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'UPA abandoned Mumbai to its fate, Mahayuti saved it with massive investments'

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday alleged that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime had neglected Mumbai, but claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti government “saved” the city with infrastructure projects worth over Rs 7 lakh crore, reported news agency PTI. Addressing the inauguration of the new headquarters of the Maharashtra Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (MACCIA) in Mumbai, Amit Shah asserted that investments in the irrigation sector under the current government had ended the prolonged issue of farmer suicides in Maharashtra, a problem that had persisted for decades. Amit Shah said India is set to become the third-largest economy in the world by 2026–27 and that there has been “symmetric” development across the country over the past 11 years, PTI reported. With elections to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) approaching, Amit Shah reflected on the city’s past struggles: overpopulation, ageing and unsafe housing stock, traffic congestion, and slums. “Till a few years ago, I used to fear what would happen to Mumbai,” he said, congratulating Chief Minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis for his efforts in transforming the city’s trajectory. Shah also acknowledged the role of Deputy CM Eknath Shinde and said that Maharashtra benefited when he led the previous government with Fadnavis serving as his deputy. Referring to the previous administration, the Union Home Minister said, “Before 2014, there was a ‘double engine’ government of Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi at the Centre, with NCP’s Sharad Pawar also being part of it, yet the Congress-led ruling alliance ‘left Mumbai to its fate’ for those 10 years.” He also went on to state that the double engine governments under Narendra Modi at the Centre and Fadnavis-Shinde (in the state) have "saved” Mumbai with investments of Rs 7 lakh crore.” To underline the BJP-led administration’s development push, Shah cited a list of major infrastructure projects, including: A 337-km Metro network with investment of Rs 1.50 lakh crore  Rs 1.08 lakh crore Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train  A greenfield port at Wadhawan costing Rs 80,000 crore  The Rs 17,000 crore Atal Setu trans-harbour bridge  The Rs 55,000 crore Versova–Virar sea-link  The Rs 60,000 crore Virar–Alibag multimodal corridor  Questioning those who criticise BJP’s governance style, Shah said, “Did they have the vision to plan such projects? If they had implemented them, Fadnavis would have been left with nothing to do.” He further pointed out that development was not limited to Mumbai. “The Fadnavis government also implemented projects in the rest of Maharashtra,” Shah said, highlighting new airports in Shirdi and Sindhudurg. Without naming any specific project, he also responded to criticism surrounding ongoing slum rehabilitation efforts, saying there are “accusations and criticism” from some quarters. The opposition has raised concerns over the Dharavi redevelopment project involving the Adani Group. He also reflected on his early political career, and said, “When I entered politics, farmer suicides in Maharashtra were being discussed at the global level.” He added that BJP-led governments had prioritised irrigation investments, which “ensured that farmer suicides ended in the state.” Countering claims that Maharashtra was not being given its fair share in Central allocations, Shah said, “The total devolutions and grant-in-aid to the state increased to Rs 7.82 lakh crore between 2014 and 2024, against the Rs 1.91 lakh crore between 2004 and 2014 during the UPA era.” He added that separate grants were also provided for irrigation and infrastructure development. Urging industry bodies such as MACCIA to engage with the government and highlight members’ challenges for better policy-making, he recalled how lobbying for the Konkan Railway had contributed to regional economic development. Shah also emphasised that global events—such as the wars in Israel-Iran and Russia-Ukraine—are affecting the domestic economy and said business chambers must adapt by engaging with professional organisations to remain relevant. Calling on MACCIA to reflect on its internal functioning, the Home Minster said, “You should introspect on your own policies and think of how to get young blood into your working.” (With PTI inputs)

20 June,2025 11:20 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
The highest number of demolitions (12) was carried out in Diva. PIC/TMC

In major crackdown, Thane civic body demolishes 33 illegal constructions

Based on the directives from the Bombay High Court (HC) and findings by ward inspectors, the Thane Municipal Corporation’s (TMC) anti-encroachment squad launched a demolition drive against 33 illegal structures on Thursday and Friday. During the drive, the Thane civic body razed unauthorised constructions, including entire buildings, plinths, columns, slabs, and extended structures. The crackdown also included the demolition of a scrapyard godown located in the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) area. TMC Commissioner Saurabh Rao has set up special squads in each ward, led by assistant commissioners, to act promptly on the complaints related to unauthorised constructions. These teams are expected to conduct immediate action based on site inspections and citizen complaints. The operation was conducted under Additional Commissioner Prashant Rode. Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Encroachment Department) Shankar Patole said, “The action taken in the past two days includes demolitions of G+4 structures, unauthorised scrapyards in CRZ zones, extended structures on top of existing buildings, and illegal shop extensions.” He further confirmed that the drive would continue in the coming days.  The operation involved joint efforts from Deputy Commissioners (Zones), all Assistant Commissioners, and staff from the Encroachment and Building Departments. The TMC officials poclain excavators, JCBs, gas cutters, tractor breakers, and manual labour for the drive, conducted under police and Maharashtra Security Force protection, Patole added. Area-wise breakdown of demolitions Diva: 12 Majiwada-Manpada: 5 Kalwa: 4 Mumbra: 3 Vartak Nagar: 2 Lokmanya Nagar: 2 Wagle Estate: 2 Naupada-Kopri: 2 Uthalsar: 1 Total: 33 Hawker sentenced to seven years in prison for attacking civic official during anti-encroachment drive in Thane A court in Thane on Friday sentenced a hawker to seven years’ imprisonment for attacking a civic official during an anti-encroachment drive in 2021, news agency PTI reported. In his judgment, Additional Sessions Judge AS Bhagwat stated that the prosecution had proved all charges, including attempt to murder, against the convict, Amarjitsingh Shivshankar Yadav, also known as Amarjit Yadav, beyond reasonable doubt. During the trial, Special Public Prosecutor Shishir Hirey informed the court that Assistant Municipal Commissioner Kalpita Pimple was leading a drive to clear encroachments in August 2021 when Yadav attacked her with a sharp object, severing three of her fingers, PTI reported. Hirey said, “If Pimple had not raised her hands to protect herself, the attack might have proved fatal.” He added that Yadav had also threatened other members of the civic team, including Pimple’s security guard, and had assaulted some of them. The court examined 21 witnesses during the proceedings, reported PTI. Hirey indicated that he might appeal for a longer sentence. (With PTI inputs)

20 June,2025 10:59 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondent
This handout picture provided by the Iranian Red Crescent on June 19 shows members of their rescue teams clearing debris at a building destroyed during an Israeli attack in Tehran. Pic/AFP

Families scramble to rescue couples trapped in Iran’s ongoing turmoil

After being stuck in Iran for over a week due to the escalating conflict in the region, two Mumbai-based couples have finally contacted the Indian Embassy and are en route to a designated evacuation camp in Mashhad, near the Turkmenistan border. So far, we are safe in Iran. We are just waiting for Iranian airspace to reopen. The internet is down, and communication is very limited. Messages aren’t being delivered,” was the last message Marshal Danavil managed to send mid-day on Saturday, June 14. Since then, the couples have only been able to send sporadic updates whenever they managed a weak internet or phone signal. They relayed their messages to friends and family, who in turn contacted mid-day. “My son called me briefly on Thursday evening. He said they finally got in touch with the Indian Embassy and have been advised to travel to the Indian camp in Mashhad. They are currently trying to arrange transport from Kelardasht County near Abbasabad city — that’s over 800 km away from the camp,” said the father of one of the man. Joann Quadros and her husband Marshal Danavil and another woman and her fiancé — had travelled to Tehran to attend their Iranian boss’s wedding on June 11. What was meant to be a celebratory trip quickly turned into a nightmare as heavy bombing erupted in Iran that very night, following tensions with Israel. The couples found themselves stranded after Iran closed its airspace, leading to the cancellation of their June 12 flight to Dubai. With internet and phone services severely restricted, communication became nearly impossible. The fiance of the woman, who did not want to reveal her identity, managed to send out a social media post on June 13, pleading for help. Joann and Marshal, who live in Marol, and the other couple, from Goregaon and Prayagraj in UP, respectively. Both the men work at Blue Flames Pvt Ltd, a Mumbai-based firm. “I reposted his SOS and tried calling and messaging. They were supposed to fly out the day after the wedding, but the airspace was shut. It’s been chaos since,” said Danavil’s friend, Vishal Raut. Even as the couples remained offline, their friends in India were making desperate attempts to secure help. “I emailed the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), visited the Armenian Embassy in Mumbai (which was shut), then the Iranian Consulate on Nepean Sea Road. Officials there said Indians could cross into Armenia using their passports without a visa, but later my friends were told they would still need a visa,” said Viren Nishar, a friend of the Goregaon resident. Meanwhile, the MEA responded to Nishar’s email by providing a registration link for stranded Indians, but the internet blackout in Iran made it impossible for the couples to access the form. “I filled in their details and submitted the form on their behalf. It was frustrating. Even during a crisis, there were contradictory statements. And even if they manage to reach Armenia, the real hurdle is travelling across war-torn Iran to get there,” Nishar added. As of Thursday evening, the couples are reportedly arranging transportation to reach Mashhad, one of the designated Indian evacuation centres under Operation Sindhu. June 11Day the couples reached Tehran

20 June,2025 10:43 PM IST | Mumbai | Ritika Gondhalekar
The civic body has urged residents to store water in advance and use it judiciously. Representational pic

Water supply to be affected in Mumbai's Andheri and Vile Parle from June 22

Some areas in Vile Parle (East) as well as the stretch from Andheri station to Western Express Highway —including Old Nagardas Marg, New Nagardas Marg, Mograpada, and Andheri-Kurla Marg —will receive water supply at low pressure for a week, from Sunday, June 22, till Saturday, June 28.  The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) announced on Friday that the ongoing Metro-7A project work will impact water distribution, leading to low pressure in parts of the K-East Ward over the coming week.  In an advisory, the civic body has urged residents to store water in advance and use it judiciously.  "Under the Mumbai Metro-7A project, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority will be excavating under the operational 1,800-mm diameter corporation canal of Veravali reservoir (24x7), near Bamanwada in Andheri (East), in the K-East Ward through a tunnel-boring machine," the BMC said in a statement.  Here's a complete list of the affected areas Vile Parle (East) - Water supply at low pressure between 5 pm and 8 pm Old Nagardas Marg, New Nagardas Marg, Mograpada, Andheri-Kurla Marg (stretch from Andheri Station to Western Express Road) - Water supply at low pressure between 8 pm and 9.30 pm.

20 June,2025 09:35 PM IST | Mumbai | A Correspondent
The homes are offered under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) scheme for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS), officials said. Representational Pic/File

MHADA reduces prices of over 6,000 homes in Shirgaon, Khoni in Thane district

In a big relief for home buyers, the Konkan Housing and Area Development Board under Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) has reduced the sale prices of 6,248 houses in Shirgaon and Khoni housing projects in Thane district of Maharashtra, an official statement said on Friday. The homes are offered under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) scheme for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS), it said. The houses are now available on a First Come, First Serve basis, officials said. "Citizens looking to buy an affordable home are urged to take advantage of this opportunity," said Revati Gaikar, Chief Officer of the Konkan Board. The price reduction has been approved by Sanjeev Jaiswal (IAS), Vice President and CEO of MHADA. In village Shirgaon, the price of 5,236 houses has been reduced by Rs 1,43,404 per house and the revised price is now Rs 19,28,742 per house, the official statement said. In Khoni, the price of 1,012 houses has been lowered by Rs 1,01,800 per house, bringing the new price to Rs 19,11,700, it said. The statement further said that these homes were earlier offered under the October 2024 First Come, First Serve scheme. The Konkan Housing and Area Development Board has appealed to all eligible citizens to apply and benefit from the reduced pricing.  Final opportunity for biometric survey of residents in transit camps: MBRRB Meanwhile, The Mumbai Building Repairs and Reconstruction Board (MBRRB) on Friday announced that the biometric survey for tenants/residents residing in all transit camps under the board’s jurisdiction is in its final phase, an official statement said. The board has appealed to the remaining tenants/residents to participate in this survey and cooperate with the ongoing initiative. It said that the biometric survey for tenants/residents living in the transit camps under the board’s jurisdiction began on February 10, 2025. The biometric survey is essential for the official registration of these tenants/residents, and participation in the survey is mandatory for each individual. "It has come to the board’s attention that some tenants/residents in the transit camps have not responded to the biometric survey. As such, the board is now providing a final opportunity to these individuals to complete the survey. Those who still fail to respond even after this notice will be considered as either having no official documentation or no interest in residing in the transit camps. Such individuals will be declared unauthorised occupants, and immediate eviction proceedings will be initiated against them under Section 95(A)(3) of the MHADA Act, 1976. The Board urges all concerned residents to take this announcement seriously and get their biometric survey done immediately," the statement said.

20 June,2025 09:30 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Local yoga sessions will be held across 25 BMC ward offices in coordination with divisional medical officers. Representational pic

BMC to organise yoga sessions across city on June 21 to mark International Day

To mark the International Day of Yoga 2025, the Public Health Department of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will organise yoga sessions across Mumbai on Saturday. The theme for the 11th edition of International Yoga Day, 'One Earth, One Health – Yoga for Well-being', emphasises harmony between human and environmental health. It underlines the importance of sustainable lifestyles, co-existence with nature, and interdependence for the welfare of all living beings. The Mumbai civic body has been consistently providing a wide range of quality services aimed at improving public health. Through 106 Shiv Yoga Centres, yoga sessions are conducted in two batches: on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, as well as on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Till date, 41,750 citizens have participated in these yoga sessions. To commemorate the International Day of Yoga, observed annually on June 21, a central yoga session has been organised by BMC’s D-Ward (Grant Road, Dr DB Marg, VP Road, and parts of Malabar Hill, Tardeo, and Nagpada) at the Gokuldas Tejpal Hall, near August Kranti Maidan in Grant Road (West). The session will take place from 6.30 am to 7.30 am. In addition to this, local yoga sessions will be held across 25 BMC ward offices in coordination with divisional medical officers. These sessions are intended for both municipal staff and local residents. The civic body has asked Mumbaikars from every administrative division (ward) to actively participate in these sessions. To promote healthy lifestyles among citizens, the BMC has also integrated information on Shiv Yoga Centres into its official WhatsApp chatbot. Residents can now access detailed and up-to-date information—including the time and location of nearby yoga sessions—on 8999228999. This service is available in both Marathi and English. Information on the yoga centres is also available at the offices of medical health officers in each ward, ensuring greater accessibility for all citizens interested in incorporating yoga into their daily routine. PM Modi to lead 11th International Yoga Day celebrations from VisakhapatnamThe International Day of Yoga will be celebrated with grandeur on June 21, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading the national event from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, reported news agency ANI.The theme for this year is 'Yoga for One Earth, One Health', echoing India's vision of global wellness. It reflects the integrated vision of well-being and emphasises the interconnectedness of human and planetary health, drawing from the Indian ethos of 'Sarve Santu Niramaya (May all be free from disease)'.The Prime Minister will perform the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) with over 3 lakh participants, synchronised with over 10 lakh locations across the country under the 'Yoga Sangam' initiative, the Ministry of AYUSH said.The yoga day celebrations will be held from 6.30 am to 7.45 am, and is expected to witness unprecedented participation from all corners of the country and across the world. (With ANI inputs)

20 June,2025 09:08 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
The snag occurred around 6.55 pm, affecting the movement of trains to and from the station. Pic/Arranged by Rajendra B. Aklekar

Mumbai local train services hit after overhead wire snag near Palghar station

Services of the Mumbai local trains as well as long-distance ones operated by the Western Railway were disrupted on Friday evening following a technical snag in the overhead electric (OHE) wire system near Palghar station, over 100 kms from Mumbai, officials said, reported the PTI. The snag occurred around 6.55 pm, affecting the movement of trains to and from the station. "OHE wire issue at Palghar since 18:55. up (towards Mumbai) and down (travelling out of Mumbai) trains held up. Tower wagon are being moved to site," the Western Railway said in a statement. This snag led to multiple long-distance and suburban trains being stranded on tracks, causing inconvenience to passengers amid the evening peak hours. The railway authorities have deployed a tower wagon, a specialised vehicle used for the maintenance of overhead electrification systems at the site immediately after the fault was detected. The restoration work is currently underway, sources said. Overhead wire snapped at Palghar; restoration work is underway.By: @rajtoday #palghar #localtrain #railways #mumbailocaltrains #westernrailways pic.twitter.com/HlWSD3Hlqz — Mid Day (@mid_day) June 20, 2025 The exact cause of the OHE wire fault is yet to be ascertained, they said. Video of fight between women passengers on Mumbai local train goes viral Meanwhile, in an another incident, a video of a fight that broke out between women passengers near the door of a moving local train has gone viral following which the police has launched a probe into the matter, officials said. An official confirmed that the fight between railway commuters occurred on a Western Railway's special local train. "The incident occurred on a Western Railway's (WR) Churchgate to Virar ladies special local train recently and we are investigating this matter further," a WR spokesperson told mid-day. The video shows that the argument started with a verbal exchange and soon turned physical, creating panic inside the crowded train. The video also shows the women shouting and pushing each other as the train was in motion. A heated fight broke out between women passengers near the door of a moving local train between Dombivli and Kalyan. The argument quickly turned physical, causing chaos onboard. The video has gone viral on social media, drawing widespread attention.Via: @DiwakarSharmaa… pic.twitter.com/M3NbpNtTNS — Mid Day (@mid_day) June 20, 2025 After verification, the Railway Police confirmed that the incident actually took place at Bhayandar station on a Ladies Special local train arriving at 7:32 pm. According to the police, the on-duty Station Master at Bhayandar informed head constable Nagargoje about the incident. Upon reaching the spot, Railway Police found that the women involved in the altercation had already been deboarded from the train by RPF and MSF personnel. The police brought both women -- Jyoti Ayodhya Prasad Singh and Kavita Ramchandra Medadkar -- to the Bhayandar Railway Police Post, where they were questioned. The women stated that there was a verbal argument and a minor scuffle between them, but neither of them filed a written or oral complaint against the other. Both parties agreed to resolve the matter mutually. (with PTI inputs)

20 June,2025 08:38 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Eknath Shinde. Filepic

Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Bhaskar Jadhav slams Ekanth Shinde, says he has no idea

Amid the rising tensions in the Maharashtra political landscape, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray arrived at Sena Bhawan in Mumbai on Friday. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief held a meeting with party leaders. It has been reported that Uddhav Thackeray called a crucial meeting with district heads, contact heads, and MLAs of the party. Speaking about the meeting, Shiv Sena UBT Leader Bhaskar Jadhav informed that the meeting held in Mumbai focused on strategising and preparing for potential elections. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Jadhav, while addressing the media, said that "the Supreme Court has given a judgement that elections for local sectors like municipal corporations, municipal councils, district councils, and panchayat committees must be conducted within four months. So, because of that, the party should also be ready for elections. The party must prepare some kind of strategy for the elections. The party should also be ready for the election and should make a strategy; that's why a meeting of the district chief and public representatives has been called." Moreover, Bhaskar Jadhav also criticised Eknath Shinde's recent remarks against Uddhav Thackeray, alleging that Shinde's words seemed to be dictated by the BJP. Jadhav asserted that "the words used by Eknath Shinde for Uddhav Thackeray ... it seems to me that the mouth is of Eknath Shinde, but the words are of BJP. Eknath Shinde has no idea, no opinion; whatever BJP says, Eknath Shinde has to do that. So it seems to me that although Eknath Shinde's face is visible, everything is actually being done by the BJP..."  Earlier, addressing a gathering in Mumbai on Thursday, on the occasion of Shiv Sena Foundation Day, Eknath Shinde slammed Uddhav Thackeray, saying that his "arrogance" is leading him to "destruction". Shinde said that Maharashtra has never seen such a "treacherous person" and alleged that he betrayed Balasaheb Thackeray's "ideas". Eknath Shinde also added, "Arrogance is leading them to destruction. Maharashtra is witness to this. We know who committed the sin of tying Congress around their neck. He was helpless for power and tied his head around his waist. He betrayed Balasaheb's ideas. Maharashtra has never seen such a treacherous person." Furthermore, Jadhav, on the other hand, also countered the BJP by saying, "Which party has the BJP not allied within this country? Is there any party left that the BJP hasn't formed an alliance with? Did they take a certificate of Hindutva from Ramdas Athawale when they aligned with him? From Chirag Paswan? Did Bihar CM Nitish Kumar ever accept Hindutva? What about Chandrababu Naidu? BJP's Hindutva is only for the sake of power. The real Hindutva lies with Shiv Sena, with Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray, and only with Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray." Earlier when the Home Minister of India, Amit Shah, was in Mumbai, Jadhav criticised Shah for being selective about which states to visit. Jadhav claimed that "understand that the Union Home Minister or the Prime Minister repeatedly visits a state where elections have come in that state. It gives such an indication. When there is an election, they go to the state; when there is no election, they do not go there, do not see anything ..." Earlier, indicating that an alliance with Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) was on the cards, Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray said he would do what was in the minds of the people of the state. The former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, while addressing the party's foundation day event on June 19, 2025, said, "If the BJP dared to finish Thackeray, then he would 'finish off' the BJP."... What people want will happen. We will see how it is to be done. The BJP and Shinde Sena do not want Marathi parties to unite. If you try to finish the Thackeray brand, we will finish off the BJP." (With ANI Inputs)

20 June,2025 07:19 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
According to the state’s health department bulletin, all patients so far have reported only mild symptoms. Representational Pic/File

Mumbai reports 11 Covid-19 cases, 53 across Maharashtra

Maharashtra on Friday reported 53 new Covid-19 cases, 11 of them in Mumbai alone, taking the number of positive patients since January 2025 to 2,281 in the state, the public health department's bulletin said. Mumbai has been seeing a sharp rise in Covid-19 cases recently. With addition of fresh cases reported on June 20, the total number of positive patients in Mumbai since January 2025 now stands at 923, officials said. According to the state’s health department bulletin, all patients so far have reported only mild symptoms. Since January 2025, a total number of 32 deaths have been reported in the state, out of which 31 were with comorbidities and one with other disease, officials said. Of these, 31 patients had serious underlying health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, lung disease, or stroke. One patient was a 47-year-old woman, who had symptoms of fever and shortness of breath, the health department's bulletin stated on Tuesday. It said that as of June 20, 2025, a total of 24,635 Covid-19 tests have been conducted in the state since January, with 2,281 people testing positive. Of these, 1,909 patients have already recovered, bringing the recovery rate to 83.69 per cent. On June 20, Mumbai reported 11 Covid-19 cases, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation-1, Thane Municipal Corporation- 3, Nashik Municipal Corporation-1, Pune Rural-3, Pune Municipal Corporation-11,  Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation-4, Satara-1, Kolhapur Municipal Corporation-2, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation - 6, Nagpur Municipal Corporation -8, Chandrapur-1 and Gadchiroli reported one Covid-19 case. "Covid-19 is a viral disease. Currently, ILI /SARI surveillance is being done in Maharashtra. During the survey, such patients are tested for Covid. These Covid patients are being treated regularly after positive report. There is gradual but definite increase in Covid Patients in Maharashtra. Covid patients are showing mild symptoms. Covid testing and treatment facilities are available through the Public Health Department. The public is appealed not to panic," the health department bulletin said. The bulletin further said that the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) has been actively monitoring patients with influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI). As per recent state-level review instructions: - Regular ILI/SARI surveillance must continue in all districts. - 5 per cent of ILI patients and 100 per cent of SARI patients must be tested for Covid-19. - All positive samples should be sent for Whole Genome Sequencing to track variants. - Public hospitals and medical colleges must stay updated with testing and treatment facilities.

20 June,2025 06:11 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
There will be no block in day over Western Railway's suburban section on Sunday, June 22, 2025, an official said. Representational Pic/File

WR to operate block between Borivali and Bhayandar on Saturday night

Western Railway, while sharing Mumbai local train updates, on Friday said that it will operate a jumbo block at night on Saturday between Borivali and Bhayandar railway stations. An official statement said that to carry out maintenance work of tracks, signaling and overhead equipment, a jumbo block will be taken on up fast lines from 23:15 hrs, to 02.45 hrs and down fast lines from 0:45 hrs, to 04:15 hrs, between Borivali and Bhayandar stations on the intervening night of Saturday/Sunday, June 21/22, 2025.  According to a press release issued by Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, Vineet Abhishek, during the block period, all fast line trains will be run on slow lines between Virar/Vasai Road to Borivali. Also, due to the block some up and down local trains will remain cancelled. Detailed information is available at concerned station master’s office.  "There will be no block in day over Western Railway's suburban section on Sunday, June 22, 2025," an official said. Video of fight between women passengers on Mumbai local train goes viral A video of a fight that broke out between women passengers near the door of a moving Mumbai local train has gone viral following which the police has launched a probe into the matter, officials said. An official confirmed that the fight between railway commuters occurred on a Western Railway's special local train. "The incident occurred on a Western Railway's (WR) Churchgate to Virar ladies special local train recently and we are investigating this matter further," a WR spokesperson told mid-day. The video shows that the argument started with a verbal exchange and soon turned physical, creating panic inside the crowded train. The video also shows the women shouting and pushing each other as the train was in motion. After verification, the Railway Police confirmed that the incident actually took place at Bhayandar station on a Ladies Special local train arriving at 7:32 pm. A heated fight broke out between women passengers near the door of a moving local train between Churchgate and Virar. The argument quickly turned physical, causing chaos onboard. The video has gone viral on social media, drawing widespread attention.Via: @DiwakarSharmaa… pic.twitter.com/HN2nu0X7yJ — Mid Day (@mid_day) June 20, 2025 According to the police, the on-duty Station Master at Bhayandar informed head constable Nagargoje about the incident. Upon reaching the spot, Railway Police found that the women involved in the altercation had already been deboarded from the train by RPF and MSF personnel. The police brought both women -- Jyoti Ayodhya Prasad Singh and Kavita Ramchandra Medadkar -- to the Bhayandar Railway Police Post, where they were questioned. The women stated that there was a verbal argument and a minor scuffle between them, but neither of them filed a written or oral complaint against the other. Both parties agreed to resolve the matter mutually. "The officials recorded the statements related to the incident," an official said.

20 June,2025 05:49 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
High-Security Registration Plates (HSRPs) are specialised plates designed to prevent vehicle theft and fraudulent activities through enhanced security features. Representational Pic/File

Maharashtra govt extends deadline for HSRP to August 15

The Maharashtra government on Friday extended the deadline for vehicle owners to install High-Security Registration Plates (HSRP) to 15 August 2025, warning that strict enforcement will begin from 16 August, an official government notification said. HSRPs are specialised plates designed to prevent vehicle theft and fraudulent activities through enhanced security features. This is the third extension by the state transport commissioner for vehicles registered before April 1, 2019. The original deadline of March 31 was first extended to the end of April, then to June 30, and now to August 15, due to a poor response from vehicle owners, officials said. According to the transport department, there are 2.10 crore such older vehicles in the state. However, only 23 lakh vehicles have been fitted with HSRPs in the past six months. “From 16 August onwards, enforcement squads will take action against vehicles without HSRPs. However, no action will be taken against those with a valid appointment booked before 15 August,” the notification said. It said that the vehicle owners are urged to book their HSRP installation appointment through the official transport department website: https://transport.maharashtra.gov.in. The HSRP drive began in December 2024, following a lengthy tendering process. The department appointed three companies to fit HSRPs on the 2.10 crore eligible vehicles, out of Maharashtra’s total vehicle population of over 4 crore. Initially, vehicle owners were given four months to comply with the March-end deadline. In February this year, the transport department had published a newspaper advertisement that stated, "To avoid a fine of Rs 1,000 under Rule 50 of CMVR (Central Motor Vehicles Rules) and Section 177 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, please ensure that you install an HSRP on your vehicle."

20 June,2025 05:46 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. Aklekar
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