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Wednesday,12-August-2026
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Maharashtra

Important instructions from Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide to formulate a policy to ensure better health and medical services for the people of Mumbai

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Mumbai: Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide has directed the BMC health and medical departments to formulate a comprehensive, multi-pronged policy aimed at providing quality, affordable, comprehensive and accountable healthcare services to the citizens of Mumbai. He directed that the policy be developed in a phased manner and include various aspects like artificial intelligence (AI)-based operations, sanitation and workforce management.

A special meeting of the BMC health and medical departments was held recently at the BMC headquarters, where Bhide provided guidance. The meeting was attended by Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Prajakta Laungare. Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Public Health) Sharad Oghade, Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Municipal Commissioner Office) Shri Prashant Gaikwad, Director Medical Education and Major Hospitals Dr Shailesh Mohte, Executive Health Officer Dr Daksha Shah, and officers of the concerned departments were present.

Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide has directed the health and medical departments to implement multi-level reforms in a phased manner, with the aim of making various health and medical services provided by the BMC more citizen-centric. Accordingly, a digital presentation was given by the concerned departments regarding the proposed plan. The plan has set milestones and objectives and issued instructions to formulate a strategy for their implementation. The details about the milestones of the proposed plan and the targets set for each phase are as follows: Phase-I; The objectives set for the first phase of this proposed plan include: Display of ‘Citizen Charter’ at the health and medical facilities of the Municipal Corporation; Strengthening and enhancing the cleanliness management in hospitals and dispensaries; Ensuring faster redressal of complaints; Implementing HMIS (Hospital Management Information System) more effectively; Enabling a comprehensive dashboard for hospital services and facilities; and reducing patient waiting times in Outpatient Departments (OPD) by implementing ‘Smart and Digital OPD’ system.

This also includes streamlining the process of issuing various permits and licenses by the Public Health Department. Ensuring strict compliance with the terms and conditions under which these permits and licenses were granted through regular checks. And adopting the latest technology wherever needed.
Furthermore, the first phase of the improvement includes technology-friendly measures that are extremely important and beneficial to patients, such as filling up of vacant medical posts and setting up of dedicated Insurance Assistance Cells in major municipal hospitals to help patients avail health insurance benefits. Furthermore, the plan includes a special improvement program to ensure prompt availability of essential medicines during emergencies for patients seeking medical treatment.
Phase II; The objectives set for the second phase of this proposed project include several key initiatives: implementing ‘online bed allocation’ on a pilot basis – thereby allocating hospital beds to needy patients on the waiting list through an online system; decentralising hospital services, especially by referring patients who require minor treatment to suburban hospitals; and starting 24/7 clinics on a pilot basis in every ward of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

Furthermore, the second phase includes initiatives such as making joint efforts — through public-private partnerships — to secure funds to cover up to 50% of the cost for needy patients; providing training to hospital officers and staff in soft skills, medical ethics and related fields; and establishing special awards for employees who perform exceptionally.

Another prominent feature of the second phase is the inclusion of various components based on ‘Artificial Intelligence’ (AI). These mainly cover aspects related to radiology, pathology, and resource management.
Phase Three; The third phase of this proposed project mainly focuses on ‘Quality Assurance’. It includes

Maharashtra

40 rain shelters, 08 unauthorized shops, 30 hawkers, 06 vehicular paths removed, joint action by ‘T’, ‘S’ and ‘N’ departments of Mumbai Municipal Corporation

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The Mumbai Municipal Corporation is implementing the ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign in the Mumbai region (Mumbai city and suburbs). Under this, 40 rain shelters, 08 unauthorized shops and 30 hawkers obstructing footpaths were removed today (August 11, 2026) in the Milind area. This action was taken jointly by the ‘T’, ‘S’ and ‘N’ divisions of the Municipal Corporation. As per the directions of the High Court, the Mumbai Municipal Corporation under the guidance of Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide is effectively implementing the ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign to immediately remove unauthorized hawkers and encroachments on footpaths and to make the footpaths free from obstructions.

In this regard, a joint campaign was conducted under the leadership of Assistant Commissioner (T Division) under the guidance of Deputy Commissioner (Zone-6) Santosh Kumar Dhonde. Assistant Commissioner (S Division) Samrin Syed, Assistant Commissioner (N Division) Jaideep More
The operation was carried out in the areas of Ram Ratan Trivedi Marg, Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, Sivaram Lalwani Marg, Ratanji Hirji Bhograj Marg, Jhaveer Marg and Ganesh Gawde Marg as well as Lokmanya Tilak Marg (West) in the ‘T’ zone of the Municipal Corporation. In this, 40 rain shelters built on the footpaths, 08 unauthorized shops, 30 hawkers and 06 carriageways that were obstructing the footpaths were removed. Apart from this, the material obstructing the footpaths was also seized.

The operation was carried out with the help of 10 vehicles, 05 dumpers, 05 JCBs and other equipment along with 13 secondary engineers, 07 licensing inspectors, 66 workers working in Zone 6. Adequate police security was deployed at that time.

Meanwhile, the municipal administration is committed to providing barrier-free and easy footpaths for pedestrians. However, no one should create obstacles on the footpath or carry out unauthorized constructions. The municipal administration is telling that strict action will be taken if this happens.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai Mankhurd ATM card fraud two accused arrested

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Mumbai: The Mumbai Police has claimed to have arrested two accused who committed fraud by changing ATM cards. On August 5, the complainant had gone to the ATM center at Mangal Murthy Junction to withdraw money. While withdrawing money from the ATM, an unknown person standing behind her saw the PIN of the card. After that, she cleverly changed the ATM rod and withdrew Rs 19,000. The police have registered a case of fraud in this matter and started investigating it. The police had seen three suspicious people from the CCTV footage of the scene who were found withdrawing money from the ATM card. After that, the police identified the accused with the help of CCTV footage. Later, they were arrested. The accused have been identified as Qasim Ali Barkat Ali, 30, and Parvez Akbar Ali Sheikh, 38, both residents of Kalyan. The police are investigating further regarding both of them. Along with this, the police are also finding out how many people they have cheated before. This action was taken by DCP Sameer Sheikh on the instructions of Additional Commissioner Dhananjay Kulkarni.

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Maharashtra

7 accused arrested in cyber fraud case of over Rs 1 crore in Mumbai

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Mumbai: The Cyber ​​Police Station has claimed to have solved the mystery of a cyber crime in which the complainant was threatened with digital arrest on WhatsApp from April 2 to April 18, 2026, and was involved in a money laundering case and was defrauded of Rs 16.74 crore online by sending fake electronic documents. During the technical investigation, the police have arrested 7 accused, identified as Sanjay Hiralal, 57, who used to generate OTPs, the 32-year-old female accused used to hide the fraudulent money, Rishi Ramchandra Meena, 38, who used to transfer the fraudulent money to bank accounts, Naushad Ali, 31, who digitally arrested the complainant and the victim and worked in this gang digitally, Muhammad Khalid Hafeezuddin Saif, 27, a digital expert, Jogesh Mehta, 43, and Zubair Hussain, 27, who helped them deposit the fraudulent money in their accounts. 613 mobile phones, 2 laptops, 5 digital sign devices were recovered from the possession of the accused. SIM cards of several companies, 10 cheque books, 2 passbooks and 2 ATM cards have been seized. DCP Bajrang Bansode told the press conference that there is no such thing as digital arrest and in such a situation, do not keep in touch on unknown social media accounts. If someone threatens digital arrest, do not believe them.

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