Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, on Friday, visited party founder Balasaheb Thackeray’s under-construction memorial, which will witness the completion of the second and final phase before January 23, 2026.

Asked who would inaugurate the memorial next year, Thackeray wryly said the ceremony will be helmed by “whoever is the Prime Minister then”. “Can anyone predict what will happen in politics tomorrow?” he asked, giving a political twist to his visit. “If there is an NDA government, their representatives might come. Whoever is in power at that time will attend. I was the Chief Minister during the foundation stone ceremony, but now I am not,” he said about the fickle state of Maharashtra politics and voters’ will.

Shiv Sena-UBT Chief Uddhav Thackeray On The Memorial

The memorial is being built at the previous Mayor’s Bungalow near Swatantryaveer Smarak in Dadar. Thackeray said, “Four Shiv Sena mayors have lived in this bungalow. Many important meetings of Balasaheb Thackeray were held here, including those of the Mahayuti alliance. This building is a heritage structure, and it was very challenging to carry out work without causing any damage to it. Preserving its grandeur was a very difficult task.”

As part of its second phase, artists will bring to life the party founder’s life story. “Often asked why he didn’t write an autobiography, Balasaheb said, ‘I am not a man of the closet; I am a man of the field.’ His life was like an open book. However, merely documenting his life is not what a memorial should be. I envisioned a memorial that reflects the values he upheld throughout his life; what he gave to Maharashtra, the nation, and the Hindus of this country. His memorial should continue to inspire and serve the same purpose for many years to come.”

Mira Bhayandar: In a significant stem having a dual-objective including- keeping a tab on illegal fishing activities and enhancing marine security, the state fisheries department has launched artificial intelligence (AI) powered drones along the state’s coastline in seven districts including Uttan in Thane district.

Nine drones were simultaneously launched by minister for fisheries and ports- Nitesh Rane from the office of the fisheries department in Mumbai on Thursday. While two units each have been deployed for jetties in Revdanda, Shrivardhan (Raigad), Mirkarwada, Sakhari-Nate (Ratnagiri) and a unit each for- Shirgaon (Palghar), Gorai (Mumbai Suburban), Sasoon Dock (Mumbai city), Uttan (Thane) and Devgad (Sindhudurg).

The respective offices of the fisheries department will house the digital data maintenance mechanism (control room) of the high-tech surveillance system.

The drones will map fishing boats to identify and report the presence of illegally operating ones while monitoring up to 12 nautical miles and a 720-km stretch of the coastline, providing real-time data for effective surveillance.

“The drones which will be connected to the fisheries department office at Velankani (Uttan) will conduct aerial monitoring around the coastline, collect real-time data and share it with security agencies for action against illegal activities.” said Pawan Kale an official who is attached to the license wing of the fisheries department in Uttan.

Appreciating, minister Nitesh Rane’s move, local fishing community leader- Leo Collaso said, “This was a much-needed step as the traditional fishermen were on the verge of losing their only livelihood owing to various types of destructive methods and apparatus like-purse seine nets, submerged light-emitting diode (LED) lights and bull trawling by illegally operating fishing vessels and trawlers. The drones have ignited hope that such fishing activities which harm the marine ecosystem will be spotted and taken to task.”

“Although authorities keep guard in patrolling vessels, manual inspection is a herculean task due to which unauthorised boats escape easily. The drone-based surveillance system will now help in preventing illegal fishing while effectively implementing the state’s Marine Fishing Regulation (Amendment) Act, 2021.” said Renold Bechari.

The respective offices of the fisheries department will house the digital data maintenance mechanism (control room) of the high-tech surveillance system. The drones will map fishing boats to identify and report the presence of illegally operating ones while monitoring up to 12 nautical miles and a 720-km stretch of the coastline, providing real-time data for effective surveillance.

Mumbai: A Mumbai court on Friday denied bail to the driver of the BEST bus involved in the December 10 accident in Kurla East, which resulted in the deaths of seven persons and injured more than 40.

An electric bus of the civic-run Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport undertaking had hit several vehicles late night that day on the arterial SG Barve Road, following which driver Sanjay More was arrested under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

More’s bail plea was rejected by Additional Sessions Judge VM Pathade, though a detailed order has not been made available as yet.

In his plea filed through advocate Samadhan Sulane, More had claimed the accident was the result of a mechanical fault in the bus and that he had been unjustly arrested.

The prosecution, however, contended no technical fault was found in the ill-fated bus.

After hearing arguments from both sides, judge Pathade rejected More’s bail plea.