Simone Tata, the pioneering business leader known for shaping Lakmé into India’s iconic beauty brand and establishing the base for fashion retail through the Westside chain, passed away on Friday at the age of 95. She had been recovering from an illness and was admitted to Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital. In a statement, the Tata Group paid tribute to her enduring legacy. “She will always be remembered for her contribution to the growth of Lakmé as India’s leading cosmetic brand and for laying the foundation for fashion retail with the Westside chain. She also guided the work of many philanthropic organisations, including the Sir Ratan Tata Institute. With her positivity and deep resolve, she overcame many challenges in her life while touching many of us deeply. May her soul rest in peace and God give us the strength to overcome this loss,” the statement read. Last respects will be offered on December 6, 2025, from 9:00 am to 10:30 am at the Cathedral of the Holy Name, Colaba, followed by a mass at 11:00 am. She is survived by her son Noel Tata, daughter-in-law Aloo Mistry, and grandchildren Neville, Maya and Leah. Born Simone Naval Dunoyer in Geneva, Switzerland, she first visited India as a tourist in 1953. She married Naval H. Tata in 1955 and began her professional journey with the Tata Group in the early 1960s.
05 December,2025 10:12 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentMaharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said that Maharashtra is set to strengthen its power distribution network through a ‘Digital Twin’ model for solar and other renewable energy sources. He said that the distribution company MahaVitaran will soon implement an AI-based digitisation initiative in collaboration with leading international organisations. “This marks the beginning of environment-friendly and sustainable development through AI technology in the state’s energy sector,” he said. He said that through the cooperation of RF and GEAPP, this state-of-the-art AI-based global platform will set a benchmark for power utilities across India. The Chief Minister said that AI-driven decision-support tools will significantly enhance customer service and help strengthen MahaVitaran’s financial foundation. “The solutions being developed will offer long-term, sustainable and effective support to the power distribution sector. This is the first-ever attempt to develop a Digital Twin for electricity distribution,” he said. The Chief Minister added that the innovative AI initiative is expected to drive major improvements in the use of sustainable and eco-friendly green energy, especially in rural areas. According to the Chief Minister, farmers and electricity consumers in rural Maharashtra will gain more reliable and easily accessible power through this technology. “With global-level AI systems and direct energy-sector collaboration, Maharashtra will deploy advanced digital solutions that will increase the accuracy of power flow, field operations and energy management,” he said. The Energy Department, in a release, said the initiative will have a significant impact across the sector, adding that the digital transformation enables faster project-level decision-making, improves grid efficiency, and increases the utilisation of solar energy. “With enhanced green energy use, pollution levels will be reduced substantially. A reduction of even 1 per cent in power losses could save Rs 1,000-1,500 crore annually, thereby reducing financial losses considerably,” said the department. It said that owing to international collaboration, this initiative could become a major milestone in stabilising power supply and improving service quality in fast-developing countries like India. “Maharashtra now has an important opportunity to contribute to India’s vision of a sustainable, environment-friendly, and self-sufficient energy system,” it said. The department said that through Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digitisation, MahaVitaran is gearing up to modernise the state’s energy infrastructure, marking the beginning of a new era.
05 December,2025 09:42 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentOn Friday, Mumbai is expected to experience maximum and minimum temperatures of around 34 degrees Celsius and 20 degrees Celsius, respectively, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The city witnessed a hazy morning, but the IMD forecasts mainly clear skies across the city and suburbs. As per the SAMEER App, Mumbai’s air quality index (AQI) stands at 129 today, showing slight improvement from Thursday. However, the air quality may still cause breathing discomfort for individuals with lung disorders, asthma, or heart conditions. AQI readings across Mumbai: Kurla: 107Powai: 85Vile Parle: 143Borivali: 120Worli: 75Sion: 96Mazgaon: 127Deonar: 148Malad West: 152 Delhi air quality remains in 'very poor' category with persistent smog; AQI at 323 Delhi woke up to a thick blanket of toxic smog on Friday morning, with the average AQI reaching 323 at 8 am, placing the city in the “very poor” category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Although the air quality showed slight improvement compared to recent weeks, several areas remained engulfed in dense haze, reducing visibility significantly. Early reports from Ghazipur and Akshardham indicated heavy smog, while much of the National Capital continued to fall under the “very poor” category, reported news agency ANI. Anand Vihar experienced particularly severe pollution, with an AQI of 348. Other affected areas included Sonia Vihar at 343 and Wazirpur at 358, according to CPCB data. Bawana recorded the highest AQI of 325 at 8 am, placing it in the 'very poor' category. In contrast, NSIT Dwarka recorded an AQI of 269, which falls under the 'poor' category, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The Akshardham area is blanketed by a layer of toxic smog that covers the city. The AQI (Air Quality Index) in the area is 348, categorised as 'Very Poor'. According to AQI categorisation, 0-50 is 'good', 51-100 'satisfactory', 101-200 'moderate', 201-300 'poor', 301-400 'very poor', and 401-500 'severe'. According to CPCB, the AQI, which ranges from 0 to 500, is divided into six categories, each reflecting the level of pollution and associated health risks. An AQI between 0 and 50 is classified as "Good", indicating minimal or no health impact. AQI levels from 51 to 100 fall into the "Satisfactory" category, where air quality remains acceptable, though sensitive groups such as children, the elderly, and those with respiratory issues may experience slight discomfort. The "Moderate" category, ranging from 101 to 200, signals increasing pollution levels that can trigger breathing difficulties among people with asthma, lung conditions, or heart diseases. An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered "Poor", a range in which prolonged exposure can cause breathing discomfort to most people, not just those with pre-existing health issues. This level has become increasingly common in several parts of the capital during winter. Levels between 301 and 400 are marked as "Very Poor", posing a risk of respiratory illnesses even to healthy individuals when exposure continues for long periods. The most hazardous category, "Severe," includes AQI values from 401 to 500. At this stage, air quality becomes dangerous for everyone. Further to combat the continuously deteriorating air quality in the national capital and its adjoining areas, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday chaired a meeting at the Delhi Secretariat to review the pollution control measures in the national capital, reported ANI. (With ANI inputs)
05 December,2025 09:37 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Maharashtra Revenue Department has formed Divisional Vigilance squads and a state-level committee to ensure greater transparency, accountability, and a people-centric approach in its functioning, reported news agency IANS. The Revenue Department announced the decision on Thursday on the eve of completion of one-year term of the BJP-led MahaYuti government on December 5. "Dedicated Vigilance Squads are being constituted at the level of each Divisional Commissioner to conduct effective and time-bound inquiries into complaints against officers and employees concerning revenue-related matters (minor minerals, land records, stamp duty, land measurement, and allied functions). These teams will complete a preliminary inquiry and submit their report to the competent authority within 30 days for regular complaints and within 15 days for extremely serious complaints," Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said, reported IANS. "A state-level committee, chaired by me as the Revenue Minister, is being formed to periodically review the functioning of these Vigilance teams and recommend necessary improvements," said the statement issued by the Revenue Minister's office, reported IANS. "On the occasion of the first anniversary of the state government, this initiative marks a significant milestone in our commitment to transparent, responsive, and efficient governance," the Minister noted, reported IANS. Minister Bawankule finalised the working procedure and thereafter the Revenue Department issued a Government Resolution on Thursday, directing all Divisional Commissioners to establish the respective vigilance squads within the next 15 days. "The decision was taken to ensure in-depth examination of serious complaints received against Revenue Department officers and employees regarding irregularities in land measurement, minor minerals, stamp duty, and other revenue-related work. The department believes that proper and impartial inquiry into such complaints will help enhance the credibility of the administration," the Minister said. According to the government resolution, the seven new vigilance squads are established at the Divisional Commissioner level. These squads will be chaired by the Additional Commissioner (Revenue), Divisional Commissioner Office and comprise Member Secretary: Deputy Collector (Revenue) and members including Deputy Collector, District Superintendent Land Records, District Mining Officer, Joint District Registrar, and an officer of Tehsildar rank. "A minimum of four officers must be physically present during any inquiry conducted by the squad. The squad will also have the authority to investigate in another division if the situation demands," the government resolution said, reported IANS. A six-member state-level committee, led by Revenue Minister Bawankule, has been constituted to ensure the efficiency and regularity of the vigilance work. The committee includes the Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue), one Joint Secretary, and three Deputy Secretaries. "The department's initiative will make the process of primary investigation, on-site inquiry, document verification, and report submission for serious complaints concerning minor minerals, land, stamp duty, land measurement, and ancillary work more rapid and effective," Minister Bawankule said. (With inputs from IANS)
05 December,2025 09:35 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn the past two months, five buildings owned by the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) have reported major slab and ceiling collapses, leaving many residents injured, causing property damage estimated to be worth several lakhs and raising serious questions over accountability, safety and the prolonged impact of legal delays on urban housing. In response, the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) has begun issuing general vacation notices to the occupants of these buildings. “Considering that the Bombay High Court is looking into MHADA’s authority to declare buildings being unsafe, we do not even know if MHADA has the authority even to send these vacation notices,” said Mukesh Shah, general secretary, LIC Tenants and Occupants Welfare Association (LTOWA). The spot where Dadar East resident Uday Patil was sitting when the ceiling slab fell on his head Furthermore, in a move that has alarmed the residents even more, MHADA has formally written to LIC stating that it will not be held responsible for any loss of life or property resulting from structural failures in these buildings. By doing so, the authority has made it clear that its hands are tied due to ongoing legal constraints. According to the residents and activists, the worsening condition of these ageing structures is a result of the Bombay High Court’s July stay order on Section 79(A) and 79(B) notices issued by the MHADA. Major hurdles Activist Jitendra Ghadge said, “LIC and the landlords of nearly 15,000 cessed buildings stand to benefit from redevelopment under Section 79(A). Unfortunately, many landlords demand an inflated share of the profits, while tenants are legally entitled to only 350-500 sq ft, leading to serious disputes during the redevelopment process. There is absolutely no regulation over the landlords’ expectations. Uday Patil, a 78-year-old who sustained head and shoulder injuries following a ceiling collapse; (right) Chaitali Tarkar, resident of Mandodari Building at Grant Road, where a slab collapsed on Nov. 29 Meanwhile, the 79(B) mechanism — the only real solution to this crisis — remains pending before the Supreme Court. It is high time the government urgently took up the matter in the Supreme Court, before more lives are lost to collapsing buildings.” The 79(A) and 79(B) notices are meant to declare buildings unsafe or unfit for habitation and pave the way for repair, eviction, or redevelopment. With the stay order in place, MHADA’s powers to enforce urgent structural action have effectively been curtailed. LIC unwilling? On the other hand, despite several complaints and requests made by the residents of these 68 LIC buildings dotting South and Central Mumbai, LIC hasn’t agreed to redevelop any of these buildings to date. This has created an unprecedented situation where responsibility appears to have fallen through the cracks. While MHADA cites the high court’s stay order as the reason for its inaction, LIC — the owner of the buildings — has shown little willingness to either redevelop or undertake comprehensive structural repairs. Pawan Vaishya, Dadar resident whose family narrowly missed being injured two months ago “The only way to protect residents now is to start redevelopment without delay. Human life is more important than anything else. LIC must act immediately and place people’s safety above property and procedure,” demanded Shah. LIC Regional Manager Barun Kumar Khan, with whom the LTOWA is in touch over this issue, did not answer several calls made by mid-day. Ongoing nightmare The consequences of this bureaucratic deadlock are being borne entirely by residents, many of whom live in constant fear for their safety. Residents allege that despite repeated complaints and warnings, only temporary patchwork or no repairs at all are being carried out. Banoshri Shah, a resident of Jiwa Devshi Niwas building in Dadar West, suffered a leg injury after the ceiling of her house collapsed while she was cooking with her daughter on the night of November 27. “After the incident happened, MHADA officials visited the site around 11.45 pm and carried out temporary fixing and propping work. Debris was also removed by them. Right now, we are staying in the same house as we do not have any other alternative. But we must shift soon, as my daughter —who also faced severe shoulder injury, which had rendered her unconscious due to shock — is scared to live in the same house now. She is just 19, and living here every day has become a form of mental torture,” she said. Pawan Vaishya, another resident of Jiwa Devshi Niwas, said, “Two months ago, on the day our newborn daughter was discharged from the hospital, the ceiling of our flat and a slab collapsed just an hour before we were to return home from the facility. Some of the debris weighed 10 to 12 kg. Are the officials waiting for all of us to die before they take cognisance and start redevelopment work? I would have lost my baby. She was just 16 days old on the day this incident happened. We all would have died. We continue to live in the same house even today with our lives in our hands because we do not have any alternate home, and neither do we earn so much that we can rent a house in this area.” Samrudhi Patil, a resident of Minerva Mansion of Dadar East, recalled an incident where the ceiling of her home collapsed on her 78-year-old father-in-law, Uday Patil. “My father-in-law was seated on a chair when suddenly, plaster fell on his head and shoulder. We had to immediately rush him to the hospital, and he had a scratch on his head that was bleeding. The doctors had then told us that it was a close shave, especially considering his age. We are living in this house despite this because we do not have any other option. If either of the authorities takes responsibility for redeveloping our buildings and helps with transit homes, then we can live a safe life,” she said. Chaitali Tarkar, a resident of Mandodari Building at Grant Road, said, “When the flooring of my room sank by four inches, we wrote many letters to the LIC and MHADA, requesting them to at least allow us to get it repaired. While MHADA stated that they do not have any authority, LIC officials kept us hanging by just giving verbal assurances. They did come and inspect our house, but nothing happened after that. Now that another slab of our building has collapsed, the LIC is claiming that they have started the redevelopment process. But no official communication has reached us, which means that they are blatantly lying.” Why is MHADA involved? These buildings, which came under the Pagadi system, were acquired by LIC around 1956. Since 1976, the occupants of these buildings have been paying a cess fee to MHADA. Thus, the latter is responsible for the upkeep of these buildings, allowing it to send vacation notices to those occupying cessed buildings. Pagdi cess properties come under the direct control of MHADA. The occupants pay a cess for MHADA to carry out repairs. All these LIC buildings have been repaired at least five times by MHADA, which has clearly stated that these aged structures cannot be fixed further. The five spots where collapses happened over two months >> Mandodari Building, Badam Wadi, VP Road, Grant Road>> Angrewadi, Sikka Nagar, Girgaon>> 2/25 Minerva Mansion, Dadar East>> Fourth floor, Jiwa Devshi Niwas, (Indian Mercantile Building), Dadar West>> First floor, Dr Marshekar Child Clinic, Jiwa Devshi Niwas, Dadar West>> Bhatia Bhavan, Shivaji Park, Dadar West
05 December,2025 08:49 AM IST | Mumbai | Ritika GondhalekarAs winter pollution grips Navi Mumbai, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has launched an intensified crackdown, inspecting 86 construction sites in a week amid rising complaints of dust across Ghansoli, Airoli, Nerul, and Turbhe. Residents have reported dust settling on balconies, morning coughs among children, and worsening AQI levels. In response, multi-department teams are conducting daily checks at construction sites, quarries, and ready-mix cement (RMC) plants. “We are checking for barricades, sprinklers, green nets, and covered debris movement. Notices have been issued, and repeat violations will invite a week-long closure and penalties,” said NMMC Chief Dr Kailas Shinde. At Turbhe MIDC, deep-cleaning drives were carried out using mechanical brushes and flipper machines. Roads were then washed using treated wastewater from the sewage plant, an approach NMMC says prevents wastage of potable water while helping settle airborne particles. Some residents say they have begun noticing more road brushing and fogging vehicles. “For months, we suffered silently as dust kept rising from construction around us. Only this week, I saw three cleaning machines pass by our lane,” said Seema Patkar, resident, Koperkhairane. Environmental groups have welcomed the action but say consistency is key. A Belapur activist said, “Inspecting 86 sites in a week is significant, but this must continue for months. If contractors strictly follow dust-control norms, AQI will automatically improve.” With early AQI readings showing slight improvement, NMMC officials claim the strategy of combining enforcement with large-scale cleaning is beginning to deliver results. However, residents and experts stress that sustained enforcement through winter will be the real test.
05 December,2025 08:46 AM IST | Mumbai | Amarjeet SinghThe BJP has begun positioning itself as an early mover for the upcoming BMC elections, claiming that 1.45 lakh citizens have agreed to volunteer for its “future-building” vision for Mumbai. The party, which has long aimed to gain full control of one of the richest civic bodies in Asia, has launched an extensive outreach campaign to understand ground-level expectations before drafting its BMC manifesto. In consultation with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and leaders Ashish Shelar, Ravindra Chavan and Mumbai City President Ameet Satam, the party rolled out the “Awaaz Mumbaikarchana, Sankalp BJPcha” campaign. The drive received responses from nearly 2.65 lakh citizens, of whom 1.45 lakh expressed willingness to volunteer. According to a statement from Satam’s office, 53 per cent of respondents said they were dissatisfied with the quality of civic services. Mumbaikars identified roads, water supply, health, education, and housing and rehabilitation as the city’s most pressing challenges. “People want immediate action on roads, potholes, garbage collection, nullah cleaning and effective flood mitigation,” Satam said. The last BMC elections were held in 2017. Although the five-year term ended in 2022, the next polls were delayed due to a reservation case in the Supreme Court. The apex court has now ordered that all pending local body elections in Maharashtra, including the BMC polls, be completed before January 31, 2026. The BJP campaign drew responses across age groups. Two per cent were under 18, 25 per cent were between 18 and 30, and the majority — 65 per cent — came from citizens aged 30 to 60. Only 8 per cent of responses were from those above 60. A senior BJP leader confirmed that citizen inputs will be incorporated into the party’s manifesto, along with its larger development vision for Mumbai. ‘Transformation’ As the state government completes a year in office on December 5. A three-day portrait exhibition titled ‘Transforming Mumbai, Transforming Maharashtra’ — showcasing milestones of development under CM Devendra Fadnavis — will open at the World Trade Centre. The exhibition, featuring works by artist Bharat Singh, will be inaugurated by Mumbai BJP President Ameet Satam. Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, ministers Mangal Prabhat Lodha and Ashish Shelar will attend the event showcasing BJP’s success.
05 December,2025 08:43 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarActing swiftly after mid-day shed light on rising pollution in the Pavana river, the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has launched an aggressive crackdown on units responsible for untreated effluent discharge. The move follows fresh sightings of thick, toxic foam near the Kejudevi (Kejubai) Barrage at the Thergaon Boat Club stretch, an incident that once again exposed severe contamination in the city’s primary drinking water source, as highlighted in a mid-day.com report headlined ‘Pavana river covered in toxic foam again; Environmentalists raise concern’. The froth, first reported by mid-day, triggered widespread concern among residents and environmental groups, who criticised authorities for inaction despite repeated complaints and earlier coverage. The latest episode also came just days after MP Shrirang Barne directed officials to take urgent measures to stop pollution in the river. One of the dry cleaning units found responsible for contaminating the Pavana river Responding to public pressure, PCMC’s environment department deployed its nuisance detection teams across the Tathawade, Punawale, Walhekarwadi, and Ravet localities where the river water contamination were reported. The officials confirmed that a large-scale survey is now underway to identify unauthorised and illegally operating small-scale industrial and commercial establishments releasing wastewater into the river system. A statement released by the civic authority revealed that during these inspections, multiple violators were booked. Rukhsana Dry Cleaners in Walhekarwadi was sealed on November 22 for releasing untreated effluents into the drainage network leading to the river. Earlier rounds of the crackdown had already led to the sealing of two more laundry and dry-cleaning units in Tathawade and Walhekarwadi, with criminal cases registered against their owners. The enforcement drive has also uncovered rampant illegal dumping and landfilling in the Pavana riverbed across Ravet, Kalewadi, and Pimpele Gurav. Cases have been filed against eight landowners and three vehicle drivers involved in the activity, officials said. Penalties amounting to nearly R30 lakh have been recovered so far from vehicles engaged in unauthorised landfilling. Past investigations had revealed that chemical-heavy industrial wastewater and untreated sewage released upstream were the primary triggers of recurring foaming incidents. Despite previous penalties, the problem has continued to resurface until the latest crackdown intensified following mid-day’s report. Official Speak PCMC Chief Engineer Sanjay Kulkarni said, “A comprehensive survey is in progress through the nuisance detection teams, and immediate action is being taken against individuals and establishments polluting the river. Units discharging untreated wastewater or waste into the river are being fined, sealed and prosecuted. The corporation will further scale up enforcement, and the environment department is fully committed to controlling pollution in the Pavana river.”
05 December,2025 08:38 AM IST | Mumbai | Archana DahiwalThe Regional Transport Office (RTO) has filed a case at Nehru Nagar police station against Roppen Transport Pvt Ltd (Rapido) for allegedly operating illegal bike taxi services in Mumbai, despite a government ban. According to the police, Motor Vehicle Inspectors Manisha Ashok More and Vikas Sampat Lohkare conducted a decoy operation late on Tuesday night in Nehru Nagar and Kurla. Using the office driver Shankar Babar, they booked three bike rides from Nehru Nagar to Sion Hospital through the Rapido app to test the legality of the service. Subsequently, three vehicles reached as per the bookings, and they were fined R10,000 under Sections 66 and 192 of the Motor Vehicles Act, which mandate that all transport vehicles have a valid permit to operate in public places, and Section 142 (permanent disablement). RTO officials allege that Rapido continues to operate without permission from the Transport Department, violating the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines 2020, and Section 66 of the Motor Vehicles Act, which prohibits private vehicles from carrying passengers for hire. It also raises passenger safety concerns, especially for women, as drivers are not subject to character verification or security checks. The complaint references previous court actions, noting that the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) Pune rejected Rapido’s application in December 2022, the Bombay High Court ordered closure of the app in January 2023, and the Supreme Court dismissed its Special Leave Petition in 2023. Despite this, the company is allegedly earning revenue through unauthorised operations, the RTO said. The case has been registered under multiple laws to cover both transport violations, criminal offences and the IT Act. Under the Motor Vehicles Act, the sections invoked address carrying of passengers without a license (Sections 66, 192A), obligations of aggregators (Section 93), producing driving licences (Section 130), general penalties for violating transport rules (Section 177), falsification of documents (Section 193), and facilitating illegal transport activities (Section 197). Section 318(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has also been applied for cheating and defrauding the public, along with Section 66(D) of the IT Act for cheating by personation using a computer or communication device. 03No of Rapido riders who showed up during RTO operation
05 December,2025 08:23 AM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya IyerThe stranded Kalwa-Airoli rail project that will connect Kalyan and Navi Mumbai, directly avoiding Thane station, benefiting lakhs of commuters, may get delayed further with Jitendra Awhad, who represents the Mumbra-Kalwa Assembly segment, saying on Wednesday he had been blocking the project since 2017 and would continue to do so if the 3600 slum dwellers residing at the site are displaced. “We are not against the project, but yes, we have stalled it since 2017, as the affected families are being rehabilitated at places like Thane and Waghbil. The families are my votebank. They are very poor, and after being displaced like this, they will be jobless. The Thane Municipal Corporation, after discussing the matter with the civic chief, sent me a letter on Tuesday seeking that a survey of the area be carried out. But we will not allow any survey to happen till every single family member gets a written assurance that they will be rehabilitated at the very same place,” Awhad said. Project details The new suburban railway corridor between Airoli and Kalwa will allow trans-harbour trains to bypass Thane station, taking off major load. Work is divided into two phases. Phase I included the work of the Dighe Gaon station, which has been completed. Phase 2 includes work on the corridor, where this issue has come up. The elevated link will enable direct trains from Vashi-Belapur to the Kalyan side. The rail flyover has been planned with ballastless track and the construction of an elevated Kalwa station, including platforms, a booking office, connected foot underbridges, staircases, and related works. Providing this direct line connecting Airoli and Kalwa would not only decongest Thane junction but also decrease travel time for the passengers commuting from the Navi Mumbai side to the MMR region towards Kalwa and beyond. As of today, no direct rail connection exists between Kalwa and Airoli; passengers require a connection in Thane station. Introducing a rail link between these two cities would act as a bypass for Thane station and could significantly reduce its congestion. Overcrowding issue As per data available, the Kalwa-Diwa stretch is the most railway accident-prone area on CR due to a paucity of adequate public transport. Despite safety improvements, the Kalwa and Mumbra areas continue to suffer from severe overcrowding on local trains. Voices Siddhesh Desai, Mumbai Rail Pravasi Sangh‘For years, residents, commuters, activists have asked: When will the Kalwa-Airoli Link be completed? Every month of delay is a gamble with human lives. Every accident is not just ‘data’ — it’s devastating trauma for families, social breakdown, and economic ruin. We appeal to every political leader, civic authority, and policy-maker to prioritise human life over procedural delays or petty politics. This is not a votebank issue. This is not about credit or image. This is about saving lives — today. Let us come together with compassion, urgency and resolve, and deliver on the promise of safer transport and a chance at life for thousands’ Advocate Deepak Dubey, Dombivli-based advocate whose brother, Avadhesh, lost his life falling from an overcrowded train‘The high number of commuters and limited services create a deadly situation at Kalwa and Mumbra, where the number of commuters is almost double the capacity of trains. Why does the Mumbra-Diva stretch remain a death trap despite repeated accidents?’ Madhu Kotian, Veteran passenger activist‘The Thane railway station — a key hub for the corridor — regularly handles around six to seven lakh passengers daily. This massive and growing ridership — especially from suburbs like Kalwa, Mumbra, Diva, Diva-Mumbra corridor — makes the demand for safe, reliable transit urgent and unavoidable. The tragic loss of young railway commuters along this corridor has devastated families emotionally and financially. When a young earning member of a family loses his life on railway tracks, the family collapses — emotionally, socially, and economically. Their rehabilitation is impossible — life does not get a second chance’
05 December,2025 08:19 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarAn equal canvas On World Disability Day (December 3), differently-abled artist Nadeem Shaikh paints with his foot at a mall in Goregaon Tango with the Argentine GOAT Kruti Gandhi performs stage tango The last time Kolkata was in such a frenzy, a certain Diego ‘La Mano de Dios’ Maradona was in town. Now, it is time for the late footballing icon’s heir, Lionel Messi, to make his visit to the Salt Lake Stadium on December 13. While there are close to 70,000 people vying for a chance to get close to the Argentinian ‘GOAT’, Kruti Gandhi might have it better than most when she will join her team from the Mumbai-based Abrazo Tango School for the opening ceremony. “It will be a choreographed performance of Argentinian tango and Rabindra Nritya that will later blend into a duet. It is a beautiful amalgamation of the two cultures. It was the organisers from The Viral Factory, Satadru Dutta’s team in Kolkata, who reached out to ask if we’d like to perform at the ceremony,” explained the tango exponent. Lionel Messi with the Golden Ball trophy after the 2022 FIFA World Cup final. Pic/Getty Images With a preparation time of only 15 days, the 10-member troupe plans to choreograph a stage tango performance. “It is a creatively challenging process to weave a story between Argentina — home to both Messi and the tango — and Kolkata. So, we opted for stage tango because unlike the social form, it has bigger and dramatic movements,” Gandhi said. Jussawalla goes to Kochi Adil with Father, 1940. Pic Courtesy/Artist, and The Guild After its showcase at The Guild in June, Enlightenment from an Unlikely Envelope: Archives of Adil Jussawalla will open at the Kerala Museum-MNF Gallery of Contemporary Art in Kochi on December 7. “It explores the links between his [Adil Jussawalla] photographic practice, his life in writing, and the milieu he inhabited. Intimately bound to Bombay/Mumbai, many of these works can be read as a reflection on the city’s literary and artistic landscape,” shared curators Deeptha S Achar and Chithra KS. Big win for mid-day’s Mohar Basu At the 19th Crossword Book Awards held on Wednesday night on the lawns of an Andheri five-star, a toast was raised to India’s literary talent as well as its icons. In the Popular Choice Awards category, mid-day’s chief correspondent, Mohar Basu bagged the award (Shah Rukh Khan-Non-Fiction) for her refreshing take on fandom around the Bollywood superstar. Other winners in this category included Prajakta Koli (Too Good To Be True-Fiction) and Thomas Mathew (Ratan Tata: A Life-Business and Management). Bachi Karkaria with Shanta Gokhale (right) Anupama Chopra with Mohar Basu The glittering spectacle, hosted by the ever-dependable Hrishikesh Kannan, began in the right spirit by celebrating the contribution of literary and theatre icon, Shanta Gokhale with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Close friend, senior journalist and author, Bachi Karkaria bestowed her with the honour, while warmly reminiscing about their shared love for literature, and their long friendship. Gokhale, was her honest self, reminding all of us, including this diarist, of why discipline and humility go a long way in a long, accomplished literary career such as hers. (From left) Award-winners Manu S Pillai, Ruchir Joshi, J Devika, Prajakta Koli, Mohar Basu, Thomas Mathew, Shanta Gokhale, Manoj Kuroor, Varsha Seshan, and Denise Antao. Pics Courtesy/Crossword Bookstores The other chief category was the hotly-contested Jury Awards. Winners included Ruchir Joshi (Great Eastern Hotel-Fiction), Manu S Pillai (Gods, Guns and Missionaries-Non-fiction) and Varsha Seshan, illustrated by Denise Antao (The Wall Friends Club-Children’s Books). Seated in the audience were luminaries that panned the cultural and literary universe but it was the authors – both nominees and winners – who deservingly were the stars that shone the brightest. Second chance for streeties Pic courtesy/@worldforallanimaladoptions World for All Animal Care and Adoptions recently held their 10th Adoptathon for rescued Indian breed puppies and kittens. These dewormed, vaccinated, and healthy street animals, aged between two and six months, are waiting to find loving homes. It turns out these pups will get another chance at adoption at the Adoptathon Hangover to be held on January 11, at Cat Cafe Studio in Versova. Speaking to the diarist, founder Ruchi Nadkarni and co-founder and president Taronish Bulsara (inset) of World for All Animal Care and Adoptions said, “We urge people to adopt, and not shop. Adopting, fostering, rescuing, sterilisation, and awareness is the way forward.” Science, kids, and art Students celebrate during the competition. Pic courtesy/Nehru Science Centre The Nehru Science Centre in collaboration with ROSATOM (a Russian state atomic corporation) hosted a two-day Science Festival on Wednesday and Thursday, featuring multiple events — from creating a science-themed rangoli to a panel discussion on nuclear energy and its future. The festival also included a fun do-it-yourself session where children built the tallest and most stable tower using only paper and glue. “Students from Bai Kabibai English School and Junior College in Fort constructed the most stable paper tower, measuring about 62 centimetres in height,” revealed Dr Anindita Mondal, curator, Nehru Science Centre.
05 December,2025 08:13 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-dayADVERTISEMENT
