India's batting legend Sunil Gavaskar was delighted to inaugurate a board room at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) headquarters at the Wankhede Stadium recently. “I am very honoured to have a boardroom in my name at the BCCI office. When they approached me to inaugurate it, I immediately agreed. Anything for the BCCI,” said Gavaskar, who also has a box in his honour at the 50-year old iconic stadium, courtesy the Mumbai Cricket Association. It is learnt that Gavaskar flanked by BCCI officials including president Roger Binny, his former India teammate, touched the office floor in respect immediately after doing the honours. Gavaskar’s association with BCCI offices dates back to the late 1960s when he first started playing domestic cricket. Gavaskar, 75, it can be recalled was appointed interim president by the Supreme Court during the 2014 edition of the Indian Premier League. Over the years, Gavaskar always remembered the officials who helped him along the way. ND ‘Mama’ Karmarkar was one of the first BCCI officials he probably encountered. In the book, Sunny Days, Gavaskar acknowledged the support Karmarkar provided him before going on the 1971 tour of the West Indies. “…the genial but live wire assistant secretary of the Cricket Control Board took care of everything and asked me not to worry,” Gavaskar wrote.
16 May,2025 07:54 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentThe RCF Police in Chembur have registered a case against three individuals for dangerous and reckless driving on the Eastern Expressway near the Hazrat Syed Abdul Kader Rahul Dargah in Chembur. The incident, which occurred on the night of May 13, came to light after a viral video was shared on social media platform X. According to police, the video — posted by the account @arifaziz9 and flagged by the official Mumbai Police handle — showed a white car being driven at dangerously high speed. The driver and several passengers were seen leaning out of the windows and hanging their limbs out of the moving vehicle, posing a serious threat to themselves and others on the road. Screengrab from footage of the incident Following the viral footage, a formal complaint was lodged by the RCF police under Sections 281, 125, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Section 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act. They were then traced and arrested on Wednesday morning. The accused have been identified as Adnan Mohammad Khan, 20; Mukim Bashir Khan, 22; and Junaid Khan, 20 — all residents of Govandi. Police confirmed that all three men were taken into custody shortly after the case was registered on May 14. “The actions seen in the video not only endangered the lives of the vehicle occupants but also posed a serious risk to public safety,” said a police officer from RCF Station.
16 May,2025 07:50 AM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya IyerTwenty-two-year-old Shatrughna Kanojia sustained head injuries after falling off a local train at Bandra station on Thursday evening. The incident took place during peak hours, causing alarm among commuters on the platform. A senior inspector with Bandra Government Railway Police (GRP), Nandakumar Khadkikar, said that Kanojia lost his balance while attempting to get off the moving train. “Fortunately, he fell on the platform and not in between the platform and tracks. Alert bystanders quickly informed the railway authorities, who rushed to the scene and arranged for medical assistance,” said Khadkikar. Police said that the injured man was initially rushed to Bhabha Hospital in Bandra for emergency treatment. However, due to the hospital’s lack of CT scan facilities — critical in assessing the extent of head injuries — Kanojia was shifted to Nair Hospital in Mumbai Central. Hospital sources confirmed that the patient’s father is employed at Nair Hospital, and thus, his elder brother requested that he be shifted there. “Shatrughna is stable and is responding. Since a CT scan is a must in such cases, he has been shifted to Nair Hospital,” said an on-duty medical officer.
16 May,2025 07:47 AM IST | Mumbai | Ritika GondhalekarAfter a brief spell of cloudy-yet-dry weather, pre-monsoon showers have brought some relief from the heat. However, humidity still lingers. Meteorologists have warned that while rains are likely over the weekend, rising humidity levels will continue to cause discomfort across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). According to the Regional Meteorological Centre in Mumbai, part of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the city is expected to witness light to moderate rain showers and isolated thunderstorms through the weekend. While Mumbai itself remains free of any immediate weather alerts, nearby districts such as Thane and Raigad have been placed under a ‘yellow alert’ due to the forecast of thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds, and moderate rainfall. These advisories are in effect until Friday. “Humidity is rising in Mumbai as there’s a lot of moisture present over the West Coast,” said Rushikesh Agre, an independent weather enthusiast, known as ‘Mumbai Rains’ on X. “The city has been experiencing persistent cloud cover without rain, which has led to high humidity levels. This pattern is expected to continue for the next three to four days, and from May 21, Mumbai and MMR will see daily rain accompanied by thunderstorms,” Agre added. Meanwhile, climatologist Rajesh Kapadia of Vagaries of the Weather, a private weather blog, also noted the shift in conditions. “Mumbai can expect isolated thunderstorms with daily rainfall not exceeding 10 mm. In Pune, afternoon thunderstorms are likely over the next few days, with daytime temperatures around 33 degrees Celsius and rainfall ranging between 10 and 20 mm per day,” he said. “No extreme summer heat is expected across Maharashtra. Cities like Mumbai and Pune may see isolated to moderate thunderstorms with manageable daytime temperatures…No major heatwave is forecast for the next 10 days,” Kapadia told mid-day. What exactly is a yellow alert? A yellow alert indicates moderate to severe rainfall conditions, warning potential disruptions from weather conditions. Areas under a yellow warning will experience rainfall between 7.5 mm and 15 mm within the span of an hour.
16 May,2025 07:45 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentWithin 48 hours of Shiv Sena MLA from Andheri, Murji Patel, demanding the discontinuation of a Turkey-based company handling ground services at Indian airports, the Union government revoked the clearances of Celebi Airport Services. On Tuesday, Patel, along with the party’s airport wing leader Kunal Sarmalkar, visited Mumbai airport and demanded that the Turkey-based company be barred from operating in India within 10 days. Speaking to mid-day, Patel alleged that Celebi profits from its operations in Mumbai and across India, but when it comes to political support, it sides with Pakistan. “How can we allow a company linked to a nation that openly supports Pakistan to operate in India?” Patel questioned. He appreciated the Union government for acting swiftly on his demand to terminate the ground services contract with the Turkey-based firm. According to Patel, Celebi handles nearly 70 percent of the ground operations at Mumbai airport. Asked whether the move would disrupt airport services, the Sena MLA denied any such possibility. “There’s no reason for services to be affected. The staff working with the company will continue as usual, only the service provider will change,” Patel said. Clarifying his position, Patel stressed that his objection was directed at the company and not its employees. “The staff working with Celebi are not at fault. Their livelihood and families should not suffer due to the company’s affiliation,” he added. On May 15, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security issued a letter revoking all services provided by Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd with immediate effect, citing national security concerns.
16 May,2025 07:42 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarAdani Airport Holdings on Thursday said it has terminated the ground handling concession agreements with Turkish firm Celebi for the Mumbai and Ahmedabad airports. The decision comes after Central government revoked the security clearance of Turkish ground-handling company Celebi NAS Airport Services, citing national security concerns. "Following the Government of India's decision to revoke Celebi's security clearance, we have terminated the ground handling concession agreements with Celebi at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) and Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA). Accordingly, Celebi has been directed to immediately hand over to us all ground handling facilities to ensure uninterrupted operations," Spokespersons, Mumbai & Ahmedabad Airports said in a statement. "We will continue to provide seamless service to all airlines without disruptions through new ground handling agencies selected by it. All existing employees of Celebi at CSMIA and SVPIA will be transferred to the new ground handling agencies on their existing terms and conditions of employment. Ground handling operations at our airports will remain unaffected. We are fully committed to upholding the highest standards of service and national interest," the spokespersons added. Celebi Aviation India has unequivocally refuted all misleading and factually incorrect allegations circulating on social media regarding the company's ownership and operations in India. "We would like to place on record the facts surrounding our ownership structure and long-standing presence in the country. Celebi Aviation India is a professionally governed, globally operated aviation services company. Today, it is majority-owned (65%) by international institutional investors from across Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and Western Europe. Actera Partners II L.P., a Jersey-registered fund holds 50% ownership in Celebi Havacilik Holding AS The remaining 15% is held by Alpha Airport Services BV, a Dutch-registered entity," Celebi said in a statement. Founded in 1958, Celebi Aviation is a global leader in aviation services, offering comprehensive ground handling, cargo, and warehouse management. Celebi Aviation's services include passenger handling, ramp services, load control, flight operations, and aircraft cleaning. 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
16 May,2025 07:39 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIFor the past three years, thousands of citizens have struggled to travel between Charni Road West and East due to an incomplete foot overbridge (FOB). The bridge was initiated by Western Railway (WR) but stalled after construction began three years ago, due to lack of permissions from the BMC. The bridge was declared unsafe in 2022 and razed in 2023. Now, with the BMC finally depositing funds, the bridge is expected to be completed by July 2025. In the meantime, commuters are forced to enter the railway station and buy platform tickets just to cross over. The only alternative is a far-off bridge near KG Mittal Hospital, inconvenient for those near Girgaon Chowpatty. The under-construction bridge in Charni Road. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi Speaking to mid-day, citizens expressed frustration and urged the BMC and Railways to stop the blame game and finish the project. On Wednesday, mid-day spoke to local residents, college students, and senior citizens who regularly use Charni Road station. All demanded that the authorities expedite the construction. Jagriti Tripathi and Aishwarya Tiwari Jagriti Tripathi, Wilson College students Aishwarya Tiwari and Jagriti Tripathi said:“This bridge was convenient to reach the east side. Now we have to walk a lot more through the station. We go regularly for food, but are forced to use platform no 1 due to no nearby bridge.” Balkrishna Lad, 66, a Mumbai Central resident, said:“I visit Chowpatty and the east-side market regularly. Earlier, the bridge was functional, but it’s been incomplete for years. I had to buy a monthly pass from Mumbai Central to Churchgate just to avoid buying platform tickets every time I cross.” Reena Rai, 50, visiting from Rajkot, said:“We came to Chowpatty but couldn’t find a nearby bridge to go east. The KG Mittal bridge is too far, especially with kids and elders. We had no option but to cross the tracks, if we get caught, we’re ready to pay the fine.” Beena Daundkar, a Colaba resident, said:“I recently visited Thakkar Hall and had to cross via the station without a ticket. This bridge was built by the British with public convenience in mind. Today, many walkers from east to Marine Drive face the same issue.” Karhaan Maulvi and Yohann Lobo (left), Wilson College students said:“We visit Charni Road East daily for snacks. We use the railway bridge as we have valid passes. But many are fined for crossing without tickets. Either allow free crossing or finish the bridge quickly.” Krushna Sasane, from Matunga, said:“I visit Chowpatty often, and this incomplete bridge has been here for years. There’s no other option nearby. We’re forced to use the station to cross.” Railways & BMC clarify A Railway official explained, “The east-side landing of the FOB remains in place near the Western Railway HQ. The span over Marine Drive was dismantled by the BMC. Structurally, the bridge over the tracks is sound and can be extended.” He added, “In a January 2025 joint meeting, it was decided that the Railway would resume construction. The BMC has deposited the required funds. Foundation work is done, drawings and approvals are final, and work began in March. The bridge will be ready by July 15, 2025.” Manish Valanju, assistant municipal commissioner of D Ward, confirmed, “The bridge will be built by the Railway. We’ve approved the work. It will be ready soon.” Activist slams delay Rights activist Jeetendra Ghadge said, “In the last 10 years, the bridge was functional for only two. BMC and the Railway keep blaming each other. It was restricted pre-lockdown, demolished in 2023 citing safety, and reconstructed by the Railway, but the ramp landing wasn’t done due to BMC’s inaction.” “Many morning walkers from East to Marine Drive are affected. This delay is due to poor coordination. Authorities must complete it immediately,” Ghadge added.
16 May,2025 06:55 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirish VaktaniaRoyal treatment A replica model of a lion is carried on a crane during the Mariamman festival celebrations near Masjid Bunder. When Shankar sang along Shankar Mahadevan jams with the band backstage in Byculla. Pics Courtesy/Swapnil Tarphe Seven years ago, folk rock band Abhanga Repost took a shot in the dark when they messaged Shankar Mahadevan on Instagram, requesting him to give their newest single a listen. Their track was an imaginative fusion of the abhangas of saints like Saint Tukaram and Saint Dnyaneshwar, infused with rock music. Last Tuesday, Mahadevan belted out lines from the same song with the six-piece band in a backstage jam no one saw coming. “It was a dream come true. We were performing at an award function in Byculla, and Shankar ji happened to cross paths with us. To our surprise, he recognised us and even revealed that he had been listening to our songs. Being long-time fans, we politely asked for a photograph and a short video,” bassist Swapnil Tarphe recalled. Swapnil Tarphe The veteran musician did the band one better. “He asked us if we wanted to jam to Pundalik Varde, one of our first songs as a band. We were elated. It was a full circle moment for us,” Tarphe revealed. Known for spotlighting local talent, Mahadevan also shared a few words of appreciation and advice, we learn. “He gave us a pat on the back for finding new ways to keep folk music alive,” the bassist told us. Treasuring nature The purple sunbird is a common sighting at the Maharashtra Nature Park. Pics Courtesy/Sandra Pereira Naturalists Sandra Pereira and Kayden Anthony will spread awareness about India’s wildlife biodiversity through a unique treasure hunt in the city on May 31. “Games like wildlife crossword and a Morse code deciphering session are just fun ways to ensure these concepts stay with the participants forever. We will start with a walk in the Maharashtra Nature Park in Mahim and then proceed to commence the treasure hunt. We tested the concept in October 2024, and received an overwhelmingly positive response. Children as young as 12 years joined the day-long event,” shared Pereira. Those keen to join can log on to @man_of_the_forest_ on Instagram. Green girl power Participants at a previous walk. Pic Courtesy/Dipti Humraaskar All Women Nature Walk Mumbai, a women-centric naturalist group, will host a tree walk at Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan on May 24. “Participants can ask questions and engage in fun quizzes about the flora and fauna of the Zoo,” shared co-organiser Neha Savla, adding, “The idea is to occupy outdoor spaces and make local biodiversity more accessible to women in a non-judgmental environment.” Head to @awnw.mumbai on Instagram to know more about the walk. Food for thought A portion of the spread from an earlier session. Pic Courtesy/Vandita Morarka A lot can happen over a coffee, we’ve heard. But a lot more can change over a shared potluck, says social activist Vandita Morarka. This Sunday, Morarka will host an interfaith community potluck in Goregaon with the aim to promote tolerance in these testing times. “The ultimate goal is to encourage conversations between contrasting opinions, to understand each other better. Eating together forms the ideal backdrop for such an experiment. It instantly grounds people. Sometimes, people are stubborn about their beliefs, but these conversations leave them with much to ponder upon,” revealed Morarka. Those interested in joining the conversation can log on to @onefuturecollective. To ensure a safe and sound session for all, registrations will be vetted and selected at the organiser’s discretion. Talk of the king Virat Kohli. Pic/AFP Indian cricketing legend Virat Kolhi’s recent retirement from Test cricket has left fans coping in different ways. A fan like this diarist might even say they see one king waving to another on this page. Taking note, city-based reading club Paperback Talks will host a session centred on Kohli’s career on May 18. “It comes as a coincidence that author Sfurti Sahare’s book, Think and Win Like Virat, was released days after Kohli announced his retirement. We will be reading from the new book and celebrating his genius through talks, discussions and a quizzing session,” founder Rahul Saini revealed. If you’d like to meet like-minded fans, log on to @paperbacktalks to register.
16 May,2025 06:39 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-dayDo you know what the stars hold for you in terms of love life, career, business and personal wellness today? Well, read on to know your astrological predictions as per your zodiac sign for May 16. Aries March 21 – April 20Plan out conversation you need to have with the boss, wording it carefully. Rehearse it several times.Cosmic tip: Believe you are on the road to success even if the terrain is slightly rocky. Taurus April 21 – May 20Having sorted out different areas of life after intense soul searching is why it’s apparent life is headed on the right path. Some deal with extra expenses.Cosmic tip: Do what is right. GeminiMay 21 – June 21This slight upset at work is only a temporary situation that eases off in a day or two. Cosmic tip: Believe you deserve only the best to manifest it (of course continue working very diligently). Cancer June 22 – July 23There’s major achievement by signing a project or assignment. Work comes in a steady stream of good luck. Don’t be forced into making a particular investment.Cosmic tip: Enjoy this light hearted carefree time. Leo July 24 - Aug 23Some receive a job offer. A relationship is stable and comfortable; just aim to keep it so. Health is good.Cosmic tip: Try and remember dreams dreamt at night as they carry powerful messages. Virgo Aug 24 – Sept 23Centre of attention is career, so try and pare down time consuming routines and threadbare ideas to something more productive. Keep the diet simple.Cosmic tip: Make time to share news with a relative. Libra Sept 24 – Oct 22A delay in travel plans is due to the person you were supposed to have a business meeting with. Cosmic tip: Don’t fear difficulties. Working through them is a sign of strength and resilience. Scorpio Oct 23 – Nov 22Reading books, as a habit, is education in itself, teaching so much about life. Some may decide to spruce up working methods. Health is good.Cosmic tip: Drive carefully, following all traffic safety rules. Sagittarius Nov 23 – Dec 22A relationship needs to be worked at if you want it to be long-term (both have to put the effort). Just remain aware.Cosmic tip: Keep the flow of conversation on the safe side. Capricorn Dec 23 – Jan 20Keeping life simple and uncomplicated is always the best way to live. Read a new contract very carefully.Cosmic tip: Concentrate on taking an important assignment forward quicker than you are supposed to. Aquarius Jan 21 – Feb 19Sometimes there are no easy answers. Working at understanding each layer of it is the only way forward. Cosmic tip: Don’t look for easy solutions/ try to ignore issues you know should be discussed. Pisces Feb 20 – March 20An increase in salary and praise from your boss keeps the karmic balance just perfect. Completing must do chores is necessary. Cosmic tip: Be patient about delays. Leave well in time to board a flight.
16 May,2025 01:28 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirley BoseThe Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Thursday inaugurated a new dry waste sorting and processing centre in Andheri east area of Mumbai, civic officials said. The facility was inaugurated by BMC Deputy Commissioner (Zone 3), Vishwas Mote. The dry waste sorting and processing centre is located on Mahakali Caves Road and it has the capacity to scientifically process 10 million tonnes of dry waste per day, officials said, adding that it has been set up under a public-private partnership (PPP) model in collaboration with Hindustan Unilever, Xintiyo, and Dalmia Polypro Limited. According to a statement issued by the BMC, the new facility aims to reduce the burden on dumping grounds by processing waste locally instead of transporting it daily across the city. It said that the waste collected from different parts of Mumbai is usually taken to various landfill sites for disposal. This centre will help sort and process the dry waste at source, cutting down on transport and landfill use. Speaking at the launch, Vishwas Mote said, “The initiative will help in the scientific handling of waste and bring down the load on landfill sites.” He also planted trees at the venue, promoting a green message and highlighting the importance of environmental sustainability. Assistant Commissioner of K/East Ward, Nitin Shukla, along with officials from the partner companies and BMC staff, were also present at the event. Vishwas Mote also encouraged young volunteers and the public to understand the importance of waste segregation and environmental responsibility. BMC launches special initiative to collect pet waste and e-waste, check how to register Meanwhile, earlier this month, the BMC had announced a special initiative for collection of domestic sanitary which will now include pet waste and electronic waste (e-waste). The new services are aimed to make waste management in the city cleaner, safer, and more environment-friendly, the officials said. It said that from May 3, 2025, the Mumbai civic body has started collecting pet waste from households, and from May 5, 2025, a dedicated service for e-waste collection will also begin. The initiative is part of the city's ongoing efforts to manage the 7-8 million tonnes of daily solid waste and the expansion for collection of e-waste and pet waste follows after a positive public feedback and growing demand from citizens, an official statement said.
15 May,2025 10:53 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said that the government will try to conduct civic elections in the state on time and asserted that the Mahayuti will contest the BMC elections polls together, reported the PTI. The Mahayuti comprises of BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Speaking to the reporters in Maharashtra's Pune, CM Fadnavis said, “The ruling parties BJP, NCP, and Shiv Sena will fight jointly wherever possible. Where the arrangement of sharing-seat is not possible, the constituents may contest independently.” Fadnavis stated that all Mahayuti alliance partners will avoid criticising each other throughout the election campaign. “We will try to conduct the civic elections on time in the state. In case the monsoon is more intense in some regions, we will seek an extension from the Election Commission of 15-20 days if need arises”, he said, according to the PTI. Earlier, the Supreme Court has on May 6 cleared the path for holding local body elections in Mumbai, which had been on hold for over five years due to the OBC reservation issue. The court has directed the state election commission to issue the poll notification within four weeks, reported the PTI. CM Fadnavis stated that the Mahayuti alliance would contest civic elections widely as a united and coordinated front. “In exceptional cases, if there is a possibility that we have to go solo, we will do so. However, we will ensure that the alliance partners refrain from criticising one another during campaigning. Our thrust will largely be on to contest the local body elections together as Mahayuti”, he said, as per the PTI. Fadnavis was speaking during a workshop of civic commissioners and municipal council chief officers in Pune. He stated the Mahayuti government has been committed to bring about massive administrative changes after coming into power. “We believe that increasing the use of e-governance is key to achieving this transformation, along with enhancing overall administrative efficiency”, he said, as per the PTI. When asked about a poster of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi appearing at an event attended by State Minister Gopichand Padalkar in Nashik, the Chief Minister said that a report has been issued to take strict action against those responsible for displaying the photo. (with PTI inputs)
15 May,2025 10:31 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
