Mumbai: Maharashtra has proposed the construction of 325 shelters (Vihardhams) across the state for Jain monks who travel on foot (Payi Vihar).

The proposal was announced during a meeting between the Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Minority Affairs, Sunetra Ajit Pawar, and officials of the Jain Minority Development Economic Corporation (JMDEC) on Wednesday in Mumbai. The meeting focused on streamlining the Corporation’s operations and on the social, educational, and economic empowerment of the Jain community.

To enhance the Corporation’s efficiency, the government has committed to providing advanced technical tools and infrastructure, increasing manpower to manage community-specific schemes, and offering long-term financial support for sustainable growth.

During the session, Lalit Gandhi, Chairman of JMDEC, presented a series of developmental proposals, including a plan to introduce classical language training (Marathi and Prakrit) across approximately 4,000 pathshalas (traditional schools) in the state. Another proposal aimed at promoting higher education among women includes the construction of fully equipped and secure hostels in Pune, Nashik, Nagpur, and Navi Mumbai.

In a statement, Pawar said she had directed officials to immediately examine these proposals to ensure swift implementation. “The government is fully committed to the development of the Jain community. We will take concrete, time-bound steps to ensure that the benefits of our schemes reach every segment of the community effectively,” she stated

Secretary of the Minority Development Department, Yogesh Mhase, and Corporation Vice-Chairman Mitesh Nahata, along with senior bureaucrats from the Planning, Industry, and Skill Development departments, were among the key officials present to oversee the strategic rollout of these initiatives.

The meeting concluded with a firm resolve to balance economic empowerment with the preservation of religious and cultural traditions. Gandhi expressed confidence that, through these initiatives, the Corporation will set a benchmark for minority welfare in Maharashtra.

The Mumbai Municipal Corporation has started the work of connecting the water tunnel from Amar Mahal to Wadala, Parel as well as Trombay and Tarbhe high level reservoirs. Under this, connection of 1800 mm diameter water pipelines and other ancillary works will be carried out. For these works, the 1800 mm water pipe of Tarbhe high level reservoir and 1200 mm water pipe of Tarbhe low level reservoir will be temporarily closed. All the works related to water supply will be carried out from Tuesday, May 5, 2026, 10 am to Wednesday, May 6, 2026, 4 pm (total 30 hours). During this work, water supply will remain closed at some places in F North, F South and L, M East, M West and N sections of the city division and eastern suburbs. Water will be supplied at low pressure at some places. The Mumbai Municipal Corporation administration is appealing to the citizens of the concerned division to store the necessary water during the said period. They are requested to cooperate by using water sparingly.

The work of implementing the water tunnel from Amar Mahal (Hedgewar Udyan) to Wadala (Prateeksha Nagar) and thereafter to Parel (AMT-1) will be carried out by the Municipal Corporation, similarly from Amar Mahal to Trombay Reservoir (AMT-2) and thereafter to Turbhe High Level Reservoir will be carried out by the Municipal Corporation. Under this, the 1800 mm diameter water pipeline supplying water to Turbhe High Level Reservoir will be connected to another 1800 mm diameter water pipeline through the Water Supply Project Department. Other water works will also be carried out in this regard. In order to carry out water supply related works, the 1800 mm diameter water pipeline supplying water to the Tarbhe High Level Reservoir and the 1200 mm diameter water pipeline of the Tarbhe Low Level Reservoir will be closed. This operation will continue from 10 am on Tuesday, May 5, 2026 to 4 pm on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, i.e. for a total of 30 hours. Due to which water supply to F North, F South, L, M East, M West and N divisions will be affected.

Detailed details of affected areas
F North Division Pratiksha Nagar, Shastri Nagar, Sanjay Gandhi Nagar, Shanti Nagar, HM Marg, KD Gaikwad Nagar, Wadala Truck Terminus, New Cuffe Parade, Alameda Complex (Water supply will remain closed on Wednesday, May 6, 2026).

Chef (East) and Chef (West) (Water supply will be at low pressure on Wednesday, May 6, 2026)
F South Zone Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marg, Dinshaw Pat Marg, SS Rao Marg, Dr. Ernest Borges Marg, Parmar Guruji Marg, Gokhale Marg, N.M.G.S. Marg, Dadasaheb Phalke Marg, Govindji Kenny Marg, Jarbai Marg, St. Bowker, Dev Marg. Marg, St. Xavier Marg, Khashaba Marg, Mahadev Palu Marg, Jiji Bhoy Lane, Acharya Donde Marg, Vitthal Chavan Marg, Jagannath Bhatinkar Marg, Batliwala Gali, Chamar Bagh Marg, I Mai Muranji Marg, Shrodkar Marg, Chioda Gali, Marg, Marg, Sang Company (Water supply will be closed on Wednesday, May 6, 2026) L-Section Sibal Nagar, Santoshi Mata Nagar, Kranti Nagar, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, Naveen Tilak Nagar (Water supply will be closed on Wednesday, May 6, 2026). Qureshi Nagar (Butchery) (Water supply will be closed on Tuesday, May 5, 2026 and Wednesday, May 6, 2026). Hill Marg, Tadi Peeth, Mukta Devi Marg, Gawadevi Mandal, Dongar Paris, Patil Gali, Gulmohar Gali, Panchsheel Nagar (Water supply will remain closed on Tuesday, May 5, 2026). Nehru Nagar, Shivsruthi Marg, Nayak Nagar, Mother Dairy Marg, SG Barve Marg Kurla (East), Kedarnath Mandir Marg, Noor Bagh, Kamgar Nagar, Hanuman Nagar, Police Colony, Kurla Car Shed, Railway Colony, Taxila Nagar, Chafe Gali, Marupur Nagar, Rahul Nagar, Tri Nagar. N. Purav Marg, Umarwadi Marg, Ali Dada Street, Swadeshi Mill Rice, Chonbhati Phatak, MHADA Colony, Samarth Nagar (Water supply will remain closed on Tuesday, May 5, 2026). M. East Division Lallubhai Complex, Kamla Raman Nagar, Raman Mama Nagar, Shivaji Nagar, Lotus Colony, Gautam Nagar, Gaikwad Nagar, Ayodhya Nagar, Vashi Naka, Mankhord (Water supply will remain closed on Wednesday, May 6, 2026).

Beganwadi, Mankhord Bharat Nagar, MHADA Buildings, Chitta Camp, Sathe Nagar, Zakir Hussain Nagar, Deonar Village, Deonar Colony, New Bharat Nagar, Hashu Advani Nagar, Nattur Parekh Complex (Water supply will remain closed on Tuesday, May 5, 2026).

Sahyadri Nagar, Vidhali Village, BARC Colony, Kamala Raman Nagar, Raman Mama Nagar, Dumping Supply (water supply will be closed on Tuesday, May 5, 2026).

Rafiq Nagar, Mandla Village, New Mandla, Padma Nagar, Vishnu Nagar, LU Gadkari Marg, RNA Park, Kokreja Buildings, Vashi Naka, Chitta Camp, Maharashtra Nagar, MHADA Buildings, Indian Oil Nagar (water supply will be off on Tuesday May 2026).

Thane: A 61-year-old woman from Thane, who had worked as a baby caretaker in Dubai, has allegedly been cheated of Rs 15.76 lakh under the pretext of receiving a parcel containing valuables from abroad, police said on Thursday.

The woman, who lives near Thane railway station in Maharashtra, alleged that two persons contacted her on her Dubai mobile number on April 14 and informed her that her gold ornaments and a high-end phone had arrived at the Mumbai airport from Italy, an official from Naupada police station said.

“They told her that the consignment needed to be cleared before April 22 and threatened that if she failed to do so, she would face legal action and would not be allowed to go back to Dubai,” the official said.

The fraudsters allegedly made multiple calls to the woman from different numbers and shared bank account details via WhatsApp, coercing her into transferring money on several occasions, he said.

“Under pressure and fear of arrest, the woman transferred Rs 15,76,000 into various bank accounts provided by the fraudsters,” the official said.

The woman approached the police on Tuesday, following which a case was registered against two unidentified persons under sections 318(4) (cheating) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Efforts were underway to trace the culprits, the police added.