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Maharashtra

Mumbaikars Object To BMC’s New Iconic Buildings Policy, Alleging It Is Exclusionary, Commercialised And Centrally Controlled

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Mumbai: Mumbaikars have objected to the new proposed regulation in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)’s iconic buildings policy alleging that it is built on an aesthetic of spectacle, a logic of commercialisation, and a structure of centralised control.

The proposed regulation has been alleged to be exclusionary towards Mumbai’s known heritage buildings and the lack of a mechanism to regulate the policy’s impact of overwhelming the surrounding.

On June 24, BMC invited suggestions and objections from Mumbaikars on a new regulation 33(27) to the iconic building policy that aims to shape the city’s skyline. BMC claimed that once implemented, the policy will regulate and encourage the development of structures with distinctive architectural styles, aimed at reinforcing Mumbai’s global image as a city with unique and diverse architecture.

While Mumbaikars have acknowledged the ambition of the policy, they have claimed that the policy warrants serious reconsideration. In an online petition marked to the chief engineer of the development plan (DP) department, an anonymous citizens’ group with the name ‘Save Mumbai’s Iconic Buildings’ has raised significant concerns relating to equity, heritage, governance, and sustainability claiming that it warrants serious reconsideration.

The petition, launched on Friday, alleged that the proposed policy defines iconic as exclusionary and biased towards commercial spectacle. It highlighted that the requirement of minimum 40% of the building to be open to the public for a fee, disqualifies the city’s vast stock of residential heritage buildings, including the chawls of Girgaon, the bungalows of Gamdevi and the art deco apartments of Marine Drive.

It also raised concerns against the encouragement of commercialised access alleging that it will turn public engagement into a paid experience, deepening social exclusion.

“These are structures that define the everyday life and cultural identity of the city. They are iconic not because they contain cafes or galleries, but because they are repositories of memory, community, and architectural lineage. By privileging fee-based access and high-visibility aesthetics, the policy effectively erases living heritage from our urban imagination,” read the petition.

The letter alleged that the governance framework of the policy is deeply inadequate, elaborating that the scrutiny committee lacks defined membership criteria, transparency mechanisms or a process of public accountability. It suggested the framework like Mumbai’s heritage committee, which includes civil society experts, architects, and historians

It also added that along with reshaping the city’s skyline, the policy also needs a mechanism to regulate its impact. It suggested that Mumbai urgently requires a New York-like skyline review process that evaluates how proposed structures affect sightlines, scale, and heritage precincts. It also raised concerns about applying the same rule to the entire city and bypassing of the wards in the decision-making process.

“It is a critical fact that this policy, like many others before it, continues to treat Mumbai as a monolith, applying the same rules to vastly different neighbourhoods. The new proposed regulation imposes a uniform citywide framework, ignoring the fact that decentralised planning is essential to a city as diverse and layered as ours. Planning must be devolved to the ward or precinct level, allowing for area-specific review and genuine citizen participation. Without decentralisation, heritage will always be at the mercy of distant, disconnected authorities.”

Urging the civic body to withdraw the draft, the petition alleged that the policy is environmentally unsound as it promotes illuminated facades and high-rise construction with no requirement for environmental review or sustainability standards.

It added that these iconic buildings risk generating increased heat, carbon emissions, and pressure on coastal microclimates while there is no mention of tree protection, energy efficiency, or carbon offset.

Maharashtra

Osama Bin Laden is reborn in Owaisi! Nitesh Rane once again strongly criticizes AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi

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Mumbai: Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane once again criticized All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi, who had earlier called him equal to Osama bin Laden, but now he said that Osama bin Laden has been reborn in Asaduddin Owaisi, and that is why he has such ideas. There is no place for those who reflect such ideas in India. He showed venom in the case of Nida Khan and said that AIMIM had supported Nida Khan, but now as the facts have been exposed, AIMIM has also been exposed. Nitesh Rane, while describing India as a Hindu nation, said that this is a country of gods and goddesses. If someone does not accept Vande Mataram, then he should take his beard and round cap and go to his father’s Pakistan because they will not be tolerated in India. He said that could these people support India while living in Pakistan? Only these people do such things while living in India. Even after comparing Owaisi to Osama bin Laden, Nitesh Rane is sticking to his stance, and Rane has even declared AIMIM a terrorist organization.

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Maharashtra

Instead of increasing parking fees by 40%, BMC should focus on affordable parking and traffic discipline, Raees Sheikh writes to Mumbai Municipal Commissioner

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Mumbai: As the Mumbai Municipal Corporation prepares to hike parking fees by 40 per cent, Samajwadi Party MLA from Bhiwandi East Raees Sheikh has written to Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, requesting him to review the current parking policy before increasing the fees and revive the defunct Mumbai Parking Authority (MPA). MLA Sheikh has demanded in the letter that the municipality should focus on improving traffic discipline and affordable parking instead of considering parking as a source of revenue generation. In his letter to the commissioner, MLA Raees Sheikh said that before making any changes in parking fees, a comprehensive review of the current parking policy and its implementation should be conducted. Citizens are facing many challenges due to inadequate parking infrastructure, uncontrolled parking on roads, lack of proper enforcement and irregularity of organized parking spaces. Before increasing parking fees, attention should be paid to making parking facilities affordable, transparent and accessible to the common citizen. MLA Raees Sheikh said that increasing fees without proper improvements in infrastructure and management can put unnecessary financial burden on residents, middle-class families, office workers and small traders. Stressing the need for strict enforcement of ‘no parking’ rules in the city, Raees Sheikh explained that traffic congestion due to illegal parking on roads, footpaths and squares is adding to the inconvenience of both pedestrians and motorists. Instead of just increasing parking fees, strict enforcement with better planning and digital monitoring system will help improve traffic discipline. The inefficient Mumbai Parking Authority should be revived so that parking management in the city is handled through a dedicated and accountable mechanism. MLA Raees Sheikh, in a letter to Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, suggested that a special authority could undertake scientific planning, formulate uniform parking policies, coordinate with the traffic police and transport departments and ensure a long-term solution to the growing number of vehicles in Mumbai.

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Maharashtra

Shocking Video! Man Gets Trapped Between Train & Platform At Andheri Station; Commuters Panic

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Mumbai: A disturbing video has surfaced from Andheri railway station showing a man trapped between a local train and the platform, triggering panic among commuters as bystanders rushed to rescue him.

According to a video shared by ‘Duniya Ke Khalesh’, the man was seen wedged in the narrow gap between the train and the platform. While the lower half of his body appeared to be under the train, his upper body and torso were stuck in the gap, with the man lying face-up as people gathered around in shock.

The visuals show the train standing still, indicating that the motorman had likely been alerted to the situation in time. Blood stains were also visible on the platform, reportedly after the man struck his head during the incident.

In the video, the man can be seen desperately attempting to pull himself free while commuters and railway staff cautiously try to rescue him without causing further injuries. Several people are seen coordinating efforts to slowly pull him out from the gap as panic spread across the platform.

No official statement regarding the incident or the condition of the man had been issued by authorities till the time of going to press.

This story comes to light a week after a man was spotted dead under a Mumbai local train, triggering panic and chaos among commuters at the station. The incident reportedly took place at around 12.05 pm.

According to a post shared by the ‘Mirabhyandarofficial’ page on Instagram, the man allegedly came under the local train at the station. Visuals from the spot show the lifeless body of the man under the train with only his legs visible. Visuals also show shocked commuters gathered around the platform.

Incidents like these once again highlight the dangers associated with crossing railway tracks or attempting risky acts near moving trains. Railway authorities have repeatedly urged commuters to remain cautious and follow safety rules while travelling on the suburban railway network.

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