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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

‘Others have mothers too’: Raj Thackeray urges PM Modi to rein in BJP’s troll culture

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Mumbai, Aug 1: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday said that while the abusive language used against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the recent Jantar Mantar protest was unacceptable, the Prime Minister should also advise leaders and supporters of his own party to refrain from using similar rhetoric.

Addressing the 20th anniversary programme of the Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena (MNVS) in Mumbai, Thackeray said he fully agreed that no individual should be subjected to objectionable language, but argued that the same standards must apply across the political spectrum.

“The language used against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the protest at Jantar Mantar was inappropriate. We agree with that. I 100 per cent agree that such low-level language should not be used against anyone. I only want to tell the Prime Minister — please convey this to the people in your party as well,” he said.

The response follows a video shared by Prime Minister Modi on Instagram on Friday night, in which he raised objections to the offensive language used against him and his mother at Jantar Mantar. In the video, PM Modi stated that he forgives the youths involved and appealed that no legal action be taken against them.

Critiquing the political culture over the past decade, the MNS chief accused the BJP of fostering aggressive online trolling. “Look at the language your team of trolls uses against everyone from Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Indira Gandhi to us. Many artists in Maharashtra are afraid to speak up. Teams have been set up in every state — tell them too not to abuse people,” Thackeray said.

He further added, “This culture of trolling started over the last 12 years. What you reaped is what you sowed. PM Modi said he and his mother were abused, which is indeed wrong. But my request to the Prime Minister is — others have mothers too. You must instruct your party leaders to maintain limits. You say you forgave the youths at Jantar Mantar, but who will apologize for what your people have been doing for the last 12 years?”

Shifting focus to youth affairs, Thackeray urged his student wing to adapt to changing times and understand the aspirations of the current generation. “When I was a student, the issues were different. Today’s subjects and today’s youth are different. We have seen the era transition from Telegram to Instagram. We need to understand what this Gen Z generation wants. Gen Z exists in rural Maharashtra as well. Understanding their expectations is essential, and the MNS student wing must explore this,” he stated.

Thackeray also took a swipe at Maharashtra Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil over his recent statements regarding an investigation into stone-pelting incidents in Delhi.

Mocking the Minister, Thackeray remarked, “Our parents used to tell us in childhood to apply oil to the head before sleeping to sharpen the intellect. One person massaged oil into his hair all his life, yet no intelligence came of it.”

“Does the state’s Education and Technology Minister even understand what he is saying? Where is the world heading, and what are we talking about? The Education Minister of Maharashtra wants to link fingerprints on stones to Aadhaar. I want to see the fingerprints on Chandrakant Patil’s brain,” Thackeray quipped.

He further added, “Kolhapur sent him to Pune so he might gain wisdom, but nothing happened here either. With an Education Minister like this, won’t Gen Z lose their temper?

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Maharashtra

Mumbai cyber fraud: 7 arrested for trying to withdraw Rs 10 lakh from bank, accused wanted in 84 cyber cases in police custody

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Mumbai: Cyber ​​Police has claimed to have arrested 7 people involved in cyber fraud while withdrawing Rs 10 lakh from a bank account. Cyber ​​Police received information that Salman Pathan from Overseas Bank Borivali branch in Mumbai was going to withdraw money from his Mewal Bank account. When his associates came to India Overseas Bank and tried to withdraw Rs 10 lakh, the police took two people into custody. They were interrogated. The two were trying to withdraw Rs 10 lakh from the bank through cheques. According to information, the police raided Salman Pathan’s KGN office and detained four people from here. When the seven accused were interrogated, it was revealed that fraud was being committed through fake accounts and money was being withdrawn from banks. A case was registered in this matter and seven accused Salman Habib Pathan (37), Sajid Naushad Kotwal (43), Chirag Ketan (31), Syed Wajahat (41), Rakesh Ramashankar Mishra (42), Rashtit Rajand (35) and Aryan Ritesh Thakkar (18) have been arrested. Cash of Rs 10 lakh, 16 mobile phones, 31 seals of various companies, 23 SIM cards of various companies, a total of 22 bank accounts, 7 Indian Overseas Bank accounts, a cash counting machine, documents for opening bank accounts, Aadhaar cards of 11 people, statement opening tabs of various bank accounts. During the interrogation of the accused, it was found that more than 84 cases were registered against them across the country. The Cyber ​​Cell has appealed not to fall into the trap of cyber fraudsters and not to disclose the details of their bank accounts. At the same time, while talking on social media, be careful not to disclose your personal details because they are exploited to cheat people. Cyber ​​DCP Bajrang Bansode said that the police received information about cyber fraud in this case and the police have arrested the accused wanted in cyber cases and their interrogation is ongoing. Cash worth Rs 10 lakh has also been seized from their possession. Along with this, the police have also seized other items including the documents of the accused.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai: 8-year-old’s parents found a clue from a T-shirt, missing child from Jogeshwari handed over to parents safely, a great feat by Mumbai Police

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Mumbai: Police traced the parents of a missing child who was a special child and was unable to give his name and address. The police traced the parents of the child from the T-cert. Mumbai On July 30, 2026, under the jurisdiction of Jogeshwari Police Station, the prompt action of Police Naik Misal led to the successful tracing of the parents of the boy. The missing child was recovered during patrolling. On July 30, 2026, at around 4 pm, in front of the ‘Yule Chai’ shop, Subhash Road, Jogeshwari (East), Mumbai, during a foot patrol, Police Naik Misal found a boy, aged about 7 to 8 years, crying and wandering alone. On initial questioning and asking for his name and address, it was found that the boy could not speak. He was only able to utter the words “Abba” (father) and “Amma” (mother). Police Naik Maisel examined the boy’s T-shirt closely and found the inscription Mumbai Municipal Corporation Hindi School, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai. He immediately visited the said municipal school and contacted a teacher there, Laksh Kumar Nandeshwar. The teacher said that the boy was not attending classes in that particular school at the time, the T-shirt was issued to him at the time of admission. Although the boy was not currently admitted there, the information available in the school’s admission records shows that he is currently studying in ‘Suppan Special English Medium School’. On contacting the school, a teacher named Neha Tendulkar identified the boy and provided details about his parents. The parents have been identified as Riaz Ahmed Akbar Ali Ansari. The child’s name is Muhammad Shahbaz Ansari Age: 8 years The child is reported to be unable to speak or read properly. Parent’s statement The boy had left his house in Bandra Plot in Meghwari area around 3:00 pm and his parents were looking for him.

The boy’s parents were immediately summoned to Jogeshwari police station. After this, the child was safely handed over to them. This information was given by Iqbal Shakilgar, Senior Police Inspector, Jogeshwari police station.

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