Mumbai: The road concretisation project, which was temporarily suspended during the four-month monsoon season, is set to resume next month. The BMC will first prioritise the completion of 574 roads, spanning 156.74 km, which were partially completed and secured before the onset of rains. In addition to these, 776 new roads, covering approximately 208.70 km, will also be taken up for concretisation in the upcoming phase.

So far, 49% of the total roads taken up under the BMC’s concretisation project have been completed, with nearly 64% completion recorded in the second phase.

As per civic data, over 771 roads covering 186 km have been fully completed, while 547 roads spanning 156.74 km remain partially completed. The concretisation work was halted after May 31 due to the onset of the monsoon. However, the work is now scheduled to resume from October 1, a senior civic official confirmed.

“To minimise disruption for citizens, we will carry out the road concretisation work in phases. Simultaneously, roads where work has not yet commenced will also be taken up,” according to an official.

Phase I of the project is targeted for completion by May 2026, while Phase II is expected to witness substantial progress, with full execution likely by the first half of 2027.

Meanwhile, following public criticism over road concretisation work in certain areas, the BMC has launched a public dashboard to enhance transparency and accountability.

The portal allows citizens to track the status of the concretisation project, providing key details such as the contractor’s name, start and expected completion dates, and other relevant information for each road earmarked for concretisation.

Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has made a significant acquisition, purchasing a 4.61-acre land parcel in Nariman Point, South Mumbai, from the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL) for ₹3,472 crore. This transaction is one of the largest land deals in India in 2023, and the prime location near key government and corporate institutions enhances its long-term value.

MMRCL initially intended to auction the property through a global tender, marking the first auction in Nariman Point since its establishment as a commercial district in the 1970s. However, the tender was halted after RBI expressed interest in expanding its headquarters in January.

The deal, registered on September 5, included a stamp duty of over ₹208 crore. For RBI, this acquisition expands its real estate holdings in Mumbai, where it already has properties, including its Mint Road headquarters. The new site is planned for institutional use, which will bolster the central bank’s presence in India’s financial hub.

MMRCL, responsible for developing metro projects in Mumbai, has been monetizing land in the area to support metro expansion efforts. Despite the development of new business hubs like Bandra-Kurla Complex and Lower Parel, experts emphasize that the RBI deal underscores Nariman Point’s enduring stature in the commercial real estate sector.

The concluded sale, which came after a failed auction attempt, also included a 90-year lease on the land at the significantly lower price of ₹3,471.82 crore compared to the reserve price of ₹5,173 crore set for the global bid. The acquisition aligns with RBI’s long-term strategy, as the organization has been looking for office spaces of at least 30,000 sq ft in South Mumbai for four years. The land has a buildable area of 1.6 million sq ft, with 113,500 sq ft designated for the relocation of previous occupants.

Part of the proceeds from the sale will assist MMRCL in repaying a loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for constructing the underground metro line, which has a revised cost of ₹37,276 crore, with a substantial portion financed by JICA. This acquisition reinforces Nariman Point’s significance in India’s real estate landscape, reflecting institutional confidence in Mumbai’s ongoing value as a financial center.

Mumbai: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday spoke to the Maharashtra tourists stranded in Nepal and assured them of all possible assistance to ensure their safe return.

According to officials, nearly 150 tourists from Maharashtra have been left stranded in Nepal due to ongoing violent protests led by Gen Z.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also assured the tourists stuck in Nepal that the state government is monitoring the situation and arrangements will be made to bring them back soon.

“I take the issue regarding the tourists stuck in Nepal seriously. I want to tell them to wait for a while till the situation becomes normal. We are monitoring the situation closely and will bring all of you back soon,” Banerjee said.

Apart from this, the Ahmedabad District Administration issued a helpline number for its citizens stuck in Nepal.

In a statement, Ahmedabad District Administration advised the citizens to contact the helpline number 079-27560511 for assistance. “If any citizens of Ahmedabad district are currently on a trip to Nepal, the district administration has requested their relatives to immediately inform the helpline number,” the press release from the Resident Additional Collector stated.

Notably, the death toll in the September 8 protest led by Gen-Z in Nepal has risen to 30, the Ministry of Health and Population announced on Wednesday evening.

Issuing a release, the Health Ministry stated that 1,033 injuries have been recorded nationwide, out of which 713 injured individuals have already been discharged, while 55 were referred to other facilities for further treatment.

Another 253 patients remain newly admitted. The Civil Service Hospital in Kathmandu is currently handling the largest caseload, treating 436 people. The National Trauma Centre is caring for 161 patients, and Everest Hospital is treating 109.

In all, 28 hospitals across the country are providing care to those affected, the ministry added. The protest under the banner of Gen-Z Nepal saw a spree of shooting by security forces as they tried to break into the parliament. Police indiscriminately fired upon protesters with live rounds, followed by tear gas.

On Tuesday, KP Oli resigned from his PM’s post as the protests turned violent in Nepal with demonstrators torching the Parliament Building, President’s office and several other government buildings.

The protests began on September 8 after the Nepal government imposed a ban on social media apps. However, the ban was just a triggering point to a widespread movemen that demanded an end to alleged institutionalised corruption and favouritism in governance.