The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has intensified its property tax recovery action in Mumbai and decided to e-auction 6 properties, including vacant plots, residential plots, commercial plots, and hotels valued at Rs 455.48 crore, which are property tax defaulters, officials said on Thursday. They said that in addition, two other property owners have been given 21 days long notice to pay tax or else the auction process will be initiated for these properties as well. As part of BMC's seizure and auction campaign, the civic Assessment and Collection Department of the Municipal Corporation took action against a total of 8 properties on Thursday. These properties have pending arrears of Rs 455.48 crores, an official statement said. The BMC said, "Due to non-payment to arrears despite repeated notices, a public e-auction process has been initiated on the 6 properties concerned. Meanwhile, a long notice of 21 days has been issued to 2 property owners to pay the tax. If the tax is not paid within this period, the auction process will be initiated." BMC issues seizure notices under Section 203 of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act (1888) to large defaulters who are reluctant to pay tax and who do not pay property tax despite having the financial capacity. If the tax is not paid within the prescribed period, as per the provisions of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, the relevant property will be seized and auctioned first under the relevant Sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Properties to be auctioned 1) Hotel name of Messrs. Ameer Park and Amusement Private Limited at Goregaon West (reserve value is Rs. 268.61 crore)2) Shops and offices (reserve value of property Rs. 51.49 crore )3) Residential plot at Dahisar (reserve value of property Rs. 34.81 crore)4) Property in Parel (asset value Rs. 34.14 crore)5) oil mill, godown and office at Mazgaon (asset value Rs. 23.20 crore)6) commercial air-conditioned shed in Malad (asset value Rs. 9.2 crore) BMC's property tax collection targets BMC has set a target of property tax collection of Rs 6,200 crore for the financial year 2025-26, of which property tax worth Rs 5,426.81 crore has been collected so far from April 1, 2025 to February 4, 2026.
12 February,2026 08:37 PM IST | Mumbai | Eeshanpriya MSLuxury car manufacturer Rolls-Royce on Thursday said it intends to scale up its business in India to support future programmes and partnerships across defence, civil aviation and energy. The automaker is exploring opportunities to co‑develop a next‑generation combat jet engine and localising engine manufacture for the Indian Army, Navy as well as Coast Guard, and potentially power solutions for critical infrastructure and industry, a statement said. These initiatives could more than double the workforce supporting Rolls‑Royce and its partners to about 10,000 people in India. "As India advances its next generation military capabilities, Rolls-Royce with the UK Government has offered to co-develop a 120 kN class combat jet engine core that could be India’s fastest route to an indigenous next-generation engine," the statement said. Rolls Royce highlighted that the co-development will provide full technology transfer with IP ownership for India, supported by a dedicated design complex and manufacturing capabilities that will unlock significant job creation. The company also estimated a ten‑fold increase in its supply‑chain sourcing from India, which would benefit many small and medium sized enterprises. “We are determined to partner India on its Atmanirbhar journey, by developing indigenous propulsion capabilities, providing sustained power to critical infrastructure and industry, and expanding local manufacturing for global supply chains,” said Tufan Erginbilgic, CEO, Rolls‑Royce. "As we grow our participation in programmes across India’s defence, aviation and energy sectors, we will expand our ecosystem in India, as we have done successfully in other countries," Tufan added. Over 1,400 Rolls-Royce engines are currently powering various defence platforms such as the Jaguar combat aircraft and Hawk trainers of the Indian Air Force and Navy; the Arjun Main Battle Tanks of the Army, and a variety of vessels and submarines of the Indian Navy and Coast Guard including the Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Watercrafts and the P17 Alpha frigates, the company said. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Erginbilgic, saying that the government welcomes the luxury automaker’s enthusiasm towards scaling up its activities in India. “We welcome Rolls-Royce’s enthusiasm towards scaling up its activities in India and partnering with our innovative and dynamic youth,” PM Modi said in an X post. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
12 February,2026 08:33 PM IST | New Delhi | IANSIn a dramatic rescue operation that took place late on the night of February 10, 2026, railway cops heroically saved the life of a man who had fell of a bridge at Vaitarna near Mumbai, officials said. According to the officials, the operation took place at Vaitarna Bridge No. 92 near Virar. A 24-year-old man, Uday Mangesh Bangad, was safely rescued after falling into the creek below the railway bridge. The incident happened at around 11 pm when the on-duty porter Rahul and a railway lineman informed the authorities that a person had fallen into the water beneath the bridge, they said. Swift response by RPF staff Railway cop -- Constable Pawan Kumar-- immediately responded to the emergency. Without delay, he rushed to the spot along with a Home Guard and porter Rahul, the officials said. On reaching the bridge, they saw a young man clinging to a bridge pillar in the creek below. A man fell from a moving train into Vaitarna Creek near Palghar late at night, triggering a swift rescue response. RPF personnel and locals rushed to the spot after receiving alerts and spotted him clinging to a bridge pillar in the water to stay alive.Using ropes and a boat,… pic.twitter.com/jYUyXmjcix — Mid Day (@mid_day) February 12, 2026 Showing great courage and presence of mind, Kumar used a rope and an iron rod to carefully climb down towards the man. He managed to hold and support him, preventing him from slipping further into the water. Boat arranged for safe rescue The NG staff were quickly informed and a rescue boat was arranged. With the help of the boat team, the young man was safely brought out of the creek. The rescue operation was successful due to quick coordination and teamwork. Several local individuals also supported the rescue efforts. Those who assisted at the scene included Guru Patil and Sai Patil, leaders of Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ramesh Singh (Railway employee). The rescued man was later identified as Uday Mangesh Bangad, a resident of Capture Pada, Boisar in Palghar. Reunited with family According to the officials, his family members were informed immediately by telephone. After some time, his mother and brother reached Vaitarna station by road. The young man was safely handed over to them. The family expressed heartfelt gratitude and thanks to the RPF staff for saving his life. The incident was also reported to the on-duty officer. The timely action and bravery of the rescue team helped prevent a possible tragedy, said the officials.
12 February,2026 08:26 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarCentral Railway’s newly launched AC local services on Mumbai's Harbour Line have seen a strong response from commuters, with 6.40 lakh passengers travelling within the first 16 days of its operations. According to a Central Railway, the AC Harbour Line services recorded 6,40,017 passengers between January 26 and February 10, 2026, an average of 40,017 commuters per day. CR earns Rs 2.38 crore from AC local ticket sales During this period, Central Railway earned Rs 2.38 crore from AC local ticket sales, averaging Rs 14.90 lakh per day. Of the total revenue, Rs 1.79 crore came from season tickets, while Rs 59 lakh was generated through journey tickets. Officials said the strong response reflects a growing preference among Mumbai local train commuters to upgrade from conventional non-AC first and second class coaches to the enhanced comfort of AC local services. Currently, Central Railway operates 94 AC local services, including 14 new services introduced on the Harbour Line on January 26, 2026. Ticket checking drives intensified in AC locals To curb ticketless and irregular travel, Central Railway’s Mumbai Division has intensified special ticket checking drives in AC locals and at stations across the network. Between January 26 and February 10, ticket checking teams detected 810 cases of irregular travel in Harbour Line AC locals and recovered Rs 2.50 lakh as a penalty. In the financial year 2025–26 (up to February 10, 2026), ticket checking squads identified 1.01 lakh cases of passengers travelling without proper tickets in AC locals across both Main Line and Harbour Line routes. A total penalty of Rs 3.22 crore was recovered during this period. Railway authorities said the enforcement action sends a clear message that irregular travel in AC local trains will not be tolerated and strict action will be taken against offenders. Central Railway reiterated its commitment to providing safe, comfortable and efficient travel for Mumbai suburban commuters and appealed to passengers to travel with valid tickets to avoid penalties and inconvenience. Solapur-CSMT Mumbai Vande Bharat Express completes 3 years, carries over 23 lakh passengers The Solapur–Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) Mumbai Vande Bharat Express has completed three years of service, marking a major milestone in modern rail connectivity and passenger convenience. Since its inauguration on February 9, 2023, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the train has carried over 23 lakh passengers with an impressive occupancy rate of 102.27 per cent, according to the Solapur Division of Central Railway. The 455-km service, operated as Train Nos. 22226/22225, connects Solapur, known for its textiles and martyrs, with Mumbai, India’s commercial capital. It reduces travel time to just 6 hours 30 minutes, compared to nearly 8 hours by conventional superfast trains, saving passengers approximately 1 hour 30 minutes.
12 February,2026 08:03 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentWestern Railway has bagged four trophies at the 29th Mumbai Flower Show 2026, organised by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Tree Authority at Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Udyan and Zoo (Byculla zoo) from February 6 to 8, officials said. Among the highlights was the First Prize in the garden category for “BOMBARCI”, the garden at the Western Railway General Manager’s residence, an official statement said. According to Chief Public Relations Officer Vineet Abhishek, the annual flower show saw participation from several prominent public and private organisations, including Central Railway, Godrej, BPCL, HPCL, RCF, Hiranandani, MMRDA and Mumbai International Airport. Western Railway showcased thematic floral displays and exhibits, earning recognition across multiple categories. The trophies were presented by BMC dignitaries during the event, it said. Officials stated that Western Railway’s continued participation in the flower show reflects its commitment to environmental awareness, beautification drives and promotion of greenery across its establishments. The railway zone reiterated its focus on supporting eco-friendly initiatives and community engagement through such civic platforms.
12 February,2026 07:49 PM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentThe Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) has organised free health camps at its civic health centres till February 27 to mark the 350th Shaheedi Samagam (martyrdom centenary) of Guru Tegh Bahadur. The camp at Bai Rukminibai Hospital was inaugurated on Thursday by newly appointed Mayor Harshali Chaudhary. Speaking at the event, Chaudhary urged citizens to avail themselves of the facilities and said more such camps should be conducted across the city, including in rural pockets. She added that the civic body would approach the government if additional funds are required for health services. Municipal Commissioner Abhinav Goyal said the initiative is being held as part of programmes organised by the Centre and the state government. He said special camps for pregnant women should be conducted and suggested organising a cancer screening drive for women on March 8, International Women’s Day. Deputy Commissioner (Medical Health) Prasad Borkar, Municipal Secretary Kishore Shelke, Chief Medical Officer Dr Sulakshana Tribhuvan, corporators and civic health officials were present. Screening for non-communicable and infectious diseases Civic officials said the camps will offer screening for non-communicable and infectious diseases, antenatal check-ups, eye examinations, paediatric consultations and other basic health services. After the event, the mayor and the commissioner inspected the IPD, OPD and medicine stock at the hospital and issued instructions to officials. The mayor also underwent a routine check-up in the OPD.
12 February,2026 07:47 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAfter the first session of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) newly elected 227-member general body on Wednesday (February 11), to elect Ritu Tawde as Mumbai's Mayor and Sanjay Ghadi as the Deputy Mayor, the general body is likely to meet next on February 16, Monday. Members of BMC's statutory committees will be decided in this meeting of the General Body, including the Standing Committee, which approves all projects and other expenditure above Rs 1 crore; the Improvements Committee, in charge of approving infrastructure and land development projects; the Education Committee; and the BEST Committee. According to a tentative schedule, dates decided for the formation and special meetings of all committees are: February 20: Standing Committee and Education Committee are to meet and elect the respective chairpersons. February 23: Improvement and BEST committees to meet and elect their respective Chairpersons March 5, 6, 9: Ward committees to meet March 12, 13, 14: Special Committees to meet and elect their respective Chairpersons (Work Committee, Public Health, Markets and Gardens, Women and Child, Law) Budget: According to the tentative schedule, BMC is likely to present its budget at a meeting of the standing committee on February 25.
12 February,2026 07:38 PM IST | Mumbai | Eshanpriya MSThe Vasai Road railway station has received two major upgrades in just a span of one month, a new Foot Over Bridge (FOB) and part of an elevated deck has been opened for public, officials said. With the opening of a new Foot Over Bridge (FOB) and part of an elevated deck under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP)-3A was opened for improved passenger facilities at the station, the officials said. The Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation Ltd. (MRVC) announced that a 6-metre wide and 42-metre long Foot Over Bridge connecting the east circulating area to island platforms 4-5 and 6-7 has been completed and opened for use. Staircases on the eastern side have also been commissioned. In addition, a 50-metre long and 10-metre wide elevated deck, which is part of a planned 250-metre-long structure, has been completed. Earlier, a 60-metre portion of the deck was opened in December 2025. Improved passenger movement Officials said that the new facilities will help ease congestion and improve the movement of passengers at the busy suburban station. Vasai Road is one of the high-footfall stations on the Western Railway corridor. The station improvement work is being carried out in phases due to heavy suburban train traffic and operational challenges. The project aims to improve passenger safety, create more space for commuters, and enhance both vertical and horizontal circulation within the station. MRVC statement MRVC’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Sunil Udasi, said the commissioning of the new structures marks an important step in strengthening passenger infrastructure on the Western suburban corridor. He added that despite the challenges of working in a highly crowded railway section, MRVC is moving forward in a planned manner to improve commuter convenience while ensuring that train services continue without disruption. MRVC said it remains committed to completing the remaining work within the scheduled timeframe and providing modern, commuter-friendly infrastructure under the MUTP-3A project.
12 February,2026 06:39 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarThe Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking has stopped the operation of its air-conditioned bus route A-188 between Borivali (East) railway station and Kanheri Caves. The decision follows directions from the Bombay High Court, officials said. Officials said that the decision was made following a communication from the Deputy Director (South) of Sanjay Gandhi National Park. The BEST have ordered the suspension of public transport services within the national park area to protect the environment and wildlife. As a result, AC bus route A-188 has been completely withdrawn from service from January 16, 2026. Extra buses for Mahashivratri Meanwhile, BEST has announced additional bus services on the occasion of Mahashivratri on Sunday, February 15, 2026. To assist devotees visiting the Babulnath Temple, extra buses will operate on routes 57, 67 and 103 between 7.00 am and 7.00 pm. Traffic officers and bus inspectors will also be deployed at the temple area to guide passengers and manage the crowd. BEST has appealed to commuters and devotees to make use of its bus services for convenient travel. BEST announces extra buses for HSC, SSC students during board exams Mumbai In view of the upcoming Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations, the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) have announced the operation of additional buses to facilitate the smooth commute of students across Mumbai. The HSC (Class 12) examinations are scheduled from February 10 to March 11, while the SSC (Class 10) exams will be held from February 20 to March 18. With a large number of students expected to travel to examination centres across Mumbai during this period, BEST has directed its administration to ensure hassle-free transportation. According to the directive, depot managers, deputy depot managers, and assistant depot managers will arrange for extra bus services, if students or parents request for the service as well as on the basis of the requirements on on-ground traffic situations. BEST officials and inspectors will be posted at key locations to expedite traffic clearance and prevent delays, the administration stated. BEST staff asked to assist students; front-door boarding allowed during exam period Bus staff, including conductors, drivers, and inspectors, have been asked to assist students courteously and provide them with the necessary support during their journey. Additionally, students will be allowed to board buses through the front door throughout the examination period to ensure easier access. The move comes as part of broader efforts by authorities in Maharashtra to ensure that students reach their examination centres on time and without inconvenience.
12 February,2026 06:18 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra government on Thursday signed MoUs with actor Nana Patekar's Naam Foundation and Tata Trusts for healthcare and rural development, officials said. Maharashtra will speed up its development through partnerships with voluntary organisations, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Wednesday. He was speaking at Sahyadri Guest House during the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Tata Trusts and Naam Foundation. The state government has signed 12 agreements with Tata Trusts and one agreement with Naam Foundation to support development work across Maharashtra. CM Fadnavis said the government’s priority is to improve healthcare, nutrition, water security and livelihood for every family in the state. He said these partnerships would help government welfare schemes reach people more effectively and create a positive social impact. He added that support from Tata Trusts to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund has helped provide financial assistance to patients suffering from serious illnesses. The aim, he said, is to ensure that no one dies due to lack of medical treatment. Support for mothers, children and rural communities The agreements will strengthen healthcare services for mothers, newborns, children and adolescents. They will also focus on preventing malnutrition, reducing stunting among children under two, and tackling anaemia among adolescents. Efforts will be made to expand telemedicine services, improve emergency response systems and provide better primary healthcare in both urban and remote areas. Special attention will be given to districts such as Gadchiroli, along with drought-prone regions in Marathwada and Vidarbha. Water conservation and climate-resilient farming The partnership includes work on water conservation, desilting of lakes and rivers, groundwater recharge and soil conservation projects. It also aims to promote climate-resilient agriculture, livestock development and forest-based and rural non-farm livelihoods. Naam Foundation, founded by actor Nana Patekar, has been working in water conservation, especially in low rainfall areas. The Chief Minister said its contribution, along with support from Tata Trusts, has helped strengthen water conservation efforts in the state. Integrated rural development approach The MoUs will promote integrated village development by linking health, education, nutrition, water, sanitation and livelihood programmes. Tata Trusts Chairman Noel Tata said the organisation will work with various government departments and communities to improve the standard of living of ordinary citizens. He said the partnerships aim to create coordinated and long-term positive outcomes. Senior ministers and officials, including Chief Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, were present at the event.
12 February,2026 05:51 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA 62-year-old woman fractured her hand after an autorickshaw driver allegedly pushed her onto the road during a fare dispute in Maharashtra's Thane district. As reported by news agency PTI, the incident took place on Tuesday, when victim Riza Joseph and her relatives were returning from Kasturi Plaza in the Dombivali area to their place at Davadi, an official said. While the auto driver initially quoted Rs 120, upon reaching the destination, he started demanding Rs 160. Despite the complainant paying the inflated amount, the driver allegedly began verbally abusing the passengers, claiming they had misled him about the exact distance. When the incident started to ignite, the son of Joseph's tenant tried to calm the driver, but the accused started beating him. However, when Joseph attempted to intervene, the auto driver allegedly pushed the elderly woman with such force that she fell onto the pavement, resulting in a fracture to her left hand, the official said. Following the victim’s statement from hospital, the Manpada police have registered a case against the auto driver, reported PTI. Thane court acquits two men in 2002 train robbery case In a different scenario, a court in Maharashtra's Thane district has acquitted two men in a 2002 train robbery case. The court, while passing the orders, noted that the prosecution had failed to examine even a single material witness over the past two decades. In a judgement delivered on February 9, Additional Sessions Judge P R Ashturkar held that there was "absolutely nothing on record" to indicate the involvement of the accused, Shaikh Babu, alias Chhota Babu Shaikh Pyare, and Shaikh Ayub Shaikh Yusuf, reported PTI. As per the prosecution, the accused persons allegedly robbed a woman passenger on board the Chalukya Express on July 24, 2002, near Kalyan. Following the accusations, the court recorded that despite repeated attempts, no prosecution witness could be traced. The court stated, "There is absolutely nothing on record which would even remotely indicate the involvement and active participation of the accused in the said matter," as per PTI. Only one witness, a police constable tasked with serving summons, was examined, who deposed that the witnesses were untraceable. The district court acquitted both accused, saying keeping the matter lingering would be a futile exercise without any outcome. (With inputs from PTI)
12 February,2026 03:16 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
