For the first time, a temporary lightweight steel foot over bridge (FOB) with planned escalators has been built in place of a discontinued road over bridge following commuter complaints of east-west connectivity being severed at Mumbai Central station after the closure of Bellasis bridge. While the bridge has been opened for public use, escalators are under construction. The bridge was built within six months (about 182 days), a rare feat. The Bellasis bridge was shut in June 2024. The provision of building a temporary FOB in its place is unprecedented in the history of Mumbai. It provides much-needed pedestrian connectivity between the east and west sides of the station and has been opened for public access. The Bellasis bridge was closed in June 2024 for pedestrian and vehicular movement. However, it created considerable challenges for daily commuters, compelling Western Railway (WR), and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to come up with a temporary FOB. The new structure, which officials have called the result of meticulous planning and coordination The bridge starts from the station approach in the east outside the ticketed area, crosses over rail lines and lands in the west, connecting with JBB Road outside the station in Tardeo. WR chief spokesperson Vineet Abhishek said, “Located north of the Bellasis road over bridge, the new FOB is equipped with a staircase, allowing pedestrians easy access to the Mumbai Central station. An escalator is also being provided on the west side and is expected to be operational within two months. This is the first time in the history of Mumbai’s suburban railway network that a temporary FOB has been provided to ensure pedestrian movement during the reconstruction of an old bridge,” he added. The west side, where an escalator is expected to be operational within two months “The successful completion of this project is a result of meticulous planning and coordination between Western Railway’s Bridge Branch and the BMC. The authorities worked closely to resolve challenges such as securing land and removing encroachments, ensuring that the construction was carried out without unnecessary delays,” he elaborated. How plan was executed The four-metre-wide bridge was constructed quickly due to the simultaneous fabrication of girders and steel columns taken in hand and parallel work on foundation excavation taken in hand in series. While the steel column was erected in two days for both sides, the cross girders were set up in four. As trials had been carried out, assembly at the site took only three days while the bridge was erected in one day by using a 700-metre crane. The east side of the station The deck (flooring) has been built with chequered plate instead of reinforced cement concrete, which would have required a minimum of 45 days in reinforcement binding, concreting, curing etc. The deck plate laying and side railing work were executed simultaneously. The staircase was prefabricated at a workshop and while the electrical department provided lighting in a day. The record holders 33 days: The south-end 17-metre FOB at Masjid Bunder station was completed a full 12 days before the target. The dismantling of the old FOB and construction of its replacement at the same place was carried out in this period. 72 days: The FOB at LTT was sanctioned after the Elphinstone station stampede on September 29, 2017. The tender for the FOB was finalised in just 24 hours on November 14, 2017, and work began two days later. The bridge, built at a cost of R2.97 crore, connects all five platforms. 117 days: The FOB built by the Indian Army at Elphinstone Road, now called Prabhadevi, station is 73.1 metres long and 3.65 metres wide and was built at a cost of R10.44 crore. Other army bridges completed simultaneously include the one at Currey Road and Ambivli stations. Walkway at Lower Parel slammed as claustrophobic A pedestrian walkway (pictured below) opened by the BMC along the new Delisle Road bridge has been criticised by citizens as “claustrophobic”. The footpath, which pedestrians had been pushing for, has been constructed outside the girder. “We recognise it as hostile architecture that is unsafe for women. In non-peak hours, FOBs are often deserted. Are we expecting women to feel safe using this one with opaque metal screens on both sides?” said urban transport planner Bhaumik Gowande. “British-era footpaths along this bridge used to be three metres wide, easily twice this width, if not more. I don’t know what contempt the BMC has for pedestrians that it feels like it is okay to treat us as scavengers to leave the crumbs after the private vehicles’ greed for space is fulfilled.” said Vedant Mhatre, programme director, Walking Project. Wadala locals up in arms Wadala locals staged a minor rail roko on Wednesday afternoon after learning about plans to close a shortcut used by trespassers. Railway officials had earlier built an FOB before closing the shortcut and putting up a public urinal at the spot. “The train was stopped for two minutes,” a Central Railway spokesperson said.
17 October,2024 08:00 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarAfter an 19-year-long legal battle and persistent follow-ups, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) partially demolished the encroachment and unauthorised alterations by a commercial establishment operating from two ‘illegally’ amalgamated residential flats on the premises of the Sukh Shanti building at Pedder Road, on Wednesday. While residents acknowledge that action was finally taken after nearly two decades, they expressed dissatisfaction, calling it incomplete and criticising the BMC for its prolonged inaction. The space has been rented out to designer Riyaz Gangji, who operates his fashion store—Libas—from the premises. Issue began in 2005 The story dates back to 2005, when the owner of one of the two flats in the eye of controversy, Dr Soneji, passed away. “Currently, the property in question includes two flats on the ground floor 1A and 2. The owner of flat 1A was one Dr Soneji, who passed away in January 2005, while flat no. 2 was owned by Nishant Mahimtura. Following Dr Soneji’s demise, Mahimtura broke the common wall and amalgamated the two flats. He also broke the front wall and turned it into showcase displays. Not only this but the common passage of the society building was encroached upon,” said Advocate Vijay Mishra, one of the lawyers representing Sukh Shanti CHS. “In 2005, after the residents questioned the illegal amalgamation of the flats, Mahimtura wrote to the residents of Sukh Shanti society that he is the legal heir of the deceased Dr Soneji,” Mishra added. On January 13, 2005, the residents registered a complaint with the Gamdevi police station, and a year later in January 2006, the residents filed a complaint with the BMC. The BMC issued its first notice to Mahimtura on January 24, 2006, and pulled down the illegal rolling shutter on January 27. “Even after this, the shutter was once again illegally constructed. It was pulled down again by the BMC in February 2006, and civic authorities also wrote to the local police. After this to and fro, we filed a petition at the city civil court,” said Advocate Kunal Patel, also representing Sukh Shanti CHS. Complaints, but no action Following multiple complaints filed with the BMC, the residents moved to the city civil court against the encroachment and unauthorised alterations in 2006. BMC’s D Ward office then issued a show cause notice to Mahimtura in June 2006, directed towards the unauthorised construction or alterations on the premises, which were carried out without the requisite permissions from the competent authority, in violation of Sections 342 and 347 of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (MMC) Act. Following this, another notice was issued in July 2006, asking Mahimtura to remove the encroachments and alterations, and restore the flats to their original state. The BMC notice dated July 2006 stated: “You have neither produced any document within the stipulated time period nor complied with the said notice under Section 351 of the MMC Act referred above to show that the work of additions, alterations, and amalgamation of two ground-floor flats has been authorised by the commissioner. You are, therefore, directed to remove the unauthorised work carried out in flats nos. 1A and 2 and restore them to their original positions by providing the partition walls as in approved plans and by removing the rolling shutters (4 nos.), bathrooms and wooden cabins (2 nos.), fabrications, and amalgamations within seven days from the receipt of this order and to not change the use of flat nos. 1A and 2 i.e., residential to commercial. Failing this, the unauthorised work will be demolished departmentally at your risk and cost. You shall further note that under Section 475-A(a) of the MMC Act you are liable to be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three months but may extend to three years and with a fine which shall not be less than Rs 10,000 but may extend to Rs 50,000, and in the case of continuing offence, with a further daily fine which may extend to Rs 1,000.” Following this, the city civil court passed an order stating that the BMC could proceed as required under Section 351 of the MMC Act. Residents of Sukh Shanti have long expressed frustration with the BMC’s delayed action, blaming the civic body for failing to uphold its mandate and take timely corrective measures. They claim that while the partial demolition is a step in the right direction, it falls short of fully addressing the illegal encroachment. “Despite this, no concrete action was taken against the violators and violations, and encroachments continued. We moved the Bombay High Court and filed a writ petition in August 2006. The Bombay High Court directed the BMC to take action against the violation. The case remained pending and came for hearing on October 1, 2024, and the court was appalled to find out that no concrete action was taken,” said Tejas Dharia, chairman of Sukh Shanti CHS. ‘BMC action an eyewash’ While the BMC has now taken action, residents continue to voice concerns about the incomplete nature of the demolition, accusing the corporation of dragging its feet for years and allowing the encroachment to persist. Many are calling for full demolition of the unauthorised construction and a complete restoration of the building’s residential integrity. “Only after the court asked the BMC to file an affidavit on the action taken on October 18, on Wednesday, they conducted a partial demolition. This can’t be called actual action,” expressed Inder Kumar Nigotia, secretary of Sukh Shanti CHS. Dharia added, “They just cleared the encroachment in the common passage, the display window remains as it is. It is indeed an incomplete action.” Reaction to BMC action Reacting to demolition on the common passage of the building and the allegations, well-known fashion designer Riyaz Gangji said, “Yes there was a notice issued to us in 2007 by BMC under Section 351. However, Mahimtura was later acquitted of all these allegations. Suddenly, after so many years, they have moved the court. We are filing a contempt case in the Bombay High Court against the society office bearers and the BMC for acting on a notice issued in 2007, which actually does not stand anymore in 2024. The society office bearers have misled both the court and the BMC. On the other hand, the BMC came in with the old notice and demolished the common passage. How legal is that?” Reacting to Gangji’s allegation of society office bearers misleading the court and BMC, advocate Mishra said: “We have the HC order of October 1, 2024, which supersedes any prior orders, including the one from the Metropolitan Magistrate. The Metropolitan Magistrate’s order only provides Mahimtura relief from criminal liability under Section 351 of the MMC Act, which pertains to imprisonment. But, Section 351 has two parts: one is the civil liability for demolition of unauthorised structures, and the other is criminal liability. While Mahimtura was granted relief from imprisonment for lack of evidence, the demolition of illegal structures remains. Only the HC has the authority to set aside the civil aspect under Section 351, not the Metropolitan Court. I hope this clarifies the distinction between criminal and civil liabilities in this case.” HC orders in the case September 27, 2007The court directed BMC to demolish all illegal encroachments and alterations in flats 1A and 2. This decision followed the rejection of a building proposal by the executive engineer, with no further proposal pending. The demolition was to be completed within two weeks. October 1, 2024The court gave additional opportunity to Mahimtura, who failed to appear, by postponing the hearing to October 18. Meanwhile, the BMC was instructed to update the court on the implementation of the earlier order dated September 27, 2007.
17 October,2024 07:41 AM IST | Mumbai | Dipti Singh
The wave of bomb threats to Indian flights continued for a third day running, with a new trend emerging in how these threats are communicated. A total of 18 bomb threats targeted various airlines, forcing several flights to divert, delay, or make emergency landings. Unlike previous incidents, where hoax phone calls were made, the recent threats were issued via social media, often from unverified accounts—a shift in tactics by those behind these disruptions. Mumbai police detained one minor for making three bomb threats on October 14. The threats caused panic at multiple airports and prompted an immediate response from security agencies. A source from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) told mid-day, “This seems to be a new trend. It has never happened before where such threats were posted on social media.” The source added, “This creates panic among the general public, as anything posted on social media is accessible to everyone, unlike emails or phone calls. Earlier, only airlines, airports, and security agencies were aware of such threats, making it easier to control panic.” An Indigo aircraft from Saudi Arabia after it made an emergency landing following a bomb threat at Jaipur airport on Tuesday. Pic/PTI When asked if this was an attempt to stretch the resources of various stakeholders thin, the source disclosed, “Fortunately, the threats were not made to multiple flights on the same sector. Each airport has space constraints, and the number of isolation bays is limited. If multiple flights in the same sector had been targeted, they would have had to be diverted to other airports for security screening. This could be an attempt to stretch resources, but at this point, nothing is certain.” Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu issued a statement saying, “I am deeply concerned over these recent disruptive acts targeting Indian airlines, affecting both domestic and international operations. In response, I chaired a high-level committee on October 14, comprising officials from the DGCA, BCAS, CISF, and the Ministries of Home and Civil Aviation.” He added, “I am monitoring the situation regularly, and our law enforcement agencies are actively pursuing all cases. Mumbai police have arrested a minor responsible for issuing bomb threats targeting three flights. All others responsible will be identified and prosecuted.” Zulfiquar Hasan, director general of BCAS, told mid-day, “Indian skies are absolutely safe. The police are working to identify the culprits,” adding, “We are confident of tracing all those behind these threats, and strict action under the law will be taken.” Minor detained Mumbai police’s Cyber Crime Cell detained a minor for issuing three bomb threats to airlines on October 14. All three flights were set to depart from Mumbai airport. Manish Kalwania, DCP (Cyber Crime), said in a media briefing, “After an FIR was registered at Sahar police station, we received information that the culprit was in Chhattisgarh. Our team went there and discovered that a minor was involved in the threats. A notice was served to the minor’s parents, and the child was brought to the juvenile justice board. The minor is now in a remand home for further investigation.” He added, “We have also called another individual for questioning. The minor had used this individual’s photograph on the social media account from which the threats were issued. The two know each other and were involved in some financial matters. It is unclear whether the minor acted alone or at the behest of this individual.” Lawyer Speaks “According to section 113(3) and 197(1)(d) of BNS and section 18 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), the punishment for such offences can be between 5 years and life imprisonment. It cannot be below 5 years,” said Advocate Siddharth Chandrashekhar. Flights that received threats October 14Air India AI119: Mumbai to New York – diverted to Canada due to bomb threat.IndiGo 6E57: Mumbai to Jeddah – halted before takeoff.IndiGo 6E1275: Mumbai to Muscat – stopped on the runway before departure. October 15Air India AI172: Delhi to Chicago – diverted to Canada after bomb threat.SpiceJet SG116: Darbhanga to Mumbai – made an emergency landing in Mumbai.Air India Express IX684: Madurai to Singapore – escorted by fighter jets, landed safely in Singapore.Akasa QP1373: Bagdogra to Bangalore – given priority landing in Bangalore.Air India Express IX765: Jaipur to Ayodhya – made a high-priority landing in Ayodhya.IndiGo 6E98: Dammam to Lucknow – diverted to Jaipur. October 16Air India Express IX437: Kochi to Dubai – landed in Dubai under high alert.Alliance Air 9I770: Kolkata to Guwahati – made a priority landing in Guwahati.IndiGo 6E651: Mumbai to Delhi – landed in Delhi on a high-priority basis.Air India AI302: Delhi to San Francisco – disrupted, landed on high priority.IndiGo 6E74: Riyadh to Mumbai – diverted to Muscat.IndiGo 6E1011: Mumbai to Singapore – landed safely in Singapore with priority.IndiGo 6E515: Chennai to Lucknow – forced to return to Chennai.SpiceJet SG116: Darbhanga to Mumbai – emergency landing in Mumbai (second threat in three days).SpiceJet SG124: Leh to Delhi – landed in Delhi on high priority.
17 October,2024 07:40 AM IST | Mumbai | Prasun ChoudhariCivic chief Bhushan Gagrani on Wednesday said guidelines for voting during the Assembly elections would remain the same as those for the Lok Sabha polls. One of the rules that had garnered opposition earlier was use of mobile phones not being allowed within 100 metres of polling booths. “We discussed this with ECI but they were clear that the rule stands,” Gagrani said. Gagrani held a press conference about preparedness for the Maharashtra Assembly polls. The state will vote on November 20. In light of the issue of long queues at polling stations during the Lok Sabha polls, EC has decided to reduce the number of voters in each ward from 1,500 to 1,250. The average number of voters for each booth will be 800 to 1,000. “We have reduced number of voters for every booth to avoid long queues. So, regular booths might be changed. Officers will visit every household to share information about polling booths,” Gagrani said. The total number of polling stations in the city and suburbs are 2,537 and 7,574 respectively. Be a smart voter >> Find information about candidates on the Election Commission’s Know Your Candidate app.>> Register complaints about code of conduct violations on the cVIGIL app; you can also call 100.>> One can register or get their names corrected on the voter list till October 18 at https://voters.eci.gov.in
17 October,2024 07:39 AM IST | Mumbai | Sameer SurveAlong with DyCMs Devendra Fadnavis (BJP) and Ajit Pawar (NCP), CM Shinde released a report card featuring a brief comparative analysis of the Mahayuti and MVA’s performance in terms of economic growth, urban and rural infrastructure development, foreign direct and local investment, welfare schemes for farmers, women, and various social sectors, public health, employment, government services, and more. “One needs guts to present a report card. We presented our report card because we have done work that changed lives. We have made the state number one again. In their (MVA) times, the state was pushed down in the ranking,” said Shinde, blaming the Thackeray government for stalling projects. “Metro-3 could begin because we came to power. If they were in power, the project could have taken another 10 years. It was because of their ego that the project cost escalated by R17,000 cr. We could have given more money to our sisters if the money was saved,” Shinde said. (Frome left) Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis, CM Eknath Shinde and DyCM Ajit Pawar during the release of report card in Mumbai. Pic/Shadab Khan According to Shinde, Fadnavis and Pawar, the Opposition had lost its bearing because of imminent defeat in the November 20 elections. The joint press conference that was held a day after the model code came into force, kicked off Mahayuti’s poll campaign. Fadnavis said the energy department’s initiative of providing uninterrupted solar-generated power to the farmers during the daytime would save the state R10,000 cr in power purchase costs and another Rs 5,000 cr in subsidy. He said the power bill for farmers was also waived because of the savings made. He counted the water resources department’s river grid project as a measure to mitigate water scarcity in Marathwada. “Nothing is on paper. The projects are in a tendering process,” he said, adding that the government had covered as many communities in terms of economic development corporations. Pawar dismissed the Opposition’s allegation that the state coffers were being emptied for implementing populist schemes. “They can’t digest the success of Ladki Bahin Yojna. We have made budgetary provisions for the scheme. It will be a permanent scheme,” he said, recalling how the Congress had not fulfilled the assurance of power bill waiver in the 2004 elections that were fought when Sushilkumar Shinde was the CM. Fadnavis wondered why the Opposition had promised to increase the amount of cash transfers and other schemes. “What wills they do with their promise? They should first decide whether the state has the money or not,” he said. The home minister questioned the Opposition for a law and order situation when the MVA was in power. “The people whose home minister was in jail are now telling us about law and order. It was these people under whom the police planted bombs near the industrialists’ house and killed a person who knew about it,” he said. Talk about rate card: Patole Reacting to Mahayuti’s report card, state Congress president Nata Patole said the CM should talk about a ‘rate card’. Patole accused the government of plundering the state at the behest of (Narendra) Modi and (Amit) Shah, turning the state into nothing more than an ATM for the duo. “Large projects that were intended for Maharashtra were diverted to Gujarat, while Shinde, Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar remained silent. The Shinde government’s claims are all made up. Maharashtra, which was number one in the Congress regime, is trailing behind other states in terms of development in the past two years,” Patole said. “Only ‘beloved industrialists and contractors’ have benefited under the BJP-alliance government, while farmers and the common people have suffered immensely. Maharashtra’s self-respecting citizens will not allow the treacherous, anti-Maharashtra, mahabrashtrayuti to return to power,” added Patole. “Important land parcels in Mumbai have been handed over to their beloved industrialists, and tenders after tenders have been issued to benefit contractors, all while the government reaped profits quietly for the past two years,” he said. Will scrap land for Adani: Aaditya Thackeray Yuva Sena president Aaditya Thackeray told a press conference that it was time for a ‘deport card’ for the Shinde government. The decisions that were taken for the friends of the government, will be scrapped when MVA comes to power, he said, adding, “The cabinet meetings held over the last two-three months were taken only for Adani. We should understand what is hidden behind the decisions and schemes that supposedly were taken for the welfare of the people. In all 1080 acres of Mumbai land has been given free of cost to Adani Group in the name of Dharavi redevelopment. The construction of almost 7,00,000 sq ft outside of Dharavi, will earn almost Rs 1,00,000 crore for Adani, but no revenue for Mumbai,” he said. According to Thackeray, 1.5 lakh families in Dharavi will be ineligible and forced to buy homes in Mulund, Kurla, Deonar, Madh, Kanjurmarg, and Bhandup. “Who is it being developed for? Only because Eknath Shinde and BJP cannot win Mumbai, their best way is to hand over Mumbai free of cost to their owner. Maharashtra has to realise how Mumbai is being handed over to Adani, only because they can’t directly break it away from Maharashtra, or win politically. We will scrap the add-on incentives/ benefits that go above and beyond the tender, including the incentives in the tender like TDR and premium waivers for Adani. We will scrap the proposed PAPs and PTCs across Mumbai, that is the looting of land, in the name of redevelopment,” he said, adding that the Ladki Bahin and toll waiver could have been given much earlier, not ahead of the polls. BJP ally breaks away Mahadev Jankar, the chief of Rashtriya Samaj Paksha and a leader of the Dhangar community, announced on Wednesday that he has broken ties with the BJP. Jankar, who was a cabinet minister in the Devendra Fadnavis government, became an MLC after losing to Supriya Sule in the Baramati Lok Sabha election in 2014. He was given prominence in the NDA due to his influence within the Dhangar community. Earlier this year, he lost again, this time from the Parbhani Lok Sabha constituency. Jankar stated that his party plans to contest as many of the 288 Assembly seats as possible. His departure is significant amid the Dhangar community's ongoing protests for a quota in the Scheduled Tribes category.
17 October,2024 07:36 AM IST | Mumbai | Dharmendra JoreThane District Collector Ashok Shingare said on Wednesday that he will take corrective measures after the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Rajiv Kumar, voiced his concern over poor voter turnout in urban constituencies, including Thane and Colaba. “We are really concerned about urban apathy. We want to appeal to all voters in urban areas to come and vote. It is not a healthy trend, which is reflected,” CEC Kumar said as he announced on Tuesday the poll schedules for Maharashtra. “Look at Gurgaon, look at Faridabad, recently, last election Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, Bengaluru South, Gandhinagar, Colaba, Pune, Thane... all are much below state averages of each state,” he said. Kumar noted that in Maharashtra, voter turnout in 62 of the 64 urban assembly constituencies was less than the state average in 2019, as was the case in Lok Sabha elections. Shingare said the factors leading to the lower voting numbers have been identified and they would be addressed. “We are all set for the election and ready to face any challenge,” he added. Thane has 71,55,728 voters, including 33,41,070 women and 1,394 from the third gender. Of the total voters, 57,209 are above the age of 85, while 1,65,597 are in the age group of 18-19. Shingare said that as the state goes to polls, a total of 6,894 polling booths will be set up in 2,268 locations, including 252 in slum colonies and 337 in housing society premises, for the convenience of voters. Maharashtra will go to the polls on November 20, and counting of votes will take place on November 23.
17 October,2024 07:20 AM IST | Mumbai | AgenciesNow that’s a good buoy! A group of boys use waste material as a makeshift boat as they paddle away in the waters off Badhwar Park in Colaba Celebrating words in Shillong Artiste Dot performs at a previous edition of the fest For the first time, Kommune’s annual spoken word festival will head east, to Shillong on November 20. “One of the major reasons for our expansion is because of their cultural significance and vibrant artist communities. Shillong is a hub for performing arts, especially music; thus, it has been a very exciting space for us,” its founder Roshan Abbas (inset), told us. Teaming up with the Cherry Blossom Festival, the event will feature local artistes and also have programming in Hindi, Khasi and English languages. “A festival grows with its audience, and we are hoping to be present in more Indian cities as well as an international edition in the next two years,” he shared. Swift jams with Styles in Parel A moment from an earlier performance. Pics courtesy/Instagram City-based band ONEmpire is planning a tribute concert to Taylor Swift and Harry Styles at Lower Parel this Saturday, When Harry Met Taylor, in which they will blend tracks by both pop stars. The performers include Zarir Warden, Karen D’Souza, and Samantha Fernandes on vocals; Vedansh Tripathi on drums; Ralph Godinho playing bass; Garth D’Mello on keyboard; and Gavin Cason playing the guitar. “The line-up will showcase popular tracks like Love Story and Watermelon Sugar,” Warden told this diarist, adding that they are keen to take the tour to other cities like Delhi, Chennai, and Hyderabad. Sea and learn in Bandra Sea Lost, a collage made using 100-year -old paper; (right) Gary Curzai When was the last time you heard waves crashing? For a community in the 1970s, it was right outside their homes — until it wasn’t. ReClaimation, an exhibition, plays on the word reclamation, often linked to gaining land, but here it reflects a profound loss of land, livelihood, and culture. Through multimedia formats, the exhibition documents the stories of those affected by Bandra’s reclamation. “It aims to show the connection of Bandra with the sea, record the memories of Koli families, to make people aware of the impact of the reclamation and encourage reflection on sustainable development,” said Gary Curzai, art director of Indo Anglo studio. The exhibition features five installations created over a period of two weeks by brothers Gary and Liam Curzai, both East Indian Kolis. “We grew up hearing stories from our elders, for whom the sea was everything. We’ve transformed these stories of trauma into various art mediums,” added Gary. Shormistha Mukherjee led the documentation of the stories and conceptualisation of the exhibition. The display will be featured as a part of the Artworks Fest at Bandra’s Pioneer Hall on October 19. Let’s say it in Devanagari Artists of the Aerosol Intelligence crew create the grafitti in Marol If you’re heading from Marol to Aarey by road, chances are, you might spot a striking graffiti mural in freestyle Devanagari created at the entry of Aarey below the SEEPZ bridge “I have used Devanagari instead of English because it suits my name and gives my work a better flow. I also wanted to break away from the Westernisation associated with graffiti, and tap into the essence of my native language, Hindi,” explained graffiti artist Dkrypt. Two new members of the Aerosol Intelligence crew Carter and Aeon, collaborated with Dkrypt to create this vibrant art piece. “Our crew aims to bring second-generation graffiti writers under one unified banner in Mumbai,” he added. The artists used similar colours to ensure a cohesive flow while preserving their individual styles. “I will be representing India at the upcoming Graff for Nation exhibition organised by the National Art Gallery Malaysia where I will showcase my signature Masala Flow style in Devanagari graffiti,” he revealed. Art for a cause An illustration by Anjali Menon, a participant at an earlier edition Khar-based NGO Point of View and Signable App are collaborating for a giveaway, Constellation of Love and Trust. Signable connects people with hearing disabilities with certified sign language professionals. The initiative is a celebration of the artistic expression of the participants’ unique experiences. The artworks can be submitted by today. Three winners will receive a copy of the illustrated book, Skin Stories, an anthology of personal narratives by people with disabilities. “People with disabilities from across India can participate by submitting the artworks in any form like poetry, painting, or a film,” said Shazia Qureshi (inset), project anchor for disability at Point of View.
17 October,2024 06:56 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-dayDo 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 October 17. Aries March 21 – April 20No excuse will be accepted; showing results is what is expected. Drive with awareness.Cosmic tip: Don’t take someone you love for granted. Love has to be worked at to strengthen and maintain it. Taurus April 21 – May 20Tackle a major chunk of work depending on whether you work best in the morning or from late afternoon. Some inner reflection helps make wise decisions. Cosmic tip: Don’t react impulsively to a statement. GeminiMay 21 – June 21Being prepared with diplomatic answers; but at the last minute the truth just tumbles out, which stresses you even more.Cosmic tip: Remember the world doesn’t stop for anyone. People carry on with life. Cancer June 22 – July 23The mind works on all cylinders allowing you to complete work quickly. A friend calls; the conversation ends in an argument.Cosmic tip: Let today (and every day) be the best day of life. Leo July 24 - Aug 23Rapport with a younger family member heals. A change of residence is revealed for some (this could be a holiday, too). Health is good.Cosmic tip: Be willing to change the manner of working. Virgo Aug 24 – Sept 23A new karmic cycle brings with it some changes where there’s a necessity to be diplomatic and appreciative.Cosmic tip: Remember, true change happens from within, so introspect till you get answers. Libra Sept 24 – Oct 22No matter how careful you are about expenses, they still catch you unawares.Cosmic tip: Don’t expect life to be permanently good or bad, as it is in a constant change of flux and movement. Scorpio Oct 23 – Nov 22Being one step ahead of competition is due to adopting unusual solutions and advice to clients. Cosmic tip: Take care of small points first, as these eventually complete the whole project seamlessly eventually. Sagittarius Nov 23 – Dec 22A difference of opinion goes in your favour since you know proper rules and regulations (your information and knowledge is amazing). Take care of family obligations happily.Cosmic tip: Listen to intuition with faith. Capricorn Dec 23 – Jan 20Fighting for your space in the hierarchy ladder isn’t necessary since you’ve proved yourself repeatedly.Cosmic tip: Indulge your favourite hobby of observing people while sitting quietly in a corner. Aquarius Jan 21 – Feb 19Success isn’t all about how much money you make, but also the difference you make in people’s lives. There’s a celebration at work. Cosmic tip: Spend the evening at home, enjoying family time together. Pisces Feb 20 – March 20Strength and growth only come through conscious effort and struggle, so keep up the good work. Some receive intimation for an interview. Cosmic tip: Avoid overdoing it when trying to impress someone.
17 October,2024 12:52 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirley BoseIn the lead-up to the Maharashtra Assembly election, Deputy Chief Minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis has targeted the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), stating that the ruling Mahayuti does not need to announce a candidate for the chief ministerial position, as Eknath Shinde is the incumbent Chief Minister, news agency ANI reported. During a press conference on Wednesday, Fadnavis asserted, "The Mahayuti doesn't need to announce a CM face; our chief minister is sitting here. I challenge (Sharad) Pawar Saheb to announce their candidate for the CM post." Fadnavis further critiqued the opposition, and said, "The MVA is not announcing a CM face because they don’t believe their candidate can win after the elections. "The alliance whose home minister went to jail for accepting a bribe of Rs 100 crore, who planted bombs outside a businessman's house, and who detained journalists, is now telling us about law and order. Nirbhaya Squad vehicles were used to escort their leaders while they were in power. Those who were most negligent about women's safety should not lecture us on how to protect our women," Fadnavis slammed the previous MVA government. "We have announced all the schemes, made financial provisions, and not only that, we will also introduce new schemes and benefits for everyone in our manifesto," he added. "I assure you that all schemes and promises made by us will have full financial backing, and no scheme will lack support from our side. Initially, when we announced the Ladki Bahin Yojana, the opposition claimed that money wouldn't be deposited in the accounts. However, so far, at least four to five instalments have been deposited into the accounts of more than 2.5 crore beneficiaries in our state," he said. Presenting two-year report card: Eknath Shinde CM Eknath Shinde also spoke at the press conference, stating, "Our two years of work and performance represent the face of our alliance. MVA should announce their candidate as the leader of the opposition." Shinde further remarked, "We are presenting our performance card for the past two years. It’s no small feat to present such a detailed report card after two years in government; it requires substantial performance." Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde, along with Deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, unveiled the 'Mahayuti' government report card during their joint press conference in Mumbai. RPI(A) chief and Union Minister Ramdas Athawale was also present, ANI reported. The Maharashtra Assembly elections will be held in a single phase on 20 November, the Election Commission of India announced on Tuesday, 15 October. This has prompted political parties to gear up for an election that will be unprecedented in many ways. Earlier, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray sidestepped questions regarding the MVA's chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming assembly polls. He stated that the MVA would announce its candidate only after the ruling Mahayuti does the same, ANI reported. "Let the Mahayuti announce their CM face first, then we will inform you who our CM face is. As the ruling government, the Mahayuti should declare their candidate first," Thackeray said during a press briefing in Mumbai on 13 October. Maharashtra Assembly election on November 20 Last month, Pawar commented that there was no need for the MVA to announce a chief ministerial candidate ahead of the elections, asserting that the coalition would contest under a collective leadership. "There is no obstacle in not announcing the CM's face. We don’t need to think about it now. The leader should be decided based on the numbers. There’s no need to make any arrangements before the elections," Pawar stated. The Election Commission has announced the schedule for the Maharashtra Assembly election. According to the election panel, polling will take place in a single phase on 20 November, with results declared on 23 November. Key dates include the notification on 22 October, the last date for nominations on 29 October, scrutiny on 30 October, and the last date for withdrawal on 4 November. Shinde expressed strong confidence in the Mahayuti alliance’s success in the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly election, stating that the outcomes of welfare schemes would be reflected in the poll results. Addressing the opposition’s concerns regarding the Election Commission and the integrity of electronic voting machines (EVMs), Shinde remarked, "When the opposition wins, they praise the EVMs, the Election Commission, and the courts. But when the results aren’t in their favour, they criticise the EVMs. The people of Maharashtra recognise that the opposition is being hypocritical in claiming the EVMs and the Election Commission are flawed. We approach elections with confidence, energy, and a focus on development." In the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly election, the Congress and the unified Shiv Sena won 154 out of 288 seats as part of the MVA coalition. This time, however, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and Congress have allied to counter the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti alliance. In the Lok Sabha elections held this year, MVA won 30 of the state's 48 Lok Sabha seats, while the ruling alliance secured 17. One seat went to an Independent candidate. (With ANI inputs)
16 October,2024 10:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe entire city will face 5-10 per cent water cut on Thursday and Friday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said. Water supply to Mumbai city and suburbs is primarily sourced from the Vaitarna Dam. A malfunction has occurred at Tarali, Thane district, in the 900-mm-valve of the pipeline system which carries water from Vaitarna dam. "Immediate steps have been taken to repair the malfunction, and for this purpose, it is necessary to partially shut down the water conveyance system. Consequently, there has been a 5 to 10 per cent reduction in the supply to the Bhandup Water Treatment Plant, which supplies water to Greater Mumbai. As a result, a 5-10 per cent cut in water supply will be imposed across Mumbai from Thursday, October 17 to Friday, October 18," a BMC press release said. Citizens are requested to store adequate water and use it judiciously. "The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation administration appeals to all citizens to cooperate by conserving water during this period," the press release further stated. Water content in city lakes at 97.85 per cent On Tuesday, BMC stated that the water levels in Mumbai's seven reservoirs, which supply the city with potable water, reached 97.85 per cent. Based on data from BMC, the combined water stock of the Mumbai lakes stood at 14,16,194 million litres. Mumbai gets its water from the Upper and Middle Vaitarnas, Bhatsa, Tansa, Vihar, Tulsi, and Modak Sagar. The civic body's data on the Mumbai lakes indicates that Tansa's water level is 97.56 per cent. 100 per cent of the water stock is accessible at Upper Vaitarna lake. In Modak Sagar, 92.50 per cent of the portable water is available for use. Meanwhile, Middle Vaitarna has 99.67 per cent, Vihar has 99.47 per cent and Bhatsa has 97.52 per cent of the available useful water. In the wake of heavy rains, one more lake supplying water to Mumbai, Middle Vaitarna Lake, started overflowing on July 4. Lakes Vihar and Modak Sagar began to flood on July 25 due to persistently high rains. Around 4 pm on July 24, Tansa Lake started to overflow, increasing the amount of water stored in all seven reservoirs by 17 days in a single day. Approximately 400 million gallons of water are supplied to Mumbai by Tansa Lake, which is situated in the Shahpur region of Thane. On July 26, 2024, it overflowed.
16 October,2024 08:27 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) has introduced a free bus service along with loader service for baggage for Mumbai Metro-3 passengers to ease the journey between the Airport (A2 entry, west side) and T2 (P4 entry- pick up and drop). The 21-seater bus will run every 15 minutes, from 6.30 am to 11 pm from Mondays to Saturdays and from 8.15 am to 11 pm on Sundays. Meanwhile, Aqua Line 3 recorded a ridership of 1.55 lakh passengers in seven days, from October 7 to 13. While the new metro line saw 18,015 passengers on Day 1, on October 13, it recorded a ridership of 25,782 passengers. The phase-1 of city's first underground corridor, Mumbai Metro-3 (Aarey to Bandra-Kurla Complex) opened to the public on October 7. People came in a large number to experience the Aarey-BKC Metro Line 3 ride on its first day of operations which began at 11 am amid cheers from them. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on October 5, inaugurated the 12.69-km Mumbai Metro-3 stretch and travelled from BKC to Santacruz and back. During the Aarey-BKC Mumbai Metro-3 ride, PM Modi interacted with students, beneficiaries of the Maharashtra government's Ladki Bahin scheme, and labourers involved in the construction of the underground line. MMRC is in charge of the 33.5 km Colaba-SEEPZ-Aarey project. Aarey-BKC Metro Line 3 services will run from 6.30 am to 10.30 pm, Monday to Saturday, and from 8.30 am to 10.30 pm on Sundays. Fares for the Aqua Line range from Rs 10 to Rs 50. The BKC to Aarey stretch has 10 stations: BKC, Bandra Colony, Santacruz, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) T1, Sahar Road, CSMIA T2, Marol Naka, Andheri, SEEPZ, and Aarey Colony JVLR. Of these, only Aarey JVLR station is above ground, while the others are underground. The Aqua Line is Mumbai’s fourth Metro corridor, following the Ghatkopar-Andheri-Versova Line 1, Andheri West-Dahisar Line 2A, and Andheri East-Dahisar Line 7.
16 October,2024 06:40 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
