With the Centre rolling out Swachh Survekshan 2025–26, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Tuesday urged citizens to actively join in keeping the city clean and beautiful to improve and contribute in Mumbai’s performance in the national cleanliness rankings. BMC's Additional Municipal Commissioner, Dr Ashwini Joshi, stated that the citizen participation will be key to achieving better rankings and directed major civic departments, including Solid Waste Management, Storm Water Drains, Sewerage Operations, the Mumbai Sewage Disposal Project and the Education Department, to ensure close inter-departmental coordination for effective implementation. Joshi was speaking at a review meeting held at the BMC headquarters. The meeting was also attended by Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Solid Waste Management) Kiran Dighavkar and senior officials from various departments. Swachh Survekshan 2026 introduces new benchmarks, school focus Conducted annually by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Swachh Survekshan evaluates cities on parameters such as sanitation, waste segregation, collection, transportation, processing and citizen participation. The ongoing survey marks the tenth edition of the national cleanliness exercise. For Swachh Survekshan 2025–26, the Centre has introduced the theme ‘Swachhata ki Nai Pahal – Badhaaye Haath, Kare Safai Saath’, placing increased emphasis on citizen feedback and verification. Digital feedback will be collected throughout the year via websites and mobile applications. New benchmarks have also been introduced to curb open defecation and urination, while greater focus has been placed on school-based Behaviour Change Programmes. This year’s survey will include separate assessment criteria for coastal cities, along with enhanced scrutiny of cleanliness standards at tourist, heritage, religious and high-footfall public places. BMC's efforts Highlighting ongoing civic efforts, Dr Joshi said the BMC’s Solid Waste Management Department has been working continuously towards scientific and efficient waste management across Mumbai and its suburbs. She stressed that accurate and updated data compilation, along with coordinated departmental action, is essential to ensure these efforts are reflected in the survey assessment. Underscoring the importance of public involvement, Dr Joshi said fostering cleanliness habits among students can lead to long-term behavioural change and improved civic hygiene. Appealing to Mumbaikars, she said cleanliness is a shared responsibility and urged citizens to keep their homes, neighbourhoods and public spaces clean, process waste within residential complexes wherever possible, participate in civic cleanliness initiatives and discourage littering.
03 February,2026 04:27 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Tuesday honoured officers and engineers from its bridge department for their significant contribution to completing several important projects in Mumbai within the stipulated time, an official statement said. It said that the certificates of appreciation were presented by BMC Commissioner and Administrator Bhushan Gagrani at a programme held at the BMC headquarters. Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar, Chief Engineer (Bridges) Uttam Shrote, and several engineers from the bridge department were present at the event. On the occasion, Gagrani also honoured Chief Engineer Uttam Shrote with a bouquet on the eve of his retirement, recognising his service to the civic body. Key bridge projects completed in time The bridge department successfully completed the construction of several major infrastructure projects, including the Bandra East Skywalk, Bellasis Bridge, and Safed Pul Bridge. These projects were described as administratively challenging and required careful coordination and planning. Officers and engineers associated with these projects were felicitated for their dedication and efficient execution. Engineers Honoured for Bandra East Skywalk - For their role in the construction of the Bandra East Skywalk, the following officials were honoured Executive Engineer Namdev Ravkale, Assistant Engineer Prashant Jawale, Junior Engineer Sameer More and Junior Engineer Amit Dasurkar. Recognition for Bellasis project The officials honoured for the Bellasis Bridge project included Deputy Chief Engineer Rajesh Mule, Executive Engineer Namdev Ravkale, Assistant Engineer Sandeep Patil, Junior Engineer Krupal Khot and Junior Engineer Abhishek Devalekar. Safed Pul Bridge Team Felicitated For the Safed Pul Bridge project, certificates were awarded to Former Executive Engineer Naresh Meghrajani, Assistant Engineer Amit Bhandari, Junior Engineer Chandrakant Vhatkar and Junior Engineer Ashishkumar Jain. Work on BMC’s first cable-stayed bridge in Mahalaxmi progressing The construction of BMC's first cable-stayed flyover in Mahalaxmi area of Mumbai was progressing steadily, with 55 per cent of the work on the 78.5-metre-high pylon completed, the Mumbai civic body had last month said. BMC's Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar carried out an on-site inspection of the project and directed officials to complete all works within the stipulated timeline, while strictly following safety and quality standards, an official statement said. The flyover, being built on Keshavrao Khadye Marg, is the first cable-stayed bridge constructed by the BMC over railway tracks. It will connect Saat Rasta to Mahalaxmi Racecourse, easing traffic congestion in the busy area close to Mahalaxmi railway station. The total length of the bridge is 803 metres, with a width of 17.2 metres, while the portion within the railway limits measures 23.01 metres. Pylon work a key engineering challenge Officials said the pylon is the most critical load-bearing component of the cable-stayed bridge, as it supports the cables that hold up the bridge deck. The 78.5-metre-high steel-and-concrete pylon has been designed using advanced engineering techniques, keeping in mind wind pressure, seismic forces, traffic load and long-term durability. A special crane, taller than the pylon itself, has been installed at the site to carry out the work in stages. The remaining pylon construction and related works are scheduled to be completed by March 31, 2026.
03 February,2026 04:18 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA group of commuters was left stranded inside a lift at Dadar railway station for nearly 15 minutes after severe overcrowding prevented the doors from functioning properly. Despite repeated requests from fellow passengers to step back and make space, many refused to move, worsening the situation during peak rush hour. A group of commuters was left stranded inside a lift at Dadar Railway Station for nearly 15 minutes after severe overcrowding prevented the doors from functioning properly. Despite repeated requests from fellow passengers to step back and make space, many refused to move,… pic.twitter.com/wZ9HHcwG3o — Mid Day (@mid_day) February 3, 2026 Panic and discomfort as passengers ignored warnings Rajesh Rajpurohit, a commuter, said, “The lift had reached its maximum capacity, but commuters continued to force their way in, ignoring repeated requests to step back. Despite appeals from fellow passengers and station users warning that the lift was overloaded, no one was willing to move out. As a result, the doors of the lift couldn't close, leaving those inside stranded.” Rajesh Rajpurohit. PIC/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Another commuter, Dinesh Bendel, described the panic inside the lift: “People kept saying just one more person, one more person. There was no co-operation at all. They just kept pushing us inside. It became so claustrophobic.” Dinesh Bendel. PIC/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT While no injuries were reported, regular station users pointed out that lifts at major railway stations are primarily meant for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and pregnant women, but are often misused by other commuters in a hurry.
03 February,2026 03:18 PM IST | Mumbai | Ritika GondhalekarNCP legislator Amol Mitkari on Tuesday demanded that the Maharashtra government's flagship Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana be renamed after late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Mitkari, while talking to the media on Tuesday, said, “Ajitdada (as Pawar was fondly called) was the favourite brother of women in the state,” as cited by news agency PTI. The NCP MLC further added, "His wrist would be full of rakhis when he travelled across the state during his yatras. The state government would give a tribute to him if it names the scheme as the Ajitdadanchi Ladki Bahin scheme (Ajitdada's Ladki Bahin scheme)." Earlier on January 28, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others were killed in a plane crash at Baramati in Pune district. As the news of Ajit Pawar’s death in a plane crash spread, thousands of party workers and supporters gathered outside the Baramati Medical College, turning the hospital surroundings into a scene of intense grief and mourning. The supporters from Baramati and nearby areas raised cries of sorrow, expressing disbelief over the sudden loss of their leader. Ladki Bahin Yojana was announced by Ajit Pawar The Ladki Bahin scheme, announced by Pawar when he was the finance minister and started in July 2024, provides assistance of Rs 1,500 every month to eligible women in the age group of 21 to 65 through direct bank transfer. The scheme is believed to have played a crucial role in the victory of the BJP-led Mahayuti in the 2024 assembly elections. Earlier on Monday, Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also said the government won't stop the monthly financial assistance to women under the scheme, as it is helping them immensely, and that the aid will be increased from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,100 at the right time. Sunetra Pawar takes charge as deputy CM Days after Ajit Pawar’s untimely demise, his wife, Sunetra Ajit Pawar, was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Sunetra’s swearing in as the Deputy Chief Minister created history, as she became the first woman to hold the post in the state. Her husband, the late Ajit Pawar, had earlier set a record by serving as deputy chief minister six times. On January 31, 2026, Sunetra Pawar was administered the oath of office by Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat at Lok Bhavan (formerly known as Raj Bhavan) in Mumbai.
03 February,2026 02:46 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSmoke on the water A thick haze descends on the Coastal Road at Haji Ali as Mumbai experienced AQI in ‘severe’ and unhealthy categories last week A festival of voices A performance by Ankur Tewari at an earlier edition of the festival. Pic Courtesy/Spoken Fest Mumbaikars can look forward to a homecoming of words. The 10th edition of Spoken Fest will kick off on February 21 and 22 at Jio World Garden, BKC. From Kommune’s stable, the festival brings together poetry, storytelling, performance, music, and conversation, with voices such as Sheeba Chaddha, Swanand Kirkire, Raj Arjun, and Waseem Barelvi. Roshan Abbas Co-founder of Kommune, Roshan Abbas told this diarist, “The milestone edition marks a homecoming that celebrates language and shared listening. Spoken Fest exists to remind you that your voice is not background music, but the entire song.” A take on philosophy Mumbai’s followers of philosophical thought have a chance to listen to Sharad Baviskar, assistant professor, Centre for French and Francophone Studies, JNU, who will take the stage as the keynote speaker at the annual programme of the Dr Aroon Tikekar Centre for Advanced Studies at the Asiatic Society of Mumbai today. With the subject titled Philosophy of Non-Philosophers, Baviskar is certain to plant some seeds of thought in this city. Readers who might be interested can log on to asiaticsociety.org for more details. Jazz notes return to Gaylord Rajesh Punjabi (left) and D Wood (right) in performance. Pic Courtesy/@gaylordrestaurantmumbai Music rolled back the years within the vintage-soaked walls of Churchgate’s iconic Gaylord Restaurant on Friday, January 30. For the first time since the late 1960s, the restaurant welcomed the Bombay Jazz Club led by Rajesh Punjabi and D Wood for a performance. “Gaylord used to be one of the original homes of jazz in the city. It was once the hub along the line from Colaba to Churchgate where artistes would drop in and perform,” shared Punjabi. In September 2025, Gaylord celebrated its 70th year with a new look and an upgraded menu. A view of the refurbished interiors. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi A first concert within the restaurant seems to be the next step to its evolution. “We were delighted when the restaurant reached out to us to ask if we would be available. A large part of what we do as a collective is to rekindle the love for jazz and its complexities among audiences. It felt only right [to accept] considering the legacy of the restaurant and its connection to the genre of music,” the veteran composer Punjabi added. Ashley Perez, restaurant manager, revealed to this diarist that the concert is the beginning of more to come. “We are looking to host more such experiences at the restaurant,” he shared, adding that the next event might be scheduled this month. “It is a chance to roll back the years of Bombay jazz,” Punjabi summed up. A man of his time Kekoo Gandhy. Pic Courtesy/Ram Rahman Were he around, late gallerist Kekoo Gandhy (inset) might have a thing to say about the rising AQI in the city limits. “He would not recognise the Mumbai of today,” shared daughter Behroze Gandhy, whose short film, Kekee Manzil: The House of Art will be screened this weekend by the Brief Encounters Film Club in Bandra. Incidentally, today (February 2) marks the 106th birth anniversary of the gallerist. “It is a fascinating film about a person who encapsulated the lofty ideas of his time,” shared Aparajita Sinha, founder, Brief Encounters Film Club. A touch of Sindh Monica Mahendru On February 6, theatremaker Nikhil Katara will bring history, personal and cultural memories to life with the production Paanjo Kirdaar, at the ongoing Kala Ghoda Arts Festival. Staging at the Horniman Circle Garden, the production is a collaboration with author Saaz Aggarwal, and her research on the people of Sindh. “It examines Sindhi culture through the stories of five incredible people told through monologues,” he shared.
03 February,2026 02:41 PM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-dayThe Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Board (MHADA) has announced the sale of 120 flats in Mumbai on a first-come-first-served (FCFS) basis, offering another opportunity to homebuyers after the units remained unsold in previous lotteries. Online registration for the flats will begin on February 5 at 11 am through MHADA’s official portal, https://bookmyhome.mhada.gov.in, the authority said in a notice issued on Sunday, February 2. Of the total flats on offer, 84 units have been constructed by MHADA and are located in areas such as Kandivali, Wadala, Powai, Malad, and Mankhurd. The remaining 36 flats have been received under Development Control Regulations (DCR) 33(5) and 33(7) and are situated in Vikhroli, Ghatkopar East, Byculla, Tardeo, Lower Parel, Sion, and Andheri West. MHADA said the flats were earlier offered through lottery schemes but remained unsold, following which they are now being made available under the FCFS model. MHADA cautions homebuyers against unauthorised agents The entire process — including online application submission, payment of application fee and security deposit, and flat selection — will be conducted online only. MHADA has clarified that it has not appointed any agents or brokers and has urged applicants to beware of unauthorised persons claiming to facilitate allotments. As per eligibility norms, applicants must be Indian citizens and at least 18 years old. Submission of Aadhaar and PAN cards is mandatory, along with other documents as applicable. All payments must be made through online modes. After selecting a flat, applicants will be required to pay 10 per cent of the flat’s sale price to confirm the booking, MHADA said.
03 February,2026 01:05 PM IST | MumbaiIn a noteworthy incident reported from the Borivali police station limits, a bag containing valuables worth approximately Rs 21 lakh was traced and returned to its owner within just one hour, highlighting the promptness of the Mumbai Police. The incident occurred on February 2, at around 10 am, when Vikas Chavan, a professional director associated with advertisements and small and large-scale shoots for various companies, was on his way to Gorai Beach for a shoot. After alighting from an autorickshaw, he accidentally left behind his bag containing valuable equipment. The rickshaw driver drove away, leaving Chavan distressed. The bag contained a camera, laptop, tablet and other costly equipment. Realising the lossed possession, Chavan immediately approached Borivali Police Station and lodged a complaint with PSI Sagar. Borivali Police launched an immediate search operation Acting swiftly on the complaint, the crime detection team of Borivali Police launched an immediate search operation without any delay. With the coordinated efforts of Police Constables Yogesh Khedkar and Rishikesh Naikare, first investigating officer Vilas Satpute, along with Police Sub-Inspector Wudre, the concerned autorickshaw was traced within an hour. The police safely recovered the bag and returned it to the complainant. The recovered items included a laptop worth approximately Rs 3 lakh, a tablet valued at Rs 50,000, a camera worth Rs 50,000, and other miscellaneous items worth around Rs 1 lakh, totalling Rs 5 lakh in physical assets. Notably, the data stored in the laptop was estimated to be worth nearly Rs 16 lakh. Thus, the Borivali police officers and staff successfully recovered and returned a bag valued at around Rs 21 lakh to the complainant within an hour.
03 February,2026 12:57 PM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanA fire broke out in an electric duct on the 10th floor of a residential high-rise in Thane West early Tuesday, leaving two residents injured and prompting the evacuation of dozens of people, officials said. According to the Disaster Management Cell of the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), the incident was reported at around 4.14 am at Milan Hill Building, a ground-plus-18-storey structure located in Shastri Nagar. The information was initially relayed to civic authorities by a journalist. Fire brigade personnel, along with officials from the Disaster Management Cell, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) and the Mahanagar Gas Company, rushed to the spot. The emergency response included one fire engine, one rescue vehicle and a utility vehicle. The blaze damaged the electric duct between the 10th and 13th floors. The main doors of two flats on the 10th floor—Room No. 1005, owned by Pushparaj Mendhan, and Room No. 1006, owned by Vidya Jadhav—were also charred. Heavy smoke from the fire trapped nearly 60 to 70 residents inside the building. Of these, four occupants in Room No. 1005 and three in Room No. 1006 were stranded on the 10th floor. All were safely evacuated by fire brigade personnel and disaster management staff as a precautionary measure, officials said. Two residents sustained burn injuries in the incident. A 74-year-old woman, Ruchira Deshmukh, a resident of Room No. 1104, suffered burns to both hands and was admitted to Jupiter Hospital. Another injured resident, Vivek Pradhan (62), who lives in Room No. 1502, sustained burns to his hand and leg and was admitted to Bethany Hospital. The fire was brought under control and completely extinguished by around 5.30 am. Officials said the situation is now stable and under control. Charging battery of electric two-wheeler explodes, triggers fire in flat In another case, the battery of an electric two-wheeler exploded while being charged inside a flat in Diva area near Thane on Monday, triggering a fire, civic officials said. While the explosion caused extensive damage to the house, nobody was injured in the incident that occurred after 4 PM in a room on the third floor of Siddhant Regency Building No. 1. The fire rapidly spread through the living room, said Yasin Tadvi, chief of the Disaster Management Cell of the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC). "A battery used to charge an electric two-wheeler exploded in the house, causing a fire. The sofa, furniture, and electrical wiring in the house were completely burnt and damaged. However, the fire has been completely extinguished. No one was injured," he added. Firefighters managed to bring the situation under control and extinguish the flames by 4:40 PM.
03 February,2026 12:18 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) has launched a sharp attack on the Union Budget 2026 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, calling it a package of “imaginary assurances” that merely replaces unfinished promises with distant projections for 2047, reported news agency IANS. Market reaction exposes gap between claims and reality In an editorial published in the party mouthpiece Saamana, the Thackeray faction said that despite the government’s claims of strong economic performance over the past 12 years, the immediate reaction to the Finance Minister’s 85-minute budget speech exposed a starkly different reality. The editorial pointed out that while the Prime Minister and ruling party MPs applauded the speech in Parliament, the stock markets reacted with what it described as an “objective assessment”. Within minutes of the budget’s conclusion, the markets witnessed a sharp fall, wiping out nearly Rs 16 lakh crore in investor wealth. The editorial attributed the panic to fresh levies on options trading and a hike in the Securities Transaction Tax on futures, reported IANS. Middle class, salaried taxpayers feel the squeeze Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi describing the budget as a “Reform Express”, the Sena (UBT) said middle-class investors—many of whom now depend on mutual funds and equities—experienced the impact far more harshly than suggested by government rhetoric. The editorial further criticised the budget for failing to provide relief to salaried individuals, noting that income tax slabs remained unchanged despite rising inflation. It also accused the Centre of neglecting farmers, alleging there was no mention of guaranteed prices linked to production costs. Recalling earlier promises to double farmers’ incomes, the party claimed it was cultivation expenses that had doubled instead, pushing agriculture into distress, reported IANS. Questions raised over rupee fall and rising national debt Highlighting what it termed a widening gap between “words and actions”, the editorial questioned the sharp depreciation of the rupee over the past decade and the steep rise in national debt since 2014. ‘Viksit Bharat’ vision likened to suspense film Concluding on a sarcastic note, Saamana likened the government’s vision of a “Viksit Bharat” by 2047 to the suspense film Bees Saal Baad, suggesting that after an immediate loss of Rs 16 lakh crore, citizens are being asked to wait decades for any meaningful returns. (With inputs from IANS)
03 February,2026 12:13 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA Thane court has acquitted five persons accused of assaulting police personnel in 2020, citing "glaring and irreconcilable" contradictions in testimonies, lack of medical proof or witnesses, missing duty records, and no evidence of common intention or pre-arranged plan, reported news agency PTI. Judge calls prosecution claim ‘physically impossible’ A sub-inspector and another policeman had alleged that one of the accused caught hold of their collars at the same time during the incident at Kalwa police station in Maharashtra's Thane district on February 7, 2020. Pointing out the logical impossibility of the prosecution's claims, Additional Sessions Judge V L Bhosale said, "This is physically impossible. One person cannot simultaneously catch the collars of two different persons. This contradiction is not on some minor or collateral matter, but goes to the very heart of the prosecution case - namely, who assaulted WHOM," reported PTI. A copy of the order dated January 29 was made available on Monday. Assault alleged at Kalwa police station in 2020 According to the prosecution, the accused entered the Kalwa police station, became aggressive and assaulted some security personnel. The accused -- Chittaranjan Bharti, Pawan Kuril, Chandrakant Kuril, Rupali Kuril and Savita Kuril -- faced charges under Indian Penal Code sections 353 (assault on a public servant), 504 (intentional insult), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), and 160 (affray), reported PTI. The case against the sixth accused, Kanchan Motilal Kuril, was abated as she died during the pendency of the trial. Court notes absence of medical and duty-related records The defence lawyers punched holes in the prosecution's case and challenged the charges against the accused. The Thane court found the testimony of the four police witnesses to be riddled with "fatal defects". It further noted the complete absence of any medical evidence, crucial in a case of assault, reported PTI. The Thane court also pointed to a lack of documentary evidence to establish that the officers were on duty, as well as no duty roster and no station diary entries produced for the relevant time. In a case involving police officers as witnesses, production of the duty roster and related documents is essential, it said. Prosecution fails to prove case beyond reasonable doubt On the charge of affray (Sec 160), the court said, "The word 'fighting' necessarily implies mutual combat -a situation where both sides are actively engaged in fighting with each other. One-sided assault or attack does not constitute 'fighting'." The prosecution failed to bridge the gap between "may be true" and "must be true", it said, while granting the benefit of doubt to the accused, reported PTI. "The prosecution has completely failed to prove its case against the accused persons beyond reasonable doubt," the judge said. (With inputs from PTI)
03 February,2026 12:02 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentSenior NCP (SP) leader Jitendra Awhad claimed on Monday that a merger between the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party was "2,000 per cent" certain to happen, reported news agency PTI. The unification of the NCP (SP) led by Sharad Pawar and the NCP, headed by the late Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, was in advanced stages, he said. The MLA visited the NCP office in Thane to pay floral tributes to the departed leader. ‘Merger date fixed for February 12’ "It is 2,000 per cent true that the merger of the two NCPs was going to happen. While such high-level matters are for the leadership to discuss, I can say with absolute certainty that this unification was imminent," Jitendra Awhad told reporters. He hailed the administrative acumen of Ajit Pawar, describing his death in a plane crash as an irreparable loss to Maharashtra's governance. Awhad praises Ajit Pawar’s administrative grip Awhad noted that he had not seen a leader in 40 years with such a strong command over the administration. He praised the late leader for his lightning-fast decision-making, stating that during Ajit Pawar's tenure, "no file was ever stalled in the ministry," reported PTI. Sharad Pawar fuels speculation over merger talks The unification speculation gained momentum after Sharad Pawar last week claimed that it was his late nephew Ajit Pawar's wish to unite both factions, and gave a February 12 timeline for the merger. "Now we feel his wish should be fulfilled. Ajit Pawar, Shashikant Shinde and Jayant Patil had initiated the talks about the merger of the two factions. Even the merger date had been fixed - it was scheduled on the 12th (February). Unfortunately, Ajit left us before that," he had said, reported PTI. Fadnavis dismisses claim, NCP leaders play down possibility Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had virtually dismissed Sharad Pawar's claim, saying if the merger talks were really in progress, then Ajit Pawar would have shared details with him, reported PTI. Leaders of NCP have, however, indicated that such a unification is a remote possibility, further deepening the political intrigue. (With inputs from PTI)
03 February,2026 11:25 AM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
