai Police. Teltumde was implicated in the Bhima Koregaon case in 2018 and spent over 2.5 years in prison. He has a recently published book called The Cell and the Soul: Prison Memoir (2025). Teltumde and Kolhatkar were supposed to be speaking to editor and writer Naresh Fernandes, who was the event moderator. Kolhatkar said, “The commonality between both speakers was the prison experience, incarceration. I cannot fathom how we can cancel events like this and be called a democracy. All social media posts related to the event are also ordered to be taken down. There have been so many accounts published on incarceration. Right-wing trolls on social media have been branding me an 'Urban Naxal'. You may differ from my views, but how dare you call me names? How dare you label me?” A festival spokesperson said, “The safety of Kala Ghoda is of utmost importance. I would not like to comment on this.” Fernandes reacted, “I am surprised at this decision by the police. Especially since Teltumde has spoken out on different platforms about his book. He writes three columns a month in different papers. He is a public intellectual with an equal emphasis on both words and certainly not a Naxalite or Maoist. He has spoken often that he has never been for violence.” The festival, which began on January 31, will run till February 8.
05 February,2026 10:48 AM IST | Mumbai | Hemal AsharA 21-year-old undergraduate student of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay was found dead on the Powai campus in the early hours of Wednesday, February 4. Police have launched an inquiry to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident. According to officials, the student was found in an injured condition near a hostel building around 1.30 am and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival. Preliminary investigations suggest that the student may have fallen from the terrace of a hostel building. The exact sequence of events, however, is yet to be determined. The deceased hailed from Pilani, Rajasthan. The Powai police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) and are recording statements from hostel residents, security personnel, and the student’s friends. No suicide note has been recovered so far, police said. Further clarity is expected after the post-mortem examination and analysis of other evidence. “The autopsy has been scheduled for Thursday, February 5, as the family is expected to arrive. Forensic surgeons at the Rajawadi postmortem centre have been requested to defer the procedure until then,” a hospital source said. The incident has cast a pall of gloom over the campus, with students expressing shock over the sudden loss. “It is deeply disturbing and heartbreaking to lose one of our peers. We are trying to support each other during this difficult time,” said a postgraduate student. The institute has not issued an official statement yet. Past tragedy In another incident, on August 2, a Delhi-based master’s student had allegedly died by suicide on the institute’s premises. Help available Samaritans Mumbai (Mon-Fri, 10 am-4 pm)8422984527 Connecting NGO (10 am-8 pm)9922004305 9922001122 Snehi (10 am-10 pm)9376804102 Ankahee (4 pm-10 pm)8655486966 iCALL (Mon-Sat, 10 am-8 pm)9152987821 Hitguj (24x7)022 24131212 1 Life7893078930 Aasra9820466726 With inputs by Aditi Alurkar
05 February,2026 09:03 AM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya IyerIn a ruling hailed by legal experts as a landmark, the Maharashtra Real Estate Appellate Tribunal (MahaREAT) has dismissed an appeal filed by a homebuyer against Kanakia Spaces Realty Pvt Ltd, holding that an unsigned and unnotarized appeal uploaded online cannot be treated as a valid filing for the purpose of statutory limitation. The bench relied on forensic analysis of server records and defence evidence to pass the order. The ruling, delivered on January 29, 2026, in Miscellaneous Application No 751 of 2025 (Anubhav Virmani v. Kanakia Spaces Realty Pvt Ltd), is being viewed as a significant precedent on the use and misuse of digital filing systems in real estate disputes. Background of the dispute The case arose from a complaint filed by flat purchaser Anubhav Virmani before the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA), which was dismissed as premature on January 30, 2025. Under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, the statutory deadline to challenge the order before MahaREAT expired on March 30, 2025. Virmani claimed that he filed his appeal online on April 8, 2025, attributing the eight-day delay to frequent professional travel between Mumbai, Gurugram, Jaipur, and Indore. He accordingly sought condonation of this limited delay. Serious filing irregularities During the proceedings, MahaREAT found that the appeal uploaded on April 8, 2025, was unsigned, unverified, and unnotarized. Tribunal records revealed that the appeal was actually notarised and formally executed only on August 4, 2025, resulting in a delay of 125 days, not eight as claimed by the appellant. Significantly, during oral arguments, the appellant’s counsel admitted on record that an incomplete and unsigned appeal had been uploaded earlier. This admission proved decisive. Developer’s defence Kanakia Spaces Realty Pvt Ltd, represented by Advocate Vinod Talreja, filed a detailed reply contending that the April upload was a “shell document” intended solely to generate a misleading filing date. The developer challenged the credibility of the travel-based explanation, pointing to long and unexplained periods of inactivity, including: January 30 to February 7, 2025 (nine days), and February 26 to March 30, 2025 (33 days). It was further argued that digital tools such as e-signatures, email, and video conferencing were readily available. The defence also noted that the appellant’s office in BKC and his lawyer’s chamber in Andheri fell along his regular commute, rendering the travel excuse implausible. The defence relied on multiple Supreme Court judgments, including State of Madhya Pradesh v. Ramkumar Choudhary (2024), Union of India v. Jahangir Jeejeebhoy (2024), and Basawaraj v. Special Land Acquisition Officer (2013), to establish that negligence, lack of bona fides, or deliberate concealment cannot be condoned. Tribunal’s findings Despite MahaREAT’s reputation for being purchaser-friendly, the bench conducted a forensic examination of server logs, notarization dates, payment receipts, and uploaded documents. It concluded that a legally valid filing occurred only on August 4, 2025, Advocate Talreja pointed out. Advocate Vinod Talreja. Pic/By Special Arrangement In unusually strong language, the Tribunal held that the appellant “did not come before this Tribunal with clean hands,” attempted to mislead the court, and that condoning such conduct would create a “dangerous precedent.” Rejecting reliance on a blanket liberal approach to condonation of delay, the bench clarified that judicial discretion cannot override statutory limitation where bad faith and procedural abuse are evident. It warned that permitting unsigned appeals to be regularised months later would encourage litigants to upload incomplete documents merely to secure earlier filing dates. Final order The Tribunal dismissed the application for condonation of delay and rejected the appeal as time-barred, holding that the actual delay was 125 days. Broader implications Legal experts say the ruling will have wide-ranging consequences for real estate litigation and digital court processes: >> Integrity of e-filing systems: Unsigned or unnotarized documents cannot be used to backdate filings.>> Limitation law reaffirmed: Statutory deadlines remain binding, even in consumer disputes.>> Balanced adjudication: The order underscores judicial neutrality in builder–buyer cases.>> Professional accountability: The ruling highlights the consequences of procedural misconduct.>> Public confidence: The judgment reassures litigants that digital filings will face strict scrutiny. The MahaREAT ruling in Virmani v. Kanakia Spaces Realty is expected to serve as a national reference point on limitation, digital filing discipline, and ethical litigation. Legal commentators describe it as a defining judgment in the era of electronic court processes, signalling that attempts to manipulate digital filings will not be tolerated. Advocate Vinod Talreja said the decision reinforces the principle that consumer protection must operate alongside procedural and ethical rigour, ensuring that digital tools strengthen rather than undermine the justice delivery system.
05 February,2026 09:01 AM IST | Mumbai | Vinod Kumar MenonEnvironmentalist Stalin D from NGO Vanashakti has issued a legal notice to the Mangrove Cell and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) over permissions granted for mangrove cutting for the Versova-Bhayandar Coastal Road project. The project work, he claims, was allowed despite the absence of mandatory clearances. Stalin D issued a legal notice on February 3, claiming the sanction violates Section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, and the Bombay High Court order dated December 12, 2025. Stalin D has sent the email to the Principal Secretary Forest, Mangrove Cell, Principal Secretary of the Environment Department, municipal commissioner, and Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, requesting work be stopped and issues with the mitigation measures be rectified. The activist alleged work is being done without necessary permissions “All of you are parties to the permissions and work undertaken for the coastal road project. There are news reports that state permission for tree felling has been given. We wish to inform you about the irregularities/illegalities,” read Stalin D’s notice. He alleged that work within mangrove areas has progressed substantially on the ground. “I visited the site at Malad Creek in Malwani and was shocked to see a kilometre-long road already made. This work cannot and could not have been done after the order of the Bombay High Court passed in December. It is very evident that the court orders were taken for granted and work undertaken without permissions,” said Stalin D. Further, he alleged that Phase 2 permissions for the project have not been obtained to date. “Even if one were to consider the fact that an exception has been made for a linear project, work of construction cannot commence without the final clearance. Why was the high court not informed that the project lacked necessary clearances and also fulfilment of the conditions under the Forest Conservation Act while seeking permission from the court? Further, the conditions for linear projects also mention that land admeasuring three times the size of the land being diverted for the project must be afforested and transferred in the name of the forest department and given ‘reserve forests’ status,” Stalin D said. The dug-up area near Malad Creek at Malvani According to Stalin D, the land being shown as compensation happens to be in Survey No. 342 in Vihirgaon near Tadoba in Chandrapur district. In his email to authorities, he also attached the 7x12 extract of the site and alleged that the said land is already in the forest department’s name, earmarked for firewood and grazing. “How will the saplings survive, and how will the trees on the land be protected? Isn’t this an abuse of the process of law?” he questioned. The other site in Bhayandar, where one lakh saplings are to be planted, also bears Survey No. 342. “The site at Bhayandar has been afforested by the Mangrove cell in 2022. Satellite imagery confirms this. There is hardly any space left for plantation. Further, land records show the site is jointly owned by the salt department, state forest department, and the Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC). Areas under MBMC seem to be marshes/inter-tidal mudflats next to the creek. This area is available for plantation, but the land is also sought by MBMC to develop a of a waterfront. How will mangroves be protected? The mitigation steps are an eyewash,” Stalin D said. Points raised by Stalin D Stalin D, environmentalist >> Mangroves are coastal forests; how does their ecosystem get compensated for by planting trees in Chandrapur in mountainous regions?>> Is there no land available along the Mumbai or Mumbai Metropolitan Region coast that can compensate for the loss of the coastal forests?>> Why is there such a lack of application of mind and scientific approach in the process of undertaking these projects?>> Please share details of the land parcels surveyed along the Mumbai shoreline before a decision was taken to move to Palghar and Chandrapur ‘Making false claims’ “The forest department claims work at Malwani is only for a sewage treatment plant, but the photographs from the site clearly suggest otherwise. In any case, the forest department could not have given any approval for cutting mangroves without Stage-II clearance. The BMC alone is responsible for the loss of nearly 1.6 lakh mangroves, and the pace at which mangroves are being destroyed, Mumbai should be worried that little will be left of its coastal forests,” said Stalin D.
05 February,2026 08:36 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavStudents residing at the Nair Hospital Dental College hostel have raised serious concerns over unhygienic living conditions, alleging that the situation has continued for over eight days without effective intervention. “For more than a week, no staff came to clean our rooms, the premises, or collect garbage. The stench became unbearable. Despite repeatedly approaching the dean, it was only after a week, on Wednesday, February 4, that staff came and merely collected the garbage bags we had kept outside our rooms,” said a student. Another student added that the rooms are still unclean. “We are unaware of the exact reason why cleaning was not carried out for so many days.” Calling the situation distressing, a student said that living amid filth in a medical institution is unacceptable and adversely affects physical health, mental well-being, and academic performance. Responding to the allegations, hospital authorities said the issue arose due to a strike by contract-based cleaning staff. “For the past few days, contract cleaning staff have been on strike. When we asked hospital cleaning staff to clean the hostel, they were threatened by contract workers and prevented from doing so. As a result, we approached the BMC headquarters today and explained the situation. Senior officials have assured us they will visit the hostel and resolve the issue concerning the contract staff,” said Dr Mala Dixit, dean, Nair Dental Medical College.
05 February,2026 08:31 AM IST | Mumbai | Ritika GondhalekarWorth the salt A Great Egret fishes for worms in the saltpans of Bhayander as the setting sun paints the waters a dark shade of orange Pink carpet ride Cyclists under the Pink Trumpet trees. PIC COURTESY/CHIRAG SHAH The Pink Trumpet flowers along the Eastern Express Highway are drawing in some unlikely visitors to local cyclists’ usual route. Chirag Shah (below), who led his group Wheels & Barrels on a ride early morning on Wednesday shared, “We were surprised to see children, families and photographers by the dozen along the route. The cherry on top was a couple who showed up for a pre-wedding shoot under the picturesque trees. The craze is unprecedented. We’re hoping at least some of them return in running gear or on wheels soon. The Vikhroli stretch of the highway is an excellent running track. One of the best you’ll see in Mumbai.” Pardon meow French Cats at the Versova café; a message is placed in the litterbox scoop; the note is tossed in the bin. PICS COURTESY/CAT CAFE STUDIO Revenge will be served cold (and stinky) this Valentine’s Day, thanks to the cats of Versova. A unique initiative by the Cat Café Studio is looking for heartbroken lovers who have unvoiced hate messages for their toxic ex-lovers. Team member Pooja Iyer (above) revealed that the messages will be written down on notes, and carefully placed on freshly collected piles of cat poop from the litterbox, before being ceremoniously tossed in the trash. “We have received some hilarious messages from across age groups. ‘To the epic sh*t we did together’, ‘Rot in the bin, a**hole’, ‘For your disappearing act’, ‘Thank you for leaving. It’s the best thing that’s happened to me’, ‘Wish you a very stinky Valentine’s Day’ are some of the more memorable ones,” she revealed. The cat-hartic release comes at a cost: A R100 fee that will go towards the welfare of the cats. Those keen to participate can log on to @catcafestudio. “We’ll send you a video of the complete act so you can rewatch it on bad days,” Iyer assured us. Lost your horse, sir? Amit Kumar Sharma promotes his film onboard the local train This diarist had to rub his eyes in disbelief when a bridegroom dressed in full desi wedding attire, complete with a garland of currency notes, politely asked to sit next to us on a local train. Were we witnessing a runaway groom on the loose? Or had we inadvertently become part of a Bollywood rom-com shoot? Our fellow commuters seemed equally perplexed. The suspense finally broke when he pulled out a signboard — a plea to watch his new film 1982 A Love Marriage. Turns out it was actor Amit Kumar Sharma promoting his new independent budget flick. Come to think of it, we wouldn’t be surprised if grooms started ditching horses for fast locals, given the state of Mumbai’s roads and streets. When the master artist was in Mumbai (From left) Sunil Chauhan gives Gurcharan Singh a walkthrough at the Kala Ghoda gallery. PIC COURTESY/SUAN ARTLAND GALLERY It is a special day when a modern master casually walks through the lanes of Kala Ghoda. For gallerist Sunil Chauhan, it was such a moment when artist Gurcharan Singh walked through the doors of Suan Artland located in the art district on Monday. “I had invited him to the opening day of the exhibition, Nature Scapes by Bengaluru-based artist Vaman Pai. Unfortunately, he could not make it, and dropped by when he passed by the gallery on Monday,” Chauhan shared. The courtesy call aside, the 77-year-old master might have his own reasons. “He mentioned in passing that he is planning a large-scale exhibition in Mumbai later this year,” the gallerist revealed. Suffice to say, we shall be ready for it.
05 February,2026 08:27 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-dayAfter a long-standing battle, the people affected by the Elphinstone Bridge demolition finally received allotment letters to their new homes from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) on January 22, but only to face more troubles. As many as 13 of 23 families of Haji Noorani, one of the two buildings from where residents were supposed to be displaced, have raised various concerns regarding the houses provided to them. From faraway locations to wrong names on allotment letters, the residents have been put in difficult situations. Shutting down business Of the 23 affected families, seven have shops in the building while 15 have houses, with one family owning two houses. However, those with commercial properties have been allotted residential units, taking away their sole source of income. Suhas Badade sits at his soon-to-be demolished shop “What will we do with this house? Already, I had to give up my sugarcane juice business after footfall reduced post demolition of the bridge. I would earn at least Rs 70,000 per month. But after the footfall reduced, I was unable to earn even Rs 10,000. I was forced to rent out the space to a scrap dealer who pays me R15,000 per month. Now, once they demolish this building and this shop goes down, even the Rs 15,000 I earn will be lost. This shop is the sole source of income for my family of nine,” said Suhas Badade. Facing similar troubles is Mala Gupta, who runs a chaat centre in the same building. “Our third generation was also born here, and we have been running this business for the last 20 years. They have given us a house in Wadala in exchange for this shop. This shop is our only source of income. That house is of no use to us. They are taking away our source of income. How do they expect us to survive? How do we get food when we go to live in that house?” questioned Gupta. This apart, the shop owners have also stated that selling these rehabilitation houses isn’t an option as they will not fetch a good amount. “If I sell my shop, it will easily fetch me around Rs 1 crore. The house that they have provided us would fetch barely R50-R60 lakh, considering the location and the fact that these are MHADA or SRA houses. So, our source of income is also lost. We aren’t getting market value monetary compensation for it, and we have ended up with a house that can’t get us enough,” said Badade. ‘Further than promised’ While the residents were promised rehabilitation within a 2.5 km radius, these families have been given houses at quite faraway locations. “I have two rooms beside each other in Haaji Noorani. However, one house allotted to us is at Antop Hill and another one is at Hindmata, about 5 km apart. The Hindmata house is 4 km away from our original location, and Antop Hill is almost 7 km away. How are we supposed to manage?” questioned Manish Shirodkar. Sharing how she would face problems in reaching her college, another resident, Ashwini Wagh, told mid-day, “At present, I spend just Rs 30 one way by cab. I can even walk if I wish to. But if I shift to the new home, I will have to spend double the amount of time and money.” The 13 families facing issues have formally approached MMRDA, seeking alternative accommodations that meet the conditions promised prior to the demolition. However, officials have reportedly stated that no other transit homes are available and that residents must accept the allotted flats. “When we first went, they misbehaved and rudely told us that we had to accept what we had been allotted. Then, when we approached officials in Mantralaya, they just gave verbal assurances. Later, MMRDA officials asked us to come for a meeting on Friday. We don’t know what the outcome of that meeting will be,” said Badade. So far, none of the 23 families has taken possession of the new houses. Voices Suhas Badade, shop ownerI would earn at least Rs 70,000 per month. But after the footfall reduced, I was unable to earn even Rs 10,000. I was forced to rent out the space to a scrap dealer who pays me Rs 15,000 per month. Now, once they demolish this building and this shop goes down, even the Rs 15,000 I earn will be lost. Mala Gupta, shop ownerThey have given us a house in Wadala in exchange for this shop. This shop is our only source of income. That house is of no use to us. They are taking away our source of income. How do they expect us to survive? How do we get food when we move into that house? Ashwini Wagh, college studentAt present, I spend just Rs 30 one way by cab. I can even walk if I wish to. But if I shift to the new home, I will have to spend double the amount of time and money.
05 February,2026 07:57 AM IST | Mumbai | Ritika GondhalekarThere’s good news for birdwatchers visiting Nandur Madhmeshwar Bird Sanctuary, an important Ramsar wetland in Nashik, with visitors spotting a smooth-coated otter in the area. Such sightings are rare, making it a special and encouraging moment for wildlife enthusiasts. The smooth-coated otter is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, which gives it the highest level of legal protection, similar to that of the tiger. The 800.96 ha sanctuary is of ecological importance, a Ramsar site located near Niphad in the Nashik district. Known for hosting a wide variety of migratory birds during winter. A Ramsar site is a wetland site designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. Range Forest Officer (RFO) Hiralal Chaudhari from the sanctuary told mid-day that finding a smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) at the site is a fantastic sign of a healthy wetland ecosystem. “These elusive mammals, locally known as Pan-manjar, are the secret stars of the Godavari-Kadwa confluence. In late December 2025, tourists and forest officials reported multiple sightings of otters active in the sanctuary during the winter chill, and later I was also lucky to spot the otter a few weeks back,” said RFO Chaudhari.
05 February,2026 07:49 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavIn a bid to deter dangerous trespassing and reduce accidents, the Western Railway has begun applying industrial grease along trackside fences across the entire 60 km suburban stretch between Churchgate and Virar. The measure covers all 29 stations on the busy corridor, where unauthorised track crossings and jumping over divider fences have remained a persistent safety concern, particularly during peak hours. Mumbai’s suburban railway network recorded 1298 cases of track crossing in 2025, leading to 1063 commuter deaths and 235 injuries. “The grease coating makes it difficult to climb or grip the fences, acting as a physical deterrent without obstructing train operations. This is part of a broader safety push, and will be supplemented by increased vigilance, warning signage and public announcements,” a Western Railway spokesperson said. Western Railway staff apply industrial grease on platform fencing to deter commuters from trespassing onto tracks, as part of a new safety measure on the suburban network “The idea is to discourage people from jumping onto tracks. Apart from causing accidents, such incidents force trains to slow down, triggering multiple operational disruptions across the system,” the spokesperson added. Commuter groups have welcomed the step, saying any intervention that restricts access to tracks can help reduce fatalities if supported by better crowd management and station access. “We welcome the move. It will help cut down fence-jumping at busy stations. People will think twice when it soils clothes and dirties hands, which itself can be a deterrent,” said Ravindra Rajan, a member of a passenger association. Will grease dry up? Railway officials said the grease does not dry quickly and will remain effective for extended periods. “It takes time to dry. Maintenance teams will reapply grease regularly wherever required,” an official said. Tried before This is not the first time railways have experimented with unconventional deterrents. In November 2023, the Central Railway’s Mumbai division applied grease at platform ends and cut down slopes to make climbing and descending difficult, encouraging commuters to use foot overbridges and subways. The move drew mixed reactions. In June 2024, Central Railway installed “red safety boxes” at platform ends at key Mumbai stations by digging deeper pits at common jumping points. Officials said the boxes have shown encouraging results so far. What else is being done? Western Railway has rolled out a multi-layered safety framework combining engineering, technology, and enforcement to reduce deaths from trespassing and falls from trains. To curb illegal track crossings, WR has focused on physical barriers and accessibility:Boundary walls: 105.7 km constructed across the suburban section, with another 7.5 km under progressPlatform fencing: Iron fencing at major stations to prevent mid-platform crossingsBlack spot elimination: 59 trespassing-prone locations removed in 2023-24, with 25 more identified this year Better vertical movement>> 147-foot over bridges operational>> 110 escalators and 54 lifts commissioned to aid senior citizens and the differently-abled Preventing falls from trains>> All 302 suburban platforms raised to height of 900 mm>> Introduction of AC local trains with automatic door-closing systems to curb footboard travel>> Conversion of 12-coach services to 15-coach rakes to reduce crowding, with 211 services already upgraded Improved surveillance>> High-definition CCTV cameras under Integrated Security Systems>> Regular RPF drives under Section 147 of the Railways Act, prosecuting thousands of trespassers annually>> Blue light warning systems above doors in select rakes>> Public awareness campaigns under “Mission Zero Death,” including FM radio messaging and street plays at high-risk stations>> Golden Hour emergency medical posts at major stations for prompt trauma care
05 February,2026 07:44 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarADVERTISEMENT
