The assembly of the second Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project has begun at Sawli near Ghansoli, marking a key milestone in the construction of the high-speed rail corridor, officials said on Saturday. They said that the TBM is being assembled at a depth of 39 metres below ground level. Once completed, the machine will begin tunnelling from Sawli towards Vikhroli, forming an important underground stretch of the project. Massive gantry lowered into shaft An official statement said that a major component of the TBM, a gantry weighing around 190 metric tonnes, has been successfully lowered into the shaft. The structure measures approximately 18 metres in length, 10 metres in width and 9 metres in height. In total, four gantries will be installed in each TBM. These will be attached to the main shield assembly and cutterhead. Critical role of gantries in tunnel construction The gantries will move along the entire excavated tunnel length along with the TBM. They play a crucial role in supporting operations such as excavation, waterproofing and the installation of tunnel lining segments. Complex assembly due to space constraints The assembly process at the Sawli shaft is particularly challenging due to limited space. Engineers are carrying out the work with careful planning and precision to ensure safety and efficiency. The initial drive of the TBM is expected to commence in July 2026.
11 April,2026 05:13 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarWith GPS tracking, CCTVs and fee controls, Maharashtra government has announced plans to introduce stricter and more comprehensive regulations to improve the safety, transparency and accountability of school transport. Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said that the proposed rules aim to prioritise the safety of school children across the state. The draft notification, proposes the implementation of the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles (School Bus Regulation) (First Amendment) Rules, 2026. Citizens have been invited to submit objections and suggestions within 15 days of the notification, an official statement said on Saturday. Clear rules on school bus fees Under the proposed rules, school bus fares will be fixed by the Regional Transport Authority. Schools and operators will only be allowed to charge monthly fees. Collecting lump-sum advance payments will not be permitted, providing financial relief to parents. Every school will be required to form a School Transport Committee. This committee will address complaints related to fees, safety and service quality. It will also be mandatory for the committee to submit quarterly reports. Mandatory use of modern safety technology All school buses and vans must be fitted with GPS-based Vehicle Location Tracking Devices (VLTD) and panic buttons. In addition, fire detection and alarm systems (FDAS), CCTV cameras and seat belts for all seats will be compulsory, the statement said. A digital safety monitoring system will be required in every vehicle. This system will allow live tracking, digital attendance, automated alerts and direct communication with parents. It will also be integrated with a state-level monitoring platform, it said. Focus on student supervision Daily attendance of students, including boarding and drop-off times, must be recorded. For pre-primary and primary students (up to Class 5), a women attendant or authorised staff member must be present during every journey, the statement further said. The rules include provisions for children with disabilities or special needs. This includes trained staff, accessible transport arrangements and, where necessary, the presence of parents or teachers. Strict verification of staff All drivers, conductors and staff must undergo background checks and provide medical fitness certificates. Proper appointment records must be maintained and made available for inspection, the official statement said. It said that all school vehicles must comply with the new rules within three months of implementation. Failure to do so may result in suspension or cancellation of permits. Joint inspection mechanism Regular inspections of school transport will be carried out jointly by the education and transport departments. Reports will be submitted to district-level committees. According to Pratap Sarnaik, these reforms will make school transport safer, more disciplined and technology-driven, strengthening trust among parents and students.
11 April,2026 04:35 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentOffice bearers of the “Aapli BEST Aaplyachsaathi” organisation on April 7 paid a courtesy visit to the Chairperson of the BEST Committee, Mrs Trishna Vishwasrao. During the meeting, detailed and constructive discussions were held on several urgent issues concerning BEST bus services and challenges faced by passengers. As per the officials, a memorandum was also submitted by the organisation, which outlined key commuter concerns in a structured manner. Following the discussion, Chairperson Vishwasrao acknowledged all the issues and conveyed a positive and receptive stance. As per the memorandum, major concerns raised included increased waiting time at bus stops, shortage of buses, disruption of bus routes, obstructions caused by unauthorised parking, and financial as well as operational challenges arising from wet-leased (contractual) buses. During the meeting, the organisation's representative, Gaurav Chinderkar, highlighted specific issues related to wet-leased buses, including frequent route disruptions due to inadequate charging infrastructure, prolonged unavailability of buses at stops, unprofessional conduct of contractual staff, poor planning by contractors, and deficiencies in vehicle maintenance. However, Chairperson Vishwasrao, in reply, stated, “The BEST is actively working towards procuring self-owned buses and that a new regulatory framework will be implemented to ensure stricter control over contractors.” Demand for extension of BEST services from Kharegaon to Retibandar A key demand raised during the meeting was the extension of bus route number A-494 from Kharegaon Retibandar to Mumbra Railway Station. BEST Chairperson Vishwasrao further assured that a separate meeting would be held with BEST transport officials to arrive at a positive resolution. Discussions on premium buses running parallel with BEST buses The issue of premium buses operated through the “Chalo” app running parallel to existing BEST routes was also raised by the organisation's president, Mr Rupesh Shelatkar. Addressing this concern, Vishwasrao further clarified that “Chalo” has been permitted to operate only premium services, and any unauthorised parallel operations on regular BEST routes will invite immediate action. Furthermore, the secretary of AAPli BEST Aaplyachsaath, Siddhesh Mhatre, also drew attention to the long-term financial risks associated with increasing contractual operations. Mhatre pointed out that BEST’s losses have escalated from approximately Rs 1,200 crore in 2020 to an estimated Rs 8,000 crore at present. He further emphasised the need for a policy review, stating that excessive reliance on contractual systems could adversely impact the financial stability of the undertaking. In light of increasing competition, Aapli BEST Aaplyachsaath also stressed the need for BEST to expand its service network and provide more reliable, efficient, and commuter-friendly services. Following the discussions, there was a shared expectation that concrete decisions would be taken in the near future.
11 April,2026 02:22 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe long-observed political convention in Maharashtra of facilitating unopposed byelections in constituencies following the death of sitting legislators is steadily losing relevance, with electoral compulsions increasingly taking precedence over sentiment and legacy. An analysis of the bypoll trends over the past decade indicates that more than three-fourths of such vacancies have led to contests, reflecting the intense competition between parties in a politically fragmented landscape. Maharashtra’s political culture allows smooth entry to the kin of the deceased Traditionally, political parties in Maharashtra have refrained from fielding candidates against kin of deceased legislators as a mark of respect, allowing them a smooth entry into electoral politics. However, this convention, once considered part of the state's political culture, now appears to be the exception rather than the rule. All eyes on the Baramati by-polls Furthermore, the upcoming Baramati assembly byelection, necessitated by the demise of then Deputy CM and NCP leader Ajit Pawar, stands out as a rare instance in which the older norm briefly resurfaced. The contest appeared imminent but ultimately didn't materialise after Congress withdrew its candidate at the eleventh hour. Ajit Pawar's wife, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, is the main contestant in the fray, though some Independents are still in the contest for the April 23 bypoll. While several bypolls in the last few years have witnessed intense electoral battles, the battle at Baramati looks a bit tricky. By-elections that turned into high-stakes contests As per PTI, the Kasba Peth byelection in 2023, held after the death of sitting MLA Girish Bapat of the BJP, turned into a high-stakes contest, ultimately resulting in victory for Ravindra Dhangekar, who contested on a Congress ticket. Similarly, the Chinchwad bypoll also saw a multi-cornered fight despite the BJP fielding a family member of the deceased legislator. The BJP had fielded Ashwini Jagtap, widow of Laxman Jagtap. Notably, the NCP (undivided) entered the poll fray. However, its candidate, Vitthal Alias Nana Krushnaji Kate, lost the contest. Earlier, the Andheri East assembly bypoll in 2022 briefly revived the tradition when a major party withdrew its nominee following appeals from various quarters, virtually giving a walkover to Rutuja Latke of Shiv Sena (UBT), wife of the late MLA Ramesh Latke. Data suggests that since 2014, more than 15 byelections in Maharashtra, both to the assembly and Lok Sabha, have been necessitated due to the death of sitting members, and only a handful of these witnessed unopposed outcomes, underscoring the declining relevance of the informal "no-contest" understanding. In assembly constituencies such as Kolhapur North, Pandharpur, and Bandra East, parties defied the convention of not fielding candidates, prioritising electoral arithmetic and organisational strength, leading to full-fledged polling exercises, political observers noted. BJP's and Congress’s intense battle in 2022 The Congress and BJP fought an intense battle for Kolhapur North in 2022. A contest unfolded in the Deglur segment in 2021. The son of the late Congress MLA Raosaheb Antapurkar retained the seat by defeating his BJP challenger. In the 2021 bypoll to the Pandharpur assembly seat, the BJP wrested the seat from the NCP (undivided). The BJP had fielded ex-chief minister Narayan Rane from the Bandra (East) seat in the bypoll held in 2015, but he lost to Trupti Sawant, wife of the late MLA Prakash Sawant (Shiv Sena). (With inputs from PTI)
11 April,2026 02:07 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMumbai city and its suburbs are expected to experience mainly clear skies, with maximum and minimum temperatures likely to hover around 36 degC and 24 degC, respectively. Air quality remained in the ‘moderate’ category, with an AQI of 114 recorded by the Sameer app at 9 am on Saturday, April 11. Such conditions may cause breathing discomfort for individuals with lung disorders, asthma, or heart diseases. Among various locations, Chakala recorded the highest pollution level with an AQI of 161, followed by Bandra-Kurla Complex (155), Colaba (143), Kurla (132), Bandra East (122), Worli (115), and Borivali East (111). Meanwhile, relatively cleaner air was observed in Mulund West (31) and Kandivali East (42), with other areas like Vile Parle East (86), Sewri (88), Powai (85), and Deonar (97) also reporting better air quality. Overall, weather conditions are expected to remain stable with no major fluctuations, while air quality is likely to stay within the moderate to satisfactory range. LOCAL FORECAST FOR MUMBAI CITY & NEIGHBORHOOD:For 24 hours:Mainly clear sky in city and suburbs.Maximum & Minimum temperatures likely to be around 36 deg. C. and 24 deg. C. — Regional Meteorological Center,Mumbai (@RMC_Mumbai) April 11, 2026 Mercury continues to rise in Delhi; AQI 'moderate' The national capital continued to see a rise in the minimum temperature on Saturday, with the weather forecasts now suggesting that temperatures will rise over the next few days. Safdarjung, the city's base station, recorded a minimum temperature of 18.6 degrees Celsius, 2.4 degrees below normal but 2.3 degrees above the day before, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Other weather stations also logged a significant rise in the minimum temperature. Meanwhile, the IMD has forecast the minimum temperature to be around 19-21 degrees Celsius by Sunday. The maximum temperature is likely to be around 34-36 degrees on Saturday and 35-37 degrees Celsius on Sunday. The Met department has also forecast gusty winds of speed 10-20 kmph, even reaching 30 kmph, to continue through the daytime hours of Saturday.Meanwhile, the air quality index (AQI) of the city saw a further improvement on Saturday morning and was logged at 126 (moderate) at 9 am, as compared to the 24-hour average AQI of 151 (moderate) recorded at 4pm on Friday.
11 April,2026 01:45 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThree people were killed in a major fire that broke out in a slum cluster in the Thane district of Maharashtra. The fire triggered the explosion of multiple LPG cylinders, a civic official said on Saturday. Chief Fire Officer of Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC) Prakash Borade, while briefing about the incident, said, “The blaze erupted at around 8.30 PM on Friday in the Navghar area of Mira Bhayander at Indralok slum colony,” as cited by news agency PTI. He further added that flames were visible from a long distance as the fire quickly spread through the densely packed cluster of temporary huts made of thatch and cloth. More than 30 residential huts gutted in fire Around 30 to 35 huts were gutted in the incident, reported PTI. Several gas cylinders exploded during the blaze, which made the situation a lot more concerning. While the fire personnel managed to remove as many as 24 cylinders from the site, some of them filled and others empty, the situation did look concerning. Borade further added that firefighters battled the blaze for nearly an hour before bringing it under control, as per PTI. The three deceased were charred beyond recognition, and their bodies have been sent to a government hospital for postmortem, a fire official further added. One dead after portion of structure collapses in Bhandup In a different scenario, during the early hours of Saturday, a 75-year-old man was killed in Mumbai after a portion of a residential structure collapsed in Bhandup (West) on Saturday morning, officials said. As per the officials, the incident was reported at around 9:45 am from Tulshipada, Patkar Compound, where part of the slab on the first floor of a ground-plus-one (G+1) structure gave way. As soon as the authorities were alerted about the incident, they immediately reached the spot. According to initial information, the collapse led to serious injuries to one person. He was rushed to Navkar Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead at 9:52 am. The deceased has been identified as Susai Devdas Kaunder, a 75-year-old resident of Bhandup (West). Furthermore, authorities are assessing the condition of the structure and surrounding buildings to prevent further mishaps. While the exact cause of the collapse is yet to be determined, officials suspect structural weakness may have played a role in the unfortunate incident. (With inputs from PTI)
11 April,2026 01:30 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentA 75-year-old man was killed in Mumbai after a portion of a residential structure collapsed in Bhandup (West) on Saturday morning, officials said. As per the officials, the incident was reported at around 9:45 am from Tulshipada, Patkar Compound, where part of the slab on the first floor of a ground-plus-one (G+1) structure gave way. As soon as the authorities were alerted about the incident, they immediately reached the spot. According to initial information, the collapse led to serious injuries to one person. He was rushed to Navkar Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead at 9:52 am. The deceased has been identified as Susai Devdas Kaunder, a 75-year-old resident of Bhandup (West). Furthermore, authorities are assessing the condition of the structure and surrounding buildings to prevent further mishaps. While the exact cause of the collapse is yet to be determined, officials suspect structural weakness may have played a role in the unfortunate incident. Further investigation is underway. Slab collapses in Navi Mumbai; Teen killed, 11 students injured In a similar incident earlier in March, a routine evening tuition class in Navi Mumbai turned tragic after the first-floor slab of a residential building in Koparkhairane collapsed, killing a 14-year-old student and injuring 11 others. The incident occurred around 5.20 pm at Vidya Bhavan building in Sector 2. A tuition class was underway on the ground floor at the residence of teacher Shamli Chaudhary (53) when a portion of the first-floor slab suddenly gave way and crashed into the room below. Built in 1998, Vidya Bhavan has 16 flats. Though the building underwent renovation last year, no roof repairs were carried out, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) chief Dr Kailas Shinde said. Boy suffers fatal head injury Twelve students were caught under the debris. Among them was Manish Mhase, a Class 7 student, who sustained critical head injuries after a chunk of the slab fell directly on him. He was rushed to Vashi Municipal Hospital, where doctors declared him dead during treatment. The remaining 11 students suffered injuries ranging from minor to moderate and are currently undergoing treatment. Chaudhary sustained minor injuries and was discharged after primary medical care. Rescue on war footing Fire brigade teams from Vashi, Koparkhairane, and Airoli rushed to the site within minutes and began rescue operations with the help of local residents. All the trapped students were pulled out from the rubble. An official said the area was briefly engulfed in dust and chaos as panicked parents and neighbours gathered outside the building.
11 April,2026 01:12 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentWith the arrival of another air-conditioned EMU rake in Mumbai, Central Railway (CR) is planning to introduce a second AC local train on the Harbour Line, strengthening connectivity along the busy Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT)–Panvel corridor. The Harbour Line, considered a lifeline for the rapidly expanding workforce in Navi Mumbai, has seen a steady rise in passenger demand in recent years. The addition of a second AC local is expected to offer more comfortable commuting options for thousands of daily passengers. The newly arrived rake reached CR’s Mumbai division earlier this week and is currently undergoing trials. Railway officials have also indicated that full-fledged commercial operations are likely to begin by the end of April, subject to successful testing. Mumbai local gets automatic doors first for non-AC suburban trains Mumbai is set to receive India’s first non-AC suburban local train with automatic door closure, marking a significant shift in the design of the city’s lifeline trains. The new rake, developed after the Mumbra incident, is aimed at improving passenger safety by preventing falls from open doors. The 12-car train, manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, is currently on its way to Mumbai and is expected to arrive shortly. Railway officials say the move is part of a broader policy shift to introduce closed-door systems across all future suburban trains, both AC and non-AC. A first for Mumbai and Indian Railways This is the first time a non-AC local train with automatic doors has been developed for Mumbai’s suburban network and for Indian Railways. The rake, numbered 268201–268212, has been designed following consultations between the Railway Board and the Integral Coach Factory, with the Railway Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, intervening. “From the safety of commuters in Mumbai, it is very important that local trains operating in the city have closed doors. It has now been decided that all trains manufactured for Mumbai will have closed doors,” an official said.
11 April,2026 09:10 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarWith a deadline to complete the Gargai dam project by 2028-end, and complete all allied works by 2030, construction can finally begin as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) General Body approved the proposal on Thursday. The body, comprising the newly appointed 227 corporators, discussed the proposal for 90 minutes before it was passed on to the Mahayuti alliance which has a majority in the house. Map/Suhas Kale The proposal was passed by BMC’s Standing Committee on April 1, 2026, after which it was presented to the General Body for approval. As part of the project, BMC will hire eight kinds of experts to make up for the lack of in-house expertise to facilitate the work, including a cultural expert for rehabilitation, an environmental conservationist, a forest conservationist, and an agriculture supervisor. Cost to civic body Cost of project: Rs 3100 crore (Rs 5000 crore approved)Cost for consultants: Rs 25 crore Permissions awaited Three more permissions for the project are pending — national wildlife board, state forest permissions, and central forest permissions. (Out of the 658 hectares required for compensatory afforestation, 380 hectares of land have been identified near Tadoba National Park, in Chandrapur and Washim districts.) Project timeline 2028 Construction of Gargai dam will be completed, along with the tunnel connecting to Modak Sagar reservoir2030 Allied construction work to be completed About Gargai dam Location: Wada Tehsil in Palghar District, 110 km from MumbaiWater supply to Mumbai: 440 million litres per day (MLD)Time for completion: 4 years Mumbai’s water needs Total water available: 14.47 lakh million litres BMC supplies: 3950-4100 MLD to Mumbai Projected requirement by 2031: 5325 MLD (29.87% more) Projected requirement by 2041: 6424 MLD (56.68% more) Other sources of water: Desalination plant provides 200 MLD, expandable to 400 MLD 110 kmDistance between Gargai dam location and Mumbai
11 April,2026 08:18 AM IST | Mumbai | Eeshanpriya MSThe ongoing LPG shortage has begun to disrupt Mumbai’s fabric dyeing industry, a sector heavily dependent on gas for processing textiles. With cylinder supply turning erratic, small-scale dyers are struggling to sustain operations, triggering delays and losses. Supply crunch Fabric retailers and wholesalers across the city report a sharp slowdown. Small dyers, who form the backbone of the business, are bearing the brunt of rising costs and irregular supply. “Till before COVID, we had seven dyeing partners. That was reduced to four post-COVID. Now even these four have returned to their hometowns, leaving us unable to supply dyed dupattas,” said Ram Dedhia, owner of Ankur Dupatta Ghar in Dadar. Mohammed Amir at his Dharavi dyeing unit, where falling cylinder supply has cut output sharply and slashed his daily earnings Units shut A visit to Dharavi, the city’s largest dyeing hub, revealed that 75 per cent of dyers have exited the trade. “This lane had 15-16 units; now it's just two of us, but we are struggling too and do not know till when we can sustain,” said Mohammed Amir, a dyer since 2012. His daily earnings have dropped from Rs 8000 to Rs 1000 in the past month. “Earlier, we got cylinders every alternate day and dyed up to 1000 metres daily. Now supply comes once in 7-10 days, cutting output to 100 metres,” he said. Costs spike Raji Haider, who has been in dyeing business for two decades ‘Even when available, cylinders now cost double. We would get one cylinder for '1600 to '1700 earlier. Now it is '3600 to '4000. Earlier, we were able to work on two gas stoves using two cylinders simultaneously, with which we could dye 1000-1500 metres a day. Now, with just one cylinder, which we also have to use very wisely, we are able to dye only 400-500 metres every day, our daily earnings have dropped from '15,000 daily to '6000’ Faizan Shaikh, retailer ‘Earlier, small dyeing orders were completed the next day. Now it takes three to four days even for basic work’ Why gas matters here >> Dye baths need 60-100 degrees C heat to dissolve colours, with LPG cylinders preferred for consistent temperatures during the process>> If dyes are not fixed at the right, temperature, colours can turn dull, uneven, or wash out easily >> After dyeing, fabrics are boiled and washed repeatedly to remove excess dye, a process powered by gas-fired boilers
11 April,2026 08:10 AM IST | Mumbai | Ritika GondhalekarThe Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to give QR codes to 10,500 existing licensed hawkers across the city by the end of April, which will help Mumbaikars distinguish between licensed hawkers and unauthorised hawkers. Each QR code will carry details of the hawker’s licence and related documents issued by the civic body. Hawkers will be required to display these codes prominently at their stalls, allowing Mumbaikars to scan and verify their authenticity. Meanwhile, around 22,000 unlicensed hawkers who registered with the BMC in 2014, when the Town Vending Committee (TVC) was formed, will undergo evaluation. Based on this process, eligible vendors will be allotted designated pitches for street vending. The pitches will be finalised by the 13-member TVC, eight of whom were elected on March 28, 2026, following elections that were conducted in 2024. What is the role of BMC’s Town Vending Committee? Established under the Street Vendors Act of 2014, the BMC’s Town Vending Committee is the official body responsible for regulating Mumbai’s street hawking. It manages the surveying and licensing of vendors, identifies designated hawking and non-hawking zones, and ensures all local vending policies are properly implemented. To maintain a balanced approach, the committee includes a mix of municipal officials, police, and elected hawker representatives. Timeline April 2026: BMC will issue QR codes to licensed hawkers Mid to end 2027: TVC will assign pitches to registered hawkers How will QR codes help? Citizens will be able to distinguish between authorised and unauthorised hawkers with easy access to their licencesBMC authorities will take action against all hawkers who do not have these licenses
11 April,2026 08:00 AM IST | Mumbai | Eeshanpriya MSADVERTISEMENT
-1775887642911_d.png "Air quality in Mumbai remained in the ‘moderate’ category on Saturday. File Pic")
