“Mumbai is the financial capital of the country and the ‘city of dreams’. Making this city TB-free is the shared responsibility of all of us, if the society can achieve the goal of a TB-free Mumbai and a TB-free India, it is essential that misconceptions about TB are dispelled and there is no need to fear or panic about it,” Maharashtra Governor Shri Jishnu Dev Varma said during his address today. Today (July 29, 2026) as part of the ‘TB Pak Mumbai’ campaign, a public awareness rally was jointly organized by Maharashtra Lok Bhavan, Mumbai Municipal Corporation, National Service Scheme (NSS) Cell of Mumbai University, and Sree Narayana Guru College of Commerce, Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Prominent personalities present at the event included actor Rakesh Bedi, actor Shiv Thackeray, Vice Chancellor of Mumbai University Dr. Ravindra Kulkarni, Secretary to the Governor Dr. Prashant Naranware, Joint Secretary S. Ramamoorthy, BMC M.Est Assistant Commissioner of the ward, Ujjwal Angule, and a large number of NSS students were present. Governor Shri Jishnu Dev Verma further said, “TB is not just a medical challenge but also a social and economic one. However, there is no need to fear this disease. Effective treatments are available for TB, and it is very important for patients to get tested on time and follow regular treatment.” “Various treatment facilities and schemes are being effectively implemented for TB patients through hospitals run by the Central Government, State Government, and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. Citizens should avail themselves of these facilities and complete their treatment.” He added that “It is not right to discriminate against a person just because he has TB. On the contrary, providing mental support and necessary assistance to such patients is the true sign of humanity.” The Governor stressed the need for widespread public awareness about TB, especially in densely populated areas. “It is necessary to run the awareness campaign more effectively through students, National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers, Anganwadi workers, ASHA workers, and various voluntary organizations. If every section of the society actively participates in this campaign, Mumbai will soon become TB-free. Our collective efforts will create a new ray of hope for TB patients,” he expressed confidence. On this occasion, renowned actor Rakesh Bedi said, “Mumbai face every crisis with courage, every resident of Mumbai has the spirit to fight. Just as Mumbaikars have overcome several crises, they should also actively participate in the fight against TB. ‘TB Free Mumbai’ should go beyond just a campaign, this mass movement will yield faster positive results. The campaign remains to be seen.

Mumbai: The accused who cheated the complainant in the name of Mumbai Mahanagar Gas and cheated the public by preparing an APK file has been arrested from West Bengal. In Mumbai, a fake APK file was sent to the complainant in the name of Mahanagar Gas Limited at DB Marg police station and Rs 70,500 was stolen from the bank account by hacking his mobile. A case was registered in this regard and a search was started for him. When the police started investigating the matter, his trace was found in West Bengal and he was arrested from here. The 26-year-old accused is a resident of Jharkhand. After his arrest, the police have also recovered 10 mobile phones, one laptop, 7 SIM cards, 4 debit credit cards, 963 APK files and data of 37,200 bank accounts from his possession. The accused has also provided the prepared 91 APK file to other accused. Through this 91 APK file, complaints have been registered on 2993 portals in the country and 512 in Mumbai and Maharashtra, in which about Rs 63 crore 71 lakh 82 thousand has been defrauded. The accused is very clever, so he was an expert in preparing AKP files. Addressing a press conference here, DCP Ragsudha said that the accused who was arrested from West Bengal also used to hack bank accounts through bank APK files. Along with this, he was technically sound. The DCP has appealed to the citizens not to open any unknown file because such groups cheat people in this way.

Mumbai: Effective measures should be implemented to maintain cleanliness at ‘Garbage, Cricket and Garbage’ (GPS) sites by giving them priority. Garbage collection operations should be carried out in two shifts daily, and the number of garbage collection vehicles and trips should be increased. Garbage collection systems in slums and similar areas should be strengthened and regularized to ensure that garbage does not accumulate anywhere. Coordination with local public representatives should be enhanced to ensure their active participation. CCTV cameras should be installed at unsafe locations and strict disciplinary action should be taken against those who throw garbage in public places. Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide has issued clear instructions to formulate area-specific cleanliness policies that take into account the geographical layout, population, volume of waste generation and local needs of each area. Cleaning of busy roads should be given priority before traffic starts, and effective planning is required to keep important roads and highways clean. Bhide also directed that footpaths should be kept free from encroachments and made suitable for pedestrian use. Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide personally visited Mankhurd and Govindi areas in the eastern suburbs and Parel area of ​​the city division on Wednesday (July 29, 2026) at 7:00 am to take a detailed look at the public sanitation system. During the visit, he inspected the sanitation posts, maintenance posts, and road repair posts to observe the daily operations. He checked the attendance of sanitation workers, attendance records, available sanitation machinery and other necessary facilities. While interacting with the concerned authorities and staff, he reviewed the process of collection, segregation and disposal of garbage daily. He also issued instructions to ensure that the operations are carried out more efficiently to ensure the quality, efficiency and strict time management of the sanitation system. The visit was attended by Deputy Commissioner (Municipal Commissioner Office) Prashant Gaikwad, Deputy Commissioner (Zone 5) Scindia. Deputy Commissioner (Zone 2) Prashant Sapkale, Assistant Commissioner Ujjal Angule, and other concerned officers.

The visit began from the Motor Loader Post on Mandla Road in Mankhurd. Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide reviewed the solid waste management procedures, population, available manpower, and number and trips of garbage collection vehicles in M-East ward. Bhide said that, considering the geographical layout and population of M-East ward, the work of garbage collection in at least two shifts per day should be strictly implemented. He directed that the number of garbage collection vehicles and their trips should be increased as per the requirement and the efficiency of garbage collection and transportation should be further strengthened. Special care should be taken to ensure that the garbage collection system is robust, regular and efficient, especially in slums and similar densely populated areas, to prevent the accumulation of garbage. Special attention should be paid to those ‘sensitive’ locations where there is a risk of garbage accumulation. Continuous sensitization of the ‘Swachh Mumbai Prabudhan Abhiyan’ (SMPA) staff is essential to ensure their active participation. Efforts should be made to ensure maximum involvement of public representatives, especially corporators, to enhance the effectiveness of sanitation management.

Surprise inspection of operations of garbage collection compactor vehicles
After visiting the motor loader post, Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide conducted a surprise inspection of the garbage collection compactor vehicle (MH 01 CV 2303), reviewed its entire route and the actual process of garbage collection. She personally verified whether the vehicle was running as per its scheduled route, if waste collection was timely and efficient, if disinfectant was sprayed after waste removal, and if the collected waste was being transported properly. CCTV cameras should be installed at sensitive locations where there is a risk of waste accumulation. Citizens should be made aware against dumping solid waste in roads and drains. Punitive action should be taken against those who throw waste in public places like rivers, drains, major roads and highways. Criminal cases should be registered if necessary. Ms. Bhide also directed that care should be taken to ensure that ‘strange articles’ (heavy or unusual waste items) are not left lying for a long period of time.

Review of Daily Sweeping Operations
Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide then visited Amba Bhawan sanitation post and road maintenance post near Govind (East) Railway Station to inspect the operations there. He reviewed the attendance of sanitation workers, planning of daily cleaning activities and available manpower and machinery while also interacting with the concerned authorities and staff. While reviewing the daily cleaning operations, he issued necessary instructions.