Mumbai: The BMC’s Rs 2,500 crore bioremediation project to treat 185 lakh tonnes of legacy waste at the Deonar dumping ground is yet to start, pending environmental clearances. The project aims to reclaim 110 hectares of land for productive use.

The contract for scientifically treating legacy waste at the Deonar dumping ground was awarded to Navayuga Engineering Ltd in September last year. The Deonar bioremediation project is one of the largest solid waste management tenders floated by the BMC in recent years.

The contract spans three years, including periods for mobilisation and monsoon. Since the site falls within an eco-sensitive zone, the project requires No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from multiple departments, including the Coastal Regulatory Zone authority.

A senior civic official said, “We are awaiting clearance from the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA). An online meeting with the authority for the project was recently held, and since a few questions were raised, we are hopeful. We are now waiting for the official minutes of the meeting. Once all approvals are in place, work on the project can commence.”

The BMC aims to clear 124 acres of the 311-acre Deonar dumping ground, which currently has close to two crore tonnes of legacy waste in it.

Legacy waste is that which accumulates when uncontrolled and unregulated dumping of waste continues for decades on a barren piece of land, mostly on the outskirts, which then becomes part of a city due to urbanisation.

The 9-acre waste-to-energy plant at the Deonar dumping ground is nearing completion. “After securing all approvals, it is expected to become operational soon,” said an official.

The plant, delayed from its original October 2025 schedule due to clearance issues, will process 600 tonnes of waste daily and generate 7 MW of clean electricity, supporting Mumbai’s sustainable waste and energy goals.

Mumbai, Domestic equity benchmarks opened sharply lower on Friday, tracking weak global cues and elevated Brent crude prices amid fading hopes of a resolution to the Iran conflict.

Nifty opened at 23,173.55, down 132.90 points or 0.57 per cent, while the Sensex fell around 400 points to 74,883.79 in early trade.

Broader markets also remained under pressure, with midcap and smallcap indices traded lower.

Sectorally, most indices traded in the red, led by realty, metal, PSU banks and auto stocks, which fell up to 1 per cent. Financials and consumer durables also witnessed selling pressure.

However, IT and oil and gas stocks bucked the trend and posted modest gains.

Among heavyweights, stocks such as HDFC Bank and Bajaj Finance were among the top laggards.

Market sentiment remained cautious amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. US President Donald Trump said the pause on attacks on Iran’s energy infrastructure would be extended, though uncertainty persists after Iran termed a US proposal “one-sided”.

Global markets also reflected a risk-off mood. US indices ended sharply lower, with the S&P 500 down 1.74 per cent and Nasdaq falling 2.38 per cent. Asian markets followed suit, with Japan’s Nikkei declining over 1 per cent and South Korea’s Kospi dropping around 3 per cent.

Crude oil prices remained volatile, although they eased slightly, with Brent crude falling 2.29 per cent to $105.53 per barrel, while WTI crude declined 2.54 per cent to $92.08.

According to analysts, markets are likely to remain volatile amid global uncertainties. Immediate support for Nifty is seen in the 23,050–23,000 zone, while resistance is placed around 23,450–23,500.

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) continued to remain net sellers, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) provided support to the market.

Notably, Indian markets resumed trading on Friday after a holiday on Thursday on account of Ram Navami.

Mumbai, March 26: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) faces scrutiny over a proposal to divert Rs 90 crore from funds earmarked for widening and deepening the Mithi River and other water bodies to extend a flyover on the Ghatkopar–Mankhurd Link Road (GMLR).

While the proposal was approved by the civic standing committee, the opposition has demanded three years of inter-departmental transfer records, alleging the move signals weak financial planning.

Of the Rs 150 crore allocated in financial year 2025–26 for river widening, including the Mithi River, the BMC spent only Rs 10 crore. Now, Rs 90 crore of the unspent Rs 140.62 crore is proposed for extending the GMLR flyover toward the Sion-Panvel Highway at Vashi.

The proposal to shift funds was discussed at Wednesday’s standing committee. Congress leader Ashraf Azmi demanded formal recording of the proposal and a three-year fund-transfer audit, citing financial indiscipline and possibly unnecessary works.

BJP corporators Shital Gambhir and Priti Satam backed transparency, with Satam flagging repeated infrastructure failures along the Oshiwara River.

Vipin Sharma, Additional Municipal Commissioner, noted that payments to approved Mithi River contractors have been cleared, while blacklisted contractors received nothing, leaving part of the funds unutilised.

He warned that any unspent amount must be used by the end of March or it will lapse. Approving the fund transfer, Standing Committee Chairman Prabhakar Shinde directed the administration to take into account members’ suggestions raised during the discussion.

The GMLR flyover extension comprises two arms — a 1,473-metre stretch up to 8.5 metres wide toward Vashi, and a 1,930-metre return arm. Built with a modern steel-composite structure, the project is estimated at Rs 1,051 crore and aims to ease congestion at Maharashtra Nagar junction in Mankhurd, where the GMLR meets the Sion-Panvel Highway.

However, with only Rs 344 crore currently available, the funds are insufficient to complete the project, for which tenders were floated in 2024–25. The BMC administration plans to reallocate funds from the river improvement budget.