Connect with us
Saturday,07-November-2026
Breaking News

Maharashtra

134 footpaths across Mumbai cleared of encroachments, total stretch of 197 km cleared: Commissioner Ashwini Bhide

Published

on

Mumbai: As part of the ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign launched by the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), various departments are carrying out a drive to remove encroachments to ensure safe, convenient and obstacle-free routes for pedestrians. In the first phase of this campaign, 134 out of 200 marked footpaths have been cleared of encroachments, effectively freeing a total area of ​​197 km. Moreover, action was taken against 94 unauthorised stalls on footpaths near Bhandup Railway Station (West) in the last two days. Under the guidance of Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, as per the directions of the High Court, the BMC is implementing the ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign to immediately remove unauthorised hawkers and encroachments from footpaths across Mumbai. Commissioner Bhide has directed the Additional Municipal Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners to ensure strict implementation of this campaign. She is also personally reviewing the progress made in each administrative ward and the actions taken by various departments within these wards. The municipal administration has appealed to the business community and citizens of Mumbai to cooperate in this campaign. The ‘Pedestrian First’ (Padachari Pratham) campaign has been launched in Mumbai to make footpaths accessible to pedestrians. Accordingly, emphasis has been placed on removing obstructions from footpaths in areas with heavy pedestrian traffic such as the areas around Bhandup railway station. In the first phase, encroachments are being removed from 14 footpaths in Bhandup area. The work of removing encroachments from about 11 of these footpaths has already started. The operation was conducted under the guidance of Additional Municipal Commissioner (Eastern Suburbs) Dr. Avinash Dhakane, Deputy Commissioner (Zone 6) Mr. Santosh Kumar Dhonde and Assistant Commissioner (S-Ward) Samrin Syed.

The operation has cleared the way for pedestrians to and from Bhandup Railway Station. This will help in reducing traffic and pedestrian congestion during peak hours. Moreover, citizens will now have access to an obstacle-free footpath leading from Bhandup Railway Station area towards Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg. The operation involved 5 JCBs, 10 dumpers, over 50 officers and staff members, 100 labourers, and over 70 police personnel. Along with the ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign, ‘S’ ward is also making special efforts to eliminate ‘garbage vulnerable spots’ (GVPs) which are prone to accumulation of large quantities of garbage.

Appeal to business owners and citizens
The Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) administration appeals to citizens to remember that footpaths are designed for the safe and easy movement of pedestrians. Do not create obstructions by placing unauthorized shops, stalls, structures or any other material on the footpaths. The corporation is continuously taking action to keep the footpaths clean under the ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign, and strict action will be taken against violators as per the rules. The campaign was carried out at 1,459 locations in the municipal corporation areas. In the first phase of this campaign, encroachments will be removed from 200 footpaths. Out of these, work has been completed on 134. Nearly 197 km of footpaths have been cleared of obstructions, with enforcement actions being carried out at 1,459 locations. The campaign is being carried out in all 26 administrative wards of the Municipal Corporation.

Maharashtra

Man steals gold chain from Mumbai jewellery shop posing as customer, arrested in Delhi; stolen item recovered.

Published

on

Mira Bhayandar: MBVV Cops Scan 100 CCTV Cameras To Bust Interstate Robber Gang; 5 Arrested Within 36 Hours Of Vasai Courier Agency Heist

On November 15, 2025, within the jurisdiction of the Kandivali Police Station, an unidentified individual entered ‘Padmavati Jewellers’—located on Mathuradas Road, Kandivali West, Mumbai—posing as a customer. Under the pretext of trying on a gold chain weighing 43.2 grams, the individual took the item, stepped out of the shop, and fled. The complainant, 50-year-old Priti Deepak Sakariya, filed a report. A case was registered at the Kandivali Police Station (Case No. 878/2025) under Section 305(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). During the investigation, the investigating officer, Sandeep Gorde, and his team examined CCTV footage from the scene and the surrounding area. They managed to obtain the Aadhaar card details and mobile number of the suspect who had entered the shop. Although the mobile number was found to be inactive and there was no initial information regarding the suspect’s whereabouts, the team utilized technical investigation methods to track him down. He was subsequently taken into custody in the Uttam Nagar area of ​​New Delhi. During interrogation, the accused revealed that he had hidden the stolen gold chain at his home; the item was subsequently recovered. The accused is currently in police custody. Investigations are ongoing to determine if he has committed similar offenses in the past. The arrested accused is Satish Kumar Krishan Prasad Keshari, aged 42, with no specified occupation, residing at RZB-17, Mahendra Park, Uttam Nagar, Dwarka District, New Delhi. The police are conducting further investigation into the matter. The case was investigated under the instructions of DCP Sandeep Ghuge.

Continue Reading

Maharashtra

Objection Even to the Birth of Muslim Children? Political Controversy Over Somaiya’s Remarks, Demand for a Population Control Committee.

Published

on

Mumbai : BJP leader Kirit Somaiya has raised objections regarding the birth rate of Muslim children in Mumbai. Expressing concern over these figures, he claimed that by 2051, the Muslim population could surpass that of the majority community—the Hindus. On the platform ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), Somaiya stated that for every three Hindu children born, two Muslim children are born. He noted that over the past five years, 336,525 Hindu children and 220,754 Muslim children were born in Mumbai. Somaiya further stated that he has requested Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to establish a ‘Demographic Balance Committee’ to prevent Mumbai from becoming a “Muslim Mumbai.” In his tweet, he also alleged a conspiracy to transform Mumbai into a “Muslim Mumbai” and, citing deep concern over the birth rate of Muslim children, urged the Chief Minister to form a committee to implement population control measures.

Continue Reading

Maharashtra

Major Gadchiroli Police Operation Against Maoists, Hidden Explosives Recovered

Published

on

The Maoist ideology has now been eradicated from the Gadchiroli district, and its residents are finally free from the terror that once loomed over them. In the past, Maoists would use various weapons and explosive materials to threaten security forces and carry out subversive activities. Taking advantage of remote, forest-covered areas situated along state borders, they would prepare these materials and bury them underground in secret locations. Their objective was to use these stockpiles to launch attacks on security forces during specific periods—such as ‘Naxal weeks’—or throughout the electoral process. Taking decisive action against this threat, the Gadchiroli Police successfully recovered these hidden materials on November 4, 2026.

According to details, the Gadchiroli Police received intelligence that Maoists had concealed explosives in the forest area of ​​’Tavve,’ which falls under the jurisdiction of the Garapatti Police Station. Acting on this information, and under the guidance of Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police (SP) M. Ramesh, a search operation was launched on November 4, 2026. The operation involved four units from the ‘Special Operation Squad’ (covering Gadchiroli and Pranhita) and two teams from the ‘Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad’ (BDDS). During a search operation conducted by the ‘Special Operation Squad’ (SOS) and the ‘Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad’ (BDDS) in a forested area, the following items were recovered from the site: 1) 11 pressure cookers (intended for use as improvised explosive devices), 2) 3 bundles (100 feet) of Cordtex wire, 3) 3 kilograms of gunpowder, 4) 4 detonators, 5) a 12-volt battery, 6) 250 grams of pyrotechnic powder (used in fireworks), 7) 4 steel containers, 8) 8 bundles of wire, 9) a solar panel, along with other materials linked to Maoist activities.

The operation was successfully executed under the guidance and instructions of Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police (SP) M. Ramesh. It was carried out under the supervision of Additional SP (Operations) Kartik Madhera, Additional SP Shri Gokul Raj G., Additional SP Aheri (Pranhita) Harshvardhan B.J., and Deputy Superintendent of Police (Operations) Sunil Oike. Personnel from the ‘Special Operation Squad’ (Gadchiroli and Pranhita), the Intelligence Cell, and the ‘Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad’ (BDDS) participated in the operation. Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police M. Ramesh has commended the personnel who took part in the operation.

Continue Reading

Trending