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Maharashtra

Mumbai: Sewri–Worli Elevated Road Back On Track As Prabhadevi Rehabilitation Hurdle Finally Cleared

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Mumbai: After months of delay and mounting local opposition, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has announced that a key hurdle affecting the construction of the Sewri–Worli elevated road has finally been resolved, allowing the long-stalled project to regain momentum.

The deadlock over the rehabilitation of residents from two residential buildings in Prabhadevi, whose demolition was essential for the alignment of the elevated corridor, has been largely settled. While the proposal had initially met stiff resistance from residents, progress was achieved after negotiations under the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) rehabilitation policy.

As per MMRDA, five of the 38 affected residents have opted to accept monetary compensation in exchange for their homes. Meanwhile, 30 residents have already been handed possession of alternative MHADA housing, with the remaining allotments currently in various stages of processing. Officials said the rehabilitation exercise, which had been a major impediment to construction activity, is now nearing completion.

The Sewri–Worli elevated road project, envisioned to provide faster access to Atul Setu from South Mumbai, was originally expected to be completed by now. However, work came to a standstill due to complications surrounding the rehabilitation of residents across 19 buildings along the alignment. A particularly sensitive issue involved the road’s passage over railway tracks and the 125-year-old Prabhadevi bridge, which was found to be structurally inadequate and in need of reconstruction.

To address traffic and safety requirements, the MMRDA had earlier proposed demolishing the old bridge and constructing a modern double-decker structure in its place. Under the original plan, the lower deck would continue to serve existing traffic, while the upper deck would allow vehicles from South Mumbai to directly access Atul Setu. However, this design would have required the demolition of 19 surrounding residential buildings, triggering strong opposition from local residents.

Facing sustained protests and public pressure, the MMRDA revisited the design. Officials said the revised plan was finalised after extensive technical and social impact assessments, resulting in a realignment that spared 17 of the 19 buildings initially marked for demolition. Ultimately, the demolition of only two buildings was deemed unavoidable to ensure the project’s viability and safety standards.

Residents of the affected buildings had earlier staged protests against the proposed demolitions, citing concerns over displacement and inadequate rehabilitation. With the latest breakthrough, MMRDA officials maintain that the concerns of the majority of residents have now been addressed, enabling construction activity on the elevated corridor and the redesigned bridge to move ahead.

The authority said it will continue to coordinate with residents and MHADA to complete the remaining rehabilitation formalities, while pushing to fast-track construction on what is seen as a critical infrastructure link aimed at easing congestion between South Mumbai and the eastern suburbs.

Maharashtra

Abu Asim response to Nitesh Rane’s statement that madrasas are the base of terrorism: Rane is a liar

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Mumbai: Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane, while demanding a ban on madrasas, called them a haven for terrorism and showed hostility towards Muslims, on which Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader and MLA Abu Asim has called Nitesh Rane a liar. He said that Nitesh Rane is lying about madrasas. No training for terrorism is given in madrasas in our country. This is the brainchild of Nitesh Rane. If there is any doubt, then madrasas should be monitored 24 hours a day with cameras. Defaming madrasas is just part of divisive politics. The fact is that madrasas educate orphans and poor children and make them good human beings. If we look at history, the students of these same madrasas sacrificed their lives for the country’s freedom. The purpose of madrasas has always been to serve humanity. BJP’s politics is now limited to Muslims, mosques, prayers and madrasas. He said that the way BJP and Nitesh Rane are conspiring to defame madrasas, they can never succeed in their goal because this madrasa is not your lair, but the people are made from the soil of this place. Politics is involved in all the allegations made against madrasas and that is why there is no need to pay attention to Nitesh Rane’s words, his job is to spread poison and divide Hindus into Muslims.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai Municipal Corporation presents budget with deficit of Rs 80,952.56 crore for 2026-27, 8.77% increase in expenditure over last year’s estimate

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Mumbai: Municipal Corporation (BMC) has presented its deficit budget for the current financial year. It has presented a budget of Rs 80,952.56 crore for the financial year 2026-27, against an estimate of Rs 89.84 crore. Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani presented the budget along with Standing Committee Chairman Prabhakar Shinde.

The new expenditure is higher than the previous year’s budget of Rs 74,427.41 crore. The civic body said it has adopted a policy of reducing administrative expenditure and has made strong arrangements for development works.

The corporation currently has Rs 81,449 crore and 32 lakh crore. Of this amount, Rs 44,826 crore and 23 lakh crore are earmarked deposits and cannot be used. The remaining amount of Rs 36,623 crore and 09 lakh crore can be used for other civic projects.

Officials said the corporation may break some deposits to fund infrastructure and development initiatives.
A key policy decision in the budget relates to outdoor advertising. The civic body has imposed a complete ban on billboards larger than 40 by 40 feet. It will also not allow billboards on footpaths or building roofs. No new approvals will be given for such structures. The move is aimed at improving public safety and curbing dangerous hoardings.

The budget has provided Rs 5,237 crore for the health department for 2026-27. The civic body also said that 1.35 crore citizens have availed services at the Hindu Hardai Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Hospital. It plans to introduce free AI-based treatment for diabetes and eye diseases at the hospital.

To tackle the rising air pollution in the city, the corporation has allocated Rs 159.82 crore for environment and cleanliness. The budget includes Rs 1,000 crore as grant to BEST. The education department has been allocated Rs 4,248.8 crore. Solid waste management gets Rs 580.82 crore, while the storm water drainage department gets Rs 1,800 crore.

The allocation for infrastructure is Rs 6,875 crore for roads and transport, Rs 9,650 crore for bridges, Rs 950 crore for coastal road project, Rs 1,330 crore for water engineering and Rs 6,600 crore for sewerage project works. Rs 800 crore has been allocated for parks and zoos. The budget emphasizes administrative expenditure for infrastructure development.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai: Ajit Pawar plane crash, Marine Drive police station refuses to register case against MLAs

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Mumbai: Police has refused to register a case in the Ajit Pawar plane crash case. NCP leader MLA Rohit Pawar along with other MLAs had today gone to Marine Drive police station and demanded that a case be registered in the Ajit Pawar plane crash or conspiracy case. The process of recording his confession statement was also going on, but in the meantime, the DCP and Additional Police Commissioner refused to register a case and said that a case cannot be registered in this matter. Expressing his displeasure, Rohit Pawar said that the purpose of registering an FIR today is that the DGCA has issued a circular on the basis of which action has been taken regarding the VSR company, on this basis the VSR company is responsible for this plane crash, yet the police have refused to register a case. He said that any citizen can register a complaint at the police station, this act says, but contrary to this, the police have refused to register a case. He said that efforts are underway to save the VSR company. He said that the police register cases for other crimes including assault, but why is the police not registering a case on the incident that happened with a Maratha leader and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar? This is completely wrong. Our struggle will continue until justice is achieved. He said that tomorrow morning we will try to register a complaint at the Baramati police station. Rohit Pawar expressed his disappointment and said that if a Deputy Chief Minister does not get justice, then what will happen to the common man? Regarding the registration of a case in the case of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, the ruling party BJP has also taken its stand that a case should not be registered in this matter, while it has also recommended a CBI inquiry into this matter, but despite this inquiry, we have the right to register an FIR, yet we are being deprived of it and have refused to take an FIR.

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