Navi Mumbai: The much-awaited ‘Missing Link’ stretch on the Yashwantrao Chavan Mumbai–Pune Expressway will be opened to public traffic from May 1, with only light motor vehicles (LMVs) and passenger buses allowed in the initial phase, according to a notification issued by the Maharashtra Traffic Police.

As per the notification, the phased rollout has been planned to ensure commuter safety and address technical considerations within the tunnel section, with goods vehicles barred from using the route during the initial period.

In Phase I, from May 1 to October 31, entry will be restricted to LMVs and passenger vehicles, while goods-carrying vehicles will remain prohibited. From November 1 onwards, a review of the first six months will be conducted to assess the feasibility of allowing goods vehicles, and a decision will be taken accordingly, the notification stated.

The notification further stated that vehicles carrying hazardous or inflammable materials, including explosives, will be strictly prohibited from using the Missing Link at all times in line with tunnel safety protocols. Such vehicles will continue to use the existing expressway.

Speed limits have been fixed at 100 kmph for cars and 80 kmph for passenger buses on the Missing Link stretch. It also clarified that minor speed violations within a permissible margin will not attract action under Section 183 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

The notification was issued by Additional Director General of Police (Traffic) Praveen Salunke, which will remain in force from the date the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) opens the road for public use until further orders.

Mumbai: Political activity has intensified in Maharashtra as a crucial meeting of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is currently underway at Devgiri Bungalow under the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar on Wednesday morning. The meeting comes amid rising anticipation over the upcoming Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad) elections, with multiple aspirants vying for a single seat from the party.

The high-level meeting was attended by key party leaders, including MP Parth Pawar, national working president Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal and state president Sunil Tatkare. Senior leaders Dilip Walse-Patil and Hasan Mushrif also reached the venue as deliberations continue. Discussions over candidate selection reportedly began late Tuesday night and continued till the early hours, from 11 pm to 2 am, with another round of talks in the morning.

The party is facing a challenging situation with a large number of contenders. nearly 70 to 75 aspirants have expressed interest in contesting the MLC election, making the selection process highly competitive. Among the names discussed were Vikram Kakade, son of former MP Sanjay Kakade. However, his potential candidature is reportedly facing strong internal opposition, prompting the leadership to consider alternative names.

Other contenders being discussed include Rajendra Jain, Suresh Birajdar, Umesh Patil and Zeeshan Siddiqui, as per reliable sources. The presence of Congress MLA Vishwajeet Kadam at Devgiri Bungalow further sparked political speculation, hinting at possible political discussions beyond party lines.

Meanwhile, the broader political landscape has also added pressure on the NCP’s decision-making. The BJP, part of the ruling Mahayuti alliance, already announced six candidates, introducing several new faces as part of its social engineering strategy. The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction is yet to finalise its candidate.

Speaking to the media, Sunil Tatkare confirmed the high level of interest within the party and stated that a final decision is likely to be taken by the evening. With intense lobbying underway and multiple strong contenders in the fray, all eyes are now on Devgiri Bungalow as the NCP prepares to announce its face for the Legislative Council elections.

Biennial elections for 9 seats and a bypoll for 1 seat in the Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC) will be held on May 12, 2026. The election is for members retiring on May 13, 2026, with polling from 9 am to 4 pm and results announced on the same day.

Mumbai: In a bid to strengthen sanitation efforts across the city, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner Ashwini Bhide carried out an early morning surprise inspection in Wadala and Chembur areas on Wednesday. The visit covered parts of the Mumbai City Division and Eastern Suburbs Division, focusing on ground-level implementation of cleanliness measures.

During her inspection, Bhide visited solid waste management checkpoints near Wadala (West) railway station and key locations in Chembur. She reviewed the attendance and presence of sanitation workers, the availability of cleaning equipment and overall waste management operations. The Commissioner also interacted with local residents to understand their concerns and feedback regarding sanitation services.

Stressing community involvement, Bhide directed officials to actively engage citizens, educational institutions, and local organisations in the cleanliness campaign. She suggested that innovative ideas from these groups should be studied and incorporated to enhance the effectiveness of ongoing drives.

The Commissioner also held direct discussions with sanitation workers, assessing the daily waste collection process and segregation practices. Stressing the importance of proper waste segregation, she recommended launching awareness initiatives, particularly in slum areas, to educate residents on separating dry and wet waste.

As part of the inspection, Bhide visited Anibarkat Ali Dargah Road and Arun Kumar Vaidya Road in Wadala East, where she reviewed sanitation work on both sides of the roads, including operations at a dry waste collection centre. Taking note of abandoned vehicles and poor cleanliness conditions along these stretches, she instructed officials to launch a special clean-up drive within the next few days to restore hygiene standards.

Several senior civic officials accompanied the Commissioner during the visit, including Deputy Commissioner Prashant Gaikwad, Deputy Commissioner (Zone 2) Prashant Sapkale, Deputy Commissioner (Solid Waste Management) Kiran Dighavkar, Additional Commissioner (Zone 5) Sandhya Nandedkar and Assistant Commissioners Arun Kshirsagar and Shankar Bhosle.