Mumbai woke up to a partly cloudy sky, with light haze lingering over the city and its suburbs. The conditions are expected to remain largely stable through the day, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Daytime temperatures are likely to rise to around 33 degrees Celsius, making it a warm Monday afternoon, while the minimum temperature is expected to settle near 18 degrees Celsius. Data from the Centre's SAMEER app indicated that the overall air quality index (AQI) in Mumbai stood at 114 on Monday, placing it in the ‘moderate’ category. Pollution levels varied significantly across locations, with Bandra East recording an AQI of 117, Andheri East 120, Chembur 104, Colaba 143, Byculla 108, and Kandivali East 119. Ghatkopar registered an AQI of 129, Kurla 106, Malad West 137, and Mazgaon 105. Borivali East reported a 'good' AQI of 60. Delhi's air quality deteriorates to 'poor' The air quality in the national capital deteriorated slightly on Monday morning, with the air quality index (AQI) rising to 206 in the 'poor' category at 7 am, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). A day earlier, the AQI was 196 in the 'moderate' category. On Saturday, it stood at 213 at 8 am, according to CPCB. Meanwhile, the national capital recorded a temperature of 10 degrees Celsius around 7 am, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Misty conditions prevailed, with humidity at 97 per cent and calm winds reported at 0 km/h. As per AQI classification, a reading between 0 and 50 is 'good', 51 to 100 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor' and 401 to 500 'severe'. A day earlier, Mundka recorded the AQI at 266, followed by Pusa (257), Narela and Rohini (247 each), Ashok Vihar (243), Jahangirpuri (242), Wazirpur (239), Nehru Nagar (237), Shadipur (236), Bawana and Vivek Vihar (231), Sirifort (222), and Chandani Chowk (220). Sri Aurobindo Marg had the lowest AQI at 126.Other areas recorded the AQI of IGI Airport (131), Aya Nagar (136), Lodhi Road (139), Major Dhyan Chand Stadium (140), IIT Delhi (141), and Mandir Marg (145). (Inputs from ANI)
09 February,2026 12:24 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentNationalist Congress Party 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, news agency PTI reported. Mitkari, while speaking to the media on Tuesday, said, “Ajitdada (as Pawar was fondly called) was the favourite brother of women in the state." The NCP Member of Legislative Council (MLC) further stated, "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)." On January 28, Pawar, who was also the NCP chief was killed in a plane crash at Baramati in Pune district. As news of Pawar’s death spread, thousands of party workers and supporters gathered outside the Baramati Medical College. The Ladki Bahin scheme was announced by Pawar when he was the finance minister. Implemented in July 2024, the scheme 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 Maharashtra Assembly Elections. Pawar served as the deputy chief minister six times. Following his untimely death, Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra was sworn in as the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra on January 31. She is the first woman to hold the post in the state. Not in race for NCP president post, says Praful Patel Senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Praful Patel on Tuesday said he is not in the race to become the national president of the party following Ajit Pawar's death in a plane crash last week, reported the PTI. Speaking to reporters in Delhi, Patel expressed concern that people not connected with the NCP were commenting on the party’s internal decisions after Pawar’s tragic death in a plane crash last week. He said the decision to elect Sunetra Pawar as the leader of the NCP legislature party was the party’s right and reflected the views of its workers. “Election of Sunetra Pawar as leader of the legislature party is our right. We will take decisions as per the sentiments of our rank and file,” Patel said, according to the PTI. Emphasising that the post of national president would be filled, Praful Patel said he himself was not seeking the position. “I am not in the race for the president’s post. It is not proper to speak on any other issue at this juncture,” he said, the news agency reported. (With PTI inputs)
09 February,2026 12:10 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAs the global Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) returns between February 13 and 16, campuses across India are gearing up for the Campus Bird Count, a sister event of the GBBC that is unique to India, organised by Bird Count India in collaboration with World Wildlife Fund India and Foundation for Ecological Security. Asian green bee-eaters. Pic/Garima Bhatia Building on last year’s engagement, when more than 270 campuses uploaded over 8000 bird lists, campus communities nationwide are once again taking the lead in documenting birds. More than 10,000 people participated in the GBBC in 2025. A rose-ringed parakeet. PIC/Bhaarat Vyas From engineering colleges in Pune to architecture programmes in Kerala, from schools in Chhattisgarh to garden campuses in Delhi, from universities in Mizoram to campuses in Gujarat, thousands are monitoring birds in green spaces. A tricoloured, or black-headed, munia. Pic/Garima Bhatia Some of these are informal patches —courtyards, heritage groves, and tree-lined pathways — that have emerged as vital habitats beyond protected areas, often the last strongholds of biodiversity in urbanised landscapes. A brahminy starling. PIC/Bhaarat Vyas “Taking part in this event inspired my fellow students and me to think about birds, notice them, and even rescue injured ones. It also showed us how documenting the birds on eBird can convert our interest into important information that helps the birdwatching community and scientists in India,” said Siddharth Singh Bawa, a Std XI student from the Doon School, Dehradun. A zitting cisticola. PIC/Krishna Murty What is the Great Backyard Bird Count? A purple sunbird. Pic/Bhaarat Vyas It is an annual global event that engages bird enthusiasts of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of bird populations. The global GBBC is organised by Cornell University and the Audubon Society in the USA. In India, it is coordinated by Bird Count India, a consortium of 70-plus birding, nature, and conservation organisations. A lineated barbet. PIC/Subhadra Devi How to participate A spotted dove. PIC/Subhadra Devi Watch birds anywhere on your campus — courtyards, gardens, pathways, or near water bodies — for at least 15 minutes from February 13 to 16. Identify all birds seen or heard and share your sightings using the eBird app. Birdwatchers in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. PIC/Malyasri Bhattacharya
09 February,2026 10:34 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentThe Eastern Express Highway (EEH) runners, a group of runners who train on the EEH, especially the Airoli junction to Ghatkopar service road, have a spring in their running stride. The Tabebuia heterophylla, also known as the Pink Trumpet tree, lining their route are now on the last lap, racing towards the season’s end. Runners consider themselves fortunate to run under the pink canopy and watch a pink carpet unfold under their feet as the flowers fall off the trees. Many of these runners have a deep connection with the green around them. While the credit for planting and maintaining Pink Trumpet trees goes to the civic authorities, many runners have tended to the greenery by watering them, watching them grow, and blossoming. Ajit Kamboj, 69, a regular runner, said, “The Pink Trumpet trees are Instagram magnets. The peepal and neem, too, are part of the bigger picture. I have, in fact, dissuaded several persons from breaking off twigs from the neem saplings to use as toothbrushes,” said Kamboj. We, runners, have also planted at least 250 peepal trees with the help of outfits working in the green space.” Runners amidst the blooms at the Eastern Express Highway The ultra runner who has run from Pune to Jejuri (50 km) and ‘Gateway of India to Dombivali’ (65 km) and has done the 42-km at that Tata Mumbai Marathon (TMM) in 2025 added, “In the summer I will be watering the plants on my bicycle, like I have done for years. I want people to realise that we are there because of the trees.” The threat Over 700 Pink Trumpet trees are facing possible removal because of the MMRDA’s elevated corridor project from Ghatkopar to Thane. Online, a petition to save these trees garnered more than 1600 signatures in a day. The BMC then did announce that the Vikhroli-Ghatkopar stretch was realigned to save 127 these trees. “Urbanisation will always go on, but imagining this stretch without these trees is emotionally devastating. These are not just pink trees, they are one of the reasons our local community is in the pink of health,” stated EEH runner Dr Aparna Govind. Dr Govind, who has completed over 50 half marathons and one 35 km Tata Ultra, lives at Kanjurmarg, said, “These trees have grown strong and self-sufficient over time. However, there were a few empty patches along the service road where Ajit Kaka [Kamboj] planted some trees. These young trees needed extra care, especially during harsh summers. Some runners from our group, along with Ajit Kaka, who live close by, lovingly water them during the summer months.” Save them Dr Govind added, “Runners and citizens had come together recently and signed petitions to authorities to save these trees. We even formed a ‘Save the Pink Beauty’ task force and created a symbolic, ‘Chipko moment’ not as a protest, but as an expression of love and belonging.”
09 February,2026 10:29 AM IST | Mumbai | Hemal AsharThe new-look Virar railway station will have five platforms in a row, starting from the southern end of the station due to a lack of space. The new station upgrade has many surprises in store, including an elevated deck above the platforms and also outside, essentially like a Thane station-like SATIS (Station Area Traffic Improvement Scheme), but connected to an autorickshaw parking area. “There are space constraints at Virar on either side, in the east and west. Hence, we have decided to move southwards to build the two new platforms — nos. 1 and 2 on the west side, and no. 9 on the east side. With the new layout, it will result in a row of five platforms if we add the existing ones in a line. The remodelling of Virar station has been planned to ease congestion and accommodate 15-coach trains on the Virar-Dahanu route. Key improvements include the construction of new platforms at the south-end, a new platform no. 5A, expansion of platforms 3A/4A, and improved infrastructure to boost capacity by 25 per cent,” said an official. The crowd at Virar railway station on Sunday. PIC/NIMESH DAVE “Platform 3A is being widened to 10 metres from the existing 6-metre width with a double-discharge facility on the west side to handle higher commuter volume, along with a home platform. There are upgrades focusing on enabling 15-car suburban trains to operate on the Virar–Dahanu corridor and the station modernisation also includes a new station deck for better passenger movement. The overall projected benefits include increased capacity for suburban trains and reduced crowding,” an official said. The elevated deck across platforms will be linked to an autorickshaw deck independently proposed by the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation — something like Thane station has at present, where a public transport bus deck is part of SATIS. “I have been watching the ongoing works at Virar, which are of a massive scale and have been split into phases for less inconvenience to commuters. It is interesting to document changes happening as the works are getting completed,” said Saurabh Raut, who has been documenting the process. Needed upgrade >> With two new platforms and added to the three existing ones, Virar will have five platforms — nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5B — in a row >> Station upgrade project is a part of quadrupling of the Virar-Dahanu Road section on WR, progressing steadily under the MUTP Phase 3, and being executed by the MRVC. The project aims to significantly enhance suburban rail capacity and convenience >> The total amount sanctioned for the project is '3578 crore, and physical progress has reached 47 per cent
09 February,2026 10:26 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarDuring his two-day visit to Mumbai to mark 100 years of the organisation, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat spoke on several issues, including linguistic disputes, corruption, and advocating for families to have three children for social balance. Child rearing Citing advice from doctors and experts, he said families should have three children to ensure social balance and long-term demographic stability. He also suggested that marriage between the ages of 19 and 25, contributes to healthier and happier families. Commenting on the one-child approach, Bhagwat stated population growth below 2.3 is a sign of decline. Linguistic rift Regarding the Marathi vs non-Marathi-speaking controversies, Bhagwat said not everyone takes to the streets, and actions of a few shouldn’t be seen as representing a community. He stressed that people from different communities must celebrate festivals jointly. RSS chief’s selection Clarifying about the myth in connection to the RSS chief post, he made it clear the Sangh does not follow community-based representation and volunteers work and rise based on their work. He asserted that being from a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe is not a disqualification, and being a Brahmin is not a qualification. Age of retirement Reiterating his view that a person should ideally step down after the age benchmark of 75, Bhagwat said despite crossing the benchmark, he has been asked to continue. “I will step down whenever I am asked to do so,” he said.
09 February,2026 10:23 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarMumbai is set to witness heightened political sparring at the BMC, with leaders of the Shiv Sena (undivided) that dominated the civic body for over two decades having moved to the opposition benches. The first signs of this shift emerged with a sharp exchange triggered by to-be-mayor Ritu Tawde, signalling the start of an aggressive phase where decisions by the ruling BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Sena alliance are expected to come under intense scrutiny. In January, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, in an interview with mid-day, highlighted the removal of illegal Bangladeshi migrants from Mumbai as a key priority. Following this, on Saturday, Tawde said that deporting illegal Bangladeshis would be her top priority. Her statement drew a strong reaction from the Opposition. On Sunday, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut questioned the mayor’s focus, noting that it was late Shiv Sena (undivided) chief Bal Thackeray who first raised the issue decades ago. While welcoming Tawde’s stand in principle, Raut said, “Tawde should take the matter further by questioning the central leadership on why crores of rupees were allocated to Bangladesh in the recent Union Budget.” The Sena UBT leader further questioned why financial assistance is being given to Bangladesh at a time when reports suggest attacks on Hindu temples and threats to Indian interests in the country. BJP’s mayoral nominee Ritu Tawde; Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut Many in political corridors believe such confrontations will become frequent at the BMC as the civic body undergoes a major shift. For the first time in more than two decades, Shiv Sena sits in Opposition — a dramatic change for a party long in control. When Shiv Sena was in power, the Opposition numbers were weak. Now, with Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress together holding nearly 89 seats (excluding MNS and others) in the 227-member house, the Opposition party’s voice is set to be louder and harder to ignore. After ruling the BMC together for nearly 25 years until their split in 2017, the BJP emerged as the single-largest party in the 2026 civic polls, winning 89 seats. Shiv Sena (UBT) secured 65, while the Eknath Shinde-led Sena won 29, and Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) bagged six, enabling the BJP to secure the mayor’s post and the Shinde camp the deputy mayor’s position. Tensions are further heightened as the mayor now represents a party that was once Shiv Sena’s closest ally but is today its strongest rival. This shift from friend to foe is expected to turn every major BMC decision, including budgets, policies, and civic projects, into a political battleground. Taking a personal swipe at Tawde, Raut quipped, “Ritu Tawde was originally from Congress. The BJP has failed to promote its loyal workers while rewarding outsiders.” mid-day tried contacting Tawde for a comment, but there was no response.
09 February,2026 10:18 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarBJP MP Ujjwal Nikam praised the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), emphasising that the organisation is not opposed to any religion, contrary to claims by some. Speaking to the reporters, Nikam informed that RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat discussed RSS and its vision for India as a strong nation during the RSS' Two-Day Lecture Series on '100 Years of Sangh Journey'. "RSS and its vision for India as a strong nation was discussed by Mohan Bhagwat. I heard his valuable thoughts and insights on such a grand scale for the first time. The Sangh is not against any religion, as is wrongly propagated by some people," Nikam told reporters. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Saturday urged people not to rely on Wikipedia or general media coverage, which he labels "misleading" or "propaganda," and called for internal unity while warning about deep scepticism toward external portrayals of the Sangh. Addressing a gathering in Mumbai, Bhagwat urged a deeper exploration of what "Hindu Rashtra" (Hindu Nation) means, framing it not just as a political label but as a call for citizens to work with "selfless purpose" and "excellence" in their respective fields. "When forming an opinion about the RSS, base it on what you see and the original sources. Avoid relying on Wikipedia or perceptions, as they contain misleading information. You won't understand the RSS through propaganda... Observe the Sangh directly: examine its workers, their homes, its branches, and its programs. This will give you a clear understanding of what RSS is... What does it mean that India is a Hindu nation? What does it mean that we are Hindus? Understand all of this and then do whatever you are doing with excellence, with authenticity, with selfless purpose, and with all your heart and soul for the benefit of the country...," he said. This comes at a time when the RSS is increasingly focused on social cohesion projects (Samajik Samrasta) and expanding its footprint beyond traditional strongholds. By dismissing digital sources such as Wikipedia, Bhagwat is attempting to bypass the "information war" and re-establish the Sangh's identity through grassroots engagement.
09 February,2026 10:17 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIWhen the Bombay High Court granted the BMC permission in February 2023 to construct an underground water tank in Gorai, residents hoped their long-standing drinking water crisis would finally be resolved. Nearly three years later, that hope has given way to uncertainty and growing frustration. The proposed water tank was expected to include a suction pump to increase pressure in the pipeline supplying water from Malad’s P North ward. However, residents say no such work has been carried out so far. In recent months, the situation in Gorai and nearby villages has worsened after changes in water supply timings, forcing families to reorganise their daily routines. Royston Godinho, a member of the Gorai Gaothan Panchayat, said locals have received no official communication on the project’s status. “We were waiting for the tank to be built, but nothing has happened. Workers have told us the project may have been scrapped because the old pipelines cannot handle higher pressure and may burst,” he said. “Water now comes as late as 8 or 9 pm.” Godinho added. Sister Juliet Francis D’Abreo, a nun from the area, said residents were recently receiving muddy water. “We could not even fill our containers. The quality has improved slightly, but round-the-clock supply through proper storage remains a distant dream,” she said. mid-day contacted the BMC’s R Central ward for clarification, but no response was received till press time.
09 February,2026 08:05 AM IST | Mumbai | Madhulika Ram KavatturNight schools often attract working professionals who carve out time for academics to move up the career ladder. But for many adult learners, returning to school is driven as much by emotion as ambition, especially the weight carried by a Std X or XII board certificate. Rajesh Sawant, 41, left his education early to take up work and later joined a political party. “As a young adult, I never thought education was important and kept hopping between jobs. When the world started changing, I didn’t realise how crucial education would become,” he said. Now preparing for his Std XII exams, Sawant hopes to complete his schooling before his daughter, currently in first grade, reaches Std X. Students attend evening classes at Shree Saraswati Night High School and Junior College in Goregaon after finishing their workday With work, financial pressures, and family responsibilities occupying their daytime hours, many like Sawant are preparing for the Std X and XII Maharashtra board examinations through night schools. After finishing their jobs, students gather at Shree Saraswati Night High School and Junior College in Goregaon between 6.30 pm and 9.30 pm. In a Std X classroom, a 50-year-old mother of two said she enrolled simply to prove a point. “I work as a full-time domestic helper in South Mumbai. I had taken my Std X CBSE exams years ago, but the certificate was misplaced. My children think their mother never completed school,” she told mid-day. Rajesh Sawant, 41, (right) prepares for his Std XII board exams through a night school. Pics/Aditi Arulkar Without informing her family, she now travels daily from Thane to South Mumbai for work and then to Goregaon in the evenings to attend the Kannada-medium school. Finishing classes by 9.30 pm, she rushes back home. “I heard about this night school on the train and decided to take up the challenge. The teachers are very approachable, which is why I have continued,” she said. Others, like 24-year-old Mahadev Galfade, were forced to abandon education due to circumstances. Galfade dropped out in Std IV after his father’s death, with his mother becoming the sole breadwinner. He worked at food stalls, in households, and as a daily wage labourer to help pay rent. Today, he works as a gig worker. “I once worked as a staffer at a college and saw people my age finishing Std XII. They kept asking me about my qualifications. That’s when I decided I would complete my education someday,” he said. “I know the marks may not change my life much, but it feels good to be counted among the educated.” Mahadev Galfade, 24, a gig worker, has returned to school after dropping out in Std IV due to family circumstances His friend Rahul Rathod, 22, shares a similar journey. As the eldest sibling facing family troubles, Rathod left school in Std IX to take up delivery jobs. With his family’s situation improving, he has returned to studies. “I now work as an IT staffer and data entry operator. I hope education helps me move up professionally,” Rathod said. 13,780No of pvt HSC students Feb 20Day SSC exams begin 16,039No of pvt SSC students Feb 10Day HSC exams begin
09 February,2026 07:52 AM IST | Mumbai | Aditi AlurkarA day after filing his nomination for the post of deputy mayor of Mumbai, Sanjay Ghadi said that this role and that of the mayor should come with more powers. Speaking to mid-day, Ghadi said that while these positions come with the responsibility of addressing citizens’ grievances and queries, they are more symbolic than functional. “I will write to the urban development (UD) department asking for delegation of more powers to the mayor and deputy mayor,” he added. According to the numbers presented in the last budget, the BMC has a budget of Rs 74,000 crore, much higher than those of several smaller states in India. However, unlike global cities where mayors have direct control over budgets, officials, and daily administration, Mumbai’s mayor and deputy mayor have very limited authority and their roles are largely ceremonial (chairing BMC meetings and representing the city at official events), while the majority of the executive power rests with the municipal commissioner, a senior bureaucrat appointed by the Maharashtra government. The UD department governs all municipal local bodies in the state. The ministry is headed by Eknath Shinde, the Shiv Sena leader from whose party Ghadi won the civic election. “Shinde saheb has a deep understanding of municipal functioning and of the expectations and work the common man approaches a corporator, mayor, or deputy mayor for. I am sure he will look into the request,” Ghadi said. Ghadi further emphasised that he is not seeking political influence. “More power means the ability to address and resolve citizens’ issues effectively,” he added. In a detailed conversation with mid-day, Ghadi claimed that he followed the school of thought of the late Bal Thackeray and late Anand Dighe, who believed that getting work done for the common man is what matters, regardless of whether one has formal powers or not. “I will follow the same principle when it comes to meeting public expectations as deputy mayor of the city,” Ghadi stated. Political equation In 2022, Eknath Shinde engineered a split in the undivided Shiv Sena, and the 2026 BMC elections were the first polls in Mumbai after this division. Shinde’s Sena, in alliance with the BJP, contested the civic elections, with the BJP fielding candidates for 137 seats and winning 89, while Shinde’s faction contested 90 seats and secured 29 victories. As a result, the BJP got the mayor’s post, and Shinde appointed Ghadi as deputy.
09 February,2026 07:47 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarADVERTISEMENT
