Mumbai News Highlights: Four labourers die of suffocation while cleaning water tank at under-construction building

A fire broke out in a few shops and huts in Mumbai's western suburb Goregaon (East) on Sunday evening, a fire official said.

There was no report of any injuries to anyone in the blaze that erupted around 7.15 pm near Ratnagiri Hotel along the Film City Road, he said.

The ‘Level 2' fire – medium emergency call – is confined to the ground floor stalls, shops, godowns and huts, the official said.

Fire engines, water tankers and other assistance were rushed to the spot to control the flames and the firefighting operation is underway, the official added. (PTI)

Police in Beed district have begun a probe after local BJP functionary Satish Bhosale was issued a threat in the name of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi from a social media account, which an official on Sunday said may be fake.

Bhosale, also known as 'Khokya', is accused of hunting deer and the threat issued from the Facebook account was in this connection, the official added.

The account holder, while invoking the name of Lawrence Bishnoi, has sought the arrest of Bhosale for hunting deer.

"Deer is our God. Khokya does not deserve forgiveness," the message said.

"The Facebook account may be fake. We have written to the social media firm to provide details about it. No FIR has been lodged so far," the Beed police station official added.

Incidentally, the forest department is probing allegations of Bhosale being a poacher, and has conducted searches in several places. (PTI)

Thane is set to undergo significant road infrastructure development to reduce traffic congestion and improve connectivity. As per Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC)’s 2025-26 budget estimate, several major projects have been planned and approved, ensuring a smoother and more efficient transport network for commuters.

One of the key projects is the Balkum-Gaimukh Coastal Road, designed to ease congestion on the busy Ghodbunder Road. The road will be 40-45 meters wide and 13.44 km long, parallel to Ghodbunder Road. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has approved the project with an estimated cost of Rs 3,364.62 crore. The construction will include open-cut sections, embankment roads, and viaduct bridges, requiring 54.29 hectares of land, of which 69.72 per cent has already been acquired.

Another critical project is the Thane-Borivali Tunnel, which will pass under the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, drastically reducing travel time between the two locations. Currently, commuters must take the 23 km route via Ghodbunder Road or the Eastern Express Highway. Read More

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Sunday accused the Maharashtra government of favouring the Adani Group in projects like redevelopment of Dharavi in Mumbai and systematically undermining the city's economic prominence.

Speaking at a party event, Thackeray also demanded facilities and incentives like Gujarat's GIFT City (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City) for Mumbai, while alleging a deliberate erosion of the metropolis' financial importance.

Further targeting the ruling BJP, he claimed major projects and headquarters of some companies have been shifted from Mumbai to Gujarat and Delhi.

Thackeray questioned its detrimental impact on Maharashtra's economy.

"How will Mumbai benefit when its economic backbone is being deliberately weakened? Even in Jharkhand and Varanasi (in Uttar Pradesh), people ask why new projects are going to Gujarat instead of other states," he said. (PTI)

Four people suffocated and one more person was injured after falling into a water tank located in the basement of an under-construction building in South Mumbai’s Nagpada area on Sunday morning.

The deceased have been identified as Hasipal Shaikh, 19; Raja Shaikh, 20; Jiaulla Shaikh, 36; and Imandu Shaikh, 38. The injured, 31-year-old Purhan Shaikh, is undergoing treatment at JJ Hospital. The bodies were sent to JJ Hospital immediately after they were taken out of the tank, officials said. Read More

Three people sustained burns in a fire incident reported at the Sher-e-Punjab Society in Mumbai’s Andheri (East) around 2 am on Sunday. The blaze broke out following a leak from a piped natural gas (PNG) line, as a result of which vehicles passing on the road caught fire.

Ravindra Ambulgekar, Chief Fire Officer, Mumbai Fire Brigade, said the pipeline was damaged while road digging was underway. “The road was being dug by a JCB and during this process, the PNG pipeline passing beneath the surface was damaged, resulting in vehicles travelling on the road above catching fire. We extinguished the blaze and the issue was reported to the civic authorities as well as the Mumbai Police for further investigation,” Ambulgekar told The Indian Express. Read More

The Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) has taken a significant step towards becoming operational with the publication of the Aeronautical Information Publication Supplement (AIPS) by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The commercial launch of the airport is slated for mid-May.

Listed as AIPS 46/2025 on the Aeronautical Information Management India website, this document provides essential aerodrome data, a key requirement for the operationalisation of the airport and securing an aerodrome licence.

The airport operator, NMIAL, has already submitted an application for the aerodrome licence to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). “This certification is necessary to ensure the airport complies with aviation safety and operational standards before commercial operations can begin,” said an official from NMIAL.

As its ambitious plan of developing a ‘Mumbai Central Public Park’ gathers steam, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has now roped in a consultant to steer feasibility studies and determine the ideal layout of the pedestrian connector that will link 170 acres of open space along the Mumbai coastal road with the 120 acres of land parcel at Mahalaxmi racecourse. The primary report is slated to be submitted over the course of next eight-10 days (mid-March).

While its initial plans sought to develop a pedestrian underpass traversing beneath Annie Besant Road, the civic body is now analysing alternate models of connectivity for visitors, including skywalks and Foot Over Bridge (FOB).

The pedestrian connector is proposed to commence from the Mahalaxmi racecourse side near the Lala Lajpat Rai College gate, traverse through Annie Besant Road and eventually open near the land parcel along the coastal road between Lotus Jetty and Haji Ali. Once completed, the crucial link will enable visitors to cross to and fro between the open spaces of Mahalaxmi racecourse and coastal road.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said the media monitoring centre, which the state government plans to set up at an estimated cost of Rs 10 crore, aims to provide “facts” in case of negative news reports. It doesn’t aim to control the media, he added.

“We are setting up a system where news reports will be categorised. And in case of negative news, the truth about it or the facts will be provided to those who did the reports. Media monitoring does not mean control on media,” Fadnavis said. He was speaking with women journalists on the occasion of International Women’s Day.

On March 5, The Indian Express was the first to report that the Maharashtra government will set up a media monitoring centre at a cost of Rs 10 crore, which will monitor news coverage related to the state government in print, electronic, social and digital mediums; prepare a report and take action on the spread of negative or misleading news related to the state government.

Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi, who was suspended from the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for allegedly demeaning Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, has written to Speaker Rahul Narvekar requesting to revoke his suspension. He said he did not make any statement on either Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj or Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and that media misrepresented his statement on Mughal ruler Aurangzeb.

In his letter to the Speaker, he stated, “The media tried to malign me by misrepresenting my statement. I humbly request that my suspension be withdrawn as I am not at fault in this matter.” Azmi wrote that the conflicts between Aurangzeb and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj were not religious in nature but were driven by power and territorial disputes.

“During Aurangzeb’s time, India’s borders extended to Burma and Afghanistan. People possessed a significant amount of gold, and the country witnessed a prosperous era. I stated that Aurangzeb was a capable administrator based on historical facts. The conflicts between Aurangzeb and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj or Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj were not about religion but about power and land. I do not believe in caste or religious discrimination,” he wrote.

In an attempt to strike a delicate balance between allocating resources for its 2024 Assembly poll promises and providing funds for capital expenditure to keep pace with growth and development, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis-led Mahayuti government is under pressure to take bold decisions in Budget 2025-26.

The main challenge facing the government is to find new ways to increase its revenue and boost capital expenditure. The state has experienced significant political turmoil over the past five years, with two different governments, each serving for 2.5 years. As a result, the state’s economy has undoubtedly suffered. As the PM’s Economic Advisory Committee report (2024) pointed out, Maharashtra’s national GDP contributions went down from 15.2 per cent in 2010-11 to 13 per cent and 13.3 per cent in 2020-21, and 2023-24, respectively. (Read More)

A gas pipeline leak led to a fire in Mumbai's Andheri area early Sunday, injuring three people and damaging two vehicles. The incident occurred around 12:35 am at Sher-E-Punjab society near a gurdwara at Takshila in Andheri (East). The Mahanagar Gas Limited pipeline, which passes through the middle of the road, was heavily leaking when the blaze broke out.

The fire was classified as "level-one" and primarily affected two moving vehicles. Emergency services, including a water tanker and fire engine, were dispatched to the site, and the fire was brought under control by 1:34 am. The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation. Authorities are working to ascertain the full extent of the damage and determine the cause of the leak.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said that gender equality "is only on paper", adding that it needs to be imbibed within families, news agency PTI reported. Interacting with journalists on the occasion of International Women's Day, Fadnavis said, "Gender equality is a value that needs to be taught from childhood that girls and boys are individuals who needed to be treated equally." However, Fadnavis also highlighted that he had never felt pressure from the society or his family on only having a daughter, as per the PTI report.

Two people were killed, while 13 others sustained injuries as a vehicle overturned, and was hit by a car at the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway on Saturday morning, news agency PTI quoted police as saying. The accident occured around 9 am at Malsawargaon in Buldhana district. The vehicle, with 15 people, was travelling from Yavatmal to Shirdi, as per the PTI report. The deceased were identified as Vidya Sable and Motiram Borkar, an official said.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said he had no intention to control the media, in regards to the monitoring centre that the state government plans to set up, news agency PTI reported. "We have no intention to control the media but want to take note of what is printed and broadcast so as to respond or clarify expeditiously if there is any misleading or negative news," PTI quoted him as saying at an informal interaction with women journalists on International Women's Day.

Senior RSS leader Bhaiyyaji (Suresh) Joshi’s recent remark on Marathi seems to have given a fresh impetus to the Shiv Sena (UBT). Emboldened by the controversy following the remark, the Uddhav Thackeray-led party, which has found itself on the back foot after the Maha Vikas Aghadi’s drubbing in the Maharashtra Assembly elections last year, may revert to reasserting ‘Marathi Asmita’ (Marathi pride) to resurrect its weakened base in Mumbai.

Joshi’s remark that “Mumbai does not have one language… and any individual coming to Mumbai may not necessarily learn Marathi” – he later backtracked and said he was misunderstood – could not have come at a better time for the Shiv Sena (UBT).

The incident comes at a time when the party is in a do-or-die multi-cornered battle in the forthcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections this year.

Read more about the row here.

For the past two weeks, Tina Bhosale, 37, has been living in the open beneath the sprawling overhang of a massive flyover in Seawoods, just steps away from one of Navi Mumbai’s most upscale malls. She has been searching for work to support her two children back home in Wardha district’s Sarwadi village.

For many residents of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Tina’s presence — a stark reminder of poverty — sparks frustration and reinforces stereotypes that associate those living on the streets with crime, solidifying the belief that homelessness is a result of personal failure.

However, urban homeless like Tina are often victims of systemic issues such as poverty, lack of affordable housing, and mental health challenges, with single women like her being particularly vulnerable.

Read the full story here.

Congress on Saturday held a 51-km-long Sadbhavna Yatra in the Beed district of Maharashtra, against rising incidents of violence in the state.

Beed had witnessed the murder of Massajog village sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, following which minister Dhananjay Munde of NCP resigned after his close aide Walmik Karad was arrested in the murder case.

Pre-election sops like the Ladki Bahin scheme is extracting Rs 60,000 crore from the Maharashtra government and attempts are being made to ensure that it doesn't impact capital investments, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told news agency PTI.

At a Moneycontrol event on Friday evening, Fadnavis said Maharashtra is trying to channelise the money paid to the beneficiary women into productive purposes by helping them pool the resources for sustainable businesses. "We are trying to balance budget without reducing the capital investment," he said.

The chief minister said a bunch of women beneficiaries in his home district of Nagpur have pooled in money to create a corpus of Rs 30 lakh which is being given as loans to women entrepreneurs for starting their businesses. Maharashtra is seeking to create such "finance societies" in every part of the state, he said, adding that the government's aim is to create 1 crore "Lakhpati Didis" or over a crore women earning Rs 1 lakh or above. (PTI)

A mere two weeks after the city reeled under a record-breaking heatwave, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) Thursday announced a fresh heatwave alert in isolated pockets of Mumbai and its neighbouring districts of Thane and Raigad between March 9 and March 11.

The temperatures in the city are expected to soar over 38 degrees Celsius over the weekend.

Are heat waves becoming the new normal for Mumbai? Read here.

Piloted by Asia’s first woman loco pilot Surekha Yadav and assistant loco pilot Sangeeta Kumari, the CSMT-Sainagar Shirdi Vande Bharat Express (train No. 22223) will be entirely managed by women, to mark the occasion of International Women’s Day on Saturday.

It is being done with the aim of highlighting their growing role in railway operations and promoting gender inclusivity in the sector, said the Central Railway.

Train operations will be overseen by Shweta Ghone.

Read more here.

To ensure passenger safety during Holi, Western Railway has increased the number of train trips.

Here’s what Western Railway CPRO Vinit Abhishek said on Holi and Summer Special Trains:

“Western Railway, keeping the Holi festivities in mind, has notified a total of 46 trains so far. These 46 trains will operate more than 600 trips in total, connecting various states across India. Among these, the Mumbai Central Division will run 500 trips. Keeping the safety of passengers in mind, we are ensuring that no overcrowding occurs at any station.”

The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), in its budget presented on Friday, has announced several measures to increase revenue and improve efficiency of public transport services under Thane Municipal Transport (TMT). The initiatives focus on increasing the number of passengers, curbing ticketless travel, introducing cleaner energy solutions, and streamlining operations.

For the 2025-26 financial year, TMT has proposed a total budget allocation of Rs 571.33 crore. This includes Rs 440.81 crore for revenue and capital expenses and Rs 130.51 crore to cover operational deficits. Read More

The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) has been declared the winner of the 5th Green Energy and Energy Efficiency Award 2025 under the category of "Energy Transition – Excellence in Urban Local Body Streetlight Electrification."

The award was presented by Anil Rajdan, former energy secretary, and Anil Kumar Jain, Chairman, Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) on February 25. The award was presented to BEST at the 13th Green Energy Summit organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce, held in New Delhi.

The award was received by Bilal Shaikh, Assistant General Manager of the Electricity Supply Division, and Suresh Makwana, Chief Engineer (Planning).

"The award recognizes BEST's leadership in promoting clean energy and sustainable practices in the power sector. BEST's commitment to energy efficiency and green energy transition has been acknowledged as a model for urban local bodies across the country," said the BEST spokesperson.

Maharashtra's economy is projected to grow at 7.3% in 2024-25, according to the state's pre-Budget Economic Survey presented by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. The Indian economy is expected to grow at 6.5% during the same period. Sector-wise growth estimates for 2024-25 are:

The state's nominal GSDP for 2023-24 is estimated at Rs 40.56 lakh crore, up from Rs 36.42 lakh crore in 2022-23, while the real GSDP is Rs 24.35 lakh crore (previously Rs 22.56 lakh crore). Maharashtra had the highest share (13.5%) in India's nominal GDP in 2023-24. The per capita income is expected to rise to Rs 3,09,340 in 2024-25, up from Rs 2,78,681 in 2023-24.

Finance Minister Ajit Pawar presented the State Economic Survey 2024-25 in the Assembly session on Friday. According to the advance estimate, Maharashtra’s economy is projected to grow by 7.3% during this period.

During the Maharashtra Assembly session on Friday, members of the ruling Mahayuti alliance demanded an apology from Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anil Parab for his remark, "Like Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, even I was subjected to torture." The Mahayuti members criticised the statement as insulting, arguing that Parab was equating himself with the stature of Sambhaji Maharaj. In protest, they staged a demonstration on the premises of the Vidhan Bhawan today.

Former Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Arun Gujarathi has called for Savitribai Phule, the trailblazing social reformer and education pioneer, to be honored with the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award. Speaking at a gathering in Thane on Thursday ahead of International Women's Day on Saturday, Gujarathi stressed the importance of equal opportunities for women and acknowledged their challenges, particularly in joint families. He also advocated for Bharat Ratna to be conferred upon Jyotiba Phule for his contributions to women's education and social reform. Thane MP Naresh Mhaske highlighted women's crucial role in shaping society.

The Maharashtra government's policy on Marathi is clear, those living in the state should know and learn the language, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule told the legislative council on Thursday.

He was speaking amid a row over senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi's comments that a person coming to Mumbai may not necessarily learn Marathi. Bawankule said Joshi's statement was misconstrued.

“The government policy is clear that whoever lives in Maharashtra should know Marathi and learn it. There is no compromise on the Marathi language,” Bawankule said. In a clarification on Thursday, Joshi said his remarks were misinterpreted, adding that Marathi is the language of Mumbai and Maharashtra.

In the legislative council, Bhai Jagtap of Congress said it was distressing that a responsible person from the RSS had made such remarks.

Senior RSS leader Suresh Bhayyaji Joshi’s statement that “Mumbai does not have one language” and that “people coming to Mumbai don’t have to learn Marathi” triggered a controversy in Maharashtra, drawing fire from the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) parties.

Addressing a public event in Vile Parle, a suburb of Mumbai, on Wednesday, Joshi, speaking in Marathi, said: “Mumbai does not have a single language, Mumbai has many languages. Different areas have different languages. For example, the language of Ghatkopar is Gujarati. Similarly, you will find fewer people speaking Hindi in Girgaon. There, you will find people speaking Marathi. There is no requirement for people coming to Mumbai to learn Marathi.”

Joshi’s remarks ignited a political storm in a city where the Marathi language has long been a key symbol of cultural and political identity. The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) slammed the RSS leader. Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut and Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, Ambadas Danve, attacked the Devendra Fadnavis-led Mahayuti government, asking, “Do you endorse Bhayyaji Joshi’s statement?”

Read more here