Mumbai: A civic works operation in the upscale Pali Hill area in Bandra took an unexpected turn after a JCB rammed into the compound wall, causing bricks and debris to collapse onto parked cars below. Fortunately, no one was injured, however, the incident has prompted concerns about safety measures and oversight at the site.

The visuals of the incident were shared by Bandra Buzz on its official handle on Instagram. The incident took place at St Anne’s Apartments near Pali Hill Public Park. Pictures shared online showed two cars damaged due to the incident, of which one vehicle was badly crushed, while another suffered rear-end damage.

Users on social media called the incident negligence on the part of the civic authorities, and many voiced safety concerns. One user also questioned whether the heavy machinery operators are even qualified.

One user commented, “Negligence.. So much heavy machinery roaming about. Is there no minimum safe distance from these things? Are the operators actually qualified? We all know how people get licenses…”

“In most instances, JCB drivers are inexperienced and look like they have no valid driving license,” another added.

One of the residents voiced anger and said, “This is total negligence. This lane has been in this pathetic state for the past 3-4 months, totally inaccessible. There are senior and super senior citizens living in the buildings inside this lane, and it’s become a health hazard now to walk in and out. Who is responsible if there is a medical emergency? The concerned authorities need to do something and fast.”

Mumbai: After the standing committee raised concerns and returned the Gargai dam proposal, the contractor revised its bid from 9% to 1.9%. The civic authorities will now submit updated proposal, generating savings of Rs 269 crore on the base cost and Rs. 344 crore including taxes. The project, quoted at Rs. 3,276 crore, is now proposed at Rs. 3,065 crore, reducing the total cost including taxes from Rs. 5,396 crore to Rs. 5,051 crore.

The BMC initially estimated the Gargai dam project in Ogada village, Palghar district, at Rs. 3,006 crore. When tenders were invited in December, the lowest bidder, Soma Enterprises Ltd., quoted Rs. 3,334 crore, later reduced to Rs. 3,276 crore after a Rs. 57.73 crore concession—about 9% above the estimate, down from an initial 10.9%. However, the standing committee sought further cuts, the BMC held three more rounds of negotiations over the past two weeks, resulting the contractor to lower the cost further. 

The civic authorities will now submit the revised proposal to the standing committee for final approval. After the work order is issued, the project will still require clearances from the Central Wildlife Board and state and central forest departments. “The first year will focus on securing permissions and creating infrastructure to relocate six affected villages, followed by dam construction in the second year and installation of electrical systems in the third year,” said a senior civic official. The project includes a 1,200 kW hydropower unit to offset the dam’s electricity costs.

The Gargai Dam Project in Wada taluka, Palghar, aims to boost Mumbai’s water supply by 440 MLD. It involves constructing a 69‑metre-high dam near Ogada village and a 2.2 km tunnel to divert water to the Modak Sagar Reservoir. Implementation will require felling around 3.1 lakh trees, including areas within the Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary, necessitating compensatory afforestation on non-forest land. The project is expected to be completed by 2029.

The BMC supplies 4,000 MLD of water to Mumbai from seven lakes—Tansa, Bhatsa, Modak Sagar, Tulsi, Vihar, Upper Vaitarna, and Middle Vaitarna—but 34% is lost to theft and leakages. Rising pollution and urbanisation have pushed demand to 4,463 MLD, expected to reach 6,900 MLD by 2041. The last major dam, Middle Vaitarna, was completed in 2014. 

Mumbai: A 29-year-old woman from Thane’s Mumbra was cheated of Rs 6.75 lakh by a man posing as an NRI on a matrimonial site and an unknown woman who helped him. An FIR has been registered against the man and an unidentified woman who is believed to have assisted in the fraud.

The fraud reportedly took place between January and March 2026. the woman connected with the accused, identified as Adnan Ahmed, on a matrimonial site. The man claimed he was a resident of the UK and also intended to marry the victim, saying that he would be in India in three months. Their conversations moved to WhatsApp, where their connection grew, and he gained her trust.

However, suddenly on January 27, the accused allegedly contacted the woman, claiming he was in India and the customs officials at Delhi airport had seized his gold and foreign currency. Not just this, a woman posing as an immigration officer also called the victim.

The accused claimed that he needed urgent funds to pay the ‘fines and clearances’ to retrieve his belongings. The victim transferred Rs 6.75 lakh between February 2 and March 12 from her accounts to various bank accounts provided by the accused.

But to her shock, the accused stopped responding to her calls and messages, and she filed a complaint. Based on a complaint, the Mumbra police on March 26 registered an FIR against Adnan Ahmed and an unidentified woman.