Rais Shaikh, the Samajwadi Party MLA from Bhiwandi East, has lodged a complaint with the State Chief Electoral Officer regarding numerous flaws in the Election Commission’s ‘Special Summary Revision’ (SIR) campaign for voter lists. He pointed out that the names of lakhs of eligible voters are missing from the recently published draft list. In a letter, MLA Shaikh has demanded a two-month extension for the process of rectifying these errors.

Elaborating on the issue, MLA Shaikh stated that voters had submitted registration applications with valid documents during the SIR campaign and possess acknowledgment receipts; however, their names are not included in the recently published draft voter list. The online system indicates that lakhs of applications—ranging from new voter registrations (Form 6) to name corrections or address changes (Form 8)—are pending at the Booth Level Officer (BLO) level.

Affected voters have not received any notices, SMS alerts, or phone calls from the Election Department regarding discrepancies in the voter list or ‘no-linkage’ issues. Thousands of eligible voters are confused about whether they will be included in or excluded from the final voter list. MLA Shaikh noted that this sentiment prevails among voters in the areas of Bhiwandi, Madanpura, Mankhurd, and Govandi.
Persistent server issues on the Election Commission’s website and mobile app have made it extremely difficult for citizens to fill out new forms or check the status of their existing applications. BLOs are unwilling to work during the festive holidays. Consequently, MLA Rais Shaikh has demanded a two-month extension to the September 30 deadline for the SIR process. In his letter, he urged that the names of citizens holding SIR acknowledgment receipts be included in the final electoral roll. He also called for immediate orders to process pending applications held by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and suggested launching a campaign to accept applications via offline (physical) methods to overcome online server issues. Exercising the right to vote is a constitutional right for every eligible voter. Through this letter, MLA Rais Shaikh has directed the State’s Chief Electoral Officer and the Thane District Collector to ensure that no voter is deprived of their right to vote during the SIR process.

During the Ganesh Utsav in Mumbai, a vast number of devotees flock to the city, and citizens participate in the festivities in large numbers. It is essential that citizens stepping out to seek the blessings of Lord Ganesh can move about easily on foot. Therefore, advertisements should not be placed on roads or footpaths in a manner that obstructs pedestrian movement. The Municipal Corporation administration is implementing various measures under the ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign, which is being executed effectively on a large scale across Mumbai. This campaign is garnering enthusiastic public participation and widespread acclaim. Citizens and all other stakeholders are urged to cooperate with this initiative during the festive season. Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide has appealed to everyone to refrain from placing unauthorized advertisements on roads and footpaths and to strictly adhere to the regulations.
Under the directives of Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, various measures are being taken to ensure the provision of excellent services and facilities across Mumbai during the Shri Ganesh Utsav. Against this backdrop, specific regulations have been formulated regarding the display of commercial advertisements during the Ganesh Utsav and Navratri festivals. Municipal Commissioner Bhide has instructed the Municipal Corporation administration and the Licensing Department to ensure compliance with these regulations and to take immediate action to remove any advertising hoardings that cause obstructions. Key Guidelines Regarding Advertisements

Ganesh Utsav and Navratri Utsav Mandals (organizing committees) must strictly refrain from displaying advertisements for gutkha, tobacco products, or other prohibited items. Care must be taken to ensure that the display of advertisements does not obstruct pedestrian movement on footpaths or traffic on the roads. Mandals may display a message such as “Heartfelt welcome to devotees” on the upper horizontal section of their traditional entrance arch. Commercial advertisements of donors may be displayed on the vertical pillars to the right and left of the entrance. Public awareness should be promoted through the display of social and civic messages. Mandals will be permitted to install digital screens (up to a maximum size of 10 ft x 10 ft) to display messages concerning public interest or health alongside commercial advertisements, provided a ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC) is obtained from the Traffic Department and the local police station.

Regulations Applicable Post-Immersion

The concerned Mandals are required to take the initiative to remove advertising hoardings themselves—both during the public Ganesh Utsav and Navratri Utsav festivals and on the day following the Visarjan (immersion of the idol). Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide has also appealed to the Mandals to display advertisements in an organized manner while upholding the religious and social spirit of these public festivals, and to strictly adhere to the prescribed guidelines.

To alleviate traffic congestion and ensure smooth, convenient travel within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has launched a major infrastructure project known as the ‘Mumbai Coastal Road (North).’ Spanning approximately 60 kilometers—including interchanges and link roads—this mega-project aims to connect the Versova and Bhayandar areas via a coastal route. The construction work has been divided into seven packages: Packages A, B, C, D, E, F, and the Dahisar-Bhayandar Link Road (DBLR). Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar visited and inspected the Bhayandar interchange site (part of the Dahisar-Bhayandar Link Road/Package 7), located within the limits of the Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation, and issued necessary instructions during the visit.

The Dahisar-Bhayandar Link Road is a crucial project for the Mumbai and Mira-Bhayandar regions, and construction is currently underway. It will establish a direct and rapid road connection between Dahisar West and Bhayandar West. The total length of this road project is approximately 5.135 kilometers. The project encompasses various engineering structures, including elevated roads, roads on stilts through mangrove areas, high-level structures over creeks, elevated corridors over salt pan lands, connecting roads and interchanges for traffic distribution, and flyovers. The main elevated road of the Dahisar-Bhayandar Link Road project—spanning approximately 3.83 km in length and 45 meters in width—will serve as the final leg of the Mumbai Coastal Road (North). Mr. Bangar visited the site and reviewed the preliminary works. Currently, the installation of gabion walls is underway; additionally, piling (deep foundation) and the construction of pile caps are progressing. Several components of the project have already been completed, including 60 piles, 5 pile caps, 4 bridge piers, pier caps, and the ninth section of the bridge. State-of-the-art machinery is deployed at the site, and a temporary bridge system is operational for access. Work related to the ‘launching girder’ is scheduled to commence in the second week of October; Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar reviewed detailed information regarding this. Bangar issued instructions to expedite the land acquisition process required for the project and to prepare a priority list in this regard. He emphasized the need to secure cooperation from the Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation and other relevant authorities. He also directed that safety-related Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) be strictly adhered to, adequate barricading be installed at the site during construction, and the work be completed to high standards within the stipulated timeframe. He instructed that planning and execution be carried out with the aim of completing the project by December 2028. Deputy Commissioner (Infrastructure) Shri Girish Nikam and Deputy Chief Engineer (Mumbai Coastal Road – North) Vaibhav Gandhi were present on the occasion, accompanied by the concerned engineers and consultants.