The Atal Setu, a state-of-the-art bridge inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 13, 2024, marked its first anniversary on Monday. The bridge, connecting Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, has significantly improved connectivity and set benchmarks in commuter safety and traffic management. In its inaugural year, the Atal Setu facilitated the movement of 83,06,009 vehicles, averaging 22,689 vehicles every day. This included 77,28,149 cars, 99,660 mini buses, 1,17,604 trucks, 899 oversized vehicles and other vehicles. The highest single-day traffic was recorded on January 14, 2024, with 61,807 vehicles travelling by the bridge. "The Atal Setu stands as a testament to our government’s commitment to building world-class infrastructure in Maharashtra. In just one year, it has transformed the commuting experience for over 8 million vehicles, contributing significantly to the economic and social development of the region. I congratulate the MMRDA (Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority) team for their relentless efforts and foresight in achieving this milestone," said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde highlighted the bridge's broader impact and said, "The Atal Setu is more than just a bridge; it is a lifeline that has redefined urban mobility in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Its exemplary operational performance underscores the effectiveness of advanced traffic management and emergency response systems. This milestone is a proud moment for Maharashtra and a stepping stone toward future infrastructure excellence.” The Atal Setu’s Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS), complemented by Fire-Rescue Vehicles (FRVs), dedicated maintenance teams, and 24X7 patrolling units, has ensured smooth operations and swift response to emergencies. With three specialised teams working around the clock, the bridge has maintained high safety standards while minimizing disruptions. Dr Sanjay Mukherjee, Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA, lauded the teams involved in the construction of the bridge. "As we mark one year of the Atal Setu’s operations, I extend my gratitude to our dedicated teams and stakeholders whose efforts have made this achievement possible. The bridge’s impressive safety record and operational efficiency highlight our focus on innovation and sustainability in infrastructure development. By making Mumbai accessible in minutes, we remain committed to serving the region’s growing connectivity needs," he said.
13 January,2025 08:10 PM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentBhushan Gagrani, the Commissioner and Administrator of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), held an interaction with the officers and employees of the Tax Assessment and Collection Department on Monday. During the meeting, he directed the officials to make property tax collection easier in Mumbai. "Tax revenue is necessary for the development of civic services and facilities provided to Mumbaikars. The role of the property owner is also important in maintaining the financial cash flow of the corporation. Assessment and collection of property tax is a challenging task considering the topography and density of population of the Mumbai metropolis. The officers of the Tax Assessment and Collection Department are doing a good job in overcoming this. However, more efforts should be made to ensure that the property owner's payments are received regularly and on time, and the payment of taxes is made easier and convenient," said Gagrani. He also directed that the commercial properties in the slum areas should be ascertained and brought under tax net. Gagrani said that property tax is the main source of income of the municipal corporation. At present, BMC's Tax Assessment and Collection Department has a record of 2,43,989 original properties. This includes residential and non-residential properties. "Old buildings are being developed in the city. Also, there is an increase in new properties in the suburbs. The municipal corporation has set stages for the valuation of properties. It should be implemented effectively. Information on all new constructions, changes in existing structures and properties, if any, should be made available by the Building Proposal, Building and Factories Department for making necessary changes in taxation. For this, it is necessary to coordinate between various departments of the Municipal Corporation," Gagrani added. He acknowledged that while BMC has made the process of filing property tax online simple, there is scope for further improvement. Currently, the Mumbai civic body accepts payment through debit and credit cards as well as via net banking, UPI, and NEFT. "However, more simple options should be provided by the municipal corporation. A system should be made available so that citizens do not need to go to the civic facility directly," the civic chief said, adding that instead of rushing to meet the property tax target at the end of the financial year, a time-bound programme should be decided at the beginning of the financial year. He also stated that compared to the other municipal corporations in the country, the property tax collection of the Mumbai civic body is remarkable. "The response of the officers and employees of the Tax Assessment and Collection Department towards the citizens of Mumbai is good," said Gagrani, hoping that the officers and employees of the Tax Assessment and Collection Department would record better performance. During the meeting, the officials also discussed on other issues such as seizure and detention of immovable and movable properties, awareness generation for payment of taxes, recovery of pending property taxes, new sources of revenue generation, difficulties in tax collection and measures to facilitate the smooth functioning of the department.
13 January,2025 06:40 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThousands of litres of water were wasted due to a pipeline burst near the Fatherwadi petrol pump in Vasai on Monday afternoon. According to locals, the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation pipeline burst after being hit by an unidentified vehicle at 3.30 pm. A burst pipeline in Vasai, reportedly damaged by an unidentified vehicle, caused thousands of liters of water to flood the main road, with jets shooting 15-20 feet high. The incident led to traffic congestion. The Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation's water supply team responded… pic.twitter.com/4hmAfSVEig — Mid Day (@mid_day) January 13, 2025 As the pipeline burst on the main road, a water jet as high as 15-20 feet shot into the air, flooding the road with water. For some time, this also caused a traffic jam on the main road. After receiving a complaint, the municipal corporation’s water supply department arrived at the scene and shut off the valves, reducing the wastage of water.
13 January,2025 05:38 PM IST | Mumbai | Diwakar SharmaResidents complained of dust pollution due to the demolition of an old building at P Tandon Marg, opposite Infinity Mall in Mumbai's Andheri West. Officials of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)'s K-West ward said that they have issued a stop work notice to the developer on Monday morning before the demolition work started. "Even after the notice was issued, the builder started the demolition work. After receiving information, our team reached on the spot and immediately stopped work,” official added. Meanwhile, BMC also instructed Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) to take appropriate action against the developer, as the permission for redevelopment was given by the state housing body. Stop Work Notice under Section 354 (A) has been issued to the concerned builder/developer/architect/owner for non-compliance with dust pollution control norms, including the absence of wind-breaking sheets, water sprinkling and proper debris management. Strict action will be… https://t.co/jbJJjYUeeH — माझी Mumbai, आपली BMC (@mybmc) January 13, 2025 Mumbai air quality: BMC stops work at 191 construction sites for not complying The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has stopped work at 191 construction sites across the city for failing to adhere to the civic body’s 28-point dust mitigation guidelines. According to an official from the municipal corporation’s environment department, since November 1, 2024, the BMC has visited around 1,038 construction sites and lapses were found at 856 spots, following which the civic body issued notices to those concerned along with orders to follow the guidelines. However, even after being served notices, guidelines weren’t being followed on 462 of the 856 construction sites. “The BMC then issued a stop-work notice to the defaulters. After this, 271 out of 462 construction sites implemented dust mitigation guidelines,” the official added. “We have revoked the stop-work notices issued to the 271 sites, but the stop-work order is still in force at the remaining 191 sites,” an official said. After receiving a notice from the civic body, the company or individual concerned needs to implement the guidelines in three days and stop-work notices are issued if this warning is ignored. There are around 2,100 private construction sites where work is ongoing across the city. Meanwhile, the BMC has decided not to give permission to new trench work across Mumbai while the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board will not approve new ready-mix concrete plants in the metropolis. According to the guidelines, construction sites must be covered on all sides with green cloth/jute/tarpaulin and there must be sheets or metal covering at least 25 feet in height around every project. Spraying of water, misting, scientific storage and transportation of radars, installation of air quality monitoring sensors and vehicle wheel washing facilities are also mandatory. Also, project promoters/building developers and construction project (mechanical and electrical) contractors are required to prepare an environmental management plan.
13 January,2025 04:47 PM IST | Mumbai | Sameer SurveIn the past five years, 834 Brihanmumbai Electrict Supply and Transport (BEST) bus accidents have occurred in which 88 Mumbaikars have lost their lives, the transport body stated in a Right to Information (RTI) query. The undertaking also revealed that it had disbursed compensation worth 42.4 crore to the families of the victims as well as to the injured. While 14 employees have been dismissed in accident-related cases, 24 staffers have also been suspended. The statistics were revealed by Egal Benjamin, Senior Transport Officer of BEST, after RTI activist Anil Galgali had asked the administration about the number of accidents, fatalities and financial compensation disbused in the past five years. Of the total 834 accidents that took place in the past five years, 352 involved the undertaking's buses. They recorded 51 fatalities. Meanwhile, 37 people lost their lives in 482 accidents involving private contractors. The highest number of fatalities — 21 — were recorded in the years 2022-23 and 2023-24. The administration disbursed Rs 42.4-crore financial compensation to the families of the victims and the injured. The highest total amount — Rs 12.4 crore — was disbursed in the year 2022-23 when 107 accidents were recorded. In the year 2019-20, the BEST paid 9.55 crore to the accidents victims, while Rs 3.44 crore was paid in the year 2020-21, 9.45 crore in the year 2021-22, and 7.54 crore in the year 2023-24. The administration has dimissed 12 employees in the cases involving fatalities while two staffers were dismissed in personal injury cases. Twenty-four employees have also been suspended in personal injury cases. In other cases, the administration resorted to warning, counselling, monetary recovery and other actions. Galgali said the statistics indicate that BEST administration and employees need to take more precautions to prevent accidents and make commute safer for Mumbaikars.
13 January,2025 04:01 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarThe Bombay High Court on Monday said the trial in last year's Badlapur sexual assault case should be fast-tracked and conducted expeditiously as the victim girls are very young, reported news agency PTI. In August last year, a male attendant sexually assaulted two girls - aged four and five - inside the toilet of their school located in the Badlapur area of Maharashtra's Thane district. He was arrested and later killed in a shootout with police when he was being taken from jail for questioning, reported PTI. The Special Investigation (SIT), set up by the Maharashtra government to conduct a probe into the Badlapur sexual assault case, has filed its chargesheet. The chargesheet was filed against the attendant, the school's headmaster and two members of its management for "failing to report" the sexual assault, as required under provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, reported PTI. The high court took suo motu (on its own) cognisance of the incident after it came to light that the local Badlapur police had not taken prompt action to lodge an FIR in the Badlapur sexual assault case. On Monday, public prosecutor Hiten Venegaonkar informed the bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Neela Gokhale that the probe into the case was over, a chargesheet was filed and now trial would be held. The court then emphasised the need to keep the trial fast-tracked. "The case will have to be fast-tracked and conducted expeditiously as the victim girls are of a very young age," the court said, reported PTI. As mandated under the POCSO Act, a woman prosecutor would have to be present while examining the girls, it added. Venegaonkar said a lady prosecutor has been appointed to assist the special public prosecutor in the case. The bench posted the matter for further hearing on January 20, by which the prosecution will have to inform the stage of the trial. Last year, the bench also ordered for a committee of experts to be set up to examine the safety of children in schools and other educational institutions, reported PTI. Venegaonkar on Monday said the committee was yet to submit its report of recommendations. The HC said that if by the next date of hearing the report is submitted, the same shall be produced before it too. Venegaonkar also told the court that as per the Maharashtra government's policy, the education of the girls would be free of cost till Class 8. "A proposal has been made to make their (victim girls) education free for classes 9 and 10 too," he said, reported PTI. On January 20, the HC would also hear the petition filed by the father of the deceased attendant, alleging his son was killed in a fake encounter by police. (With inputs from PTI)
13 January,2025 01:52 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBEST bus services have been affected as the wet lease company workers have gone on a flash strike at Sion Pratiksha Nagar and Dharavi bus depots since this morning. BEST bus services were disrupted as wet lease workers staged a flash strike at Sion Pratiksha Nagar and Dharavi depots. The protest was triggered by the alleged mistreatment of a pregnant conductor denied light duties by a manager. Workers also cited delayed salaries, low… pic.twitter.com/iybVJAaddq — Mid Day (@mid_day) January 13, 2025 The immediate trigger for this strike seems "insulting treatment" meted out to a pregnant lady conductor by employees of the wet lease company. BEST commuters lamented that services of a once trusted and reliable undertaking have now become so unpredictable. As per preliminary information, a lady bus conductor in her advanced stage of pregnancy sought light duties from the company manager, who denied it and insulted the lady. This has led to other employees protesting, leading to a flash strike. The employees have also been upset about low and delayed salaries. According to the information received, the bus conductors and drivers are not receiving their salaries on time and there are various demands that they should be hired as permanent workers. The workers belong to the wet lease company Mateshwari Urban Transport, which is operational at Santacruz, Majas, Wadala, Mulund besides Dharavi and Sion Pratiksha Nagar. The wet-lease employees have been raising issue of better wages and also demanding better amenities at bus depots. The undertaking has said it will penalise contractors and levy fines. According to the BEST undertaking, an incident of assault at the Pratiksha Nagar Depot has resulted in significant disruptions to bus services across the city. The confrontation involved Mathadi Workers Union Secretary, Pradeep Magare, and Supriya S. Kadam, a pregnant female conductor from the Mateshwari Bus Company, and Depot Manager Salim Khatri. "The altercation took place between 2:15 PM and 2:45 PM on January 10 when Pradeep Magare visited the Anik Depot Manager, accompanied by Supriya S. Kadam, ID number 122 966. The visit aimed to request lighter duties for Kadam due to her pregnancy. However, tensions escalated when Salim Khatri reportedly called Kadam for a meeting, leading to a misunderstanding and subsequent assault by Magare and Kadam," the BEST undertaking said in a statement. A case has been registered at the Wadala Truck Terminal Police Station. "BEST security officers, the depot managers, and the involved parties are cooperating with the police investigation. The Deputy Superintendent of Police for Dharavi and Pratiksha Nagar has also been summoned for further inquiries," the BEST undertaking said. In response to the incident, employees at the Pratiksha Nagar and Anik depots staged protests, impacting the operation of approximately 210 buses — 110 at Pratiksha Nagar and 100 at Dharavi. The protests underline the unrest among the workers, emphasising the need for swift resolution and measures to prevent future incidents. Authorities are continuing their investigation, and more details are expected to emerge as the situation develops, said the BEST undertaking.
13 January,2025 01:45 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarAmid speculation of internal discord within the INDIA alliance, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said on Monday that, in the coming days, if the INDIA alliance has to be saved and strengthened, dialogue between alliance partners is necessary, reported news agency ANI. Speaking to the media, Raut said, "INDIA alliance should be strong... I don't believe what Omar Abdullah said that the INDIA alliance was formed for Lok Sabha. This alliance was formed for Lok Sabha and we fought well, however after that, no meeting of the INDIA alliance was held, which is unfortunate. This responsibility is of Congress as it is in the role of an elder brother in the alliance... In the coming days, if the INDIA alliance has to be saved and strengthened, then dialogue is necessary between alliance partners." Raut's remarks came after Communist Party of India General Secretary D Raja admitted that the INDIA bloc "stands divided" post-Lok Sabha election 2024. Speaking to ANI, Raja said, "It is a fact that Opposition is divided. It is known to people that in Delhi. Assembly election AAP is contesting on its own, Congress is contesting on its own, Left parties are contesting wherever they are capable of putting up a fight and among other parties, certain parties have declared support to AAP. So, it is a fact that the INDIA bloc stands divided." Several BJP leaders have also claimed that the INDIA alliance has 'no mission' and is 'scattered.' On Sunday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticised the INDIA bloc, claiming that the alliance has 'completely disintegrated,' citing examples of the alliance not fighting the Delhi assembly polls and Mumbai municipal corporation polls together. "Today the INDIA alliance has completely disintegrated. Mumbai is going to have elections and Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress are preparing to contest alone. Just like you gave us a grand victory in Maharashtra, in the same way, the BJP government is going to be formed," HM Shah said. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said that the alliance lacks a clear mission and is solely driven by personal ambitions and confusion. He also claimed that parties of the INDIA bloc pretend to be united due to their personal ambitions. Speaking to ANI, Poonawalla said, "The INDIA alliance has no mission, no vision, only personal ambitions and confusion. Due to these ambitions and confusion, they pretend to be united. In Delhi, the Samajwadi Party, TMC, and others have distanced themselves from Congress." (With inputs from ANI)
13 January,2025 01:24 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe police said that a man was killed and another person injured when a truck driven by a minor boy collided with two auto-rickshaws before falling into a pit at a Metro construction site in Maharashtra's Thane city on Monday, reported news agency PTI. The 15-year-old truck driver was later detained, they said. The incident took place at 2.30 am near Suraj Water Park on the city's arterial Ghodbunder Road and traffic on the route was affected for some time, the police said while sharing an update on the Thane accident, reported PTI. The truck driver lost control over the wheels following which the vehicle collided with two auto-rickshaws parked by the roadside and then plunged into a pit at a Metro construction site, traffic police officials said while sharing an update on the Thane accident, reported PTI. Local resident Jitendra Mohan Kamble (31), who was in one of the auto-rickshaws, was injured and rushed to a government hospital where doctors declared him dead on arrival, they said, reported PTI. An occupant of the other auto-rickshaw also received serious injuries and was undergoing treatment at the hospital, the police said. The Kasarvadavali police detained the underage driver and registered an FIR against him under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Motor Vehicles Act, they said. The traffic police later removed the damaged truck and the auto-rickshaws with the help of a towing vehicle and restored smooth traffic flow on the road. Eight dead, several injured as tempo rams into truck carrying iron rods in Nashik Eight persons were killed and several others injured after a tempo and truck collided on Sunday at Dwarka Circle in Maharashtra's Nashik district, a police official said, reported PTI. The incident took place near an Ayyappa temple at 7:30pm, he added. "There were 16 passengers in the tempo, which was on its way to CIDCO area. They were returning from a religious event in Niphad. The tempo driver lost control of the vehicle and rear-ended the truck carrying iron rods. Some of the deaths took place on the spot. Some of the injured are critical," the official said, reported PTI. Rescue operations were started by police and fire brigade personnel along with residents and passersby in the congested stretch immediately, he added. The injured are recuperating at the district hospital and in some private facilities, the official said. There is likelihood of the death toll rising since some of the passengers have sustained grievous injuries, police and health officials informed. (With inputs from PTI)
13 January,2025 01:14 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentA 39-year-old motorcyclist, who was out with his wife and 10-year-old son on Sunday evening, suffered serious injuries when a banned synthetic plastic manja got entangled around his neck in the Madhuban area of Vasai, where a kite festival is organised by Suraksha Smart City. The victim Vikram Dange works in the sales department of an automobile company. His wife immediately removed her dupatta and wrapped it around his neck before he was taken to a nearby hospital. “A total nine stitches were administered at a multi-speciality hospital in Vasai,” said his wife Neetal Dange. Neetal told mid-day, “My husband was riding the motorcycle, and I was sitting pillion with our 10-year-old son. When we reached the Madhuban area, my husband suddenly screamed, ‘Arey, arey!’. I turned to see a cobweb of sharp kite strings around his neck. “By the time I could hold these strings my husband’s neck was badly cut. After he stopped the motorcycle, I immediately removed my dupatta and wrapped it around his neck which had started to ooze blood. His T-shirt got stained with blood. It was a scary moment for us, but none of the passers-by came to help us,” Neetal said. “I called my husband’s friends who were nearby and they immediately arrived and rushed him to a hospital. There was a deep wound around his neck and he received nine stitches,” Neetal said. “Strong legal action must be taken against the organiser of this ongoing kite festival which has risked the lives of many people. Who permitted them to organise a kite festival using the banned manja? And what is the police doing? Do the police wait for someone like my husband to get injured to initiate action? I will submit a complaint against this organiser. I won’t spare anyone in this matter,” Neetal added. A team from Valiv police station rushed to the spot and the kite festival was suspended for a while. At the time of going to the press, the cops had been conducting panchanama at the accident spot.“We will record the statement of the victim in this matter and initiate legal action,” said a police officer.
13 January,2025 12:05 PM IST | Mumbai | Diwakar SharmaThe BMC has decided to procure mobile dust suction vans, which will be deployed in every ward to tackle air pollution caused by construction dust. According to data from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, construction dust is a significant contributor to Mumbai’s air pollution, accounting for around 28-30 per cent of total pollution. To address this issue, the BMC has implemented a 28-point dust mitigation guideline for construction sites. Now, the BMC plans to introduce dust suction vans. “These will be deployed in every ward. We are currently evaluating the effectiveness of these machines. Each machine is estimated to cost R40 lakh,” a civic official said. Officials also mentioned considering the addition of dust suction units to BEST buses. “We will prioritise areas with severe dust problems in every ward, and these machines will move around different parts of the ward,” the official added. The dust collection system installed in these vehicles operates as a single-stage vacuum unit. It creates suction, performs air filtration, and deposits the collected dust into a container. The air is recirculated through a filter to trap smaller particles. Additionally, the BMC has banned construction at 191 sites that failed to comply with the dust mitigation guidelines. As per the guidelines, construction sites must enclose buildings under construction on all four sides with green cloth, jute, or tarpaulin. A 25-foot-high sheet or metal covering is required around the construction project, along with regular water spraying, the use of misting plants, scientific storage and transportation of debris, air quality monitoring sensors, and vehicle wheel washing facilities. Furthermore, project promoters, building developers, and mechanical/electrical contractors are required to prepare an Environmental Management Plan (EMP).
13 January,2025 11:23 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentADVERTISEMENT
