With New Year’s Eve celebrations around the corner, authorities have warned the public against entering Aarey Milk Colony’s forest area on the night of December 31. Continuous patrolling will be in place, and strict action will be taken against trespassers or those causing a nuisance. In recent months, social media influencers and content creators have been spotted roaming Aarey late at night, disturbing residents. Range Forest Officer (RFO) Pradeep Chavan, Tulsi Range, Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), said, “Our teams conduct daily vehicle and foot patrols inside the Aarey forest. On New Year’s Eve, continuous patrolling will be carried out throughout the night, and strict action will be taken against anyone found partying or trespassing inside the forest.” Weekends often see social media users visiting Aarey Milk Colony at night to shoot videos for various platforms. Mid-day has previously reported instances of reel-makers venturing deep into the forest and illegally entering abandoned government structures. Read more: Youths trespass Aarey dairy for clout, risk wildlife encounter Screengrab of the Instagram reel posted by the trespassers in September Nature lover Satish Lot said, “Over the past few months, several youngsters have been visiting Aarey late at night to shoot social media reels, leading to nuisance in the area. Many of them illegally enter closed government structures and venture into the forest.” Read more: Crackdown begins after repeated trespass at Aarey Dairy Institute In September, mid-day highlighted a case where a group of youngsters, driven by the desire for social media clout, illegally entered Aarey Milk Colony’s defunct Teaching Dairy, also known as the Dairy Science Institute, in the dead of night. They filmed themselves rummaging through documents and vintage photos. Such acts are not only unlawful but also dangerous, as many abandoned structures in Aarey are home to leopards and snakes.
30 December,2025 10:56 PM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavWestern Railway, while sharing Mumbai local train updates, on Tuesday announced changes in the timings of select local and Mail/Express train services, effective from January 1, 2026. An official statement said that it was to ensure smoother operations and improved passenger convenience. According to a press release issued by Western Railway Chief Public Relations Officer, Vineet Abhishek, the changes aim to improve punctuality on the network, particularly on services operating to and from the Dahanu Road section. The revised timings will apply to some local train services running in both directions on the Western Railway suburban network, it said. Mail and Express trains to be affected In addition to local trains, the timings of a few Mail and Express train services have also been preponed. The list of these trains has been published separately in Annexure 3, as per the railway authorities. Passengers advised to check timings Western Railway has said that detailed information regarding the revised schedules is available with the respective Station Masters. Passengers have been advised to take note of the changes and plan their journeys accordingly to avoid inconvenience. The railway administration reiterated that the move is part of its ongoing efforts to improve service efficiency and passenger experience. Train timings Western Railway also shared the revised timings of UP and DOWN direction EMU services from Dahanu Road. The updated timetable covers services operating between Dahanu Road (DRD), Virar (VRD) and Churchgate (CCG), aimed at streamlining peak and non-peak suburban travel. According to the schedule, the first local from Dahanu Road departs at 4.35 am, while multiple services operate at regular intervals through key stations such as Vangaon, Boisar, Palghar, Virar, Vasai Road, Borivali, Andheri, Bandra and Dadar, before terminating at Churchgate. Some services are short-terminated at Virar, catering to regional commuter demand. The timetable includes 12 UP trains with different termination points -- both Virar-bound and Churchgate-bound -- providing commuters with improved frequency and connectivity during morning and afternoon hours. The last listed Churchgate-bound service arrives at 3.09 pm. The Western Railway also shared the updated schedule includes multiple services operating between Dahanu Road, Virar, Dadar and Churchgate, catering to afternoon and late-evening commuters on the busy suburban corridor. As per the new timetable, EMU services will begin departing Dahanu Road from 1.20 pm onwards, with frequent trains running through key stations such as Vangaon, Boisar, Palghar, Virar, Vasai Road, Bhayander, Borivali, Andheri, Bandra and Dadar. Several services are designated to terminate at Virar, while others run up to Dadar and Churchgate, ensuring balanced connectivity across suburban and mainline destinations. The Western Railway also shared the the revised DOWN-direction local train schedule for services operating between Churchgate/Virar and Dahanu Road, effective January 1, 2026. According to the Western Railway, as per the new schedule, multiple Down EMU services will depart from Churchgate starting as early as 5.03 am, with trains running via key stations including Marine Lines, Charni Road, Grant Road, Mumbai Central, Dadar, Bandra, Andheri and Borivali, before proceeding towards Virar and Dahanu Road. Some services originate from Virar and Borivali, catering to sectional passenger demand. As per the new timetable, several Down EMU services originate from Churchgate, Virar and Dadar, halting at major stations including Dadar, Bandra, Andheri, Borivali, Bhayander, Vasai Road and Virar, before proceeding through the extended suburban stretch via Vaitarna, Saphale, Kelve Road, Palghar, Umroli, Boisar and Vangaon to Dahanu Road. The revised schedule shows afternoon departures from Virar beginning around 1.20 pm, with frequent services running till late evening. Churchgate-originating services also operate in the afternoon and night slots for commuters travelling towards Palghar district. The Western Railway also stated that the revised departure timings for select UP and DOWN Mail/Express trains, with changes of up to 10 minutes, aimed at improving operational efficiency and punctuality, officials said, adding that the revised schedule affects trains departing from Mumbai Central, Bandra Terminus, Virar and Valsad. DOWN Trains Train No. Train Name Station Existing Time Revised Time 12267 Mumbai Central – Hapa Duronto Express Mumbai Central 23:00 22:50 12933 Mumbai Central – Vatva Karnavati Express Mumbai Central 14:05 13:55 19217 Bandra Terminus – Veraval Saurashtra Janta Express Bandra Terminus 13:40 13:35 22991 Valsad – Bhagat Ki Kothi Express Valsad 18:35 18:30 19001 Virar – Surat Express Virar 17:05 17:00 UP Trains Train No. Train Name Station Existing Time Revised Time 22902 Udaipur City – Bandra Terminus Superfast Express Bandra Terminus 13:40 13:35 19020 Haridwar – Bandra Terminus Express Bandra Terminus 22:35 22:30
30 December,2025 09:54 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA three-vehicle pile-up on Mumbai’s Coastal Road on Tuesday left a Mercedes passenger injured, police said, as videos of the accident went viral on social media, reported news agency PTI. View this post on Instagram A post shared by mid-day (@middayindia) The incident occurred when two cabs rammed into the luxury car from behind one after the other. The impact led to one of the taxis overturning, while the high-end car crashed into a road divider. The injured businessman, identified as Amit Seth, was travelling in the Mercedes car to the Mumbai Airport, reported PTI. He was rushed to a hospital and discharged after treatment, police said, adding that further investigation is underway. Mumbai's BEST orders probe, announces Rs 2-lakh aid for Bhandup bus crash victims’ kin The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking on Tuesday announced Rs 2 lakh compensation for the families of four people killed in a bus accident in Mumbai’s Bhandup area. The civic-run public transport body also ordered an immediate departmental inquiry into the December 29 incident, which left 10 others injured, PTI reported. The accident occurred when a wet-leased BEST bus rammed into pedestrians near Bhandup Railway Station. "Expressing condolences to the victims of this unfortunate accident, the BEST Undertaking is committed to providing appropriate medical assistance and support to the injured in the accident, and also conveying its condolences to the families of the deceased," according to a release issued by BEST. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday night announced a financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of the victims. The BEST statement said that it has been providing appropriate medical treatment and assistance under its health initiatives. All the necessary support would be extended to those undergoing treatment as per prevailing norms, the release further stated. BEST General Manager Sonia Sethi has directed the assistant general manager (operations and engineering) to probe the accident immediately through an internal departmental committee and submit a detailed report at the earliest, the release said. The injured passengers were rushed to Rajawadi Hospital and Sion Hospital, both run by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Some of the injured were also admitted to private hospitals, including Agarwal, Fortis, Mahavir, and Minaz hospitals, for further treatment. (With PTI inputs)
30 December,2025 09:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAmid discontent over seat-sharing within the Mahayuti ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, BJP MLC Pravin Darekar on Tuesday said Republican Party of India (RPI) chief Ramdas Athawale is “not upset” and remains with the alliance, reported news agency ANI. Speaking to reporters after meeting Athawale, Darekar said the RPI leader’s role in the government and the respect due to him would be ensured in a “dignified manner”. "Ramdas Athawale is not upset; he is with the Mahayuti alliance. But he has his own party, so there is pressure from his party workers. Every party's workers feel they should contest the elections. There are 227 seats and thousands of workers who are interested in contesting elections. I believe that after discussing this with the Chief Minister, his participation in the government and his respect will be ensured in a dignified manner," the BJP MLC told ANI. Athawale, meanwhile, told reporters that Darekar had come to convey a message from Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who had spoken to him earlier in the morning. "Pravin Darekar came and said that he understands our displeasure. The CM also called me this morning, and Pravin Darekar came with his message. He said that of the list of 39 people we had released, those 39 people have filled out the forms... We told Pravin Athawale said he had asked Darekar to arrange a meeting with Fadnavis on Wednesday morning to resolve the issue and seek a fair allocation of seats for his party," he said, according to ANI. "We also said that if we meet with DY CM Eknath Shinde, and if some seats can be allocated from his quota, then that can be considered," the RPI chief added. He further said that the party would decide its future course of action after discussions with the Chief Minister, signalling that the seat-sharing issue remains unresolved within the alliance. "If we have to move forward together, then a decision has to be made. Even if we got six or seven seats, there wouldn't have been any problem. But the seats you allocated were seats that we hadn't even asked for. That's why we had a discussion today, and after talking with the CM, we will decide on the strategy for what to do next," Athawale added. According to the ANI, the two leaders met at Athawale's residence in Bandra, Mumbai. Athawale accuses BJP of sidelining RPI during BMC seat-sharing talks Earlier, Athawale accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of sidelining his party during seat-sharing talks for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. Highlighting the RPI's political strength in Mumbai, Athawale said the reunion of the BJP and Shiv Sena had adversely affected his party's chances, adding that the RPI was not even included in seat-sharing discussions. He claimed that the party was informed very late that it had been allotted just six seats. "The coming together of the BJP and Shiv Sena created a problem in giving tickets to the RPI. The Republican Party is a very strong party in Mumbai... But the BJP has ignored us... We were not called even once during the discussions. If the RPI had been called to the BJP-Shiv Sena discussions, some seats could have been allocated to us... Last night at 2 am, we were told that six seats had been given to us," Athawale told ANI. The polling for 29 municipal corporation elections across the state, including Mumbai, Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, will be held on January 15, with vote counting scheduled for January 16. (With ANI inputs)
30 December,2025 09:11 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is seeking to tighten its grip over Mumbai’s western suburbs. In the BJP-Shiv Sena (Shinde) alliance, all municipal wards in Vile Parle and Vandre West have gone to the BJP, leaving the Shinde Sena without a single seat in these two segments. In the Charkop Assembly segment, represented by BJP MLA Yogesh Sagar, all six wards have gone to the BJP quota. Upset with this, a section of local Shinde Sena office-bearers quit the party and have joined the Congress. Similarly, in Borivli, the BJP has been allotted six of seven municipal wards, with one going to the Shinde camp. The Shinde Sena drawing a blank in Vile Parle has come as a surprise to many political observers. Vile Parle was once considered a bastion of the undivided Shiv Sena. In late 1973, Dr Ramesh Prabhoo of the Shiv Sena had won the municipal elections from Vile Parle. He later went on to become Mumbai’s mayor in 1987-88, underlining the party’s once-strong organisational base in the locality. Over the past several years, however, the constituency has steadily come under BJP dominance. The skewed allocation of seats for the Shinde-led Sena in these pockets has not gone down well with sections of the party’s local rank and file. “The party should have secured at least two seats in each Assembly constituency,” said a local Shiv Sainik on the condition of anonymity. Vandre West and Borivli Assembly segments are widely regarded as BJP strongholds, but still, there too, Shinde’s partner cadre is not happy with the seat sharing. A minister in the Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP government, Ashish Shelar, and party MLA Parag Alavani represent the Vandre West and Vile Parle assembly constituencies respectively, while Sanjay Upadhyay represents Borivli as a first-time MLA. A senior leader from the Shinde camp said corporators form the backbone of any political party at the civic level. “If representation is zero or minimal, how will the party expand its influence in such areas?” the leader asked. However, leaders from both the BJP and the Shinde Sena maintained that the seat-sharing arrangement was based on organisational strength and past electoral performance. Late on Monday night, the BJP and the Shinde Sena officially announced their seat-sharing formula for the civic polls. Under the arrangement, the BJP will contest 137 seats, while its ally will contest the remaining 90 seats. Day of rebellion On the last day of filing nominations, almost every major party faced the fallout of internal rebellion across Mumbai and other municipal corporations in Maharashtra. In Mumbai, former corporator Anisha Mazgaonkar filed her nomination as an independent candidate after failing to secure a ticket from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) under the Shiv Sena-MNS alliance. Her move highlighted growing discontent among aspirants denied tickets. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray’s close aide Prakash Patankar quit the party and joined Eknath Shinde’s Sena. Prakash, whose wife who was denied a ticket by Thackeray, was immediately given a Shinde Sena ticket. In Navi Mumbai, BJP MLA Manda Mhatre publicly expressed her displeasure with senior party leader and minister Ganesh Naik over his style of functioning. She went a step further by challenging him to get all party candidates elected on their own merit. Similar unrest was seen within the BJP, where several aspirants who were denied tickets also filed nominations as independent candidates. Some of them openly protested against the party leadership, alleging that their claims were unfairly ignored. In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, tensions within the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance spilled into the open, with both allies blaming each other for the breakdown of coordination ahead of the local body polls.
30 December,2025 09:11 PM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarThe alliance between Congress and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) for BMC Election 2026 suffered a setback, with the Prakash Ambedkar-led party reportedly lacking candidates for 20 of the 62 seats allocated to it, news agency PTI reported. With the deadline for filing nominations for the January 15 elections ending on Tuesday, the VBA 'disclosure' may require Congress to rework the poll strategy. The 143-62 seat-sharing formula was announced on Sunday between the Congress and VBA for the 227-member BMC Election in 2026. Earlier, the alliance had come to the collective decision of allotting some seats to the Rashtriya Samaj Paksha and RPI (Gavai) faction. A Congress leader, while highlighting the issue days before the civic polls, asserted, “The VBA informed the Congress that it didn't have candidates in 20 seats and has 'returned' them, reacting to the development,” as cited by news agency PTI. Sanjay Nirupam says he 'sympathises' with voters of Congress Reacting on the developments, Shiv Sena Spokesperson Sanjay Nirupam said that he sympathises with the voters of Congress in 20 wards. The VBA has some pockets of influence among Dalit voters in Mumbai and parts of Maharashtra. The party, led by Dr BR Ambedkar's grandson Prakash, mainly derives its strength from the Navboudh (neo-Buddhist) electorate. Meanwhile, on Monday, the Shiv Sena (UBT) began distributing AB forms to party candidates for BMC Election 2026, even without releasing the official list. The Shiv Sena (UBT) is contesting BMC Election 2026 in alliance with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. The Uddhav Thackeray-led party is contesting over 150 seats but is yet to officially announce the exact number. BMC Election 2026: 401 nominations received so far ahead of Dec 30 deadline Meanwhile, a total of 357 nomination papers were filed on Monday, a day before the submission process closes for BMC Election 2026, taking the cumulative tally so far to 401. Of the 357 nominations filed at 23 returning officers' offices across the city, the highest, 29, were filed at K-West and P-North wards. In the first four working days, just 44 nominations were filed across the city, according to a release. A total of 1,225 nomination forms were distributed on the fifth day of the nomination process across 23 returning officer (RO) offices in the city since December 23, when the poll schedule was declared. Over five days, a total of 11,568 nomination forms have been distributed, the BMC added. The maximum forms on a single day were distributed on December 23 (4,165), followed by December 24 (2,844), December 26 (2,040), December 27 (1,294), and December 29 (1,225). Elections to 227 seats will be held on January 15, and votes will be counted the following day. (With PTI inputs)
30 December,2025 08:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Republican Party of India (Athawale) chief and Union Minister Ramdas Athawale on Tuesday said his party was excluded from the seat-sharing talks between the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena for the upcoming BMC Election 2026, reported the PTI. Terming the development a 'betrayal of trust', Athawale expressed strong displeasure over what he described as a lack of respect towards his party within the ruling Mahayuti alliance. On Monday, the BJP and the Shiv Sena announced a seat-sharing arrangement under which the BJP will contest 137 seats and the Shiv Sena 90 seats in the BMC elections. Athawale said his party had remained loyal to the alliance since its formation and had expected to be included in discussions, as per the PTI. Attack on our self-respect: Athawale In a post on social media platform X, Athawale said a meeting to discuss seat-sharing had been scheduled for 4 pm on Monday, but the commitment was not honoured. “This is not just a waste of time, but an attack on our self-respect,” he said, adding that he would not tolerate the insult to RPI(A) workers ahead of the civic elections. He further stated that he would fully support whatever decision his party workers take in response to the situation. RPI(A) to contest 50 seats Sources within the RPI(A) said the party would go ahead and file nominations in 50 seats for the Mumbai civic polls. A party source said there was still time for the withdrawal of nominations and that the RPI(A) remained open to an honourable discussion. Until then, the party would contest independently. NCP to contest separately Meanwhile, another Mahayuti constituent, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, has also decided to contest the BMC elections separately, despite being part of the ruling alliance at the state level. BJP to contest on 137 seats, Shiv Sena on 90 The BJP will contest on 137 seats while its ally, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena will fight on 90 of the 227 municipal wards in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Election, slated to be held on January 15, 2026, party leaders announced on Monday night. The announcement was made by BJP’s Mumbai head Ameet Satam late on Monday evening. Satam said that the leaders of both the parties will campaign together for the Mahayuti alliance. Satam further said that the Ramdas Athawale-led Republican Party of India (RPI-Athawale) and other allies will be given seats from the BJP and Shiv Sena's share. He also clarified that there is no anger among the allies over seat allocation. mid-day.com had on December 26 reported that the BJP was keen to contest around 145 seats, as this would put it close to the halfway mark of 114 seats needed to win control of the 227-member Mumbai civic body on its own. BJP had offered around 80 seats and was unwilling to concede any more. However, the seat-sharing has been finalised between the two allies, with the BJP conceding a few seats to the Shinde-led party. (with PTI inputs)
30 December,2025 08:02 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray met his cousin and Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray at the latter's residence 'Matoshree' on Tuesday evening, as nomination filing for the upcoming civic polls concluded, news agency PTI reported. The meeting is seen as an effort to iron out last-minute seat-sharing issues. Elections to 29 civic bodies, including the 227-member Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), will be held on January 15 and the counting of votes will take place the next day. Tuesday was the last day for the filing of nomination papers. MNS and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) are contesting the civic polls in alliance in Mumbai and several other cities. In Mumbai, the two parties have aligned with the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar). While there is still no clarity on the number of seats the two parties are contesting in BMC Election 2026, sources said the Sena (UBT) will fight over 150 seats while 11 have been allotted to the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP). The rest will go to MNS. The Sena (UBT) and MNS announced a pre-poll alliance for the Mumbai civic polls last week. BMC Election 2026 can be viewed as a high-stakes battle for Uddhav Thackeray, as he attempts to reclaim control of the country's richest civic body, which was ruled by the undivided Shiv Sena from 1997 to 2022. Ruling allies Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena will contest on 137 and 90 seats, respectively, in BMC polls. BMC Election 2026: Raj Thackeray calls for bigger, longer fight to ‘save Mumbai’ Raj Thackeray, the chief of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), has said the party must prepare for a bigger and longer fight to save Mumbai. Speaking at a closed-door meeting of party leaders and workers, Thackeray said projects such as the bullet train terminal planned at Bandra (near Dharavi) and the proposed Vadhavan Port in Palghar are deliberate attempts to shift business away from Mumbai and weaken the city. According to party sources, in a veiled reference to the Adani Group and the BJP, Thackeray hinted that big corporate interests were trying to take control of Mumbai with help from the ruling regime. The Adani Group is leading the Dharavi redevelopment project through a special purpose vehicle (SPV) called Navbharat Mega Developers Pvt Ltd. The project is being carried out as a public-private partnership, in which the Adani-owned company holds an 80 per cent stake, while the Maharashtra government holds the remaining 20 per cent stake. “We need to stay united and fight tooth and nail to stop our rivals and protect Mumbai,” Thackeray is said to have told party workers at the Rangsharda Auditorium in Bandra on Monday. The MNS chief also cautioned party workers that the fight ahead would not be easy and that it would be a long and difficult battle. However, he added that victory could be assured if everyone stayed united and remained committed to the party’s goals. Initially, mediapersons were allowed inside the auditorium to cover the meeting. However, after reporters were asked to leave, these remarks were shared by the MNS President in a closed-door interaction with party workers. (With PTI inputs)
30 December,2025 07:41 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAmid growing tensions within the Mahayuti alliance ahead of the BMC Election 2026, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey has claimed that several alliance partners are unhappy with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over seat-sharing arrangements, reported the ANI. Speaking to ANI, Dubey said that dissatisfaction was not limited to the Republican Party of India (RPI) but extended to other alliance partners as well. Referring to RPI chief Ramdas Athawale, Dubey said both the RPI and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena were unhappy with the BJP. He advised Athawale to defeat BJP candidates in constituencies where the RPI was contesting, alleging that the BJP had denied his party adequate representation in the civic polls. Athawale accuses BJP of sidelining RPI The remarks came after Athawale accused the BJP of marginalising the RPI during seat-sharing talks for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. He said the reunion of the BJP and Shiv Sena had adversely affected the RPI’s prospects in Mumbai. Athawale claimed that his party was not included in the negotiations and was informed very late that it had been allotted only six seats. ‘We were ignored in talks,’ says Athawale Highlighting the RPI’s political presence in Mumbai, Athawale said the party had submitted a list of 26 seats to the BJP and was expecting an allocation of 14 to 15 seats. He termed the final decision a “betrayal”, stating that the RPI had not been consulted during discussions between the BJP and Shiv Sena. RPI to contest 28 seats independently Athawale announced that the RPI would contest 28 seats independently in Mumbai using its own symbol. He said Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had informed him that six seats had been allotted to the RPI, but these were not among the constituencies requested by his party. Athawale said the RPI did not have candidates in those seats and objected to the manner in which the allocation was communicated. RPI to stay with Mahayuti despite dispute Despite the disagreement, Athawale clarified that the RPI would continue to support the Mahayuti alliance. He said that apart from 38 constituencies where the party would contest what he described as “friendly elections”, the RPI would campaign for BJP and Shiv Sena candidates in the remaining seats. He added that the party remained committed to ensuring a Mahayuti victory in the civic polls. Polling for elections to 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra, including Mumbai, Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, is scheduled for January 15, with vote counting on January 16. (with ANI inputs)
30 December,2025 07:27 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentWith less than a month to go for the Maharashtra civic polls and BMC Elections 2026, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and cricketer-turned-minister Mohammad Azharuddin are two of the few names in the list of 40 star campaigners for the Congress, news agency PTI reported. Maharashtra in the coming few days is set for civic elections, with 29 municipal bodies across the state seeking new corporators. According to a release from the Maharashtra Congress on Tuesday, Azharuddin, AICC General Secretary Sachin Pilot, and party leaders Kanhaiya Kumar and Jignesh Mevani are prominent campaigners, reported PTI. Along with star campaigners from other states, party leaders from Maharashtra will also campaign in parts of the state to strengthen the hold of Congress. The Maharashtra local body polls will be held in Mumbai and 28 other cities on January 15, and the results will be declared the next day. Mumbai Congress promises hawker reforms On Monday, the Congress had announced key points from its manifesto ahead of BMC Elections 2026. The manifesto promises measures ranging from permanent immersion ponds for Chhath Puja to protection of the dignity and livelihood of North Indians and a transparent hawker policy. A document was released by the party’s North Indian cell in the presence of Mumbai Congress President Varsha Gaikwad and other office-bearers. The Congress also promised the establishment of smart vending zones, issuance of digital licences for eligible vendors, and fair elections to town-vending committees. Protection and support for North Indians The party in its manifesto has also assured political and social protection for North Indian residents in Mumbai. They also promised better facilities for auto and taxi drivers, such as rest centres and free health check-ups. Gaikwad further stated that the Congress had consistently supported North Indians by ensuring their representation as MLAs, MPs, ministers, corporators, and mayors, contrasting this with what she described as the BJP’s failure to address the community’s core issues. The elections, involving 2,869 seats and over 3.48 crore voters, will set the stage for a crucial political showdown between the ruling Mahayuti, comprising the BJP, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, and the Opposition MVA coalition of Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT), the Congress, and the NCP (SP). (With inputs from PTI)
30 December,2025 07:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA massive fire broke out in a residential chawl at Reti Bander Road in Sewri area of Mumbai on Tuesday afternoon, officials said, adding that multiple cylinder blasts were reported and a firefighting operation was launched. According to the officials, the incident was reported at around 3.15 pm on December 30, officials said. According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB), the fire was declared a Level I incident at 3.13 pm which was upgraded to a Level II fire at 3:31 pm. "The Mumbai Fire Brigade has dispatched eight fire engines, ten water tankers, two Assistant Divisional Fire Officers, one Divisional Fire Officer, along with fire crew," an official said, adding that the blaze was covered at 4:34 pm. Fire started in a room The fire initially started in one room, reportedly due to a short circuit. Later, a gas cylinder blast caused the fire to spread to four to five additional rooms in the chawl. Officials stated that at least four cylinders exploded during the incident, which increased the intensity of the fire. The information was shared by the Senior Police Inspector of Sewri Police Station during an update at 3.25 pm, said an official. Firefighters worked to control the blaze and prevent it from spreading further. Agencies mobilised Several agencies were mobilised immediately, including the Mumbai Fire Brigade, Mumbai Police, BMC ward staff, 108 ambulance services, and the BEST Electricity Distribution Company. Electricity supply in the area was managed as a safety measure. So far no injuries have been reported in the incident and an operation to control the blaze is underway. Further details are awaited. BMC issues advisory on fire safety ahead of New Year 2026 celebrations Meanwhile, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued fire safety guidelines for citizens and establishments ahead of New Year 2026 celebrations. The blaze that started at the first-floor bar Mojo Bistro in Kamala Mills at central Mumbai had claimed the lives of 14 people. With parties, events, and programmes planned across the city, the civic officials emphasised on the importance of fire vigilance to prevent accidents and loss of life. Guidelines for establishment owners and event organisers The BMC and Mumbai Fire Brigade have advised all event organisers and establishment owners to- - Ensure fire safety equipment like alarms, extinguishers, sprinkler systems, and risers are functional. - Keep emergency exits unobstructed and doors unlocked. - Install clear directional signboards for evacuation. - Inspect gas connections and electrical systems, particularly in kitchens. - Avoid storing excess LPG cylinders. - Ensure premises are not overcrowded beyond permitted capacity. - Strictly prohibit firecrackers, fireworks, fire games, smoking, and hookah. - Use fire-retardant materials for decoration and avoid combustible materials. - Follow all measures prescribed under the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2006. Advisory for citizens The BMC has also urged citizens to avoid overcrowding at event venues, the Mumbai civic body stated that the citizens must - - Familiarise themselves with emergency exits and escape routes. - Ensure that establishments comply with fire safety norms. - Refrain from fireworks, decorative pyrotechnics, fire games, smoking or hookah at venues.
30 December,2025 07:02 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
