Maharashtra
Mumbai suburban AC train ticket rates slashed by 50%

In a major move, Union Minister of State for Railways Raosaheb Danve-Patil announced a 50 per cent reduction in the commuter ticket rates for suburban air-conditioned trains services, here on Friday.
He made the announcement during a function at the Central Railway’s Byculla Station.
The move to slash the ticket rates is expected to make air-conditioned local train travel more popular among the Mumbai commuters, ahead of the upcoming BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation elections.
During a recent survey, the railways said that 98 per cent of the commuters found the AC train tickets rates too steep and 95 per cent wanted more AC trains to be run on the suburban sections.
Bharatiya Janata Party Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis welcomed the decision and said it would benefit Mumbai’s 85 lakh daily commuters — who use local trains to commute long distances between Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and Raigad.
Maharashtra
World’s Biggest Slum Redevelopment Project Takes Off

SVR SRINIVAS, the CEO of Dharavi Redevelopment Project, speaks to S BALAKRISHNAN about the super-gigantic mission. Explaining how everyone’s home and livelihood will remain intact, he says Dharavi is ‘Mini India’ and every faith and language will be respected without bulldozing the residents
The Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP) is the biggest urban renewal programme ever undertaken in the country. For the past several decades, there have been talks of redeveloping Asia’s largest slum, but this is the first time a concrete project, which is being jointly executed by the Maharashtra government and the Adani Group, has taken off the drawing stage, holding hope for lakhs of residents.
The sheer numbers are mind boggling. About 50% of the one million population might be eligible to be accommodated in Dharavi itself, while the remaining ineligible people will have to be relocated at different places in the metropolis. The total estimated cost is Rs96,000 crore and the project is to be executed over a period of seven years. The man at the centre of it all is SVR SRINIVAS, 59, a seasoned IAS officer of the 1991 batch, who is the CEO of DRP. He spoke exclusively to S BALAKRISHNAN on Wednesday.
When you took charge of the Dharavi project, what were the three main challenges you had in mind?
The first challenge was on-boarding the people, the residents of Dharavi. A project of this scale cannot happen without their involvement. Our approach is totally inclusive. So, the first step was to bring all the stakeholders together.
The second challenge was preparing a proper framework to attract market response. You see, this project had seen multiple failed bidding rounds in the past. It had earned the dubious distinction of being the world’s longestrunning bid process; going on for nearly 20 years!
The third challenge was to ensure livelihoods in Dharavi are protected. That required proper financial structuring, which was missing earlier.
So, to sum up:
■ Stakeholder integration
■ Financial structuring
■ Ensuring project viability and financial closure
This has been the longest-drawn project since the days of Rajiv Gandhi in 1985. What makes you confident it will succeed this time?
Let me answer in two ways. First, we’ve already seen half-success. Well begun is half done, they say. Work has started. Financial mobilisation has begun. India’s largest survey was conducted; we’ve finished about 85-90% of it. Survey work started today in Kumbharwada. So yes, it’s definitely moving forward, unlike earlier attempts.
Second, the stakeholders are onboarded now. There is still some resistance, but it is far less than before. Earlier, during the bidding stage, protests used to break out. Now, it’s more of a dialogue. The locals want to be heard, and our job is to listen and offer solutions. That’s what’s happening now.
The opposition has accused the government of “selling out” the project and displacing people. Please comment.
Not at all. In fact, I don’t even call this a ‘project’; it’s a movement. This is the most inclusive slum redevelopment scheme in Indian history. Our goal is simple: housing for all. For the first time, we’re giving homes to everyone – eligible or ineligible. Shops, factories, and commercial units are also being rehabilitated.
Normally, in Mumbai’s schemes, 50% are marked ineligible and left out. But here, even they are being accommodated. I won’t comment on politics, but yes, this is a brownfield project like no other. I’ve handled Mumbai Metro and other big projects, but nothing as complex as this. Also, this is the world’s largest urban renewal project.
What about livelihoods and the economy of Dharavi?
That’s central. Dharavi has a bubbling informal economy. We’re protecting it. Eligible residents will stay in Dharavi – homes, shops, businesses – all remain. Ineligible residents’ commercial units will also remain; they’ll only move residences outside, but their work continues in Dharavi. We had to go out-of-the-box for this – even suggested this to the chief minister, and he supported it.
So, ineligible people get to keep their business in Dharavi but move out for housing?
Yes. Due to legal constraints and court rulings, we cannot keep extending cutoff dates for eligibility. It would jeopardise the project’s viability. So, ineligible commercial operators can stay and run businesses in Dharavi, but their homes will be in rental housing nearby; with an option to buy. Eligible families get 350 sq ft homes in Dharavi. In some non-slum sectors, we’re even increasing units to 500 sq ft.
What about infrastructure – roads, sewage, water?
That’s part of our 3-tier focus:
■ Residential/Commercial/Industrial housing
■ Physical Infrastructure: Roads, sewage, water, electricity
■ Social Infrastructure: Schools, hospitals, community centres, temples, mosques, churches etc.
Today, Dharavi has 2-3 ft wide lanes, limited sunlight, and poor sanitation. We’re changing all that. The Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) is responsible for all construction, infrastructure, and handover to the Dharavi Redevelopment Authority.
Who bears the maintenance cost of these new buildings?
Great question. Usually, developers give Rs40,000 per tenement as a corpus. We felt that’s not enough. So, we introduced a new idea: 10% of every building’s area will be set aside as commercial units. Rent or sale income from this will go to the society for maintenance.
It’s a win-win situation. This is the first time such a model is being implemented. Ineligible people will be accommodated in rental housing units in Kurla, Malad and Mulund with buyout options. So no one is rendered homeless.
What about religious structures?
There will be no bulldozing. Whether it’s a temple, mosque, or church; we respect all faiths. A committee led by retired High Court judges is handling rehabilitation of religious structures and their staff. Dharavi is Mini India; every faith and every language exists here. We aim to consolidate and rebuild grand structures, with community consensus.
When will Phase I be complete?
The goal is seven years. Mumbai’s average slum project takes 15-20 years. But we can’t say ‘you’ll get your home in 25 years’. As John Maynard Keynes said, “In the long run, we’re all dead.” So, 7 years is a practical target. Maybe a year or two of delay, but I’m reasonably confident.
How important is communication in this process?
Extremely important. I recently met people from Kumbharwada and Andolan groups – many weren’t aware of the commercial continuity assurance. That shows we need more communication. This interview itself is part of that effort – to inform people.
Dharavi’s informal economy generates nearly $1 billion annually – leather, textiles, food, recycling, and electronics. But they’ve been trapped in a lowinvestment cycle due to uncertainty. This project offers permanence, which unlocks confidence, investments, and growth. Our master plan includes dedicated industrial hubs. So yes, it’s a social engineering and economic upliftment project. We’re working hard to make this vision a reality.
Strong resident response as survey nears completion
Toll-free helpline registers 300 calls in past 30 days for eligibility survey
As the survey phase of the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP) comes to an end, a significant number of residents, who had earlier missed or had not participated, are calling the project’s toll-free helpline for inclusion.
Out of 700 calls received in the past month, nearly 41% enquiries were related to requests to complete the door-to-door/ household survey, a crucial step in the redevelopment process to decide eligibility. This response highlights the palpable anxiety among residents about missing out on the redevelopment scheme and foregoing its housing benefits.
As only a few tenements and communities remain who have volunteered to exclude themselves from the eligibility survey like the Kumbharwada, Compound 13, a handful tenements on private lands in various slum pockets, it is a sign that residents are sensing time is slipping away. Despite initial resistance, Kumbharwada residents have started volunteering to get their tenements numbered in the past two days.
“We are heartened by the volume and quality of engagement we are receiving from the residents. The fact that nearly half of the calls are about the survey process shows that people are informed, interested, and eager to participate in the transformation. We remain committed to a transparent, people-first redevelopment effort that keeps communication open at every stage. This is a ‘housing for all’ project,” a DRP official said.
The toll-free helpline continues to serve as a vital two-way communication channel, ensuring that residents are heard, their doubts addressed, and their concerns recorded.
The DRP is among the largest and the most inclusive urban renewal initiatives in the world, aiming to uplift over 10 lakh residents through well-planned housing, infrastructure, and community services without displacing the social and economic fabric of the area.
Other queries received on the helpline were requests for a list of documents to complete eligibility verification, timeline expectations, and when new homes will be allotted. There were also inquiries about location, size of new housing units, numbering of upper floors and the recent campaign urging residents to come forward for the survey.
Maharashtra
Navi Mumbai International Airport Set To Open In September, Staffing Approved For Immigration Operations

Navi Mumbai: The most anticipated Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) is slated to launch in September, having received approval for 285 immigration staff from the Maharashtra home department. This includes a diverse team comprising 20 inspectors, 55 sub-inspectors, and various constables, forming a crucial administrative step before operations begin.
Designed to alleviate congestion at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), NMIA will boast four terminals, two runways, and a cargo terminal, aiming to accommodate 90 million passengers and 360 metric tonnes of cargo per year. The state has allocated ₹10.10 crore annually for immigration staffing and infrastructure.
The home department is also planning a police station at the airport with approximately 300 personnel to maintain law and order. The Navi Mumbai Police has been restructured to include a new Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) position for Panvel, while airport operations will fall under DCP Zone II. Currently, crimes at the existing international airport are managed by the Sahar police and the Airport Police Station, with a similar setup expected at NMIA.
The airport is anticipated to become a significant transit hub for Mumbai and surrounding areas, leading to proposed traffic divisions managed by 250 officers. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has coordinated plans for security at NMIA, with 2,000 personnel slated for deployment.
Recent Visuals Of The Navi Mumbai Airport
Presently, 95% of the airport’s construction is complete, with initial operations expected to commence with limited capacity by late September, following minor delays. The second phase is anticipated shortly thereafter. Additionally, the Maharashtra government boasts a high realization rate of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed with companies, signaling investment growth.
Terminal 1 at CSMIA is set for demolition, likely rerouting many domestic flights to NMIA, which is expected to handle 30 flights daily initially, scaling up significantly soon after. The airport’s facilities are described as state-of-the-art, with design elements aimed at creating a modern transportation hub for the region.
Maharashtra
Mumbai Rains: City On High Tide Alert; Waves Anticipated To Reach 14 Feet As IMD Predicts Heavy Rainfall

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has released a high tide warning for Mumbai from July 24 to July 27, forecasting tide heights exceeding 4.5 meters. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert because of anticipated heavy to very heavy rainfall.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has announced a high tide alert for Mumbai from July 24 to July 27, expecting tide levels above 4.5 meters. The India Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for anticipated heavy rainfall, forecasting extreme tides of 4.67 meters on July 26 and 4.60 meters on July 27.
The IMD predicts a predominantly overcast sky with heavy rainfall expected in some parts of Mumbai and nearby areas on July 24, accompanied by strong winds of 40 to 50 km/h, resulting in an orange alert for the city and a red alert for the Konkan region.
Tide Times For Today
on July 25, mostly cloudy skies with a chance of heavy rain. Tides: High at 12:40 PM (4.66 m) and low at 6:46 PM (1.40 m). Residents, especially those in low-lying and coastal regions, are urged to take precautions during high tide times because of potential flooding and waterlogging. Emergency responders are prepared as the city experiences increased monsoon conditions.
Between July 24 and 31, 2025, Mumbai will witness two high and low tides each day. The highest tides will occur at 4.66 meters on July 26th at 1:15 PM, while the lowest will be 3.71 meters on July 28th at 2:34 AM.
Low tides will mainly be under 1.73 meters, reaching a low of -0.3 meters on July 24th at 5:07 AM. The peak low tide will reach 1.73 meters on July 31st at 9:40 AM. Sunrise will transition from 6:13 AM to 6:15 AM, and sunset will vary from 7:14 PM to 7:17 PM.
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