Mumbai: Tension erupted in the Malad area of ​​Mumbai last night when some miscreants created a ruckus near the Jama Masjid, after which the situation deteriorated. The police brought the situation under control. Slogans were raised from both sides. On one side, slogans of Takbir Allah Akbar were raised, while on the other, slogans of Jai Shri Ram were raised. Last night, Isha prayers were being offered at the Jama Masjid. Meanwhile, noise was heard while the idol of Lord Ram was being carried. The worshippers objected. After that, the situation deteriorated. The police brought the parties under control and now the situation is peaceful here, but tension persists. The police have tightened security in all sensitive areas including the Jama Masjid. Since the Ram Navami procession is taken out in the evening and to ensure that no trouble occurs during the Ram Navami procession and Shobhayatra, forces have been deployed everywhere. Mumbai Police Commissioner Devin Bharti has issued strict instructions to the police in this matter, while the police have registered a case against those who created the dispute and the investigation is underway. Violence broke out on Ram Navami three years ago in the Malad area of ​​Mumbai, and after that, miscreants are again trying to spoil the atmosphere here. Last night too, an attempt was made to spoil the atmosphere here, but the police foiled it. Now the situation is peaceful. The police have also warned of action against those spreading rumors and those sharing controversial videos on social media. Along with this, the police are investigating the matter to see if the atmosphere was spoiled. After the communal conflict, the police had identified sensitive areas and also held meetings of the Mohalla Committees and Peace Committees. Along with the installation of CCTV footage in Malad, the procession was monitored by drones. The police have also claimed that the procession ended peacefully due to the presence of forces at Chappa Chappa.

The Mumbai Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council have approved the amendment to Section 154 of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888 to allow collection of property tax in the Mumbai Municipal Corporation area. This amendment will not increase the tax burden on residential property owners and commercial property owners. This will provide relief to residential and commercial property owners. The assessment of land tax will be done excluding the carpet area index. This will boost various development projects that are stalled and are currently underway. After the approval of this bill, there will be no need to reassess about 10.5 lakh properties across the Mumbai Municipal Corporation area since the year 2010. This will stop the complications and court cases arising due to this. The amendment to Section 154 has paved the way for collection of the remaining 50% tax from the property owners who were paying 50% property tax as per the interim order of the Hon’ble High Court in the year 2014. As a result, the property tax of the Municipal Corporation along with the pending tax of the State Government has been collected and the path of revenue collection will be clear and smooth.

Mumbai: In a major development for the Mumbai Metro Line 11 project, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has signed a loan agreement with the Centre to provide an official development assistance (ODA) loan of Rs 5500 crore. The corridor is set to connect Wadala to the Gateway of India via Bandra Terminus. This major development came just days after Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced a major expansion of Metro Line 11 in the state budget for 2026–27.

The corridor, which was originally planned as a 17.5-kilometre underground corridor, has now been extended by an additional 6.9 kilometres. The signatures were exchanged between Joint Secretary Alok Tiwari, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of the Republic of India and Chief Representative Takeuchi Takuro of JICA India.

A statement by the JICA stated, “The projects aim to improve the business and living environment in India’s urban areas where many Japanese companies have established a presence, through the development of metro systems that ensure high visibility of Japan’s assistance.”

For Mumbaikars, travelling between the eastern suburbs and South Mumbai will soon become much easier. Mumbai Metro Line 11 will connect key stations, including Bandra, Dharavi, Wadala, Byculla, Crawford Market, and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CST), all the way to the Gateway of India. This means fewer traffic jams, shorter waiting times and a smoother commute for office goers, students and senior citizens alike.

The stations will have an interchange to the Metro 3, making it easier for commuters to travel to Andheri or BKC. Another interchange at Bandra West will connect to Mumbai Metro Line 2B (D.N. NAGAR – MANDALE).

The daily travel is set to become easier with the beginning of the underground metro Line 11. The number of stations on the line will increase from 14 to 19, and the newly added stations include Chunabhatti, Sion, Central Dharavi, Bandra West and Bandra Terminus.

The earlier proposed stations included Anik Bus Depot, CGS Bus Colony, Ganesh Nagar, BPT Hospital, Sewri, Haji Bunder, Bandar Coal Depot, Reay Road, Byculla, Nagpada, Bhendi Bazaar, Crawford Market, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Horniman Circle and SPM Circle, Gateway of India.