Mumbai: Maharashtra reported six new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday and one death over the past week, the state’s Public Health Department said. A 79-year-old man from Nashik with multiple comorbidities succumbed to the infection, taking the state’s COVID-19 death toll for 2025 to 43.

Fresh Infections Logged

According to the department, the new cases reported on July 29 include two from Mumbai and one each from Thane, Navi Mumbai, and Kalyan municipal corporations.

Single Fatality

The deceased, who passed away on July 24 in Nashik, had a history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and had undergone Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA), the department noted.

City Tally Climbs

Mumbai’s COVID-19 tally for 2025 now stands at 1,091 cases, with 551 cases reported in June and 99 recorded so far in July. Since January, Maharashtra has recorded a total of 2,726 COVID-19 cases, with 2,650 patients having recovered.

A total of 41,872 COVID-19 tests have been conducted across the state since the beginning of the year.

Ongoing Vigilance

During a recent state-level COVID-19 review meeting, health officials were directed to ensure regular surveillance of Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) cases. As per the guidelines, 5% of ILI patients and all SARI patients must be tested for COVID-19, with all positive samples sent for Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS).

All public health institutions, government medical colleges, and municipal hospitals have been instructed to keep COVID-19 testing and treatment facilities ready and updated. The health department has urged citizens to remain vigilant and continue following preventive measures to curb the spread of the virus.

Mumbai: As Mumbai gears up for the full launch of Metro Line 3 in August, city planners are shifting focus from just underground transit to creating a seamless pedestrian experience above and below the ground. Officials are now envisioning a citywide network of pedestrian subways that will connect commuters directly from Metro stations to key urban destinations, offices, malls, parks and even the coastline.

Key Meeting Held Between Top Infra Bodies & BMC

In a key development, senior officials from the BMC, Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL), Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and Indian Railways met at the BMC headquarters on Monday evening to discuss last-mile connectivity solutions. The meeting focused on integrating pedestrian infrastructure with the expanding Metro system, particularly around Metro Line 3 stations.

Metro Line 3, also known as the Aqua Line, is Mumbai’s first fully underground metro corridor. It currently operates from Aarey to Acharya Atre Chowk in Worli and is already serving around 60,000 passengers daily. Once fully operational, the 33.5-km line will connect 27 stations, stretching from Aarey in the north to Cuffe Parade in South Mumbai. It will traverse key commercial and transport nodes such as Mumbai Central, Mahalaxmi, Churchgate, CSMT and BKC.

One of the first pedestrian integration projects in the pipeline is a 1-kilometre-long subway connecting the Acharya Atre Chowk station to the Mahalaxmi Racecourse and the Coastal Road parking hub at Haji Ali. A 160-metre side arm is also being planned to provide access to nearby open spaces. BMC and MMRCL have been working on its alignment since June.

The meeting was primarily about identifying nodal agencies that will lead such pedestrian infrastructure projects,” the official added. A senior official confirmed that a Detailed Project Report (DPR) will be drafted within the next four months.

Mega Plan For Subways Around Key Metro Stations

The broader vision includes building pedestrian subways within a 500-metre to 1-kilometre radius of major Metro stations, particularly in high-density zones like malls, corporate parks and business hubs. Equipped with escalators and elevators, these subways aim to be accessible to all, encouraging walking, easing traffic congestion, and redefining Mumbai as a more connected and commuter-friendly city.

If successfully implemented, this pedestrian network could become a game-changer in urban mobility and last-mile connectivity for Mumbai.

State governments and the Central government have introduced schemes to improve the economic condition of women. Similarly, the Chief Minister Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana is being run in Maharashtra. Under this scheme, financial assistance of Rs 1,500 is provided every month to eligible women beneficiaries.

Ladki Bahin Scheme Fraud

So far, 12 instalments of this scheme have been released. Meanwhile, a scam has been revealed in the Ladki Bahin scheme in Maharashtra. This has created a stir in the state. Many men are also benefiting from this scheme. Now the government is preparing to recover money from ineligible people.

State Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkar has issued a statement saying that during the verification it was found that people are taking advantage of the scheme despite being ineligible. In such a situation, the state government has removed 26.34 lakh ineligible people from the scheme. Let us tell you that in June 2024, the Maharashtra government launched the Chief Minister Majhi Ladki Behen Yojana, intending to promote the economic independence of women in the state.

Under this scheme, eligible women between 21 and 65 years of age in Maharashtra are provided financial assistance of Rs 1,500 every month. Aditi Tatkar said on the social media platform X that investigation revealed that some beneficiaries were taking advantage of multiple schemes. Some families had more than two beneficiaries. In some cases, even men had applied for this scheme. She further said that the Women and Child Development Department had sought information from all government departments to check the eligibility of all applications. The Information and Technology Department said that about 26.34 lakh beneficiaries are taking advantage of this scheme despite being ineligible.

How Many Accounts Were Suspended?

The accounts of 26.34 lakh ineligible people have been temporarily suspended. Apart from this, about 2.25 crore eligible beneficiaries have received the installment for June 2025.

Investigation Of Suspended Accounts

The district officer of the respective district will investigate the accounts of those whose accounts have been suspended. If they are found eligible in the verification, then the suspended accounts will start getting benefits again. It is being said that the state government can take strict action against those who take advantage by giving wrong information.

Can All Women Participate In Ladki Bahin Scheme?

This scheme has been implemented only for women between the ages of 21 and 65. To take advantage of this scheme, women must be residents of Maharashtra. To join this scheme, one has to apply online. All married, unmarried, divorced women can take advantage of this scheme. To take advantage of the scheme, it is very important for women to have an account in a bank. At the same time, the annual income of the woman’s family should not exceed Rs 2.5 lakh. This scheme does not apply to those women who are taking advantage of any other government scheme.