Mumbai: A massive fire broke out in Mumbai’s Marine Lines on Saturday. The blaze rupted on the top floor of a residential building, Marine Chambers. The building is located near Gol Masjid.

The fire broke out at around 12.30 pm on Saturday. After receiving information, several fire tenders reached the spot. Senior officials also rushed to the place where the blaze erupted.

Visuals of the fire also surfaced online. In the video, an envelope of black smoke could seen billowing out of the building. This led to panic among the locals.

A firefighting operation is currently underway.

The reason for the blaze is not yet known. There are no reports of any injuries.

Mumbai: Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has instructed officials to draft a detailed policy for renewing lease agreements between sports clubs and the iconic Oval, Azad, and Cross Maidans. Alongside the lease renewals, he stressed the importance of upgrading basic infrastructure, including the construction of washrooms and changing rooms at each of these grounds.

Pawar chaired a high-level meeting at Mantralaya to discuss the lease renewal process with officials from the revenue, sports, public works (PWD), and urban development departments. The meeting was attended by Sports Minister Dattatray Bharne, Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare, Finance Department Additional Chief Secretary OP Gupta, and BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani.

Maharashtra Deputy CM On Promoting Sports

Reiterating the government’s commitment to promoting sports, Pawar stressed the importance of a well-structured policy that balances the interests of sports clubs and government regulations.

“Encouraging sports and supporting athletes is a priority for this government. All relevant departments must collaborate to frame a fair and comprehensive policy,” he stated.

The Oval, Azad, and Cross Maidans serve as crucial training grounds for thousands of athletes in Mumbai. Managed by the revenue department but leased to sports clubs through the sports department, these grounds host over sixty clubs that provide training facilities to aspiring players. As part of the infrastructure upgrade, Pawar instructed officials to ensure that new washrooms and changing rooms are strategically placed at the corners of the grounds so they do not interfere with sporting activities. He also reinforced that the playgrounds must remain dedicated to sports purposes only. Once finalised, the comprehensive lease renewal policy will be presented before the state cabinet for approval.

Mumbai: Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who appears increasingly frustrated with the administration under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, made a veiled statement on Friday. Issuing a warning to his political opponents, Shinde said, “Do not take me lightly. Those who need to understand this message should do so.”

While Shinde’s comments are typically directed at the opposition, particularly the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), this time, his pointed remark has sparked speculation that his warning might be aimed at a different target. The statement has stirred political circles, leaving many to question: Who was Shinde really addressing?

The growing tension appears to stem from recent developments, including investigations ordered by CM Fadnavis into decisions made during Shinde’s tenure as Chief Minister.

Earlier in the week, he had dismissed any reports of internal strife within the Mahayuti alliance, saying, “There is no cold war; everything is thanda-thanda, cool-cool.” However, just a day later, reports surfaced that Fadnavis had initiated an inquiry into a Rs900 crore housing project in Jalna, approved by Shinde during his term as CM. Additionally, the BMC scrapped a Rs1,400 crore tender for a slum cleaning project that Shinde had backed last year.

At a public rally in Nagpur, Shinde’s anger was once again on display. Addressing the media, he declared, “I am a staunch Shiv Sainik of Balasaheb Thackeray and Anand Dighe, and I should be evaluated accordingly. Those who underestimated me saw what I did – I toppled the MVA government and established a double-engine government. We, as Mahayuti, had set a target of winning more than 200 seats, and we succeeded in securing 232. So, no one should take me lightly.”

Taking a swipe at Uddhav Thackeray, who recently referred to himself as a ‘tremor man’ following continued defections from his party, Shinde said, “Some people claim to be ‘tremor man,’ but the public already pushed them out during the last elections. Those who abandoned Balasaheb Thackeray’s ideology and expelled dedicated leaders from their party will face further rejection.”

He further emphasised his party’s growing influence, remarking, “People invest in shares that have market value, and my Shiv Sena has high market value.”

Concluding his speech, he reassured his supporters, “As long as you(people) stand with me, no force can challenge me.”