Do 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 January 15. Aries March 21 – April 20Additional responsibility comes with plusses and minuses. A quicker promotion. Longer working hours. Cosmic tip: Be careful about spoken words, as once said, they can’t be taken back. TaurusApril 21 – May 20Having a fulfilling career that gives mental as well as financial happiness makes it perfect. Cosmic tip: Continue being as independent as possible. GeminiMay 21 – June 21Slightly erratic energy today may interfere with work a little. Pep energy up with nutritious food. Drink enough water.Cosmic tip: Be tactfully honest, bringing clarity into a slightly muddled situation. Cancer June 22 – July 23Singles enter a marriage dasha. Continue with the good work since you’ve kept a New Year’s resolution so far.Cosmic tip: Approach the right person for advice; someone as truthful as you. Leo July 24 - Aug 23Career and business perspective take centre stage as seeking means of taking it forward are considered and rejected. Cosmic tip: Keep concentration on work, not on idle chatter around. Virgo Aug 24 – Sept 23Some ideas about how to streamline work is tested out… it makes such a big difference. An older relative phones with good news. Cosmic tip: Don’t bother about someone who is unduly secretive. Libra Sept 24 – Oct 22Choosing a spouse/partner who is also your best friend is so important. Older relatives planning a trip approach you for advice. Cosmic tip: Accept cosmic justice with a grateful heart. Scorpio Oct 23 – Nov 22There’s unlimited potential in a new project designated to you. Travel for work/ business is slightly more stressful than usual. Cosmic tip: Take a short break to recoup energy as you’ve been working long hours. Sagittarius Nov 23 – Dec 22Considering relocation can be kept on hold for now as you deal with other matters. Previously closed avenues can be seen clearly.Cosmic tip: Keep gratitude humble and regular. Capricorn Dec 23 – Jan 20Partial refurnishing the office/home is something that has to be undertaken now. Health is good.Cosmic tip: Believe in the celestial vibes that know when each situation is right for you. It gives accordingly. Aquarius Jan 21 – Feb 19Keep dreams and goals in mind every single day, saying positive affirmations, but also working towards realising them. Cosmic tip: Believe in the cosmic powers who transfer so much positivity to you. Pisces Feb 20 – March 20Being there as a guide and mentor to younger relatives and colleagues continues unabated.Cosmic tip: Believe the universe is gradually sorting out a situation to your advantage.
15 January,2026 02:46 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirley BosePolling for the BMC Election 2026 will be held on Thursday, January 15, across all 227 wards in the city. Voters will elect representatives for the civic body in what is expected to be a high-stakes municipal poll. The counting of votes is scheduled for Friday, January 16, and will be conducted at 23 designated locations across Mumbai, each under the supervision of an appointed Returning Officer. The BMC on Wednesday stated that all counting centres will have strong rooms, CCTV surveillance and adequate police security to ensure a transparent and secure process. Only authorised representatives, election staff and officials will be allowed at the centres. Sources said that a mock voting exercise will be conducted on 15 January between 5:30 am and 7 am to ensure smooth operations. The session is aimed to familiarise polling staff and test voting equipment ahead of the actual polling which would began thereafter. 227 election wards According to an official statement, a total of 227 election wards fall under the BMC limits, for which 23 Election Returning Officers have been appointed. Separate strong rooms and counting centres have been finalised for each Returning Officer’s office. Strong rooms The BMC administration said all counting centres and strong rooms have received the necessary approvals from the Public Works Department (PWD) and the police authorities. These arrangements are aimed at ensuring a transparent, smooth and secure counting process. Ward-wise counting across zones Counting centres have been set up zone-wise across Mumbai, covering all administrative wards including R North, R Central, R South, P North, P East, P South, K West, K East, H East, H West, T, S, N, M East, M West, L, F North, G North, G South, F South, D, C, B, A and E wards. The locations include municipal schools, sports complexes, colleges, auditoriums, stadiums and administrative buildings in areas such as Dahisar, Borivali, Kandivali, Malad, Goregaon, Andheri, Santacruz, Mulund, Ghatkopar, Chembur, Kurla, Sion, Dadar, Worli, Girgaum and Byculla. Each counting centre has been assigned specific ward numbers and a designated Returning Officer. Security and surveillance arrangements The civic body has confirmed that all counting venues will be equipped with CCTV surveillance and adequate police deployment to maintain law and order. Only authorised candidates’ representatives, counting staff and designated officials will be allowed entry, and all concerned have been instructed to be present strictly as per the allotted schedule. Focus on transparency and safety Officials said the entire counting exercise has been planned to ensure transparency, accuracy and safety, in line with Election Commission guidelines. Get all BMC Election 2026 updates here | Your ward info below Read more: All about BMC Election Read more: Know Your Ward
14 January,2026 11:07 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMumbai Metro Line-3, also known as the Aqua Line Metro, will operate with extended timings on Thursday, January 15, to ensure smooth travel for polling personnel and essential staff across the city. According to the information shared by Mumbai Metro Line-3, additional train services will also be introduced on Thursday to accommodate the movement of election-related staff and voters. Metro train services on the Aqua Line corridor will commence at 5 am and run till midnight from both Aarey JVLR and Cuffe Parade stations. The extended operational hours are aimed at providing convenient and reliable transport throughout the day, particularly during early morning and late-night hours when polling staff commute to and from their assigned stations. The move by Mumbai Metro Line-3 is expected to ease congestion and support the smooth conduct of polling during BMC Election 2026. Metro Lines 2A and 7 to also run special services Meanwhile, to facilitate voters and polling staff, Mumbai Metro Lines 2A and 7 will also operate special services on Thursday, 15 January, from 5:00 am till midnight, the officials said. The extended operations aim to ensure smooth travel on polling day and encourage voter participation while supporting election-related duties across the city, they said. Mumbai Metro Line-3 added 27 daily trips from January 5 Mumbai Metro Line-3 announced an increase in the number of daily metro train services on January 5. The increase in the number of services is a move aimed at enhancing passenger convenience and easing peak-hour congestion. As per a statement issued by MMRCMumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC), the revised schedule will come into effect from 5.55 am on January 5. The inclination of metro trains from Aarey JVLR to Cuffe Parade will benefit thousands of daily commuters travelling on this route. According to the statement, additional metro services will be introduced on weekdays and Saturdays, while the existing schedule will continue unchanged on Sundays. The decision by the authorities has been taken to accommodate rising passenger footfall and ensure smoother travel during working days. A total of 292 daily trips from Monday to Friday, an increase of 27 trips in a day. Whereas, on Saturdays, metro services will see a rise to 236 trips per day, compared to the previous 209 trips. However, there will be no change in Sunday operations, with 198 trips continuing as per the existing schedule. Metro officials stated that the enhanced frequency is expected to reduce waiting time, improve connectivity, and offer a more comfortable travel experience for commuters. Passengers have been advised to take note of the revised schedule and plan their journeys accordingly.
14 January,2026 10:59 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMumbai local trains has caught commuters’ attention after a small change on women’s coaches - Women’s Cricket World Cup winning duo Harmanpreet Kaur and Amanjot Kaur’s photos have appeared on women’s compartments. The usual 'Ladies' sign has been replaced with the photograph of Indian cricketer Harmanpreet Kaur and Amanjot Kaur. "This is a part of CR's initiative of non-fare revenue where 10 harbour line trains have been updated with these pictures. The CR will earn a revenue of Rs 9 lakh for three months by putting these pics as a part of campaign by the client (Reliance Industries Limited)," a Central Railway spokesperson confirmed the development. Harmanpreet Kaur is the captain of the Indian women’s national cricket team across all formats and leads the Mumbai Indians in the Women’s Premier League (WPL). Renowned for her aggressive batting and leadership skills, she guided India to its first-ever ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup title in November last year. Her unbeaten 171 off 115 balls in the 2017 World Cup semi-final remains one of the most iconic innings in women’s cricket. In a post on X, the Reliance Industries Limited stated the it is an ode to the excellence achieved by women in Indian sports. Mumbai Indians’ ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup winning duo Harmanpreet Kaur and Amanjot Kaur’s photos now ride proudly on Mumbai’s women’s compartments on local trains. The activity is an ode to the excellence achieved by women in Indian sports. pic.twitter.com/67TbiMbeNU — Reliance Industries Limited (@RIL_Updates) January 13, 2026 Tribute to women’s sporting excellence Photos of Harmanpreet Kaur and Amanjot Kaur, both part of Mumbai Indians’ ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup-winning squad, were shared by Reliance Industries Limited on its official X account. The company described the initiative as a tribute to the excellence achieved by women in Indian sport. While Harmanpreet’s image was clearly visible, reports suggested that a photograph of bowler Amanjot Kaur was also displayed, though her image did not appear in the pictures circulating online. "Mumbai Indians’ ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup winning duo Harmanpreet Kaur and Amanjot Kaur’s photos now ride proudly on Mumbai’s women’s compartments on local trains. The activity is an ode to the excellence achieved by women in Indian sports," the X post read. Social media reactions Several social media users also reacted to change at Mumbai local trains. The photos of the two cricketers have sparked conversations online, with many netizens praising the move.
14 January,2026 10:55 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarThe Airports Authority of India (AAI) has decided to relocate the high-frequency radar of Mumbai airport from Dahisar to Gorai, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on Wednesday. In a post on X, CM Fadnavis shared the copy of a letter written to the Maharashtra Urban Development Department by the Union Civic Aviation Ministry. The move has received approval from the Union Minister for Civil Aviation, the Chief Minister said in a post on X. The decision is expected to clear major hurdles to redevelopment in the Dahisar area of north Mumbai, CM Fadnavis stated on Wednesday. According to Fadnavis, shifting the radar will pave the way for long-pending development projects in Dahisar, where construction activities were restricted due to aviation safety norms. He added that the state government has already allocated land in Gorai for the new radar facility and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his support in the matter. दहीसर येथील भारतीय विमानतळ प्राधीकरणाचे विमानतळासाठीचे हायफ्रिक्वेन्सी रडार गोराई येथे स्थानांतरित करण्याचा निर्णय भारतीय विमानतळ प्राधीकरणाने घेतला असून, त्याला केंद्रीय नागरी उड्डयण मंत्री महोदयांनी सुद्धा मंजुरी प्रदान केली आहे. यासाठी गोराई येथे जमीन देण्याचा निर्णय राज्य… pic.twitter.com/VqPjchPTqd — Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) January 14, 2026 Affordable housing to get a push Last month, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu had announced that the relocation of the AAI radar would unlock hundreds of acres of land in Dahisar. This land is expected to be used for affordable housing projects, bringing relief to residents and developers alike. The decision followed discussions involving the Civil Aviation Ministry, the Maharashtra government, and other key stakeholders. Relocation cost to be borne by state, pave way for development As per a letter from the Civil Aviation Ministry to the Maharashtra government, the entire cost of relocating the radar system will be borne by the state government. According to sources, the radar installed at Dahisar has long been a critical part of Mumbai airport’s air traffic monitoring system. However, its presence also imposed strict height and construction limits on nearby areas, affecting residential, commercial, and infrastructure projects for several years. Residents and developers in Dahisar are likely to benefit with the decision and further it could also pave way for the stalled redevelopment and lack of modern housing . With the decision to relocate the radar to Gorai, these limitations are expected to be eased significantly. Urban planners believe this will help accelerate redevelopment of old and dilapidated buildings, improve civic amenities, and support planned growth in north Mumbai. The relocation is seen as a significant step towards balanced urban development while ensuring aviation safety, sources said.
14 January,2026 10:34 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarAhead of the Tata Mumbai Marathon, Mumbai Police on Wednesday issued a advisory and list of traffic curbs at Mumbai Coastal Road, Bandra-Worli Sea Link and key routes in parts of the city. In a traffic notification, Mumbai Traffic Police announced extensive traffic diversions, road closures, and parking restrictions across South and Central Mumbai for the Tata Mumbai Marathon, scheduled to take place on Sunday, January 18, 2026. The annual Mumbai Marathon will feature seven different race categories, including the Full Marathon, Half Marathon, 10 km Run, Elite Race, Champion with Disability Run, Senior Citizens’ Run, and Dream Run. Thousands of runners are expected to participate, police said. The marathon route will pass through key areas such as CSMT, Azad Maidan, Marine Drive, Worli, Dadar, Mahim, Bandra, and adjoining roads. Full Marathon (42.195 km – Amateurs): 5:00 am to 12:30 pm Half Marathon (21.097 km): 5:00 am to 9:10 am 10 km Timed Run: 6:00 am to 8:00 am Elite Marathon Race: 7:00 am to 10:30 am Champion with Disability Run: 7:05 am to 7:45 am Senior Citizens’ Run: 7:25 am to 8:45 am Dream Run: 8:15 am to 11:00 am "Most races will start from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) or nearby locations and pass through Marine Drive, Worli Sea Face, Coastal Road, and Bandra-Worli Sea Link areas," the police said. Road closures and no-entry zones To ensure the safety of runners, several major roads will remain closed to regular traffic from 3:00 am to 2:00 pm on 18 January 2026, except for emergency and essential service vehicles. Key no entry roads include - - Marine Drive and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Road - D.N. Road, Veer Nariman Road, Madam Cama Road - Pedder Road, Bhulabhai Desai Road, Tardeo Road - Dr Annie Besant Road, S.V.S. Road - Mumbai Coastal Road and Bandra-Worli Sea Link - Lala Lajpatrai Marg, Worli Sea Face, Mahim Causeway According to the traffic notification, large sections of South Mumbai, Worli, Mahim, and Bandra will also be declared No Vehicular Zones during the marathon hours. No parking restrictions Parking of all types of vehicles will be strictly prohibited from 4:00 am to 2:00 pm on marathon day on roads including M.G. Road, D.N. Road, Marine Drive, Veer Nariman Road, Pedder Road, Worli Sea Face Road, Dr Annie Besant Road, Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan Road, Bandra-Worli Sea Link approach roads. "Designated Pay-and-Park facilities will be available at select BMC parking locations, malls, and open grounds," the police said. Emergency services Ambulances, fire brigade vehicles, police vehicles, and essential service vehicles carrying milk, gas, and vegetables will be allowed to move along the marathon route when required. Public Advisory The Traffic Police have advised citizens to avoid using private vehicles, prefer local trains and public transport and plan their travel well in advance. The police have asked citizens to follow traffic police instructions and signages. "The traffic restrictions are temporary and will remain in force until the completion of the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2026 on Sunday," the traffic notification said.
14 January,2026 10:07 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Maharashtra government’s Public Health and Family Welfare Department will roll out a special statewide sickle cell screening drive, ‘Arunodaya’, from January 15 to February 7, with the aim of moving towards a sickle cell–free Maharashtra. As per the official statement issued by the Public Health and Family Welfare, the campaign will be implemented in 21 districts with a high prevalence of sickle cell disease, where authorities plan to ensure that every citizen undergoes testing. The statement also mentioned that the initiative is being carried out as per the instructions of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar and under the guidance of Public Health Minister Prakash Abitkar and Minister of State Meghna Sakore Bordikar. Health officials said that preparatory work for the campaign has been completed, with special emphasis on early diagnosis, timely treatment, and referral services. Furthermore, Minister Abitkar has further directed the officials to ensure that no sickle cell patient, particularly in tribal areas, is left without screening or medical support. According to official data, between 2019 and October 31, 2025, over 1.05 crore solubility tests were conducted across the state, leading to the identification of 12,420 sickle cell patients and 124,275 carriers. Sickle Cell Control Program in Maharashtra has been running since 2008 The Sickle Cell Control Program, which has been operational since 2008, covers districts including Thane, Nashik, Nandurbar, Amravati, Gadchiroli, Palghar, Nagpur, Chandrapur, Yavatmal, Jalgaon, Nanded, Raigad and others. Services under the Sickle Cell Control Program offer free screening, advanced diagnostic tests, medicines, counselling, regular health check-ups, blood transfusions when required, and telemedicine-based expert consultations. What is sickle cell disease? Sickle cell disease is a hereditary blood disorder in which red blood cells become rigid and sickle-shaped, leading to blockages in blood vessels, severe pain episodes, organ damage, and reduced immunity. Health officials stress that while there is no complete cure, early detection and proper management can significantly improve quality of life and life expectancy. The department has urged citizens to undergo testing, especially before marriage, and to seek medical advice during pregnancy if there is a known family history of the disease. Free testing, diagnosis, and treatment facilities are available at government hospitals, while patients are also eligible for financial assistance and other benefits under state welfare schemes. Officials also emphasised, “The ‘Arunodaya’ campaign is a crucial step towards prevention, awareness, and long-term control of sickle cell disease in Maharashtra.”
14 January,2026 09:46 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFive individuals have been booked for allegedly assaulting a senior train ticket examiner (TTE) and his colleague on board the Thiruvananthapuram-Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) Express, news agency PTI reported. The TTE asked the accused to pay a fine for unauthorised travel near Karjat Railway Station near Mumbai, and that is when the accused assaulted the railway official. The incident occurred on January 11 when senior TTE Shamu Kallu Rathod (33) was checking tickets in a reserved coach. Rathod encountered a crowd of 15-20 general passengers near the washroom area and requested to see their tickets. He also asked those without ticketless travellers to pay a fine. According to the first information report (FIR), five members of the group allegedly assaulted Rathod and threatened to throw him off the moving train, PTI reported. When Rathod's colleague, Avanesh Kumar, tried to intervene, he was also slapped by the accused. Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel took the five suspects into custody when the train reached Kalyan station in Thane district. All the accused are residents of Worli in Mumbai. They are booked under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including sections 121(1) (voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from duty) and 132 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharge of duty), PTI reported. Passenger booked for carrying fake UTS local train pass on Mumbai local The Mumbai Central ticket-checking staff detected a fake train ticket (UTS pass) on Mumbai local during a routine inspection on the Churchgate-Virar suburban route on January 9. As per information received by officials, Deepika Murty, chief ticket inspector (CTI), (Sports Squad), Mumbai Central, was on duty between 7 am and 11 am when the incident came to light. Around 10.20 am, she was checking tickets in the women’s first-class coach of the Churchgate AC local. Shortly after the train departed from platform 7 of Andheri Railway Station, the official inspected the ticket of a woman passenger that appeared to be fake. The passenger showed an unreserved ticketing system (UTS) air-conditioned (AC) local pass on her mobile phone that had validity from January 1 to 31. Upon questioning about the ticket, which seemed highly suspicious, the passenger gave evasive replies that further triggered the doubt of the ticket inspector. Furthermore, she was subsequently disembarked at Bandra Railway Station for further verification of the pass that she possessed. The ticket was investigated by the deputy chief ticket inspector (DCTI) control, who confirmed that the UTS pass shown on the mobile phone was fake. (With inputs from PTI)
14 January,2026 09:44 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAhead of the BMC Election 2026, Mumbai Police on Wednesday announced temporary traffic and parking restrictions in Kurla (East) to ensure smooth conduct of election-related activities and to ease congestion in busy public areas. An official traffic notification said that in connection with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Election 2026, traffic restrictions have been imposed near Mumbai Public School, Nehru Nagar, which serves as the election office for L Ward covering wards 156 to 162 and 164. Voting will be held on January 15, 2026, and vote counting will take place on January 16, 2026. No entry and no parking restrictions To facilitate election work and avoid congestion, no entry and no parking restrictions (except for election-related vehicles) have been imposed on the following stretch - Sudhakar Pathare Chowk, from Building No. 52 to the Shivaji Maharaj statue and Kedarnath Temple Road, opposite Muttumani Finance office, Both northbound and southbound lanes in front of Mumbai Public School, Nehru Nagar, Kurla (East). The traffic restrictions will remain in place from midnight of January 14, 2026 to midnight of January 17, 2026. Over 28,000 cops to be on streets Mumbai Police on Tuesday said that over 28,000 cops will be on the streets in city and senior police officials will be monitoring the polling and voting counting in the city as part of the elaborate security measures for BMC Election 2026. Mumbai Police said that it have made extensive security arrangements to ensure that the election process is conducted in a safe and peaceful manner. No Parking near schools and railway station in Ghatkopar Meanwhile, separately, the Mumbai Traffic Police have declared no parking zones near Hindi High School and R.J. College in Ghatkopar (West) due to heavy congestion and inconvenience to students and commuters. The affected locations are close to Ghatkopar Railway Station (West) and experience heavy traffic, including a high volume of auto-rickshaws. Parking of all types of vehicles, except emergency vehicles, has been prohibited on both sides of the following roads - Laxmi Narayan Lane (5th Road), Ghatkopar (West) Dhruvaraj Singh Road, from Neo Welcome Hotel to Mahalaxmi Hotel, Ghatkopar (West) The traffic restrictions will remain in place from January 15, 2026 to March 14, 2026, round the clock. Public advisory Motorists are advised to follow traffic signage and instructions issued by traffic police to avoid inconvenience. Violators may face action under relevant traffic laws, police said.
14 January,2026 09:30 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAhead of the Maharashtra civic polls, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Wednesday slammed the state election commission (SEC) for allowing door-to-door canvassing after the official campaign for the civic elections ended, news agency PTI reported. The MNS chief further claimed that the state poll body was helping the ruling Mahayuti win the polls. While talking to the media on Wednesday, Thackeray said the SEC was changing rules on the eve of the January 15 polls for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and 28 other municipal corporations in Maharashtra. "The SEC is helping the government win the polls that it has lost,” he emphasised. Thackeray also asked why this new norm of allowing door-to-door campaigning till the last day was introduced and why it was not allowed during the Lok Sabha and assembly elections. "Why was this concession given? Why was the rule changed? Is the SEC there to do what the government wants?" alleged Thackeray. Sanjay Raut levels similar allegations, says SEC supporting Mahayuti Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut also alleged that SEC has given a licence to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena to "distribute money door-to-door". The official public canvassing for the polls ended on Tuesday evening, but SEC said that candidates can visit voters' homes, provided the number of persons does not exceed five, and there is no use of microphones. The poll body has cited an order dated February 14, 2012, to state that such personal contact does not amount to public canvassing. In view of countering the situation, Thackeray asked the workers of the MNS and ally Shiv Sena (UBT) to stay alert and keep an eye on candidates of the ruling parties, claiming they could distribute money. Raj Thackeray alleges Adani Group expansion under BJP rule Thackeray on Monday also reiterated his allegations against the BJP, accusing the party of favouring industrialist Gautam Adani and enabling the rapid expansion of the Adani Group across Mumbai, Maharashtra, and the country. In a post on social media platform X, Thackeray referred to the maps shown during his rally on Sunday, January 11, with cousin Uddhav, claiming they illustrated how major infrastructure and business projects were awarded to the Adani Group after the BJP came to power. During his address, Thackeray used maps from 2014 and 2025 to argue that Adani’s business footprint had expanded dramatically under BJP rule. He claimed that while Adani had limited projects earlier, the conglomerate now operates across sectors such as electricity, cement, ports, airports, and infrastructure, allegedly with government backing. (With inputs from PTI)
14 January,2026 09:24 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn a bid to ensure safe, secure, and convenient voting for women, the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has set up 220 exclusive women-only polling centres for the January 15 civic elections. Additionally, 11 ‘Sakhi’ polling centres and 10 model polling stations have been prepared across the city, TMC Commissioner and Returning Officer Saurabh Rao said on Tuesday. The women-only booths have been spread across different ward committees — 16 in Kalwa, 125 in Mumbra, and 79 in Diva. Each of these centres will be managed by women polling officers and staff, along with women police personnel, to provide a comfortable and harassment-free voting environment. “Many women face difficulties voting at public polling stations due to social or religious reasons. These dedicated women-only booths aim to remove such barriers and encourage higher voter turnout among women,” the election administration said in a statement, emphasising the importance of their participation in the democratic process. Thane Municipal Corporation Election 2026: Sakhi and model polling centres The Sakhi polling centres are completely managed by women, comprising women presiding officers, polling officers 1, 2 and 3, as well as security staff. These booths will be painted pink and decorated with balloons and other attractive features, earning them the nickname ‘Pink Booths’. Model polling stations have been equipped with all the necessary facilities to ensure a smooth voting experience, the administration stated. Key Sakhi and model polling centres across Thane Majiwada Manpada Ward Committee: Sakhi–Potdar School, Hiranandani Estate; Model – Hiranandani Foundation School, Patlipada. Naupada Kopri Ward Committee: Sakhi and Model – Dr Bedekar Vidyamandir, Mahatma Phule Road. Uthalsar Ward Committee: Sakhi – Meenatai Thackeray Paricharya Training Institute, Uthalsar; Model – Saraswati Education Society High School, Panchpakadi. Wagle Ward Committee: Sakhi – Tisa House Road No 16, Nehrunagar, behind Wagle Fire Station; Model – Maharashtra State Seed Corporation, Konkan Subdivision Room 1. Lokmanya Savarkar Nagar Ward Committee: Sakhi – Maldan Education and Welfare Association, Vidyaniketan English School, Shastrinagar; Model – Sankalp School, Patilwadi. Vartak Nagar Ward Committee: Sakhi – Kashinath Ghanekar Natya Gruha, Supreme Daily Hall; Model – Shrimati Sulochanadevi Singhania High School, Pokhran Road No 1. Kalwa Ward Committee: Sakhi – Sub-Divisional Engineer, Patbandhare Department, in front of Sahyadri School; Model – Sahakar Vidya Prasarak Mandal, Kalwa. Mumbra Ward Committee: Sakhi – Angel Paradise School, Room No 1, Narayannagar; Sakhi & Model – MS College, Shoeb Education Welfare Society, Chand Nagar, Kausa. Diva Ward Committee: Sakhi & Model – New Gurukul Convent School and Junior College, Shlok Nagar, Dativali Road, Diva East; Sakhi & Model – MESKO School, Kausa. With these arrangements, TMC aims to provide women voters a safe, accessible, and dignified voting experience while strengthening their participation in the democratic process, the administration said in a press release.
14 January,2026 08:58 PM IST | ThaneADVERTISEMENT
