Mumbai: The long-pending Harbour Line extension between Goregaon and Borivali has gained fresh momentum after Western Railway floated an Rs 86.51-crore tender for a key civil works package under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP)-3A. The move is being seen as a significant step towards improving suburban rail connectivity in Mumbai’s western suburbs.

According to a media report citing details shared by Western Railway, the tender, invited on May 27, covers earthwork, construction of major and minor bridges, side drains, retaining structures and boundary walls required for the proposed Harbour Line extension corridor.

The overall project is estimated to cost around Rs 898 crore, including Rs 728 crore for civil engineering works, Rs 88 crore for electrical infrastructure and Rs 82 crore for signalling and telecommunication systems.

The proposed extension will connect Goregaon and Borivali, offering commuters an alternative suburban rail route and helping reduce congestion on the heavily crowded Western Railway corridor. The project is expected to strengthen east-west and north-south connectivity across Mumbai’s expanding suburban network.

Project documents indicate that two major bridges and sixteen minor bridges are planned along the alignment. Four engineering-scale plans are currently awaiting approvals, while designs for several bridge structures are under preparation.

However, land acquisition and rehabilitation continue to remain major hurdles. The project requires a total of 3,688 square metres of land, including 3,389 square metres of private land and 299 square metres of government land. Authorities have identified 520 project-affected persons (PAPs), of whom 178 have already been allotted rehabilitation units. Additionally, 141 families residing on private land are expected to be affected by the project.

Several challenges that need to be addressed before construction can gather pace. These include completion of land acquisition proceedings, rehabilitation of remaining project-affected families, removal of encroachments and utilities along nearly 46 per cent of the project alignment, and approval of pending bridge drawings and work packages.

Despite the obstacles, railway officials believe the fresh tender marks tangible progress for a project that has been awaiting implementation for years. Once completed, the Harbour Line extension is expected to provide direct connectivity between Mumbai’s western suburbs and the Harbour corridor, benefiting lakhs of daily commuters and easing pressure on existing suburban rail services.

Mumbai: In a tragic incident, an 82-year-old man was killed after being hit by a speeding bike on the Lokhandwala Back Road in Andheri West. The residents have raised concerns over reckless driving in the area.

According to a post shared by AndheriLOCA on X (formerly Twitter), the deceased has been identified as Radhakrishna K. P. Menon, a resident of Four Bungalows in Andheri. The accident occurred on May 31 when Menon was on his way to meet his granddaughter as part of his regular evening routine.

As he was walking along Lokhandwala Back Road, a biker, who was allegedly travelling at high speed, reportedly lost control of the vehicle and crashed into him. The impact was so severe that Menon died on the spot. The 82-year-old would routinely leave his residence in Four Bungalows and walk up to SVP Nagar to meet his granddaughter.

Moreover, the condition of the biker is also not good, who is currently hospitalised in Kokilaben Hospital.

The incident has sparked outrage among residents, who have urged authorities to take strict action against rash driving and speeding on Lokhandwala Back Road to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Meanwhile, in another similar incident, a 55-year-old man was killed after a speeding Maruti Suzuki Brezza allegedly crashed into four vehicles in Nehrunagar, Kurla. The driver reportedly took the injured victim to a hospital but fled without informing the police.

Last week, a 74-year-old man allegedly lost control of his car and rammed into a roadside vegetable stall in Mulund, killing a woman on the spot and seriously injuring a mother and her two-year-old child.

According to the police, the accident occurred around 6.30 pm near the City of Joy Nirmal Lifestyle Society on Cement Road in Mulund. The accused driver was driving his Kia car out of the building premises when another vehicle allegedly appeared in front of him. The elderly driver has been taken into police custody and a case has been registered. Officials said the condition of the two-year-old child remains critical.

Mumbai: The Municipal Corporation administration should implement comprehensive and effective measures to effectively control the problem of waterlogging in Mumbai during the monsoon season. In particular, to complete the desilting work in various drains, bridges and drainage systems in Zone 5 more quickly, additional manpower and machinery should be deployed as a special case, as directed by Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde. Mayor Tawde also directed that after reviewing the low-lying areas where rainwater is likely to accumulate, the pumping pumps should be operated at full capacity so that the citizens do not face any problem during the monsoon.
Mayor Ritu Tawde inspected the desilting work from drains at various locations. This included Soumya Drain in Jayambe Nagar in Ghatkopar (East), Subhash Nagar Drain on Ghatkopar-Mankhurd Link Road in Govind, Vashi Naka Drain near Eastern Freeway in Chembur, RC Drain near Jejamata Nagar culvert, Chembur, Nallah near Mansingh Society, and Vidhuja Nallah. The places visited were on the morning of (June 1, 2026) and inspected the sludge removal works. Necessary instructions were also given.
Local Corporator Mahadev Shivgan, Local Corporator Pragya Sadapole, Deputy Commissioner (Zone 5) Scindia Nandikar, Assistant Commissioner M-West Zone Shankar Bhosale, Deputy Chief Engineer (Waterways) Sanjay Angle and other concerned officers were present on the visit.
While inspecting the Washi Naka drain, the Mayor also got to know how the plants used to intercept floating waste, including trash booms and conveyor belts, are being handled effectively.
Speaking to the media during the inspection, Mayor Ritu Tawde said that the work of desilting major and minor drains, including the Mithi river, in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region is progressing at a fast pace. Every year, 80 per cent of the annual target is cleared before the monsoon. This year, the average target of desilting major and minor drains before the monsoon has been achieved. The work of desilting will continue during and after the monsoon. The work of cleaning drains in Zone 5 was progressing slowly due to difficulties in appointing a contractor. Since the initially appointed contractor did not complete the work at the expected pace, a new contractor had to be appointed in his place. As a result, time was lost. However, during the inspection, it was found that the work of removing silt from drains has now accelerated. Since the arrival of rains is expected after the scheduled time this year, the work of removing silt and floating waste from drains should continue in the first week of June as well. Mayor Tawde gave clear instructions that if the process of removing silt needs to be accelerated in Zone 5, additional manpower and machinery should be specially deployed. Mayor Tawde further said that wherever necessary, protective walls should be erected to protect the drains and a long-term solution should be decided. Underground drains and bridges should be cleaned regularly, and wherever necessary, robotic systems should be used to facilitate the process of transporting sewage. All the concerned agencies should work cooperatively and responsibly to keep the drainage system efficient. Submersible pumps should be installed in low-lying areas where rainwater accumulates. Mayor Tawde also clarified that corporators and public representatives should also be provided with information about the work of removing silt from drains. Mayor Tawde also humbly appealed to the citizens not to throw garbage and noisemakers into the drains and cooperate in the efforts of the Municipal Corporation.