Pandits from BMC

Delivering a speech about the importance of the 180 lighthouses in the country,and how Minister of State for Shipping Milind Deora had selected 15 lighthouses to be developed as tourist spots,a speaker at a press conference held at Mumbai Port Trust headquarters Saturday introduced Tourism Minister K Chiranjeevi as Mr ‘Chironji’ (dry fruit). Realising his gaffe,the speaker quickly cleared his throat and corrected himself. Chiranjeevi was at the event to unveil the restoration and development plan for Kanhoji Angre Lighthouse,situated 23 km off Gateway of India

‘Selective’ entry

In the wake of the collapse of the Babu Genu municipal market building Friday,a few political leaders attempted to visit the emergency ward at J J Hospital throughout the day. However,the hospital administration had reservations about any third-party entry,be it the media,kin of victims or politicians. A local corporator tried to enter the emergency ward,but was stopped at the entrance. Later,when a senior Shiv Sena leader visited the hospital and was welcomed,she was allowed to accompany him. Until then,the security guards at the hospital had focused only on admission of victims.

The dentist’s advocate

The Bombay High Court had rapped the police for letting Navi Mumbai-based builder Suresh Bijlani,accused in the murder of builder Sunil Lohariya,stay out of jail by feigning illness. While the court was adjourning the case to Thursday,the prosecutor requested that the next hearing be done on Friday. The court asked,“What is so auspicious about Friday?” The lawyer,already in a tough spot representing the police,sheepishly said,“I have a dental appointment,lordship.” Even the judges,who had been livid throughout the proceedings,broke into a smile.

Floors of power

Indexing floors in a building is usually done from the ground floor to the topmost floor. However,in the Railways,it starts from the floor having the highest office. The Divisional Railway Manager’s (DRM) office,which is on the third floor in the divisional headquarters at Mumbai Central,is listed first in the index of floors . This is followed by the ground floor,first,second and,abruptly,the fourth floor. Sources say such is the importance of the office that even the elevator did not halt on the first and second floors. Perhaps requests from breathless officers and introspection by those holding the office of DRM,got the lift to halt on these floors. As for the indexing,the DRM’s floor continues to be the ‘first’ floor.