The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday issued a yellow nowcast warning for Mumbai and Thane, forecasting light spells of rain over the next three hours. The alert, issued at 7 am IST, advises residents to take necessary precautions as intermittent rainfall may affect parts of the region during the morning hours. Mumbai recorded mild overnight temperatures today, according to the IMD. Colaba registered a minimum temperature of 22.4 degrees Celsius, while Santacruz recorded a minimum of 22.6 degrees Celsius. According to the Sameer app, the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stands at 121, which falls in the moderate category and may cause breathing discomfort for people with lung disorders, asthma, and heart ailments. AQI across Mumbai Bandra East – 108Kurla – 114Malad West – 146Mazgaon – 147Mulund West – 77Powai – 96Bhandup West – 96Kandivali East – 116Ghatkopar – 133Deonar – 135Colaba – 121Chembur – 106Andheri East – 178Byculla – 95 Meanwhile, Thane reported an AQI of 124, and in Kalyan, the AQI is 124, categorised as moderate, while Navi Mumbai recorded a satisfactory AQI of 94, which may cause minor breathing discomfort to sensitive individuals. Yellow alert across Maharashtra The IMD has issued a yellow alert amid the winter season, indicating signs of unseasonal rainfall across several parts of Maharashtra. In Dhule, the region may experience thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, light rainfall, and gusty winds ranging between 30 and 40 kilometres per hour at isolated places, the IMD said. Apart from Dhule, Nandurbar, Jalgaon, Sambhajinagar, Jalna, and Parbhani are also under a yellow alert today. AQI in districts of Maharashtra Dhule – 108Nashik – 93Nagpur – 172Pune – 118Jalgaon – 133Parbhani – 98Akola – 87Amravati – 179Malegaon – 125Latur – 89Sangli – 65 ‘Moderate’ AQI unacceptable, says Bombay High Court Earlier, last week, the Bombay High Court expressed dissatisfaction over Mumbai’s air quality remaining in the “moderate” category, observing that such levels are not acceptable for the city. The court said it would take up the issue of air pollution in the financial capital. The observations were made during a hearing held on January 23, when the court reviewed the city’s prevailing air quality situation. The High Court had taken suo motu cognisance of Mumbai’s deteriorating air quality nearly three years ago and has since repeatedly directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) to implement effective pollution-control measures. A bench comprising Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Suman Shyam sought an update on the current AQI levels. Senior advocate S U Kamdar, appearing for the BMC, informed the court that Mumbai’s AQI was hovering between 100 and 140, which falls in the moderate category.
27 January,2026 03:51 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentOn Tuesday morning, hundreds of people, including men and women, gathered inside Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) to oppose the demolition drive, leading to tense scenes in the protected area. The demolition drive sparked strong resistance from residents, which they claim have been their homes for generations. The protesters alleged that the move violates their traditional rights and ignores protections under the Forest Rights Act (FRA). The residents condemned the administration’s action of issuing eviction notices during a holiday period, leaving them little time to respond or seek legal remedies. Why the demolition drive in SGNP sparked protests The forest department launched the drive targeting families in the Navapada area of SGNP, previously resettled at Chandivali in Powai under a rehabilitation programme. Officials allege that some beneficiaries sold or rented out their allotted homes and later reoccupied forest land inside SGNP. Forest officials maintain that the action is part of legal measures to reclaim protected land. They cite violations by some families of the rehabilitation conditions. Residents claim the demolition affects long-standing local communities. Tensions escalated but no violence has been reported so far. Activists question eviction and rehabilitation process Activist Aslam Shaikh said that Adivasi communities are an integral part of SGNP, having lived in the area for decades with a traditional ecosystem-based lifestyle deeply intertwined with the forest. He questioned whether the government, while planning to relocate the Adivasis, also intends to relocate their entire ecosystem, asserting that the communities cannot be separated from their natural surroundings. Shaikh alleged that decision-makers lack an understanding of the Adivasi way of life and are unwilling to engage meaningfully with the community. Raising concerns over rehabilitation, he said there has been no proper research on how the Adivasi population will be resettled. He claimed that no comprehensive survey has been conducted, noting that only a small number of families have accepted rehabilitation housing in Chandivali, while residents from more than 10 padas are still awaiting accommodation. Despite this, Shaikh alleged that the government is attempting to evict all Adivasi residents from the national park. Activist flags legal and procedural lapses Aarey activist Amrita Bhattacharjee told Mid-Day that the dispute dates back to 1995, when a petition led to a court order directing the removal of what were termed illegal encroachments. She alleged that during that period, some Adivasi families were compelled to accept rehabilitation flats in Chandivali. Bhattacharjee pointed out that the original order predates the Forest Rights Act, 2006, which became applicable to forest areas under municipal corporations in 2015. She said tribal communities should not be treated as encroachers and relocated to slum rehabilitation buildings without due process under the FRA. She also questioned the role of the Tribal Development Department and its project office in Borivali, stating that the authorities should have conducted awareness programmes and facilitated the filing of forest rights claims. "Notices were served on January 22 asking residents to submit documentary proof by January 24, following which announcements were made that demolitions would begin from January 27," Bhattacharjee said. Bhattacharjee claimed that notices were issued to 10 out of 11 Adivasi padas in the area, affecting around 350 families. "The residents alleged that entire families were deemed ineligible for protection because one member had accepted rehabilitation decades ago," she said. SGNP gates closed temporarily amid tension Amid heightened tension in the area, the SGNP administration announced that the park’s main entrance would remain closed to tourists and the general public on Tuesday, January 27. “All concerned are hereby informed that today, on Tuesday, 27.01.2026, the main entrance of Sanjay Gandhi National Park will remain closed for tourists and the general public,” said an official notice issued by the Deputy Director (South), SGNP, requesting cooperation from citizens. According to forest department sources, the demolition drive was halted by afternoon. SGNP Director issues clarification on eviction drive The Conservator of Forests and Director, Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivali, issued a detailed statement seeking to address what the administration termed “misconceptions” surrounding the eviction drive. The statement stated that in 1997, the Bombay High Court directed the removal of all encroachments on forest land within SGNP and laid down specific eligibility criteria for rehabilitation. Only those residing within the protected area and whose names appeared on the electoral roll as of January 1, 1995, were deemed eligible. Under Phase I of the rehabilitation programme, more than 11,000 eligible families were allotted tenements at Chandivali, Powai. However, 299 families could not be rehabilitated due to a shortage of constructed tenements and were earmarked for Phase II. High-Powered Committee and re-encroachment findings As the 1997 court directions were not fully complied with, a contempt petition was filed and remains pending. The High Court subsequently constituted a High-Powered Committee to oversee compliance and recommend measures to protect SGNP. The committee comprises former Allahabad High Court Chief Justice Dilip Bhosale, former Maharashtra Chief Secretary Nitin Kareer, former Maharashtra Director General of Police Subodh Kumar Jaiswal, and SGNP Director Anitta Patil as Member Secretary. During consultations with various government agencies and stakeholders, the committee found that around 385 families who had already received rehabilitation at Chandivali had allegedly re-encroached upon forest land within SGNP. The administration said such actions amounted to misuse of the rehabilitation scheme and that their eviction was ordered as a first step toward ensuring rehabilitation for other eligible families still awaiting allotment. Notices issued after the enquiry, says the administration According to the statement, SGNP authorities conducted detailed enquiries and provided hearings to the concerned families before identifying those who had allegedly re-encroached after rehabilitation. Eviction notices were published at relevant locations on January 17, 2026, asking occupants to vacate voluntarily. The administration stressed that unless such families are evicted, other eligible beneficiaries would continue to be deprived of rehabilitation benefits envisioned under the 1997 court order. Tribal status claim rejected by SGNP authorities The SGNP administration rejected claims that the eviction drive targets tribal communities, calling such arguments untenable. The statement cited a Bombay High Court judgment in Manik Rama Sapte vs State of Maharashtra, which held that original tribal inhabitants of the forest area were rehabilitated to Palghar in 1977 and that no original Adivasi population remains within SGNP. The administration maintained that the current occupants are governed by the 1997 High Court order, which has attained finality. Stating that the eviction drive is mandatory to uphold the rule of law, protect forest land and ensure equitable rehabilitation, the SGNP administration appealed for public support. The statement urged stakeholders to cooperate in safeguarding the forest ecosystem of the park and ensuring that eligible families awaiting rehabilitation receive their due benefits in accordance with court orders. What politicians have said An NCP (SP) spokesperson, in a post on X, raised concerns over the ongoing actions inside Sanjay Gandhi National Park, alleging that Adivasi padas are being demolished without proper surveys or verification under the Forest Rights Act (FRA). The spokesperson claimed that basic services such as electricity and transport have been cut, children have been forced out of school, and families who have lived in the area for generations are being labelled as encroachers. Calling the actions “displacement without due process,” the post warned that if demolitions continue without adherence to the law, affected residents would be compelled to intensify democratic protests and seek legal remedies. What’s happening inside Sanjay Gandhi National Park needs to be on record.Adivasi padas are being demolished without surveys, without Forest Rights Act verification, and with basic services cut. Families who’ve lived here for generations are being labelled encroachers. Children… pic.twitter.com/9gULnm4At3 — Anish Gawande (@anishgawande) January 27, 2026 In a separate post, the spokesperson said he had written to the Forest Minister, urging an immediate halt to what he described as illegal evictions of Adivasi padas inside the national park without FRA verification. He reiterated that continued demolitions would leave no option but to escalate protests and pursue legal action. What’s happening inside Sanjay Gandhi National Park needs to be on record.Adivasi padas are being demolished without surveys, without Forest Rights Act verification, and with basic services cut. Families who’ve lived here for generations are being labelled encroachers. Children… pic.twitter.com/9gULnm4At3 — Anish Gawande (@anishgawande) January 27, 2026 AAP Mumbai working president Ruben Mascarenhas also expressed concern in a post on X, alleging that Adivasi communities—whom he described as Mumbai’s indigenous people—are being unlawfully displaced from their padas within Sanjay Gandhi National Park and that their homes are being demolished. He said attempts to visit the padas along with AAP Mumbai leaders to move the court were hindered, describing the situation as chaotic. According to Mascarenhas, the area has been barricaded, water and electricity supplies disconnected, and public transport suspended. He termed these actions a gross violation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006, and the principles of natural justice, asserting that Adivasis are the city’s original inhabitants and not encroachers, and called for an immediate halt to the demolitions. URGENT : Adivasis- Mumbai’s indigenous people are being wrongly displaced from their Padas inside SGNP, their houses are being DEMOLISHED.Tried visiting the padas with @AAPMumbai leaders, to move court. Situation is chaotic. SGNP has been barricaded, water supply and… pic.twitter.com/WI3MfSCDZc — Ruben Mascarenhas (@rubenmasc) January 27, 2026
27 January,2026 03:27 PM IST | Mumbai | Ronak MastakarThe Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) on Tuesday clarified concerns over the design of a flyover under construction in Mira Road, stating that the transition from four lanes to two lanes is a planned feature and not a structural or design flaw. In an official statement, the MMRDA said the flyover has been designed keeping in mind existing road-width constraints and long-term network planning. The authority refuted claims that the structure “suddenly narrows,” explaining that the present configuration reflects phased connectivity planned for the Mira–Bhayander region. The flyover does not “suddenly narrow.” The transition from 4 lanes to 2 lanes is not a design flaw, but is based on available road width constraints, and future network planning.As per planning, the flyover has been designed with two lanes for Bhayander East and future… https://t.co/hZrsBl9SAR — MMRDA (@MMRDAOfficial) January 27, 2026 Phased connectivity planned for Bhayander East and West According to the MMRDA, the flyover has been designed with two lanes for Bhayander East and provision for two additional lanes towards Bhayander West. As the Bhayander East arm appears first along the alignment, the current four-lane stretch transitions into two lanes. The remaining two outer lanes are proposed as part of a future extension across the Western Railway line towards Bhayander West. Golden Nest Circle section built with 2+2 lanes and slip roads Up to Golden Nest Circle—one of the busiest junctions in the area where five major roads converge—the flyover has been constructed with a 2+2 lane configuration. This section is integrated with the Metro corridor and includes slip roads on both sides to facilitate effective traffic dispersal amid high vehicular volumes. Right-of-way constraints lead to 1+1 lane design ahead Beyond the junction, towards Bhayander East, the available right-of-way reduces as per the Development Plan (DP). Consequently, a 1+1 lane flyover with dedicated upward and downward ramps has been constructed along the median to ensure uninterrupted traffic flow towards Railway Phatak Road, the authority said. Future widening and safety measures planned The MMRDA maintained that the design allows for smoother movement across one of the most congested intersections in the Mira–Bhayander belt while addressing on-ground spatial constraints. Provision has also been made for future widening of the flyover. The authority said the outer sides of both carriageways are planned to be extended by an additional 1+1 lane to strengthen east–west traffic continuity. This proposal is currently at the planning stage and will be taken up in coordination with the Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC) after securing approvals from the competent authorities. At present, the flyover is primarily aimed at reducing congestion and improving traffic dispersal in the region. The MMRDA said multiple safety measures have been incorporated, including rumble strips, delineators, adequate signage, retro-reflective tags, directional boards and anti-crash barriers. The authority added that guidance from traffic police is being actively sought to assess any additional vehicular safety measures before the flyover is opened for public use.
27 January,2026 02:43 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA three-year-old girl was killed in a tragic accident in Mumbai’s Vikhroli area after a loudspeaker installed for Republic Day celebrations collapsed on her, police said on Monday. According to reports, the incident occurred in the Ambedkar Nagar locality of Tagore Nagar. CCTV footage of the mishap has since surfaced, indicating that the accident was triggered when a man carrying rugs inadvertently pulled down the loudspeaker. The loudspeaker fell directly onto the child, leaving her critically injured. She was rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment but was declared dead on arrival, as per the reports. The CCTV visuals show a man walking with rugs balanced on his head, while the young girl is seen playing a short distance behind him. As he passes beneath the installation, the rugs appear to get entangled in the speaker’s wiring, causing the structure to topple. The speaker then crashes into the child. People in the vicinity are seen reacting in shock, while the man continues walking away from the spot. Moments later, a boy is seen lifting the injured child and running towards help, accompanied by other children, as per the reports. Police said a case has been registered in connection with the incident, and an investigation is underway to ascertain responsibility and possible negligence related to the installation of the loudspeaker. Accused held in 12 hours for professor's murder at Mumbai's Malad railway station In another case, the Government Railway Police (GRP) have arrested a 27-year-old daily-wage labourer in connection with the fatal stabbing of a professor at a crowded railway station here within 12 hours of the crime, an official said on Sunday. According to the Borivali GRP, the accused, Omkar Eknath Shinde, was apprehended from the Kurar area of the western suburb for the murder that took place on Saturday evening. A minor argument between the victim, Alok Kumar Singh, a professor with NM College, and Shinde while they were alighting from a local train escalated into a brutal attack, the official said. Shinde, a labourer engaged in metal polishing work, stabbed Singh in the stomach on platform no 1 of Malad railway station. He fled the scene, leaving the victim in a pool of blood. Singh was immediately rushed to a hospital, where he was declared dead. The accused took advantage of the crowd and escaped from the spot, but was identified and apprehended with the help of CCTV footage, the official said. Shinde has been arrested under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and further investigation is underway, he added. (With inputs from Agencies)
27 January,2026 02:00 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThousands of farmers and tribal residents were marching towards Mumbai from Nashik on Tuesday to press for land rights and other demands, even as the Maharashtra government invited their delegation for talks later in the day, a representative of the protesters said. The protesters, carrying red flags and led by the CPI(M)-affiliated All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), began the 'long march' on Sunday after an agitation outside Dindori tehsil office in Nashik district failed to elicit any concrete assurance, former MLA J P Gavit told reporters. Protesters decide to take demands directly to state government They then decided to take their demands directly to the state government by marching on foot to Mumbai, and have also made arrangements for food, grain, firewood and other essential supplies needed for the duration of their protest. The marchers, comprising a large number of farmers, covered nearly 60 km over the past two days and began their descent through the Kasara Ghat on Tuesday morning. They have now left Nashik and entered the neighbouring Thane district, Gavit said. State government invites delegation for talks in Mumbai He claimed that sustained mobilisation and publicity of the march in the media prompted the state government to invite a delegation of the protesters for talks at the Mantralaya (secretariat) in Mumbai on Tuesday. Gavit said the delegation, comprising himself, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and AIKS national president Ashok Dhawale, Kisan Sabha national joint secretary Ajit Navale and MLA Vinod Nikole, will hold discussions with the chief minister and other ministers concerned. Tribal farmers highlight land, irrigation and forest rights issues "Tribal farmers from Peth, Surgana, Kalwan and Trimbakeshwar talukas are participating in the agitation to draw attention to unresolved issues related to land rights, irrigation and forest claims," he said. These areas are drought-prone and farmers have been demanding the construction of large check dams on west-flowing rivers and their tributaries to ensure irrigation water for local agriculture. Traffic disruption reported during agitation in Dindori The protesters are also seeking regularisation of cultivation on encroached land up to four hectares, issuance of land records, re-examination of rejected forest rights claims and procurement of agricultural produce from forest landholders at minimum support prices, Gavit said. Traffic was disrupted for the last two days in parts of Dindori, where protesters staged a sit-in, leading to congestion and diversion of vehicles through alternative routes. Gavit said a meeting has already been held with Nashik Collector Ayush Prasad, during which it was agreed that local issues would be addressed at the district level, while state-level demands would be taken up in Mumbai.
27 January,2026 12:09 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA gas cylinder explosion caused by a suspected leakage was reported in a chawl near Malvani Gate No. 8 in Malad (West) on Monday morning, leaving several people injured. According to preliminary information, the incident was reported at around 9.25 am on January 27 to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB). The blast occurred near A.C. Masjid, adjacent to Bharat Mata School, in the Malvani area. Officials said the explosion was so powerful that the first-floor slab collapsed, causing occupants to fall into the ground-floor house below. The fire was confined to the main valve of the cylinder, a gas stove, an LPG cylinder, AC sheets, and household articles including eatables and a mattress in a room on the first floor of a ground-plus-two-storey structure. Fire brigade personnel brought the blaze under control by 9.42 am. In the latest update, a total of seven people were reported injured in the incident. Of these, four were shifted to Aadhar Hospital, while three were taken to Care Hospital. Emergency response teams, including personnel from the Mumbai Fire Brigade, local police, officials from the concerned electricity distribution company, a 108 ambulance service, and BMC ward staff, were deployed at the spot. Further details are awaited. 5 injured as balloon gas cylinder explodes in Maharashtra's Malegaon town In another incident, five people, including three women, were injured after a helium gas cylinder used for filling balloons exploded in Malegaon town of Maharashtra's Nashik district on Monday morning, police said. Four of the injured were in a critical condition, they said. The explosion took place near College Stop in the Malegaon Camp area at 10.10 am when a vendor was filling gas in balloons. Five people, including three women, received injuries in the cylinder blast, according to police. The injured were taken to a private hospital in Malegaon initially and later shifted to Nashik for advanced treatment, they stated. The balloon seller, Mohammed Sadiq Makbool Ahmed (33), a local resident, was taken into custody, a police official informed. A case was registered against him under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including 125 (act endangering human life or personal safety of others), 287 (negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter), 288 (negligent conduct with respect to explosive substances), and the Explosives Act at the Malegaon Camp police station, he added. Ethanol-carrying tanker overturns and catches fire; no casualty Meanwhile, a tanker transporting ethanol from Solapur in Maharashtra to neighbouring Gujarat caught fire after it overturned in Georai tehsil of Beed district in the wee hours of Saturday, police said. The incident occurred on the Dhule-Solapur highway around 2 am, they said. "The tanker going to Gujarat veered off the road and hit the divider as its driver lost control over it. It overturned and immediately caught fire," a police official said. After being alerted, a fire brigade team of the Georai Municipal Council rushed to the spot. Firefighters battled the blaze for several hours and brought it under control around 6 am, he said. The tanker driver and his assistant escaped unhurt as they jumped out in time, but the vehicle was completely gutted in the fire, he added. The incident led to a traffic jam on the highway, but the route was soon cleared by the police.
27 January,2026 11:16 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSeveral tribals from areas falling within the Sanjay Gandhi National Park staged a protest outside the residence of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in Thane city against the demolition of their hamlets, reported news agency PTI. The protesters claimed they had been living in the area for generations and criticised the administration for demolishing their dwellings on Monday. The agitation was held outside Shinde’s residence late at night, reported PTI. Vivek Pandit, chairperson of the state tribal development committee, told reporters that no demolition should be carried out until the 2018 rehabilitation plan is implemented and the affected families are properly resettled, reported PTI. The protest was later called off after authorities assured the tribals of a discussion on the rehabilitation plan, an office-bearer of the social organisation that led the agitation said. Farmers launch foot march from Nashik to Mumbai to press for their demands Meanwhile, thousands of farmers and labourers launched a foot march to Mumbai from Nashik on Sunday to press for their various demands, including land rights, irrigation facilities and uninterrupted power supply, reported PTI. Led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Sabha, the protesters, carrying red flags, accused the government of not keeping its promises and threatened to gherao Mantralaya, the state secretariat, in Mumbai, if their issues are not resolved, reported PTI. CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and All India Kisan Sabha national president Ashok Dhawle, and CITU national vice president DL Karad are among those taking part in march, reported PTI. Implementation of the Forest Rights Act, land rights under PESA (Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act), execution of irrigation schemes, minimum support price for soybean and maize are among their issues. Earlier, a similar "long march" was undertaken in Palghar district, and it ended after the administration agreed to many of their demands, said Kisan Sabha national joint secretary Ajit Navale. "After the Thane and Palghar, we have now embarked on a long march to Mumbai (about 200 km away) from Nashik," he said, reported PTI. Navale said farmers had launched similar protests in 2015 and 2019, when Devendra Fadnavis was the chief minister, and in 2023 during the tenure of the then CM Eknath Shinde. "The government gives assurances during such agitations, but does not fulfil them," he alleged, reported PTI. Former MLA J P Gavit said the agitators are ready with ration and determined to reach Mumbai, reported PTI. "We will gherao Mantralaya and will not budge till our demands are met," he said, adding that more farmers will join them on their way. Due to the march, traffic in several parts of Nashik came to a standstill for a long time. (With inputs from PTI)
27 January,2026 09:17 AM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentNewly elected Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator Milind Vaidya and his associates have been booked for allegedly organising an unauthorised victory procession in the Mahim area of central Mumbai, a police official said on Monday, reported news agency PTI. Vaidya was elected from ward number 182 in the January 15 elections to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. The official said prohibitory orders were in force in the area till midnight of January 26, due to which Mahim police had denied permission for Vaidya’s victory rally scheduled on January 18. His associates subsequently reapplied for permission on January 22 and January 24, but both requests were turned down, he said, reported PTI. Despite the denial, Vaidya and his supporters allegedly took out a victory procession in the Mahim area between 5.30 pm and 8 pm on January 24. During the rally, firecrackers were burst and loudspeakers were used, the official added, reported PTI. Taking cognisance of the unauthorised procession, Mahim police registered a case against Vaidya, Vinay Akre, Avirat Shinde, Santosh Surve, Deepak Sawant and more than 40 others on charges of unlawful assembly and violation of the police commissioner’s prohibitory orders, the official said. Shiv Sena (UBT) office-bearer, named in police case over posters on 'missing' Kalyan corporator, has died: Party Meanwhile, a Shiv Sena (UBT) office-bearer, who had put up posters seeking information about a "missing" party corporator in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) in Thane district, died on Monday, local leaders of the outfit claimed, reported PTI. Ramesh Tike, a Shiv Sena (UBT) sub-division head, died allegedly of a heart attack, Shiv Sena (UBT) district chief Sharad Patil said, reported PTI. When contacted, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Kalyan Ghette said police have not received any information regarding Tike's death. However, he said, police have initiated an inquiry following an application submitted by the Shiv Sena (UBT) seeking registration of a murder case. The controversy centres around newly-elected KDMC corporator Madhur Matre, who hogged the limelight after posters appeared in Kalyan (East)'s Kolsewadi area stating that he could not be traced and urging citizens to contact the local Shiv Sena (UBT) branch if he was seen, reported PTI. Tike was among those involved in putting up the posters about Madhur Matre, reported PTI. Following the display of the posters, Madhur Matre's father, Umesh Baliram Matre, lodged a complaint at the Kolshewadi police station, alleging defamation and claiming his son was not missing, but had gone on a pilgrimage and was in touch with family members, reported PTI. Acting on the complaint, police registered a case against Shiv Sena (UBT) office-bearer Neeraj Dubey and two others, including Tike, and began an investigation, reported PTI. The party has claimed Tike was under severe mental stress due to repeated police summons issued to him following the complaint. Shiv Sena (UBT) district chief Patil, local youth wing president Neeraj Dubey, and other leaders have demanded that a murder case be registered against Umesh Matre and the police administration, and warned of an agitation over the issue, reported PTI. ACP Ghette clarified that the defamation case based on Umesh Matre's complaint was under investigation. (With inputs from PTI)
27 January,2026 08:16 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentShiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Monday said the World Economic Forum at Davos brings together public leaders, investors and ideators, and asserted that the forum is not meant for engaging with builders and contractors from back home who are seeking permissions from local self-governments. In a post on LinkedIn, Thackeray urged chief ministers attending the World Economic Forum in Davos not to get drawn into what he termed a “silly circus” of merely meeting people who are already on their speed dial, but instead to engage meaningfully with the world. Says WEF not a platform for photo-ops or headline MoUs The WEF in Davos is not a rat race for photographs and investment announcements, but is about substantive engagement, the former Maharashtra minister claimed. “At such a forum, we cannot be occupied with engaging with builders and contractors from back home who are seeking permissions from our local self-governments. Instead, their presence should be leveraged to further the state’s agenda globally,” he said, in a veiled dig at Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who was attending the WEF. Calls for moving beyond MoUs and investment figures Thackeray said it was necessary to move beyond the outdated idea of memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and headline-grabbing investment figures, adding that such an approach was fashionable in India a decade ago. “An annual meeting that brings together public leaders, investors, ideators and scientists is a space where geopolitics converges with themes such as artificial intelligence and much more. At such a forum, we cannot be busy engaging with builders and contractors from back home who are seeking permissions from our local self-governments,” Thackeray said. Fadnavis highlights MoUs worth Rs 30 lakh crore at Davos Maharashtra has signed MoUs worth Rs 30 lakh crore at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, which could generate up to 40 lakh jobs across sectors including industry, services, agriculture and technology, Fadnavis had said from Davos last week. Thackeray said the forum should be utilised to connect with the world and advance the state’s broader agenda. Sanjay Raut questions Davos trips and expenses “I can promise that as a leader of the Opposition party, I will not criticise the chief minister for not making any local or Indian MoU announcements from Davos, as long as it is evident that the visit is genuinely meaningful in terms of advancing our national and state interests through dialogue at a global level,” the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader said. The WEF is a platform to engage, learn, speak, interact, understand, assess and read between the lines when the world’s most powerful, influential and perhaps most out-of-the-box people and ideas come together, he said. “What makes this junket of our chief ministers unbearable is seeing senior leaders meeting other senior leaders from neighbouring states, airport welcome photographs that no other global leaders indulge in (without even offering much to the diaspora), attempts to craft a pan-India image for a national leadership campaign, and then announcements related to permissions for builders and institutions — which is the basic administrative responsibility of any government — instead of chief ministers speaking to the world in a more engaging manner,” Thackeray said, in an apparent jibe at Fadnavis. The Maharashtra chief minister was welcomed by the Brihan Maharashtra Mandal in Zurich upon his arrival in Switzerland. He also met Union ministers at the WEF. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut had demanded that the travel expenses of leaders attending Davos be disclosed to the public, reported PTI. “Chief ministers from various states in India are having a picnic in Davos,” Raut had said, reported PTI. The Davos conference is ridiculous from an Indian perspective, Raut had said last week. “If you want a break, take a holiday. If you want to meet local investors and sign MoUs, do it at home. If you want to meet party colleagues, reserve it for party conventions,” he said, reported PTI. “For Davos, use every resource, every contact and every person from back home present there to advance our national interest, ideate, and bring back just one thing — what is next, and how India and our respective states fit into that picture,” Raut said, reported PTI. (With inputs from PTI)
27 January,2026 07:57 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentDays after mid-day reported about Western Railway opening access from the 12-metre-wide Churchgate-end foot overbridge (FOB), the newly built Bandra East skywalk was on Monday opened for the public. The newly built skywalk will ease pedestrian movement, officials said. Mid-day had last week reported about the newly built Bandra East skywalk being planned to be opened for the public. Read more here According to an official statement, a new skywalk at Bandra (East) was inaugurated on January 26, 2026 by Maharashtra’s Information Technology and Cultural Affairs Minister and Guardian Minister of Mumbai Suburban District, Ashish Shelar. During the inauguration Bandra East MLA and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Varun Sardesai was also present. The skywalk has been opened to improve safety and convenience for pedestrians travelling in one of Mumbai’s busiest areas, officials said. Built for citizens’ convenience The skywalk has been constructed to help people commuting between Bandra Court, Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), MHADA office and the District Collector’s office, officials said. It has been developed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The structure is modern, durable and built with high-quality materials, they said, Key Dignitaries Present The inauguration ceremony was also attended Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar, Deputy Commissioner (Infrastructure) Girish Nikam, and Assistant Commissioner of H-East Ward, among others. Engineers felicitated for record-time work completion Senior officials honoured the engineering team for completing the project in record time. Those felicitated included Executive Engineer Namdev Ravkale, Assistant Engineer Prashant Jawale, and Junior Engineer Amit Dasurkar. Improved Safety and Reduced Congestion Speaking at the event, Ashish Shelar said the government is committed to strengthening infrastructure in Mumbai suburbs with a focus on citizen safety and convenience. He stated that the skywalk connects Bandra East railway station directly to the pedestrian bridge and the Western Express Highway, allowing pedestrians to cross safely without interacting with heavy traffic. The project is expected to reduce travel time, improve pedestrian safety, and ease congestion on Anant Kanekar Road. Benefits for daily commuters Additional Municipal Commissioner Abhijit Bangar said the skywalk would be especially useful for pedestrians travelling between the railway station, BKC offices, Bandra Court, MHADA office and nearby commercial areas. He confirmed that the skywalk has received structural stability, safety certificates, and no-objection clearance from the Railway authorities, and has been opened to the public from Republic Day 2026. Details of the new skywalk - Total length: 680 metres - Average width: 5.40 metres - Access points: 4 staircases - Escalators: 2 automatic escalators - Security: 14 CCTV cameras installed - Challenging Construction Conditions "The skywalk was constructed under challenging conditions due to heavy traffic on the Western Express Highway, midnight-only construction windows, and continuous pedestrian movement on Anant Kanekar Road below," the officials said, adding that despite utility shifting and safety challenges, the project was completed within the planned timeline, showcasing strong engineering skill and coordination.
26 January,2026 11:34 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAs part of the Republic Day 2026, Acharya Devvrat, Governor of Maharashtra and Goa, on Monday hosted a reception at Lok Bhavan in Mumbai and Bombay High Court Chief Justice S. Chandrashekhar and CM Fadnavis attended the event. An official statement said that Acharya Devvrat, also hosted tea party for the invited guests on the occasion of the 77th Republic Day at Lok Bhavan. The event brought together senior leaders, officials and distinguished personalities from across the state and the country. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, Justice S. Chandrashekhar, were present at the reception along with several other prominent dignitaries, the statement said. Addressing the gathering, Governor Acharya Devvrat extended his Republic Day greetings to all those present and conveyed his best wishes to the people of India. Prominent leaders and officials were present The reception was also attended by the Governor’s wife, Darshana Devi, and CM Fadnavis' wife Amruta Fadnavis, the statement said. Also present were Chairman of the Legislative Council Prof Ram Shinde, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Rahul Narwekar, and Deputy Chairperson of the Legislative Council Dr Neelam Gorhe, it said. Among the ministers in attendance were Mangal Prabhat Lodha and Ashish Shelar. Senior administration and security officials attended the event According to the official statement, senior officials including Chief Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, Director General of Police Sadanand Date, and Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti attended the event. Vice-Chancellors from agricultural and non-agricultural universities, along with senior officers from the Indian Armed Forces, Civil Services, and Police Services, were also present, it said. Consuls, Industrialists and Artists also attended Consuls of various countries posted in Mumbai, leading industrialists Ashok Hinduja and Prakash Hinduja, and several eminent personalities from different fields attended the reception, the statement further said. Artists from the Indian film industry added to the diversity of the gathering. Patriotic Music Performance The programme concluded with a patriotic song performance by playback singer Jagat Varma, which added a cultural and celebratory touch to the Republic Day event. India on Monday celebrated 77th Republic Day with celebratory events across the country.
26 January,2026 11:23 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
