Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ameet Satam on Sunday launched a sharp attack on Shiv Sena (UBT) chief, accusing him of large-scale corruption and “insulting the Marathi community” through his recent remarks, news agency PTI reported. Satam’s allegations come after Thackeray claimed that if the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had an expenditure budget of Rs 15,000 crore, the advance mobilisation amount given to contractors for various works reached Rs 3 lakh crore, which he described as a “scam”. Talking to reporters, Satam, who heads the BJP’s Mumbai unit, alleged that Thackeray was responsible for corruption amounting to Rs 3 lakh crore, PTI reported. “He (Thackeray) has not abused me alone. He has abused every Marathi person. He has insulted the Marathi manoos,” Satam said, responding to Thackeray’s recent jibe in which he referred to him as “Chatam.” Satam added that he came from an ordinary family and had not risen in politics due to anyone’s patronage. He further criticised the former chief minister over Mumbai’s infrastructure, claiming that despite massive spending during Thackeray’s tenure, the city’s roads remain in poor condition, PTI reported. BMC Election 2026: Ameet Satam alleges Covid-19, civic works irregularities “Although Rs 21,000 crore was spent on roads over the last 10 years, it is hard to tell whether there are potholes on roads or roads inside potholes,” he said. He also alleged irregularities during the pandemic, stating that the Covid-19 care centre at Mahalaxmi was set up to benefit builders. “There was corruption in everything – body bags to PPE kits – nothing was spared,” Satam claimed. The BJP leader further alleged that Thackeray, while serving as chief minister, had extorted money from approximately 1,700 bar and restaurant owners. Dismissing Thackeray’s claims regarding the coastal road project, Satam said no concrete timelines were finalised during his tenure. “All credit for the coastal road project goes to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis,” he asserted, reiterating his allegation that Thackeray was involved in corruption worth Rs 3 lakh crore. Speaking at the release of the joint manifesto of Shiv Sena (UBT), the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar), Thackeray had said, “According to my information, the BMC owes contractors Rs 3 lakh crore, pointing to a scam of Rs 3 lakh crore.” (With PTI inputs)
04 January,2026 07:11 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentShiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday alleged that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is facing a fiscal deficit of Rs 3 lakh crore, claiming that money owed by the civic body to contractors was misused and diverted for election expenditure, purportedly benefiting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Speaking at the release of the joint manifesto of Shiv Sena (UBT), the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar), Thackeray said, “According to my information, the BMC owes contractors Rs 3 lakh crore, pointing to a scam of Rs 3 lakh crore.” He further alleged that the BJP received kickbacks through “advance mobilisation” of funds, which were then used for election campaigns. BMC Election 2026: Thackeray cites BMC’s past reserves, flags sharp fall in funds, rising contractor dues Adding a rider to his claims, Thackeray said, “I will be happy if my information is wrong.” Thackeray also referred to the BMC’s financial position during his party’s tenure, stating that fixed deposits had been increased to Rs 92,000 crore. “Of this amount, around Rs 40,000–45,000 crore was reserved for pensions and gratuity, while the remaining funds were earmarked for major infrastructure projects. The toll-free Mumbai Coastal Road was also constructed during Shiv Sena’s tenure using these funds,” he said. He further alleged that despite the BMC currently having only about Rs 15,000 crore reserved for projects, it continues to face a liability of Rs 3 lakh crore payable to contractors. Taking a dig at BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, Thackeray said, "We did simple work such as coastal road construction, Middle Vaitarna dam building, as well as Covid-19 relief during the pandemic. Instead of taking credit for the small work we have done, they should showcase the work they have done." Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 2023 pilgrimage to Adi Kailash, the former Maharashtra Chief Minister stated, "Modiji has constructed the Kailash Parbat, brought Ganga to earth from heaven. Eknath Shinde has even made the Arabian Sea. These works are now on backtrack mode." He added, "We constructed the Balasaheb Thackeray statue near Regal Cinema in Colaba, but 'Mindhe [a jibe used for Shinde]' gets credit for it. Also, the ‘Jal Poojan’ of Shiv Smarak in the Arabian Sea on the west coast of Mumbai was done by Modiji, but that project has been stalled."
04 January,2026 05:26 PM IST | Mumbai | Eeshanpriya MSAhead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Election 2026 on January 15, the city unit of the Indian National Congress (INC) on Sunday unveiled a dedicated manifesto aimed at the reviving the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking. Titled ‘BEST Revival: 9-Point Action Plan’, the document has been launched under the theme ‘Mission BEST Bachao’. 'Not a profit-making company': The manifesto pitches BEST as an essential public service rather than a profit-oriented entity and promises to restore it as a fully public, reliable and passenger-friendly transport system. It sharply criticises the current administrator-led regime and private contractors, blaming them for rising operational costs, declining service quality and what it describes as attempts to privatise the civic transport utility. According to the Congress, operational expenses of BEST should be fully funded through the BMC’s annual budget, supplemented by revenue from parking fees and other municipal charges. The party has also promised that bus fares will not be increased without a public hearing and the recommendation of an independent expert committee. 'End of privatisation': A key plank of the manifesto is an outright rejection of privatisation. The Congress has pledged to immediately halt all wet-lease and private contracts and bring operations, maintenance and staffing completely under BEST’s control within three years. It has also called for a CAG-approved independent audit to examine falling revenues, rising costs and what it termed “sudden performance improvements” by private contractors. Restarting 3337 buses: The party has promised to honour the 2019 agreement between the BMC, BEST and workers’ unions to induct 3337 buses, including new electric and CNG vehicles, and to recruit permanent drivers, conductors and mechanics. It has further proposed expanding the fleet to over 6,000 buses by purchasing 3000 new buses between 2026 and 2028, with at least 40 per cent deployed in slum areas and industrial zones. Resuming long-distance and cross-city routes: The manifesto also commits to restoring long-distance and cross-city routes discontinued after 2017, and introducing new east-west and cross-harbour routes based on passenger surveys. Ending sale of BEST property: It has opposed the sale or commercial development of BEST depot land, demanding that all depots be reserved strictly for transport-related use and that past land deals be audited. BMC Election 2026: Congress promises safety audits, worker welfare, and transparency Passenger rights: On passenger safety and rights, the Congress has promised a public data portal detailing breakdowns, fires and complaints, mandatory daily inspections of contract buses during the transition period, and regular fire safety audits of electric buses. Contracts would be terminated immediately in case of safety violations, the party said. Worker welfare: Worker welfare forms another pillar of the plan, with assurances to end the ‘driver-only’ system, restore conductors, ensure minimum wages, fixed working hours and medical insurance, and provide equal pay for contractual workers. The manifesto also proposes specialised training centres for electric bus maintenance. Transparency: The final point focuses on transparency and accountability, with commitments to publicly disclose ridership, revenue and per-kilometre cost data, publish depot- and operator-wise performance reports, and hold mandatory public hearings every three months. Congress leaders said the plan was based on extensive research, study reports and public grievances, and accused the ruling Mahayuti alliance of mismanaging BEST, resulting in financial losses and deteriorating services. With less than two weeks to go for the civic polls, the BEST revival plan is expected to strike a chord with daily commuters and transport workers amid widespread complaints of overcrowding and unreliable services. Other parties, including the Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS alliance and the Aam Aadmi Party, have also promised fleet expansion and fare relief, setting the stage for a keen contest for control of India’s richest civic body.
04 January,2026 04:48 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) have alleged foul play in the civic elections after 32 candidates from the ruling BJP and Shiv Sena were declared elected unopposed in Maharashtra's Thane district, sparking demands for the NOTA option and legal action, reported news agency PTI. Of the 68 candidates declared elected unopposed in the municipal corporation polls across the state, a staggering 47 per cent (32 candidates) hail from Thane district alone. BJP tops unopposed tally; Shinde-led Sena follows The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leads the tally with 20 unopposed candidates, followed by the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena with 12. In Kalyan, 14 BJP and six Shiv Sena candidates have emerged unopposed, while six candidates each from both ruling parties have secured the tag in Thane and Bhiwandi, reported PTI. Shiv Sena (UBT) questions legitimacy of results Shiv Sena (UBT) Thane unit chief Kedar Dighe on Sunday questioned the legitimacy of the results, terming the phenomenon unprecedented in the state's civic election history, reported PTI. “How can only ruling party candidates emerge unopposed? If this concept is valid, opposition candidates should have also been on the list,” Dighe said, reported PTI. Opposition demands NOTA option even for single-candidate wards He further argued that even with a single candidate, the 'None of the Above' (NOTA) option must be provided to voters. “Citizens should not be deprived of their right to vote,” he added. MNS may move court over ‘unopposed’ declarations The MNS on Saturday indicated it may challenge the “unopposed” declarations in court. An MNS spokesperson said that the party's Thane-Palghar chief Avinash Jadhav has briefed party president Raj Thackeray on the matter, reported PTI. TMC says final call rests with State Election Commission Meanwhile, the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), in a release on Saturday, clarified that while six candidates were lone contenders in their respective wards, their names have been forwarded to the State Election Commission (SEC) for a final decision, reported PTI. No unopposed winners in Navi Mumbai polls Notably, in the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) polls, where the BJP and Shiv Sena are contesting against each other, no candidate has been declared elected unopposed. (With inputs from PTI)
04 January,2026 03:36 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentThe Motor Accident Claims Tribunal in Thane has directed the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) to pay Rs 36.31 lakh in compensation to the family of a man who died following a collision between his motorbike and a bus in 2020, reported news agency PTI. Thane MACT member R V Mohite, in the order passed on January 1, held that while the MSRTC bus driver was primarily responsible for the accident, the deceased also contributed to the collision, reported PTI. Head-on collision on Kalyan-Murbad road in 2020 On December 9, 2020, Subhash Mahadu Shinde, then aged 44, was riding his motorcycle on the Kalyan-Murbad road when an ST bus coming from the opposite direction collided head-on with his two-wheeler, reported PTI. Shinde sustained grievous injuries and succumbed during treatment on December 15, 2020. Family approaches tribunal seeking compensation His wife, two daughters, and elderly parents approached the tribunal for compensation, citing that Shinde was a permanent employee at a freight service company earning over Rs 26,000 per month. MACT holds both drivers negligent In determining the liability and the nature of the accident, MACT member Mohite said, “The accident was a head-on collision. So, I have no hesitation to hold that the alleged accident occurred due to the negligence of both drivers,” reported PTI. “The negligence of the deceased is assessed to the extent of 20 per cent and the negligence of the driver of ST bus is assessed to the extent of 80 per cent for assessment of compensation,” the Thane MACT said, reported PTI. Compensation reduced due to contributory negligence It calculated the total pecuniary and non-pecuniary damages at Rs 45,39,579. After deducting 20 per cent for the deceased's contributory negligence, the final award was set at Rs 36,31,663, reported PTI. MSRTC ordered to deposit amount with 9 per cent interest The MSRTC has been directed to deposit the amount with 9 per cent interest per annum from the date of the petition (March 2021). Tribunal orders fixed deposits for family’s financial security The tribunal further ordered that a significant portion of the compensation for the deceased's wife and daughters be placed in fixed deposits for three years to ensure their long-term financial security. (With inputs from PTI)
04 January,2026 03:29 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentAhead of the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, Union Minister and Republican Party of India (Athawale) chief Ramdas Athawale asserted that the Mahayuti has "shut down" all the businesses of Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray, reported news agency ANI. ‘Fadnavis and Shinde together shut down their politics’ Addressing a public gathering in Mumbai on Saturday, Ramdas Athawale said, "Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde have come together, and Mahayuti together has shut down all the businesses of Uddhav and Raj Thackeray," reported ANI. Denies displeasure within Mahayuti over seat-sharing He further stated that he has "no displeasure" with anyone, after previously expressing discontent within the Mahayuti alliance over seat-sharing for the BMC elections. Mahayuti credited for development works in Mumbai Athawale said that the Mahayuti has undertaken major initiatives for the people of Mumbai by providing them with houses. "The Mahayuti has done many works for the people of Mumbai. The government has worked to provide houses to people. The statues of Babasaheb Ambedkar were (also) built," he added, reported ANI. BJP leader meets Athawale amid alliance concerns On Tuesday, BJP MLC Pravin Darekar met Athawale at his residence in Mumbai's Bandra to address growing discontent, reported ANI. "Pravin Darekar came and said that he understands our displeasure. The CM also called me this morning, and Pravin Darekar came with his message," Athawale said, reported ANI. ‘Will teach lesson to self-interested opposition,’ says CM Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said that the upcoming BMC elections will be "life-changing" for Mumbai and its people. While addressing a gathering at the NSCI Dome in Worli, he criticised the opposition, saying that the Mahayuti will "teach a lesson" to those who care only about their self-interest. "We launched our BMC election campaign by breaking a coconut. This election will be a life-changing one for the people of Mumbai and for Mumbai itself. We have to teach a lesson to those who only care about their self-interest," he said, reported ANI. Polling for 29 municipal corporation elections across the state, including Mumbai, Pune, and Pimpri-Chinchwad, will be held on January 15, with vote counting scheduled for January 16. (With inputs from ANI)
04 January,2026 03:05 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Shiv Sena (UBT), the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), and the Nationalist Congress Party (SP) on Sunday released their joint manifesto for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections at Shiv Sena Bhavan on Sunday afternoon. Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray share stage at Shiv Sena Bhavan MNS chief Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray were present on the podium for the occasion. Notably, the NCP (SP) did not have any leader on the dais. However, Vidya Chavan, chief spokesperson of the NCP, was present at the event. Addressing the gathering, Raj Thackeray said that he had entered Shiv Sena Bhavan after 20 years. Raj Thackeray recalls return to Shiv Sena Bhavan after two decades “There is constant reference to me coming here after two decades, as if I have been released from jail after 20 years and returned home. Today, I am seeing the new Shiv Sena Bhavan for the first time. All my memories are associated with the old Shiv Sena Bhavan, which I recall with fondness. Today, we are releasing a joint manifesto of the Shiv Sena (UBT), MNS, and NCP (SP),” he said. ‘Beginning of a new wave in Maharashtra,’ says Uddhav Thackeray Uddhav Thackeray, in his address, said he was repeatedly asked how he felt about Raj Thackeray entering Shiv Sena Bhavan after 20 years. “I feel very happy. Today marks the beginning of a new wave of inspiration in Maharashtra, and on this occasion, we are presenting a joint manifesto,” he said. Sanjay Raut calls Thackeray reunion a symbol of unity Speaking at the event, Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut said, “Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray coming together is a symbol of an undivided Hindu family. The Thackeray family now has a joint manifesto, joint rallies, joint press conferences, and joint statements.” Speaking at the joint manifesto release of the Shiv Sena (UBT), MNS and NCP (SP) for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday demanded that a criminal case be filed against Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar for allegedly misusing his position to benefit the BJP. Thackeray also called for Narwekar’s immediate removal as Speaker and demanded re-elections in all areas where candidates were elected unopposed. ‘This is jhundshahi, not lokshahi,’ says Thackeray Addressing the media, Thackeray said, “This is jhundshahi. What is happening today cannot be called lokshahi. Earlier, we spoke about attempts to steal votes. Now, they have started stealing candidates as well. Maharashtra has never seen such politicians before.” “Whether it is Kalyan-Dombivli or Thane, capturing elections without any opposition is an insult to the people and to democracy,” he added. Speaker accused of misusing constitutional authority Referring to Narwekar, Thackeray said, “The Speaker of the Vidhan Sabha has authority only within the House. As an elected representative, he has repeatedly misused his authority. The Election Commission must take note of his actions and remove him from the post.” “He cannot campaign for any political party—this is an unwritten but well-understood rule. Criminal action must be taken against him,” Thackeray said. ‘Speaker cannot exercise powers outside Vidhan Sabha’ “Even ministers cannot campaign in the capacity of their office. The Speaker has the authority to withdraw someone’s security only within the Vidhan Sabha. He cannot exercise that authority outside,” Thackeray added. Viral video sparks controversy Last week, a video that went viral on social media allegedly showed Narwekar threatening election candidates while they were filing nomination papers. In the video, he is purportedly heard saying, “I will have to remove your police protection tomorrow.” Demand for probe into missing CCTV footage Thackeray also demanded that the Election Commission investigate the call recordings of returning officers. Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut had earlier alleged that CCTV footage related to the filing of nominations on December 30 at a returning officer’s office had gone missing. Call for re-elections in unopposed wards Speaking about re-elections in constituencies where candidates were elected unopposed, Thackeray said, “Wherever unopposed elections have taken place, re-elections must be conducted, just as they were during the Nagar Parishad elections.” “Otherwise, the State Election Commission will appear to be a servant of the ruling party and cannot claim to be a protector of democracy,” he said. BJP highlights record number of unopposed wins On Friday, BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhye said in a post on X, “BJP’s winning streak continues, with 68 corporators from the BJP and the grand alliance elected unopposed.” Upadhye said 44 BJP corporators were elected unopposed across eight municipal corporations, with the highest number from the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation. Unopposed wins reported across multiple cities Unopposed corporators were also elected in Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Panvel, Bhiwandi, Dhule, Jalgaon and Ahilyanagar, Upadhye said. Following the BJP, 22 Shiv Sena corporators and two Nationalist Congress Party corporators were also elected unopposed, he added.
04 January,2026 02:42 PM IST | Mumbai | Eeshanpriya MSThe Thackeray cousins have revised their campaign strategy for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, opting to hold a single joint rally instead of the three large rallies that were initially planned. Shakha outreach to replace mass rallies in Sena (UBT)–MNS campaign plan Under the new approach, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray will focus on visiting local shakhas and strengthening grassroots-level outreach rather than addressing mass public gatherings. Sena (UBT)–MNS alliance recalibrates civic poll strategy with ground-level push The shift in strategy reflects the alliance’s emphasis on direct engagement with party workers and local cadres as Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena prepare for a closely fought Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation election. Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena (UBT), the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), and the Nationalist Congress Party (SP) on Sunday released their joint manifesto for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections at Shiv Sena Bhavan on Sunday afternoon.
04 January,2026 02:04 PM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarMumbai is expected to witness partly cloudy conditions across the city and its suburbs on Sunday, the India Meteorological Department said. The maximum temperature is likely to hover around 31 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature is expected to be around 19 degrees Celsius. Air quality in the city remained in the ‘moderate’ category on Sunday. According to data from the SAMEER app, Mumbai’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 134. Such air quality levels may cause breathing discomfort for people suffering from lung disorders, asthma and heart-related ailments. Among various locations in the city, the AQI was recorded at 153 at Bandra Kurla Complex, 130 at Borivali, 169 at Byculla, 147 at Andheri East, 125 at Chembur, 148 at Deonar and 126 at Ghatkopar. Air quality in Delhi remains poor Meanwhile, Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 7.4 degrees Celsius on Sunday, while the air quality settled in the 'poor' category. A cold wave is expected to affect isolated places in the city between Saturday and January 6, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). A cold wave is declared when the minimum temperature drops by 4.5 degrees Celsius to 6.5 degrees Celsius below the average temperature. Safdarjung recorded a minimum temperature of 7.4 degrees Celsius; Palam 6.8 degrees Celsius, Lodhi Road 7.6 degrees Celsius, Ridge 8.9 degrees Celsius; and Ayanagar 6.6 degrees Celsius, the IMD data showed. The relative humidity was recorded at 92 per cent at 8.30 am. Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 299 at 9 am, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 to 100 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor', and 401 to 500 'severe'.The weather office has predicted that the maximum temperature will settle at 17 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, the Sub-Committee on the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) under the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in NCR and adjoining areas revoked Stage-III restrictions on Friday evening, citing a significant improvement in air quality due to favourable meteorological conditions. However, authorities have urged citizens to strictly follow the guidelines under Stages I and II of the existing GRAP schedule to prevent further deterioration in air quality. The government also clarified that construction and demolition sites issued specific closure orders for violations or non-compliance with statutory norms will not be allowed to resume operations without explicit approval from the Commission.
04 January,2026 11:24 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Maharashtra Common Entrance Test or CET Cell has called for applicants for 40 district liaison officers to help out exam applicants and registered students resolve their queries and difficulties at a local level. Officials from the CET Cell noted that while the student helplines are active, pupils often have to make the long haul journey from districts and villages in Maharasthra to the CET Cell office that is located in New Excelsior Theatre at Fort. Officials noted that the presence of these district liaison officers will help resolve manageable student concerns locally and swiftly. The officers will be tasked with providing information about syllabus, answering queries about application process, exam schedules, and other student doubts. Other technical queries faced by students during the CAP rounds, fee payments, option registrations and allotments are also to be resolved at the local level now. Providing information about various scholarships, counselling, alternative programmes has also been marked as the district officer’s responsibility. An official from the CET Cell stated, “While the student helpline us active, pupils often make the long haul journey to the CET Cell office in Mumbai. Now, the presence of these district liaison officers will help resolve the manageable student concerns locally and swiftly.” This academic year saw a number of students approaching the Mumbai-based CET Cell to flag concerns about the financial irregularities faced by the students while enrolling into colleges. Now, at the district level, the cell is to resolve, track and store such student complaints.
04 January,2026 07:34 AM IST | Mumbai | Aditi AlurkarIn a setback to environmentalists pushing for the protection of India’s fragile hill ecosystems, the Union government has stated that road projects involving hill tunnelling do not require an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The Centre’s position emerged from a response given by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to a Right to Information (RTI) application filed by the Navi Mumbai based NGO NatConnect Foundation. Green activist BN Kumar who is the director of the environmental organisation, in his RTI, had asked details of environmental clearance for the '2,100-crore Kharghar–Turbhe Link Road (KTLR), which cuts twin 1.8-km tunnels through the ecologically sensitive Kharghar–Parsik hill stretch near Pandavkada in Navi Mumbai. Citing the EIA Notification, 2006, the ministry in the RTI response stated that only National Highways and State Highways require prior environmental clearance, and that tunnels are not covered separately under the notification. Environmentalists warn that the ministry’s position effectively throws hills open to rampant drilling and cutting, potentially allowing mining activity to be carried out under the same exemption, and inevitably harming hill biodiversity. Kumar cited tunnel collapses in Uttarakhand and Telangana “Yet, instead of correcting regulatory blind spots, hills are being exploited with no environmental checks,” he added. 2100 crBudget of Kharghar-Turbhe Link Road being built on Parsik Hill
04 January,2026 07:30 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentADVERTISEMENT
