The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has announced its collaboration with the Geospatial Information Science and Engineering (GISE) Hub at IIT Bombay to overhaul the city's traffic management plan. According to TMC Chief Saurabh Rao, the revamped plan will be designed to address the city's growing traffic challenges and plan for long-term improvements. The revised traffic management strategy will be a year-long project, spearheaded by experts from the GISE Hub at IIT Bombay. The plan will focus on several key aspects, including evaluating current traffic provisions, studying existing traffic patterns, and devising solutions to manage the city's transportation needs effectively through to 2030. Thane is a rapidly growing urban area, and peak-hour traffic congestion has long been a major concern. The updated plan will also delve into future mobility solutions, such as the feasibility of creating cycling tracks, pedestrian-only zones, and even utilising the creek along the city for water transport. The idea is to create a more sustainable and accessible transportation network, catering not only to vehicles but also to non-motorised transport modes. The city has already seen some pilot projects and discussions around improving pedestrian facilities and encouraging cycling, but this new plan aims to formalise these ideas and bring them to scale. A significant focus of the updated traffic management plan will be to address the notorious traffic congestion around key points like Teen Haath Naka, which is one of Thane's busiest intersections. In addition, the plan will incorporate improvements in Metro and railway connectivity, which are expected to alleviate traffic pressures in the long term. Parking facilities in the city will also be evaluated to ensure better use of space, considering the rising number of vehicles. The GISE Hub's involvement will provide a scientific, data-driven approach to addressing Thane's traffic challenges, drawing on advanced geospatial technologies and models to predict future trends and propose efficient solutions. This collaboration is expected to bring a more modern and holistic approach to the city’s traffic management, which will ultimately make daily commutes smoother for residents and reduce congestion across major roads. (With inpits from PTI)
13 December,2024 02:21 PM IST | MumbaiAuthorities in Maharashtra's Thane district have initiated the "Shivjal Surajya Abhiyan," a significant water conservation drive aimed at addressing the ongoing water scarcity issues in the Shahapur and Murbad talukas. The campaign, launched on December 10, 2024, seeks to make these regions free from tanker water supply dependency, as per PTI reports. The primary focus of the initiative is to enhance the water supply and recharge groundwater resources through a series of strategic water conservation projects. According to PTI, a district-level committee has been formed to oversee and ensure the successful implementation of the campaign, which is slated to run until September 30, 2025. This comprehensive programme is expected to play a crucial role in alleviating the water crisis in these areas. The "Shivjal Surajya Abhiyan" will include various key interventions, including the construction and repair of dams, as well as the enhancement of water storage capacity through K.T. (Kumari Talao) and storage dams. The programme also aims to improve percolation ponds and village ponds, which play a vital role in retaining water and replenishing groundwater levels. In addition, the drive will focus on cleaning and repairing existing drinking water wells and silting ponds, while also introducing innovative systems for water conservation, such as rooftop rainwater harvesting through bore wells and recharge shafts. According to the district administration, these efforts will help optimise local water resources and reduce dependency on external tanker supplies, especially in rural areas. The initiative will be funded through multiple sources, including district planning funds, tribal and non-tribal sub-schemes, the Jalyukta Shivar mission, the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MREGS), and corporate social responsibility (CSR) contributions. The district administration has outlined its goal to ensure a consistent water supply of 40 to 45 litres per person annually in areas severely impacted by water scarcity. To ensure the success of the campaign, group development officers will conduct regular tours of the affected villages to assess local needs, provide coordination, and work closely with the local authorities. This grassroots-level approach is expected to help tailor solutions to specific community requirements. (With inputs from PTI)
13 December,2024 02:09 PM IST | MumbaiShiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Friday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should inform Parliament what steps the Indian government is taking to protect Hindus in Bangladesh, reported news agency PTI. Addressing a news conference in Mumbai, Uddhav Thackeray slammed the BJP, saying its Hindutva is only for votes. He said temples are being vandalised in Bangladesh, where minority Hindus have faced violent attacks in the last few months, reported PTI. Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is safe in India, but what about Hindus in the neighbouring country? Thackeray asked. "PM Modi should inform Parliament about steps India is taking to protect Hindus in Bangladesh," Uddhav Thackeray said, reported PTI. Parliament is currently having its winter session. If the PM stopped the Russia-Ukraine war, he should also stop atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh, he maintained. Uddhav Thackeray meets office bearers, discusses how party lost Some candidates of Shiv Sena (UBT) who lost in the recent Maharashtra assembly polls pointed fingers at the functioning of EVMs during their interaction with the party head Uddhav Thackeray on November 26. Thackeray took stock of lacklustre performance of his party at a meeting held at his residence in Mumbai. Some legislators who lost the polls raised doubts about the functioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), said a former MLA who attended the meeting. Thackeray appealed to the party leaders not to lose hope and work to rebuild the party. A day earlier, Thackeray met with all victorious MLAs of Shiv Sena (UBT), a constituent of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi. The Thackeray-led party had won 20 out of 97 seats contested in the elections. The poll verdict saw the Mahayuti coalition, comprising Shiv Sena, BJP, and NCP led by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, retaining power with a massive mandate, pushing the MVA to margins. The Mahayuti won 230 seats and MVA only 46 in the 288-member House. Thackeray-led Sena (UBT) emerged as the largest party in the opposition camp by winning 20 seats, followed by Congress which bagged 16 constituencies, while the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) sits at the bottom with a tally of 10 seats. (With inputs from PTI)
13 December,2024 01:59 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said India has become the fastest-growing economy in the world under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi which he said encompasses speed, transparency and inclusivity, reported news agency PTI. Addressing the World Hindu Economic Forum, Devendra Fadnavis said "PM Modi's Hindu growth rate model" will show a new direction to the world while it becomes the fastest-growing economy. Hindu rate of growth points to India's slow economic growth between the 1950s and 1980s, reported PTI. Maharashtra too aspires to be a part of this growth story and be a trillion-dollar economy by 2028, he said. Besides pushing for infrastructure growth, Fadnavis said, the government is working in the field of green energy and water conservation in the state. He called technology inclusive and said it plays an important role in development. Fadnavis said PM Modi believes in sustainable development and has worked towards cultural and social progress apart from focussing on economics. He expressed confidence that India will become an economic powerhouse with Maharashtra as its spine. The CM said Mumbai will become the country's fintech capital in the coming years. He lauded the World Hindu Economic Forum for giving a development vision based on Hindu ethos in the economic and social sectors, reported PTI. Fadnavis said that the Western world believes in 'survival of the fittest', but according to Hindu ethos, everyone who is born will live, and society will ensure this happens. He said India's progress and development are not born out of suppression and colonialism. "We didn't invade and loot (anyone) but grew on our own strength," he said, reported PTI. According to the World Hindu Economic Forum, it aims to bring together financially successful elements within Hindu society such as traders, technocrats and industrialists along with economists and thinkers for sharing of experience, expertise and resources. It will be held in the city from December 13 to December 15. (With inputs from PTI)
13 December,2024 01:06 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe city’s first cable-stayed road overbridge at Reay Road station is finally complete and has become one of the fastest ones constructed over the rail lines. The new bridge has six lanes and a footpath for pedestrians. The construction work of this cable-stayed bridge was started on Valentine’s Day 2022 and has been completed in two years. The new bridge has been part of a citywide project to upgrade old bridges in the city. Century-old British-era bridges have been taken up for reconstruction by the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (MRIDC) or Maharail, under agreement with the BMC and Railways, as their lifespan has almost come to an end,” an official said. “The aim is to rebuild the old bridges into cable-stayed bridges without causing any hindrances to traffic in such a way that a new bridge is being constructed adjacent to the old one and then the existing old bridge is demolished for construction of a new one. Once ready, the cable-stayed bridges shall be an iconic symbol of Mumbai,” he said. Additionally, construction is in full swing at Byculla, Dadar, and Ghatkopar. The cable-stayed road overbridge at Reay Road is completed and ready for commissioning. “The bridge will allow traffic movement through the underpass of Barrister Nath Pai Road, and it will also maintain the required vertical clearance for passing of vehicles under the eastern freeway as per Indian Road Congress (IRC) standard. The new cable-stayed road overbridge will add more aesthetic appeal to the world-class heritage structure. Additionally, MRIDC has designed architectural LED lighting on the proposed bridge, which will enhance the aesthetic appeal. Also, it has been designed to improve the safety parameters with a bridge health monitoring system,” he added. Key details of project >> Construction started on February 14, 2022>> Estimated cost of the project: R273 crore>> Length of road bridge: 385 m with 2 down ramps>> Number of lanes: 6>> The total project length is around 1.52 km
13 December,2024 12:48 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarResidents and hawkers near the landmark Dhake Colony at J P Road next to Apna Bazar in Andheri West are not in the pink but in the stink of health. The area has witnessed considerable spillage of gutter/sewage water from choked drains along the road and in the Tep Dargah area winding its way outside, for a few days now. The result is sewage water snaking through the area, affecting locals and several pavement hawkers, restaurants and little shops in the vicinity. Dense space The space is extremely dense with the D N Nagar Metro Station close by, very heavy traffic, chawls, restaurants, shops, buildings and residential colonies. Add to this mix, a multitude of hawkers and you have absolute congestion and a packed road. When this reporter visited the spot, wet patches were evident in different spots, and there was sewage water pooled at different places. Sewage water entering the colony through a wall A veggie seller pointing to water collected near her wares stated, “This is at its highest in the mornings, after which it goes down. Now it is afternoon, but it is still there. People do not jump over that mess to buy veggies, it affects my earnings. It has never been so difficult, the water has been increasing. I have been here for decades.” Inside the Tep Dargah area chawl, which is a labyrinth of lanes barely enough for two people to pass, the foul smell is an instant olfactory assault. The sewage water, which has waste floating in it was literally at the door of these homes, some of which seeps inside. Health risk The Khans, Naiks, Shaikh families all living inside stated, “The problem has been very bad for the past few days. We do a lot of our work outside from washing clothes, to vessels, etc. How can we do so with sewage water at the door? When we enter our homes, this contaminated, filthy water comes into the living space through our feet. We are continually washing and cleaning inside.” Other locals added that they had to “carry our children when they have to go to school, as otherwise they would have to step into the water.” Adjacent stands the well-known Dhake Colony comprising five buildings of two storeys each. The water was entering the colony, spilling from the area for several days. Colony chairman, Anand Shirali said, “The colony has been bathed in gutter water for the past few days. It was entering through the boundary wall of our colony, which stands next to Tep Dargah. It is a recipe for a full blown health disaster and emergency. A cholera or other outbreak is a real possibility.” Bird bath Dhake Colony secretary Ratnakar Shetty said, “We have been here for decades and this problem has truly aggravated this year. We needed speedy and effective solutions, our residents are at real risk.” A number of residents actually pointed out some birds bathing in a pool of fetid water, when this reporter visited. Earlier, residents had visited the BMC Chowky K Ward to urge quick action. Shirali said, “We need huge suction pipes, hi-tech to clean out these gutters and address the problem. We could not keep waiting, so recently we got our boundary wall repaired, to reinforce it and to keep the water out. Yet if the water continues to seep in then, it may crack and the history and horror can repeat.” Seeing some dark humour in this situation, Shirali said about the birds dunking in the filthy water in the premises, “it is not kabootar ja, ja, jaa but kabootar naha, naha, naha.” BMC says A BMC spokesperson said, “The cleaning operations happened in phases. Work was on at a rapid pace. In fact, we repaired the damaged sewer chamber, which was causing obstruction. The problem has been resolved. We urge people not to dispose of plastic and cloth in drains.”
13 December,2024 12:47 PM IST | Mumbai | Hemal AsharIf you move out of Churchgate and go towards the suburbs like Andheri, Malad, Kandivli, Borivli, or, for that matter, name any station, there is absolutely no road free of hawkers. Let alone driving; you cannot even walk on the roads, observed Justice Kamal Khata of Bombay High Court while hearing a Suo Motu petition addressing the issue of hawkers menace in Mumbai. The division bench also came down heavily on the state for failing to maintain law and order after BMC cleared the streets of hawkers. The division bench of the Bombay High Court, comprising Justice A. S. Gadkari and Justice Kamal Khata, heard the Sum Motu petition for 2.5 hours straight post-lunchbreak. ‘Hawkers are not licensed’ Counsel representing the Bombay BAR Association, which is an intervenor in the Suo Motu petition, informed the court, “None of the hawkers in Mumbai are licenced. In order to issue licenses, the Town Vending Committee (TVC) needs to be formulated, which then issues licences. The licences previously issued to the hawkers have also expired. At present, no hawker is licened in Mumbai.” Bhaji Market Gully a 5.20 am, on December 1 (right) Illegal hawkers flood the stretch around 9 pm the same day. Pics/Prasun Choudhari Justice Gadkari, while hearing the matter, rapped the hawker unions, who had tagged along their application to be heard along with the Suo Motu Petition. Justice Gadkri said, “Stop doing business if you don't have a license. The common man walking on the street does not have fundamental rights? If you are having fundamental rights under Article 21, the common man is also having fundamental rights under the same article. You cannot just tell us that your rights are being violated and ignore the rights of a common man.” Justice Kamal Khata also came down heavily on the state for not enforcing law and order. Police have failed “No action is taken at all in Colaba from your end. Zero action is taken. It is a clear-cut eye wash. Why do you not call for additional force even after previous court orders directing you to bring in additional force if required? Your beat marshals are doing nothing.” Adding to this, Justice Gadkari also questioned the state, asking, “What is the use of beat marshals if hawkers are sitting right in front of them?” Justice Gadkari, pointing out some petitions filed by shop owners whose shop entrances have been blocked by hawkers, stated, “There are multiple petitions being filed in this court by shop owners. These shop owners have a licence to do their businesses, but these hawkers block the entrance of these shops.” The BAR Association counsel also pointed out, “Even if some hawkers have a licence, they cannot just set up their stalls anywhere. No hawker can set up a stall in ‘NO HAWKING ZONE’ irrespective of being a licensed or unlicensed one.” BMC senior counsel said, “We (BMC) have forwarded to the police a list of hawkers with license and their destination of license.” The Bench also set aside all the petitions tagged along with the Suo Motu PIL, which were with concern with the Town Vending Committee (TVC) formation to be heard separately, citing the matter of election results of TVC is pending with the Supreme Court. The bench heard all the petitions separately one by one on Thursday and determined which ones are in connection with the TVC formation, untagging them from the Suo Motu petition for hearing separately one by one in January.
13 December,2024 12:42 PM IST | Mumbai | Prasun ChoudhariInadequate training and muscle memory of conventional vehicles are what bedevilled BEST bus driver Sanjay More on the night of December 9, leading to the freak accident in Kurla, according to investigators. They also claimed More had only received about five minutes’ training in handling an electric vehicle before being assigned the ill-fated bus route. Police officers revealed that on his first day in police custody, More was too shaken to speak about the incident. A senior police officer privy to the investigation told mid-day that More, who is responsible for the loss of seven lives, had 33 years’ experience in driving a mini-bus. However, on December 1, he was assigned an EV. “As he was a dab hand at operating mini-buses, his muscle memory seems to have overpowered his brain,” an officer revealed. The site of accident involving an out-of-control BEST bus in which seven lives were lost at Kurla West on Monday. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi “He is a common man with no history of crime. When taken to court, he was blindfolded, which made him feel guilty. But the next day, he spilled the beans. He has been consistent about how he simply lost control of the vehicle,” said a senior police officer. He continued, “Speaking about his training process at the Dindoshi bus depot, he revealed how he was told to take a couple of rounds that lasted less than 5 to 10 minutes immediately after which he was assigned EV bus duty.” The bus manufacturer, Olectra Greentech, had claimed that More had trained for three days before he began driving the vehicle. “On the day of the incident, More took a couple of rounds before picking up passengers from the Kurla depot; apparently, it was like a practice session. This clearly indicates the training process was inadequate. Now we will be speaking to BEST officials and More’s superiors to find out what went wrong,” the official added. Another angle which is being looked at by the police team investigating the matter is how More’s muscle memory took over, if that was indeed the case. Explaining the same, the police officer said, “I saw the CCTV footage of the accident from the inside-of-the-bus POV which evidently shows how the bus was speeding for at least 30 to 50 seconds before it crashed. Technically, it takes less than 10 seconds to navigate a critical driving situation for someone with decades of experience driving buses, which did not happen in this case. The question is why and that’s the answer we are looking for.” About muscle memory Sudhir Badami, a civil engineer and transportation expert, explains how muscle memory comes into play for someone who has been performing the same activity for several years. “This activity becomes second nature to you. In situations of panic, where the brain stops working—or, one could say, goes to sleep—muscle memory is activated. To avoid such situations, one needs to unlearn the activity before learning something new, and mental training plays a key role,” said Badami. Explaining further, he said, “While it is not impossible to become well-trained in driving an automatic EV, it all depends on the amount of time spent and quality of training the individual undergoes.” Discussing the challenges faced by manual drivers, he highlighted how they instinctively reach for a non-existent gear lever or clutch, along with adapting to the new braking system. “The absence of a gear lever feels awkward for new EV drivers, while the braking system feels abrupt. In manual systems, control depends on the pressure applied by the driver, rather than a single button. The same applies to speed control. The basic transition to an automatic EV may take weeks, but a more extensive training period is crucial for overall safety,” explained Badami, an IIT Bombay graduate in Civil and Structural Engineering.
13 December,2024 12:40 PM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya IyerShiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Friday slammed the "One Nation, One Election" bill, calling it the biggest threat to democracy, reported news agency ANI. He also accused the BJP of forming a government in Maharashtra by manipulating EVMs. Addressing a press conference, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said, "No proper amendment or research has been done about it. Modi ji always speaks his Mann ki Baat. He never thinks about what is in the mind of the public or what is in the mind of the people in opposition. I doubt whether Modi ji will remain the Prime Minister till 2029. This is the biggest threat to democracy. Your governments in Maharashtra, and Delhi, are not governments formed by democracy. These are governments formed by EVMs," reported ANI. JDU MP Sanjay Jha backed the One Nation, One Election bill saying that it would ensure that development work is not stopped due to frequent elections. "After independence, simultaneous elections were held in the country. However, the Congress party started imposing the President's rule in the states. The development work which gets stalled due to frequent elections will not stop after the implementation of One Nation, One Election. Our party fully supports One Nation, One Election," he said, reported ANI. The 'One Nation, One Election' bill was approved by the Union Cabinet on Thursday paving the way for its introduction in Parliament. However, before its introduction in the Parliament, the bill initiated debate between the ruling and opposition parties. Several parties of the INDIA bloc opposed the bill while the BJP-led NDA alliance parties welcomed this bill, saying, it would save time and lay the groundwork for unified elections across the country. Notably, in September this year, the Union Cabinet approved the 'One Nation, One Election' proposal, which aims to hold simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, along with urban body and panchayat polls, within a span of 100 days, reported ANI. The recommendations were outlined in a report by a high-level panel chaired by former President Kovind. Following the Cabinet's approval, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the decision, calling it a significant step towards enhancing India's democracy. "The Cabinet has accepted the recommendations of the High-Level Committee on Simultaneous Elections. I compliment our former President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind Ji, for spearheading this effort and consulting a wide range of stakeholders. This is an important step towards making our democracy even more vibrant and participative," PM Modi posted on X. (With inputs from ANI)
13 December,2024 12:07 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAn official said that the the driver of a sand-laden truck suffered minor injuries after the vehicle rammed into another goods carrier in Maharashtra's Thane district in the early hours of Friday, reported news agency PTI. The accident took place around 4.45 am near the toll booth on the Mumbra bypass road and blocked traffic on the stretch for about an hour, said Yasin Tadvi, chief of the Disaster Management Cell of Thane Municipal Corporation, reported PTI. The official said the truck was carrying 28 tons of sand and was on its way from Gujarat to Karjat in Raigad district. The driver, Riyaz Ahmed (48), lost control of the wheel and the truck hit another vehicle on a slope, he said, reported PTI. Ahmed got trapped inside the truck's cabin and was rescued by the fire brigade and other civic workers. He sustained minor injuries to his leg and head, the official said. Four girl students killed in road accident in Kerala Four school students died and several others were injured after being mowed down by a truck at Kalladikode on Thursday evening, police said, reported PTI. According to the police, the victims were girl students of a Higher Secondary school located near the accident spot. The accident occurred at Panayampadam near Kalladikode on Palakkad- Kozhikode National Highway, when a truck transporting cement lost control, ran over the students returning home after school, and subsequently overturned, reported PTI. The injured students were soon rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed deep sorrow over the incident at Kalladikode, calling it both "shocking" and "tragic." He assured that government departments would work in coordination to ensure emergency medical care for all injured students. "A detailed investigation will be conducted, and necessary action will be taken," the CM said in his condolence message. (With inputs from PTI)
13 December,2024 10:40 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAfter experiencing a significant drop in temperatures, Mumbai is now seeing a slight rise. Over the past couple of days, the city has witnessed sharp fluctuations in temperature. According to the latest Mumbai weather updates from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Mumbai is expected to experience a cloudy sky on Friday, December 13, with temperatures ranging from a cool 17 degrees Celsius in the morning to a warm 36 degrees Celsius during the day. According to the Mumbai weather updates of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Mumbai's Santacruz observatory in suburban Mumbai recorded a maximum temperature of 32.8 degrees Celsius and a minimum temperature of 19.3 degrees Celsius. The weather department's data showed that the city observatory in Colaba recorded a maximum temperature of 31.3 degrees Celcius and the minimum temperature was recorded at 21.5 degrees Celsius. According to the latest Mumbai weather updates by the IMD, the maximum temperature will likely be around 36 degrees Celsius, and the minimum temperature will likely be around 17 degrees Celsius. The relative humidity is 42 per cent. The sun rose at 07:03 AM and will set at 6:03 PM. Mumbai weather updates: City's AQI in 'moderate' category On December 12, the Central Pollution Control Board’s SAMEER app reported in its latest Mumbai weather updates that the city’s air quality remained in the 'moderate' category, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 124 at 9:05 AM. As per the SAMEER app dashboard, many areas across Mumbai showed 'moderate' AQI. Bandra Kurla Complex recorded 'moderate' air quality with an AQI of 153. Ghatkopar, Kandivali, Kurla and Worli recorded 'moderate' air quality with an AQI of 109, 129, 101 and 118, respectively. Borivali recorded 'good' air quality, with an AQI of 93. According to data from the SAMEER app, Navi Mumbai recorded air quality in the 'moderate' category with an AQI of 126, while Thane registered a 'good' AQI of 87. The air quality index from 0 to 100 is considered 'good', 100 to 200 'moderate', 200 to 300 'poor', 300 to 400 'very poor' and from 400 to 500 or above 'severe'. Meanwhile, as air pollution levels continue to rise in Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has revised guidelines issued last year for construction sites. The civic body will also form squads at the ward level to visit construction sites and act if guidelines are flouted. Sensor-based air pollution monitoring systems will be installed at all construction project work sites and immediate action to be taken if pollution levels are detected above the limit.
13 December,2024 10:07 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
