Mumbai Police on Friday issued a detailed traffic advisory ahead of the Lionel Messi's GOAT India Tour 2025 event scheduled on December 14, 2025 at the Wankhede Stadium and Brabourne Stadium. The Argentine football icon Lionel Messi is coming to India. The tour will open on December 13 in Kolkata and will conclude in Delhi on December 15. His Mumbai event is scheduled at 5 pm on December 14 at Wankhede Stadium. The event is expected to draw large crowds along with a significant number of vehicles, police said. In order to maintain smooth traffic flow and avoid inconvenience to the public, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South), Traffic, Prashant Pardeshi, has announced a series of temporary changes, an official notification said. The traffic diversions and restrictions will be effective from 12:00 hrs to 23:00 hrs on December 14, it said. Parking restrictions There will be no parking facilities at Wankhede and Brabourne Stadiums. Spectators are advised to use public transport, including local trains and metro services. Temporary parking restrictions will be enforced on several key roads including: "C Road, "D Road, "E Road, "F Road, and "G Road N.S. Road (both north and south bound) Veer Nariman Road, Dinshaw Vachha Road, and Jamshethji Tata Road Pay-and-park facilities will be temporarily suspended on Veer Nariman Road and Dinshaw Vachha Road. Changes in routine traffic patterns Several roads will be temporarily converted into one-way streets: "D Road will be one-way west to east from N.S. Road to "E and "C Road junction. "E Road will be one-way southbound from "D Road to "C Road junction. Veer Nariman Road (southbound) from Churchgate Junction to "E Road, a restricted access road, will remain open for vehicles. Road closures and alternative routes Several key routes will be closed temporarily for traffic, including: Chandra Bose Road from Netaji Subhash Air India Junction to Mafatlal Junction (northbound) Coastal Road from Worli/Tardeo to Marine Drive (southbound) Coastal Road from Marine Drive to Worli/Tardeo (northbound) Police have provided alternative routes to assist commuters, covering major junctions such as Ramnath Poddar Chowk, Maharshi Karve Road, Opera House, Charni Road, and Marine Lines. Available Pay-and-Park spaces Limited parking is available near Churchgate Station, including: H.T. Parekh Marg - 60 vehicles Dorabaji Tata Road - 290 vehicles Jamanalal Bajaj Marg - 169 vehicles Vidhan Bhavan (MMRDA) - 250 vehicles Additional smaller lots across NCPA Marg, Vinay K. Shah Marg, and Hornimal Circle Mumbai Police have urged the public to avoid driving to the stadiums where possible and use public transport to ensure a smooth experience for everyone attending the event.
12 December,2025 10:34 PM IST | Mumbai | Asif RizviMaharashtra BJP chief Ravindra Chavan on Friday said that the state’s ruling parties will contest the municipal corporation and local body elections as part of the Mahayuti alliance, reported the PTI. The alliance comprises the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). In the first phase of the elections, the allies were reportedly competing against each other in several constituencies. Tensions between the BJP and Sena also surfaced after the BJP inducted certain local Sena leaders in Thane district, a stronghold of Shinde. High-level meetings and strategy Chavan said that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, and he had held a meeting to plan a roadmap for civic and zilla parishad elections. The BJP’s core committee also discussed poll preparations, according to the PTI. He further said that the municipal corporation elections are expected to take place in January, while zilla parishad polls may be delayed due to pending matters regarding reservations, which are currently under consideration in the High Court. Structured seat-sharing mechanism Chavan stated that CM Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde had stressed the importance of a structured mechanism to finalise a joint election strategy. All leaders reportedly agreed that major elections, including the Mumbai civic polls, should be contested as a unified alliance, as per the PTI. Committees will be formed at the party level to finalise seat-sharing, taking into account public interest and local conditions, he said. CM Fadnavis has also suggested the formation of a committee of senior office-bearers to oversee further planning for the municipal elections, ensuring that the alliance contests positively and collectively. Chavan added that all key election-related decisions will be taken collectively by senior leaders, including Fadnavis, Shinde, and Pawar, to ensure the alliance presents a coordinated approach to voters across Maharashtra. Polls likely in January Chavan on Friday said elections to 29 municipal corporations, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), are likely to be held in January, the news agency reported. He said Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had asked him to hold further discussions on preparations for the civic polls. Following this, he met Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at the latter’s residence on Thursday night. (with PTI inputs)
12 December,2025 10:05 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Mumbai Rationing Department has seized liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders and vehicles worth over Rs 67 lakh during a major crackdown on illegal gas storage in Dombivli East, officials said on Friday. According to a press note, a vigilance team formed under the guidance of the controller of rationing and director of civil supplies conducted the action on Thursday during a patrol. The team spotted large-scale storage of domestic and commercial LPG cylinders belonging to multiple companies in an unauthorised shed and parked vehicles near Survey No 80/2, close to Pimpaleshwar Mahadev Temple in MIDC Phase-2, Dombivli. Officials said the storage was being operated without any permission from the explosives department, fire brigade, or the respective gas companies. No documents were produced at the site, which falls within the Dombivli MIDC zone. 1,839 cylinders and seven ununsed vehicles seized As the location housed a highly inflammable stock of LPG cylinders, the area posed a risk of leakage, fire and potential loss of life and property, the department said. A panchnama was conducted, and a total of 1,839 cylinders and seven unused vehicles belonging to Akshaya Gas Agency, Madhukrishna Gas Agency, Swaraj Gas Distributor, Trupti Gas Agency and Lucky Enterprises were seized. A case has been registered at Manpada Police Station, Dombivli MIDC, under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Regulation of Supply and Distribution) Order, 2000. The seized stock is valued at Rs 67,14,833, the press note said. Rationing Officer Deepak Dolas lodged the complaint. The operation was carried out by officials from the Mumbai Rationing Department’s mobile vigilance unit along with officers of Rationing Office No. 39F, Dombivli (East), and personnel from Manpada Police Station.
12 December,2025 08:31 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarA 2.5-foot-long crocodile was rescued from a pond in Mumbai's Kurla on Friday, days after mid-day reported increasing concerns about unusual wildlife sightings in the area. The reptile was safely captured by the Maharashtra Forest Department with assistance from the NGO SARRP India, officials said. The rescue operation required round-the-clock monitoring, as officials and trained rescuers worked carefully to track the crocodile’s movements before attempting the capture, officials said. Rescue team kept overnight vigil Asif Patrawala from SARRP India said that their team maintained a constant watch over the water body to understand the reptile’s behaviour. A 2.5-foot-long crocodile was rescued from a Kurla pond on Friday, just days after Mid-Day highlighted rising concerns over unusual wildlife sightings in the area. Forest officials and trained rescuers safely captured the reptile. The operation, undertaken by NGO SARRP India in… pic.twitter.com/n10VKq4tho — Mid Day (@mid_day) December 12, 2025 “Our rescue team kept a day-and-night vigil around the pond to follow the crocodile’s movement patterns. After continuous tracking and careful planning, we were finally able to secure it safely earlier today,” Patrawala told mid-day. Rescued crocodile to undergo health check The rescued crocodile will be examined by forest officials before being relocated to a safe habitat. Authorities are also looking into how the reptile ended up in the urban pond, as such sightings have recently caused concern among residents.
12 December,2025 08:12 PM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavMaharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday announced that global asset manager Brookfield is set to invest over USD 1 billion (around Rs 9,000 crore) to build a major Global Capability Centre (GCC) facility in the state, reported the PTI. He said that a formal agreement will be signed soon, as discussions between the government and Brookfield have already outlined a clear plan. CM Fadnavis also stated the massive employment impact of the project, stating, “One single project will create 45,000 jobs.” Partnership and development agreement executed According to a statement from Brookfield, the company has partnered with B. S. Sharma for the development. The project is being executed under an agreement with the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), as per the PTI. The GCC will come up on a six-acre site in Mumbai's Powai area, featuring 20 lakh sq ft of lettable space by 2029. Brookfield said that the facility will be the largest in Asia, and it has already secured a 20-year lease with a major multinational bank. All power needs for the new GCC will be met through green and renewable energy sources, the news agency reported. Brookfield’s growing footprint in India Brookfield noted that it recently delivered a similar build-to-suit tower in Pune for a leading global financial services firm, as per the PTI. Earlier in May, the asset manager announced its aim to triple its India assets under management to USD 100 billion within five years. It also committed USD 12 billion in investments in metropolitan Mumbai. Brookfield currently manages around USD 30 billion in India across infrastructure, real estate, renewable power, and private equity. The company is among the largest office owners and operators in India, with around 55 million sq ft across seven cities. Why Powai was chosen for the project? The announcement on Friday highlighted Powai’s strong appeal as an urban hub, citing its mixed-use environment, excellent connectivity, access to social infrastructure, and a rich talent pool. These advantages make it one of Mumbai’s most desirable districts for large corporate facilities. State's push for GCC growth Fadnavis added that the Maharashtra government introduced a dedicated GCC policy earlier this year with the goal of generating 4 lakh new jobs. The state is focusing on the Mumbai and Pune regions as key areas for GCC expansion. A senior official said the Chief Minister met Brookfield’s Ankur Gupta regarding the upcoming Powai facility. What GCCs do? Global Capability Centres are offshore units that support multinational companies across a range of global functions. Firms like Brookfield develop and lease customised real estate spaces for these centres. (with PTI inputs)
12 December,2025 07:58 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA security guard in Goregaon West in Mumbai, was injured on Thursday morning when a stray dog suddenly attacked him reportedly near a school gate. The entire incident was captured on CCTV. The footage has since gone viral online. According to reports, the incident took place at around 9.40 am on December 11. The stray dog attack near the school has raised serious concerns in the neighbourhood. How the attack happened The CCTV footage shows that the guard is seen walking through the entrance. The video shows two stray dog present inside the premises. Moments later one of the two dogs approaches him and as the guard turns back towards the gate, the dog unexpectedly spins around, jumps at him, and bites his left shoulder. The guard can be seen struggling briefly as the dog bites him. He later managed to pull the dog off with his free hand, the footage shows. The stray dog then runs away as another security guard quickly arrives carrying a long stick to help his colleague. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mid-Day Gujarati (@middaygujarati) Concerns over stray dog behaviour The incident has led to fresh discussions online about the safety of locals and pedestrians. Many have raised concerns about rising stray dog aggression and the need for better animal control measures in busy residential areas. An official statement from the authorities was awaited. Maharashtra recorded over 30 lakh dog-bite cases over past 6 years Meanwhile, Maharashtra has recorded more than 30 lakh dog-bite cases over the past six years, an alarming figure that equates to roughly 1,369 incidents every day across the state. Acknowledging a sharp rise in dog-bite cases in both rural and urban areas, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde informed the state assembly on Wednesday that, in addition to these incidents, 30 people have died from rabies between 2021 and 2023. Shinde was responding to a query raised by Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Sunil Prabhu, who voiced concern over the growing population of stray dogs in major cities including Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, and Kalyan-Dombivli. Shinde added that the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, were being implemented across Maharashtra following government orders issued in March this year.
12 December,2025 07:17 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentShiv Sena leader and spokesperson Sanjay Nirupam slammed Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray. The Shiv Sena leader alleged that the Sena (UBT) chief has “adopted a jihadi mindset” after joining the INDIA bloc. While addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Nirupam further asserted that Uddhav Thackeray and his party MPs are abandoning the Hindutva ideology of the late Balasaheb Thackeray. The Shiv Sena leader further criticised the UBT faction for supporting an impeachment motion moved in Parliament against Madras High Court (HC) judge Justice GR Swaminathan. Earlier, the HC judge had passed an order for the lighting of a ceremonial lamp at a Tamil Nadu temple. The decision sparked protests from certain groups and became a point of discussion between the ruling and the opposition party. While the DMK government subsequently restricted the ritual and later approached the Supreme Court to secure a stay, the debate around the same remained amplified. However, Sanjay Nirupam, while slamming Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and MP Arvind Sawant, said that Sawant’s signature on the impeachment motion reflected an “anti-Hindu stance”. Recalling Balasaheb Thackeray’s advocacy for the Ram Temple movement, Nirupam questioned the Shiv Sena (UBT)’s stand on traditional rituals. “Lakhs of Shiv Sainiks went for kar seva. But today, Uddhav Thackeray’s MPs oppose the lighting of a lamp in a temple,” further alleging that the faction has strayed from Hindutva, he asserted. Nirupam further slammed the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Thackeray for his stand on the NRC, Waqf Board reforms, and incidents during his tenure as Chief Minister. Without holding back, Nirupam also criticised the Sena (UBT) chief while referring to his stance on the 2020 Palghar mob lynching of two sadhus. He further alleged that individuals linked to the 1993 Mumbai blasts had taken part in an election rally of a Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate. “Instead of teaching Hindutva to Shiv Sena and BJP, UBT should now openly declare that, for Muslim votes, Uddhav Thackeray has become jihadi-minded like the DMK, Samajwadi Party, Congress, and NCP (SP),” the Shiv Sena leader said. While Thackeray is yet to reply to Nirupam’s allegations, he did slam the Chief Minister for shielding the corrupt ministers. While speaking to the media on Thursday, Thackeray said, “Videos of their leaders with bundles of cash are coming out. Even then, the chief minister is not taking cognisance of the issue.”
12 December,2025 06:25 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Maharashtra government has approved the establishment of four new police stations in Mumbai as part of a restructuring of existing police divisions to improve policing and response times in rapidly growing areas, officials said. According to a recently issued Government Resolution (GR), the new police stations will come up in suburban Mumbai. New police stations to be created by reorganising the jurisdictions The GR stated that the new police stations will be Maharashtra Nagar, Golibar, Madh Marve and Asalpha, which will be created by reorganising the jurisdiction of existing police stations under the Brihanmumbai Police Commissionerate. The decision also includes the creation of four new police station jurisdictions, 13 new police outposts, and three additional Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) divisions. A total of 1,488 new posts have been sanctioned for the newly formed units. Move aims to strengthen law enforcement in Mumbai The government said the move aims to strengthen law enforcement, improve supervision, and enhance public safety in densely populated and expanding localities of the city. Necessary financial approvals for recurring and non-recurring expenditure have also been granted. Police officials said the new police stations will become operational in phases after administrative and infrastructural formalities are completed.
12 December,2025 06:16 PM IST | Mumbai | Anish PatilThe Central Railway has announced one additional special train service between Mumbai’s Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) and Banaras to meet passenger demand. According to the railway administration, Train No 01081 LTT Mumbai–Banaras Special will depart at 08.25 am on Sunday and reach Banaras at 4.05 pm the following day. The train will halt at Kalyan, Nashik Road, Bhusawal, Khandwa, Itarsi, Pipariya, Narsinghpur, Jabalpur, Katni, Maihar, Satna, Manikpur, Prayagraj Chheoki, Mirzapur, and Varanasi Junction. Its composition will include one air-conditioned (AC) first class–AC two-tier coach, an AC two-tier coach, six AC three-tier coaches, two AC three-tier economy coaches, five sleeper class coaches, four general second class coaches, a general second class–guard’s brake van and a generator car. Bookings for Train No 01081, operating on special charges, are already open at all computerised reservation centres and on the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) website. Passengers can check the detailed halt timings on the Indian Railways enquiry portal or the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) app. Central Railway has urged passengers to make use of the special service and to travel with valid tickets to avoid inconvenience. Maharashtra: Central Railway to run 76 winter special trains to ease Christmas and New Year rush To manage the holiday rush during Christmas, New Year, and winter vacations, Central Railway has announced 76 Winter Special train services connecting Mumbai and Pune with key destinations, including Karmali, Nagpur, Mangaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, Amravati, and Sanganer. The services will operate between December 2025 and early January 2026, offering travellers additional options during the peak season. Key winter special services Mumbai CSMT–Karmali Daily Specials (36 services)• Train 01151: Departs CSMT at 12.20 am (Dec 19–Jan 5)• Train 01152: Departs Karmali at 2.15 pm (Dec 19–Jan 5) LTT–Thiruvananthapuram North Weekly Specials (8 services)• Train 01171: Thursdays from LTT• Train 01172: Saturdays from Thiruvananthapuram North LTT–Mangaluru Junction Weekly Specials (8 services)• Train 01185: Tuesdays from LTT• Train 01186: Wednesdays from Mangaluru Jn CSMT–Nagpur Weekly Specials (6 services)• Train 01005: Saturdays from CSMT• Train 01006: Saturdays from Nagpur Pune–Nagpur Weekly Specials (6 services)• Train 01401: Fridays from Pune• Train 01402: Saturdays from Nagpur Pune–Sanganer Weekly Superfast Specials (6 services)• Train 01405: Fridays from Pune• Train 01406: Saturdays from Sanganer Pune–Amravati Weekly Specials (6 services)• Train 01403: Saturdays from Pune• Train 01404: Sundays from Amravati(Booking opens on Wednesday) The announcement was issued on Tuesday by Dr Swapnil Nila, Chief Public Relations Officer, Central Railway, Mumbai.
12 December,2025 05:37 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentCentral Railway, while sharing Mumbai local train updates, on Friday said that it will operate a mega block on Sunday, December 14, 2025, on its suburban network to carry out essential engineering and maintenance works. An official statement said that the block will affect services on the Main Line as well as the Trans-Harbour Line during the afternoon hours. Main Line services to run on slow tracks The statement said that a block will be in place on the up and down fast lines between Matunga and Mulund from 11:05 am to 3:45 pm. Down fast trains leaving CSMT between 10:36 am and 3:10 pm will be diverted to the slow line at Matunga. They will halt at all scheduled stations up to Mulund and are expected to reach their destinations 15 minutes late. Fast services beyond Thane will return to the fast line at Mulund. Up fast trains leaving Thane between 11:03 am and 3:38 pm will shift to the slow line at Mulund, halt at all regular stations up to Matunga, and then rejoin the fast line. These trains too will run 15 minutes behind schedule, the statement said. Trans-Harbour Line to be suspended between Thane and Vashi/Nerul A mega block will also be in place on the up and down Trans-Harbour lines between Thane and Vashi/Nerul from 11:10 am to 4:10 pm. During this period the train services between Vashi/Nerul and Thane will remain fully suspended. The statement said that the down services from Thane to Vashi/Nerul/Panvel (10:35 am-4:07 pm) will be cancelled and the up services from Panvel/Nerul/Vashi to Thane (10:25 am-4:09 pm) will also be cancelled. Central Railway stated that the mega blocks are necessary for infrastructure upkeep and ensure safe and reliable train operations. "Passengers are requested to plan their journeys accordingly and cooperate with the administration," the officials said. Central Railway to run additional special train between LTT Mumbai and Banaras In an another statement, the Central Railway said that it has decided to run one additional special train service between Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) Mumbai and Banaras to provide extra convenience to passengers. The special train 01081 will depart from LTT Mumbai at 08:25 hrs on 14 December 2025 and will reach Banaras at 16:05 hrs the next day. The train will stop at: Kalyan, Nashik Road, Bhusawal, Khandwa, Itarsi, Pipariya, Narsinghpur, Jabalpur, Katni, Maihar, Satna, Manikpur, Prayagraj Chheoki, Mirzapur and Varanasi Junction.
12 December,2025 05:27 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTwo people suffered minor injuries on Friday after a leopard attacked them in Akshi village near Alibaug in Maharashtra. Forest officials believe the same leopard may be responsible for injuring six people earlier this week in nearby Nagaon village. A fresh search operation has been launched by the Forest Department, assisted by local NGOs and volunteers. Teams are using camera traps, patrol vehicles, and tranquiliser equipment to track the animal. According to officials from the Maharashtra Forest Department, the pattern of movement suggests the leopard could be the same animal involved in the earlier attacks. Residents of the coastal belt have been living in fear since the first incident, with many avoiding early morning and late evening outdoor activities. Rescue teams on alert Authorities have said that capturing the leopard safely is a priority. The rescue team is also working to ensure that both human and animal lives are protected during the operation. Officials have urged residents to stay cautious. Past attack this week Meanwhile, two residents of Nagaon Village, located near the popular Nagaon Beach in Maharashtra's Alibaug, were injured on Tuesday following a human–leopard conflict incident, which triggered panic in the locality. Soon after learning about the incident, the Maharashtra Forest Department rushed to the spot. Considering that leopards have been roaming freely in residential areas, efforts are underway to locate and safely rescue the wild cats from the densely populated area. In view of the rescue operation, Pune-based wildlife rescue NGO RESQ CT has also departed for Alibaug to assist the forest personnel in the mission. The NGO is expected to provide technical expertise and equipment for safely capturing the big cat.
12 December,2025 05:26 PM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavADVERTISEMENT
