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Maharashtra

Mumbai: Much-awaited Surya water supply project nears completion

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The much-awaited Surya Regional Water Supply Scheme in the extended western suburbs of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region is on the verge of completion.

Once the project is complete, the portable water will be supplied to the Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation. This will be the project’s first of the two phases. Under the second phase, the water will be supplied to the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation.

As per the plans, in the next few weeks, the testing, trial Run and commissioning procedures will be undertaken. The plan is to supply 185 million litres daily (MLD) in March 2023.

In just over a decade, there has been an exponential increase in the population in the Vasai-Virar civic jurisdiction. Due to this exponential development and population migration from South Mumbai, there has been a considerable rise in the requirement for clean drinking water.

To meet the demand, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is constructing a 403 MLD water treatment plant. The work on the intake structure is 98% through and work on the water treatment plant is 94% done.

To supply water, a total of 88 km of pipeline has been laid between the Surya River (between Palghar-Manor) and Vasai-Virar municipality jurisdiction. Also, tunnelling in Mendhwankhind has been completed. Work on Tungareshwar tunnelling is underway. Overall, 95% of phase 1 and 82% of the entire project is completed.

“The Surya project is MMRDA’s ambitious project because apart from developing infrastructure, MMRDA is conceiving its first water supply project for the western sub-region of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The Phase-I scheme will provide water to Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation this year and MMRDA’s project gets finished in March. Vasai City has to speed up their internal distribution systems. We are helping them with this too. Phase-II balance 218 MLD scheme will provide water to Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation in coming months,” said SVR Srinivas, Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA.

Maharashtra

Mumbai: BMC Announces 12-Hour Water Cut In Chembur, Govandi And Mankhurd On May 18 For Tunnel Commissioning Work

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Mumbai: Water supply will be disrupted in some areas of M East and M West wards on Monday, May 18, from 10 am to 10 pm due to commissioning work of the Amar Mahal (Hedgewar Udyan) to Turbhe low-level reservoir water tunnel underway. The affected wards include areas such as Chembur East and West, Govandi, and Mankhurd.

The BMC has urged citizens of the two wards to filter and boil water for consumption for seven days — from May 18, 2026, to May 25, 2026 — as a precautionary measure.

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Business

Attention Mumbaikars! Petrol, Diesel Prices Hiked By ₹3 Amid Global Oil Crisis Due To Iran War; Check New Rates Here

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Mumbai: Ending days of intense speculation, the Centre on Friday announced an immediate Rs 3 per litre hike in petrol and diesel prices across the country, marking the first revision in retail fuel rates in nearly four years. The revised prices came into effect immediately from Friday without any transition window. Along with petrol and diesel, the price of CNG was also increased by Rs 2, a move expected to have a wider impact on transportation and household expenses.

In Mumbai, petrol prices climbed to Rs 106.68 per litre after a hike of Rs 3.14, while diesel rates rose by Rs 3.11 to Rs 93.14 per litre. The increase is likely to hit daily commuters, cab and autorickshaw operators, and logistics businesses in the city, where fuel costs directly affect transportation fares and commodity prices.

Among the four major metro cities, Mumbai recorded one of the steepest hikes in petrol prices. In Delhi, petrol prices rose to Rs 97.77 per litre and diesel to Rs 90.67 per litre. Kolkata saw petrol prices increase to Rs 108.74 and diesel to Rs 95.13, while in Chennai, petrol now costs Rs 103.67 and diesel Rs 95.25 per litre.

The hike comes amid mounting pressure on state-run oil marketing companies due to rising global crude oil prices. Earlier in March, Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) had raised the prices of premium petrol and diesel, but rates for regular retail consumers had remained unchanged until now.

According to reports, the three oil companies were collectively absorbing losses of nearly Rs 1,600 crore daily as they continued purchasing crude oil at elevated international prices while avoiding a retail hike. The Centre had reportedly delayed revising fuel prices in an attempt to keep inflation under control, since fuel costs have a cascading impact on transportation, food and essential commodities.

The pressure intensified after conflict in West Asia pushed crude oil prices sharply higher in the global market. India’s crude basket, which averaged around USD 69 per barrel before the Iran conflict escalated in February, later surged to nearly USD 113-114 per barrel in subsequent months.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to conserve fuel and adopt work-from-home practices wherever possible to reduce fuel consumption and ease pressure on India’s foreign exchange reserves. Supporting the appeal, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced a 90-day fuel conservation campaign and two days of work-from-home for government offices.

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Maharashtra

Joint site inspection to be conducted to effectively implement mosquito control measures, Ashwini Bhide directs

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Various agencies in Mumbai should cooperate in providing access to the Pest Control Department team during site visits in mosquito control measures. Mosquito control measures should be effectively implemented by providing necessary support to the Pest Control Department in the Mumbai Municipal Corporation area. Besides, Municipal Corporation Commissioner Ashwini Bhide directed that the objective should be to reduce the number of patients through preventive measures against monsoon diseases by the Municipal Corporation.

A review meeting of the Mosquito Control Committee was held at the Municipal Corporation Headquarters today (14 May 2026) under the chairmanship of Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide.

. Additional Municipal Commissioner (Western Suburbs) Dr. Vipin Sharma, Deputy Commissioner (Municipal Commissioner’s Office) Prashant Gaikwad, Deputy Commissioner (Public Health) Sharad Uday, Executive Health Officer Dr. Daksha Shah, Pesticide Officer Amrit Suryavanshi were present in the meeting along with representatives of various government and semi-government organizations of Mumbai. Senior officers and representatives of government, semi-government organizations from Central Public Works Department, Mahada, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, Mumbai Port Trust, Navy, Air Force, BEST, Postal Department, Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Dairy Department, Mahavataran, LIC, Airport Authority, Public Works Department, NTC attended the meeting. Obstacles in the access of the pest control team to places like dilapidated buildings, grassy areas, mill plots and containment areas of various agencies should be removed. There is a need to take mosquito control measures here with joint efforts. This will make it possible to control the increasing number of patients due to monsoon diseases. It has been observed that mosquito control measures have not been implemented for 6,160 water tanks in the premises of 21 agencies in the Mumbai Municipal Corporation area. A joint inspection visit should be organized in collaboration with the Pesticides Department of Mumbai Municipal Corporation and various agencies. Mumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner Ashwini Bhide directed that various agencies should make joint efforts to implement preventive measures at mosquito breeding sites by May 31, 2026.

Training of over 5000 personnel at construction sites completed
Large-scale reconstruction of buildings is underway in the Mumbai Municipal Corporation area. Security officers and workers are being trained to implement mosquito control measures at construction project sites. More than 5000 personnel have been trained in mosquito control measures in the Mumbai Municipal Corporation area. A WhatsApp group has also been created for communication and coordination between security officers and the pest control department. As part of the monsoon measures, the pest control department has been conducting a drive since February to personally visit various establishments and inspect the covers installed on water tanks. During the inspection, it was observed that the covers of the water tanks were not in good condition and were not installed properly. It was also found that the work of removing obstructions and materials has not been completed. Engineering measures need to be implemented at some places. Various government and semi-government institutions have been directed to implement mosquito control measures before the monsoon through site visit campaigns. Municipal Corporation Commissioner Ashwini Bhide has directed that the mosquito control measures should be completed in a planned manner by 31 May 2026 through a joint campaign.

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