The newly built Gopal Krishna Gokhale Bridge in Mumbai's Andheri was officially inaugurated on Sunday, May 11, 2025 by Maharashtra’s IT and Cultural Affairs Minister and Mumbai Suburban Guardian Minister, Ashish Shelar. At the inauguration ceremony, Shelar praised the engineers, workers, and experts from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), saying the bridge is an “exceptional example of engineering.” He added that the new bridge would significantly boost Mumbai’s development and ease traffic congestion between the eastern and western parts of the city. Gokhale Bridge was constructed using modern pre-fabricated technology, anti-corrosion steel, and special vibration-absorbing joints. Despite the scale of the project, railway traffic continued uninterrupted during construction. The new bridge is expected to provide a safer, quicker, and more comfortable commute for residents, a statement issued by the BMC said on Sunday. MP Ravindra Waikar, MLAs Amit Satam and Murji Patel, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar, Deputy Commissioner (Infrastructure) Shashank Bhore, and Chief Engineer (Bridges) Uttam Shrote attended the inaugural event, it said. Bangar stated that the Gokhale Bridge is now fully operational and will help decongest traffic from Santacruz to Goregaon. MLA Amit Satam noted that the bridge was completed in just 28 months due to effective coordination between the BMC and Indian Railways. The BMC statement said that despite delays in installing the steel girders, the project was completed by April 30, 2025. It said that the BMC’s bridge department is working to open three flyovers before the monsoon: Gokhale (already opened), Vikhroli by May 31, and Carnac Bridge by June 10. The department is focusing on both speed and quality, with priority given to minimising public inconvenience during ongoing infrastructure work, Bangar said. Key details of the Gokhale Bridge: - The total length of the bridge is 511 metres, with a width of 27 metres. It includes three lanes on each side and footpaths on both ends - The portion of the bridge over the railway tracks is 90 metres long and supported by RCC piers. Two steel girders, each weighing 1,300 metric tonnes, have been installed, the BMC said - The approach roads within the BMC limits cover 421 metres--231 metres on the eastern side and the remaining on the western side. These roads include solid approaches and multiple spans, along with concrete deck slabs and asphalting "From Sunday evening, traffic of light motor vehicles will only be allowed initially and the movement of heavy vehicles will start at a later date after removal of height barricades," the officials said.
12 May,2025 11:46 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe city and its surrounding districts will see a partly cloudy sky with the possibility of light rain on Monday, the weather department said. According to the latest Mumbai weather updates from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Mumbai is expected to experience a partly cloudy sky with the possibility of light rain on Monday, May 12. Temperatures will range from a cool 25 degrees Celsius in the morning to a warm 34 degrees Celsius during the day. According to the Mumbai weather updates of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Santacruz observatory in suburban Mumbai recorded a maximum temperature of 34.6 degrees Celsius and a minimum temperature of 25.8 degrees Celsius. The weather department's data showed that the city observatory in Colaba recorded a maximum temperature of 33.2 degrees Celsius and a minimum temperature of 26.8 degrees Celsius. The IMD’s latest Mumbai weather update forecasts a "partly cloudy sky with possibility of light rain" for the city and its suburbs over the next 24 hours. According to weather experts, atmospheric and oceanic conditions are becoming favourable for the southwest monsoon to set in over the Andaman Sea and nearby areas around May 14. This closely aligns with the region’s typical onset date of May 15. Mumbai weather updates: City's AQI in 'good' category On May 12, the Central Pollution Control Board’s SAMEER app reported in its latest Mumbai weather updates that the city’s air quality remained in the 'good' category, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 54 at 9:05 AM. As per the SAMEER app dashboard, many areas across Mumbai showed 'good' AQI. Bandra Kurla Complex recorded 'good' air quality with an AQI of 70. Byculla, Malad and Kandivali recorded 'good' air quality with an AQI of 32, 54 and 26, respectively. Chembur, Sewri and Mulund recorded 'good' air quality, with an AQI of 39, 37 and 40, respectively. Meanwhile, Mazgaon recorded 'good' air quality, with an AQI of 40. According to data from the SAMEER app, Navi Mumbai recorded air quality in the 'good' category with an AQI of 66, while Thane registered a 'good' AQI of 52. The air quality index from 0 to 100 is considered 'good', 100 to 200 'moderate', 200 to 300 'poor', 300 to 400 'very poor' and from 400 to 500 or above 'severe'.
12 May,2025 10:13 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentPedestrians have slammed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) as footpaths in the suburbs have been rendered virtually indistinguishable from roads due to ongoing concreting work that has radically raised the height of street surfaces. A section of the Jankidevi School Road in Andheri West mid-day visited spots in Andheri West, Santacruz West and Borivli East, where residents bemoaned the absence of discernible pavements, which they claimed poses a significant risk to their safety. When mid-day visited various internal roads, stretches that earlier had footpaths had been concreted, but the pavements were missing. The under-construction Road No. 12 at Shri Krishna Nagar in Borivli East, where the height of the footpath and that of the road surface are the same. Pic/Satej Shinde Andheri West At Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (SVP) Nagar, internal roads that were being concreted were at the same level as the footpath. Ratnakar Sawant, a resident, said, “It’s high time the contractor and authorities sped up the concreting of our internal roads, which has been taking place at a snail-like pace. Earlier, these stretches had footpaths, but now there are none, highlighting that authorities are least bothered about pedestrians. We fear vehicles will be parked right in front of MHADA houses facing internal roads.” The internal road at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Nagar in Andheri West mid-day observed that there was no space for pedestrians to walk freely and that illegal parking of vehicles on the now non-existent footpath had already begun. A BMC official in charge of road work at SVP Nagar said, “It is true that there used to be a footpath on the internal road but while making the cement concrete road, we have adopted the flush drain technique, where the road is at the same level as the footpath, on instructions of public representatives. This will help prevent traffic congestion on the road as the width of the road has been increased.” A section of Jankidevi School Road in Andheri West. Pics/Ashish Raje The same method had been adopted for Jankidevi School Road, an arterial road at SVP Nagar, which is used by hundreds of vehicles, including BEST buses. Mukesh Waghela, a resident, said, “Pedestrian safety and footpaths are extremely important. Ratnakar Sawant, who wants authorities to speed up the concreting of Andheri West’s internal roads (right) Mukesh Waghela, Andheri West resident Citizens will have to risk their lives while passing through Jankidevi School Road on foot. The space on either side of the stretch will be used for parking vehicles. I hope the authorities provide a proper footpath for pedestrians.” Borivli East Concreting work on Road No. 12 at Shrikrishna Nagar has been going on for more than two months. Vaishali G, a resident of Shyamkunj, said, “We have observed that footpaths have not been made available for pedestrians after the concretisation works have been undertaken. Once the road is functional, big vehicles such as BEST buses will pass through the stretch. In a scenario where there are no footpaths, people lacking civic sense will park their vehicles anywhere. And when big vehicles pass, there won’t be any space for people to walk. Walking safely will be a thing of the past, and there won’t be any space left for pedestrians.” The under-construction Road No. 12 at Shri Krishna Nagar in Borivli East, where the height of the footpath and that of the road surface are the same. Pics/Satej Shinde Anju Tavkar, another local, said, “There is a wedding hall right in front of our house. Now that the footpaths are not to be seen, the road outside has become a free parking space for motorists. Sometimes, it becomes difficult to even step out of our house, as people don’t care if they have parked in front of our gate. Footpaths for every road are a must. Does the corporation not understand this basic principle?” Deepa Sarnaik, another resident, said, “I don’t understand the purpose of this whole undertaking. If a footpath is constructed on at least one side of the road, it would be safer for pedestrians.” Contractor’s comments Rakshat Sing, an employee of the company tasked with concreting Road No. 12 at Shrikrishna Nagar‘We followed our seth’s orders. We also know that footpaths are necessary. We will make them if our boss tells us to. But right now, we are going about our work according to all the instructions that have been given to us.’ Santacruz West Residents of TPS VI Road No. 3 and 4 near Chhatrapati Sambhaji Garden expressed concern about their safety in light of concreting work that has robbed them of sidewalks, asking mid-day where they should walk if the vehicles are parked on either side of the road. TPS VI Road No. 4 near Chhatrapati Sambhaji Garden in Santacruz West. Pic/Ashish Raje Ajit Ajgaokar, a resident of Subodh Co-operative Housing Society, said, “Before the roads were concreted, we had footpaths on both sides. Now, there are no footpaths at all, while on some roads, only one side has a pavement. Apart from walkability issues, there are safety concerns. Many people park their vehicles adjacent to the compound walls of residential buildings, which can be misused by those who have malicious intentions. Sanjay Patkar, a resident of Bageshri Co-operative Housing Society, said, “While the disappearance of footpaths is one issue, the road surface is now higher than our building’s ground level. We are definitely going to face a flood-like situation during the monsoon, as there is no way for water to drain out of the premises and it will enter ground-floor flats. Did the executive engineers not think about this when they planned the concreting of roads, which to begin with, were completely in good condition? Walkability has been hampered massively with footpaths being taken away.” Navneet Madan, a resident of Jeevan Sangeet Co-operative Housing Society, Santacruz, said, “We don’t understand the logic behind taking away footpaths. Where does the BMC expect us to walk? Why did the civic body not direct contractors to raise the levels of footpaths in the initial stage only? Now it’s too late as the monsoon is just two weeks away. This is the season when footpaths are needed the most.” BMC Speak Dinesh Pallewad, assistant municipal commissioner, H West ward‘Concreting work is not in the purview of individual civic wards, but is being done at the central level with engineers being appointed directly by the head office. However, if residents have concerns or complaints, they can write a letter to our office and we can request the executive engineer concerned to direct the contractors to raise the level of footpaths.’
12 May,2025 09:42 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet Jadhav | Ritika GondhalekarIn what is a major step toward segregating rail traffic, work on the ambitious national rail freight corridor entered a crucial phase on Sunday night as it intersected train lines near Panvel and Kalamboli. Once completed by the year-end, the freight corridor will divert goods trains away from mainlines, freeing up space for passenger trains. The Indian Railways is constructing two Dedicated Freight Corridors—the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) and the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC). The 1337-km EDFC will connect Ludhiana to Sonnagar, while the 1506-km WDFC will link Jawaharlal Nehru Port Terminal (JNPT) in Mumbai to Dadri in Uttar Pradesh. Representative picture of the freight corridor Traversing five states—Uttar Pradesh (18 km), Haryana (177 km), Rajasthan (565 km), Gujarat (565 km), and Maharashtra (177 km)—the WDFC is set to take freight traffic off the main lines, creating more slots for passenger and suburban trains. “Yes, Central Railway will be operating four special traffic and power blocks between the Panvel and Kalamboli section for the launch of an Open Web Girder at the Kalamboli Rail Flyover for the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd,” a CR spokesperson said. The first girder launch is scheduled for the night of May 11/12 (Sunday/Monday midnight), followed by post-launch activities on May 13/14 (Tuesday/Wednesday midnight), May 14/15 (Wednesday/Thursday midnight), and May 16/17 (Friday/Saturday midnight). The freight corridor will divert goods trains away from the mainline, helping passenger trains. Pic/By special arrangement Train operations will be regulated during these periods. The first block on May 11/12 will last from 1.20 am to 4.50 am; the second block on May 13/14 from 1.20 am to 4.20 am; the third on May 14/15 from 2am to 4am; and the final block on May 16/17 from 2am to 4am. The freight corridor alignment has mostly been kept parallel to existing rail lines, with detours at Diva, Surat, Ankleshwar, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad, Palanpur, Phulera, and Rewari. However, from Rewari to Dadri, it runs entirely on a new alignment. After crossing Panvel station, the corridor veers toward JNPT.
12 May,2025 09:41 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarThe Maharashtra Transport Ministry on Sunday formally announced the permanent closure of all border check posts, submitting a positive report to the state government for approval. The move, long demanded by transporters due to the check posts’ notorious links with corruption, was widely welcomed across the industry. “In line with directives from the Central government and the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the Maharashtra government has decided to permanently close all Motor Transport Border Check Posts (RTO border check posts) in the state,” said Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik. “This step is aimed at easing interstate traffic and eliminating obstacles for commercial vehicles.” Sarnaik explained that the check posts, first set up in 1966, were originally intended to regulate vehicle movement, enforce transport laws, and collect road taxes. “However, with the rollout of GST and advancements in digital systems, the need for these physical inspection points has significantly reduced,” he added. Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari had directed the state’s transport department to address this. A positive report has now been submitted to the chief minister after resolving administrative lapses. Upon his approval, the check posts at the state’s borders will be permanently shut. However, regular police police check posts will continue to function. “We welcome this long-awaited and much-needed decision by the Maharashtra government. It is the result of our persistent follow-ups, multiple representations, and efforts at every level,” said Bal Malkit Singh, advisor and former president of the All India Motor Transport Congress, speaking to mid-day. “The permanent closure of RTO border check posts will significantly benefit the road transport sector, reduce corruption and delays, and align Maharashtra with the progressive vision of digital, seamless transport operations. We appreciate the government’s action and now look forward to the chief minister’s formal announcement,” he added. Calling it a landmark move, Singh said the decision is a response to repeated appeals by transport unions, stakeholders, and the Central government. “It aims to eliminate bottlenecks in interstate transportation, improve road safety, and implement a paperless, tech-driven monitoring system in keeping with the ‘Ease of Doing Business’ framework,” he said.
12 May,2025 08:38 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarThane district’s first-ever Metro rail, the Mumbai Metro Red Line 9 to Mira Road, is set for its trial run this week. With the overhead wires activated and charged on Saturday, the route is now ready for train trials. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is likely to flag off the run. Metro Line 9 is an extension of Red Line 7 from Andheri-Dahisar to Mira-Bhayandar. It will enable a direct Metro link from Andheri (WEH) to Kashimira in the first phase and extend up to Subhash Chandra Bose Stadium, Bhayandar (West), in the second phase. While the entire Red Line 9 includes eight stations—Dahisar, Pandurang Wadi, Miragaon, Kashigaon, Sai Baba Nagar, Meditiya Nagar, Shahid Bhagat Singh Garden, and Subhash Chandra Bose Stadium—only the first four stations up to Kashigaon will be functional in the first phase. Last week, the MMRDA issued an advisory urging citizens to exercise caution along the Metro Line 9 corridor (Dahisar to Kashigaon) as it planned to energise the Metro’s 25,000v overhead traction wires on May 10 along a 4.973-km stretch. This energisation will be followed by full-scale dynamic testing of the trains, including trials of critical systems like train movement, signalling, communication, and safety protocols, in preparation for public commissioning. The Kashimira Metro station is about 1.4 km from the existing Mira Road station on the Western Railway. “Several Metro projects in the MMR faced delays due to land-related and implementation challenges. At MMRDA, we’ve taken focused measures to eliminate these hurdles and restart stalled progress. Our approach is clear—make completed stretches operational without waiting for the full corridor. The upcoming dynamic trials on Metro Line 9 exemplify this strategy. Through phased commissioning, we’re accelerating access to a safe, modern, and sustainable transport mode. These efforts are part of our larger vision—‘Mumbai in Minutes’—to bring fast, seamless, and reliable connectivity to the region,” said Dr Sanjay Mukherjee, metropolitan commissioner, MMRDA.
12 May,2025 08:34 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarNine rusted and inactive artillery shells were discovered near the railway tracks close to Pimpri railway station on Friday afternoon. Officials confirmed that there is nothing to worry about, stating that similar shells have been found in the past and that the discovery has no connection to the ongoing war crisis between India and Pakistan. The Pimpri police, in coordination with the government railway police (GRP), and the bomb detection and disposal squad (BDDS), responded swiftly to the scene and secured the items. According to officials, the shells had been lying at the location for nearly six months and may have reached the spot through a local scrap dealer. Authorities confirmed that the ordnance was not live and posed no immediate threat. The police have decided to hand over the shells to the Indian Army for further action. After receiving a tip-off, a team from GRP Pune inspected the area and alerted the BDDS unit. Police emphasised that the discovery is unrelated to any current geopolitical tensions, including the situation between India and Pakistan. This is not the first time such material has been found in Pune. In previous instances, similar aged and corroded explosives have surfaced at different locations. Each time, the police have followed appropriate protocols for safe disposal. Officials also noted Pune’s long-standing association with military and defence establishments.
12 May,2025 08:28 AM IST | Mumbai | Archana DahiwalA woman teacher from a school in Thane district has died in an accident in Indonesia’s Bali during the tour of her school to the archipelagic country, the authorities of the educational institute said on Sunday. Teacher Shweta Pushkar Pathak of the B K Birla Public School located in Kalyan died in the accident in the Indonesian province on Saturday, they said, adding that the process to bring her body back was underway. “Shweta Pathak lost her life in an unfortunate accident in Bali. We are currently handling all formalities with local authorities to bring her body back to India,” a source from the school said. The school also posted a message on its official website. “It is with deep sorrow and heavy heart that we inform our school community of the untimely and tragic demise of our beloved colleague, Ms Shweta Pushkar Pathak, in an unfortunate accident during a trip at Bali,” it said. “She was more than an educator. She was a guiding light to her students, a supportive colleague, and a kind-hearted soul whose presence brought warmth and inspiration to all who knew her. Her passion for teaching, her insightful contributions, and her unwavering dedication to her students and the school community have left an indelible mark on our hearts,” it added. School Principal Ranjna Jangra and Pathak’s husband are currently in Bali coordinating with local officials to bring her body back to India, the statement said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
12 May,2025 08:25 AM IST | Mumbai | AgenciesChief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday unveiled a new 91-foot-tall statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Rajkot Fort in Malvan tehsil of Sindhudurg district. The event, held in the coastal Konkan region, was also attended by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The previous 35-foot statue, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December 2023, had collapsed in August last year, within nine months after its installation, leading to widespread outrage against the government. Following the incident, the Maharashtra government immediately ordered the installation of another statue at the same place. Accordingly, the new statue was built by Ram Sutar Art Creations. The incident of statue collapse had sparked blame games among the political parties and the agencies involved in installation. In fact, an FIR was also filed against 24-year-old Jaydeep Apte, who had sculpted the statue, and structural consultant Chetan Patil, in connection to the collapse incident.
12 May,2025 08:17 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentA rare gecko—Cyrtodactylus varadgirii—named after renowned scientist Dr Varad Giri was spotted at the Aarey Milk Colony by a wildlife lovers and a researcher. The reptile was sighted by wildlife researcher Raj Jadhav, along with wildlife lovers Omkar Sawant, Kaushlendra Dubey, and Pushpak Tanavade, who were on an evening stroll in Aarey. The gecko has dark black spots with whitish-yellow borders, which makes it difficult to spot as it gets camouflaged. It is a nocturnal species that is usually spotted in the Western Ghats and central India. Usually 5.5 cm in length, it mainly feeds on small insects. “We were taking an evening walk on the road in Aarey when we heard a noise and saw something passing over the leaf litter. When we observed closely, we were extremely happy to spot Cyrtodactylus varadgirii, or what is also known as ‘Giri’s geckoella.’ While this species is widely distributed in the Western Ghats, the sighting of this beautiful species is rare,” Dubey said. “It is a terrestrial, ground- dwelling gecko that is primarily nocturnal. It spends most of its time navigating through leaf litter and seeking shelter under rocks and logs. One of the major historical threats to this species has been frequent forest fires. However, since the area has been granted protected status and brought under the jurisdiction of the forest department, the frequency of forest fires has reportedly decreased. This has helped protect sensitive ground-dwelling species, giving them a better chance to survive in this urban forest,” said Jadhav. Dr Giri is a renowned herpetologist who has trained hundreds of youngsters in the fields of citizen science, wildlife research, and herpetology. Dr Giri is responsible for the discovery of more than 56 species of amphibians, reptiles, and geckos in the Western Ghats. In 2016, the species was discovered by wildlife researchers Dr Ishan Agarwal, Zeeshan Mirza, Anurag Mishra, Saunak Pal, and Dr Aaron Bauer. It may be noted that earlier, the species was thought to be Geckoella collegalensis, but based on its DNA and morphological characters, the researchers described this as a new species.
12 May,2025 08:13 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavThe Maharashtra government has decided to introduce a civil defence course in the Mumbai University curriculum, acknowledging the key role the volunteer-based emergency response mechanism can play during emergencies amid a spotlight on the Indo-Pakistan conflict that necessitated security drill exercises. The government is also trying to strengthen the Directorate of Civil Defence, beset by multiple issues ranging from manpower crunch to paltry daily allowance and logistical problems, including inadequate sirens, vehicles and ambulances. The Directorate of Civil Defence and the University of Mumbai recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), finalising the inclusion of the civil defence course in the academic curriculum, Prabhat Kumar, director of civil defence said. This course will be taught in all engineering colleges affiliated with the University of Mumbai and will carry a weightage of 25 marks. “Students who wish to serve the nation while pursuing their education will get an opportunity through this course,” Kumar said, adding that students will be trained in rescue operations and saving lives during emergencies. They will also be prepared to work alongside government and civic agencies, such as disaster management cells, fire brigades, and hospitals, especially during emergency and war-like situations. The spotlight on civil defence has intensified following drills conducted across coastal districts and Pune, Nashik, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. These drills aimed to raise awareness among volunteers and the general public. The drills involved around 10,000 volunteers from civil defence, Home Guard, NDRF, and other emergency response agencies. An official said the government is taking appropriate steps to strengthen civil defence, and its revival is underway. The Directorate of Civil Defence has long struggled with shortages in manpower, vehicles (including rescue vans and ambulances), sirens, and training equipment. However, these requirements are likely to be fulfilled soon, the official said. Although the sanctioned manpower for civil defence is 420 personnel, operations are being carried out with only 135 staff members across the state. The official said some units, like those in Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg, have only one full-time government employee each. “In emergencies, civil defence needs its ambulances and vehicles. However, many of the existing vehicles are in poor condition, with some on the verge of being scrapped,” the official noted. Volunteers currently receive a daily allowance of R150 for their service. A proposal has been submitted to the government to increase this amount to Rs 500 per day. He added that in addition to the proposed allowance hike, proposals for increasing manpower, training equipment, and sirens have also been submitted. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
12 May,2025 08:05 AM IST | Mumbai | AgenciesADVERTISEMENT
