Mumbai: A fire broke out on the busy Ghatkopar–Mankhurd Link Road on Thursday afternoon, engulfing at least 10–12 four-wheelers in flames and sending plumes of smoke into the air.

The Mumbai Fire Brigade officials rushed to the spot and managed to bring the blaze under control within an hour, preventing it from spreading further. No injuries were reported in the incident.

According to the MFB, the fire reported at 11:45 AM on Thursday. The blaze affected around 10 to 12 four-wheeler vehicles, sending thick smoke across the busy stretch near Baingan wadi signal at Govandi.

Firefighters, along with police personnel and 108 ambulance services, were immediately mobilized to the spot. Swift response by emergency teams ensured the fire was brought under control by 12:22 pm Cooling operations followed, and the situation was fully contained by the time of the latest update at 1:35 pm.

No injuries have been reported in the incident. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined and is likely to be investigated by authorities.

Mumbai: The revised plan of Mumbai Metro Route 5 has received the final approval of the state government. We have continuously taken forward the Thane-Bhiwandi Kalyan Metro project. We raised our voice in the legislature and finally the path for this Rs 18,130 crore mega project has been paved. Samajwadi Party MLA from Bhiwandi East Raees Sheikh said that our struggle for the development of Bhiwandi and the convenience of passengers has paid off. Giving information in this regard, MLA Raees Sheikh said that Bhiwandi is a logistics hub, but Bhiwandi, which is the Manchester of the state, is not on the railway line. There is a lot of pressure on the roads here and the condition of the roads is poor. It is the fastest growing city in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority area. Considering the current traffic situation in Bhiwandi city and the delay in the construction of the metro line by demolishing the existing flyover, we had been continuously demanding improvement in this project. Finally, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took notice of it and the Urban Development Department on Wednesday approved the revised project plan of Mumbai Metro Line 5 (Phase 1, Phase 2 and Extension Phase 3) at a cost of Rs 18,130 crore, which is 34 km long and has 19 stations. The project, which has been stalled for the last five years, will now be completed at a fast pace. The development of Bhiwandi will now accelerate. MLA Raees Sheikh expressed satisfaction and said that our continuous follow-up with the legislature and the government has been successful.

Mumbai: The demolition of the Haji Noorani building near the Elphinstone bridge in Prabhadevi, the final structure obstructing the Sewri–Worli Connector, will begin from April 27, making way for the double-decker structure, replacing the century-old bridge.

The announcement comes after authorities directed all 23 occupants to vacate by April 24. The building, which houses 17 residents and six shopkeepers, has been the last remaining barrier to completing crucial pillars for the 4.5-km connector project. The delay had stalled construction work being carried out by J Kumar Infraprojects, even as the project’s September deadline approaches.

The adjacent Laxmi Niwas building, also part of the alignment, had already begun demolition in late March. However, the Haji Noorani structure remained a challenge for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority due to rehabilitation-related issues.

Earlier this year, the MMRDA issued rehabilitation offers to 78 affected residents from both buildings, providing alternative housing through Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority in areas such as Dadar, Prabhadevi and Parel. Eligible residents were allotted 405 sq ft homes, with provisions for financial adjustments for larger units.

The process faced delays after six residents objected to earlier rehabilitation options in Byculla and Wadala, citing concerns over location and building conditions. This led authorities to identify additional housing and conduct a fresh lottery earlier this week, after which evacuation notices were issued.

Some residents have requested more time to arrange funds for larger replacement homes. Rohit Mayekar, who was allotted a 450 sq ft flat in Prabhadevi, said he has been asked to pay Rs 22 lakh for the additional area.

Officials, however, confirmed that demolition will proceed as scheduled, with limited flexibility on payment timelines. Meanwhile, three ground-floor occupants are yet to receive rehabilitation housing, as their eligibility under the cessed building norms remains under review.

The Sewri–Worli connector is a crucial east-west link that will integrate the Mumbai Coastal Road Project with the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, majorly easing traffic movement across the city. Additionally, a double-decker bridge is planned at the site of the former Elphinstone Bridge, with separate decks for local traffic and connector movement, further enhancing connectivity in central Mumbai.