Maharashtra
PM Modi To Inaugurate MTHL On Jan 12; To Lay Foundation Stones For Orange Gate & Borivali Tunnel On Same Day
Mumbai: The much-awaited Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 12, senior officials in Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) confirmed on Tuesday.
Officials said, We were not sure of the date as we were just asked by the government and the Prime Minister’s Office to be in the ‘ready mode’ since the PM was also going to be busy with the consecration ceremony at Ayodhya Ram Mandir. Now we have been given the green signal and it is confirmed that MTHL will be inaugurated on January 12.
On Sunday, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, too, had hinted at the January 12 opening. MMRDA officials told the FPJ that it will coincide with the laying of the foundation stones for Orange Gate and Thane-Borivali Twin Tube Tunnel.
About Orange Gate Project
Slated as one of the longest underground tunnels in the city, Orange Gate on Eastern Freeway will connect with Marine Drive 40 metres below ground level. It aims to provide a seamless road-based transit system with just 10 minutes of driving distance from Eastern Freeway to the coastal road. It will also enhance signal free connectivity between the east and west coasts of Mumbai via Eastern Freeway, MTHL, coastal road and Bandra Worli Sea Link.
The Rs14,400 crore Borivali tunnel project is expected to reduce travel time between Thane and Borivali to 15-20 minutes from 90 minutes. It will also help minimise traffic congestion on Ghodbunder Road. The route will feature an 11.8km connecting road with two 10.25km three-lane tunnels under Sanjay Gandhi National park, running from Tikuji-NiWadi in Thane to the Western Express Highway in Borivali.
The MTHL, an engineering marvel, will take off at Sewree in south Mumbai, crossing over Thane Creek and terminating at Chirle in the distant outskirts of Navi Mumbai. It is expected to cater to 70,000 vehicles daily. Motorists can zoom past the bridge at 100 kmph in 15 minutes.
Crime
Mumbai Police’s Anti-Narcotics Team Attacked By Suspected Drug Traffickers In Navi Mumbai; Several Injured

Navi Mumbai: In a shocking incident, the anti-narcotics team of the Mumbai Police was attacked by suspected drug traffickers during an operation in the Ulva area of Navi Mumbai last week. The incident occurred when the team conducted a raid in the Ulva locality while tracking suspects linked to a drug trafficking case who were located near Shagun Chowk.
When officers attempted to arrest them, the accused allegedly launched a violent attack on the police team using sharp weapons, including choppers, swords, hockey sticks and a village axe. In the attack, Assistant Police Inspector Kiran Mandhare of RCF Police Station was injured in the attack. Other police personnel, including Firoz Siddiqui, Ahmed Raza Qureshi and Atul Jaisawal, also sustained injuries and are currently undergoing treatment.
Following the attack, the senior police inspector at the Ulva Police station immediately sent a team of police for help. Moreover, a case has also been registered against all eight accused.
The report also stated that the Mumbai Police team did not seek help from the local police station before conducting the raid and had not informed the Navi Mumbai Police in advance about the operation.
Earlier In January 2026, three men were taken into custody for allegedly arguing with and assaulting traffic police personnel during a vehicle-checking drive at a naka bandi in Panvel on New Year’s Eve, leaving a traffic constable injured.
The incident took place around 2.30 am on December 31 at Shivshambho Naka, where traffic police had intensified checks as part of security arrangements for New Year celebrations.
Maharashtra
BMC Announces Strict Sanitation Fines In Mumbai: ₹250 Fine For Spitting, ₹500 For Littering & ₹25,000 For Transporting Garbage Without License

The Mumbai Municipal Corporation has stepped up efforts to improve cleanliness and sanitation across the city by intensifying awareness around solid waste management rules and imposing penalties for violations. The move is part of a broader push to ensure cleaner public spaces and better waste handling practices across residential, commercial and public areas.
The civic body is creating awareness about regulations related to waste generators, establishments, waste service providers and solid waste processing. These rules govern the storage, segregation, transportation, and disposal of waste. Officials have made it clear that strict penalty action will be taken against citizens and establishments that fail to comply.
Under the revised enforcement, fines have been specified for common violations. A penalty of Rs 250 will be imposed for spitting in public places. Dumping garbage will attract a fine of Rs 500, while failure to segregate wet and dry waste will result in a fine of Rs 200. Transporting garbage without a valid licence will invite a penalty of Rs 25,000.
As per the directions of Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, regular action is being taken to maintain cleanliness within municipal limits. Additional Municipal Commissioner City Ashwini Joshi, under the guidance of Deputy Commissioner Solid Waste Management Kiran Dighavkar, said continuous efforts are being made to strengthen solid waste management systems in the city.
Special cleanliness drives and activities are also being organised from time to time to reinforce these measures.
The bylaws will apply to all waste generators and to public and private places. This includes residential buildings, business and commercial establishments, professional and industrial premises, government and semi-government offices, educational institutions, religious places, recreational spaces and all other areas of public use.
The focus of the rules is on preventing littering and nuisance, ensuring clean premises and mandatory segregation of solid waste at source.
The regulations lay down detailed responsibilities regarding storage and collection of municipal solid waste, duties of producers, municipal authorities, representatives and contractors, and the handling of material recovery facilities. They also cover biomedical waste, e-waste, construction and demolition debris and plastic waste.
Additional fines have been announced for specific offences. Throwing garbage on roads, footpaths, gardens or public places will attract a fine of Rs 500. Bathing in public places will result in a fine of Rs 300. Urinating or defecating in public places will attract a fine of Rs 500 each. Feeding animals or birds in public spaces will also invite a fine of Rs 500.
Failure to keep courtyards or premises clean can result in fines ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 1,500.
Dr Ashwini Joshi appealed to citizens and establishments to strictly follow the bylaws and cooperate with the municipal corporation in keeping Mumbai cleaner and more beautiful.
Maharashtra
‘Not What Indians Expected’: Sena UBT MP Priyanka Chaturvedi Raises Concerns Over India-US Trade Deal

Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Tuesday, February 3, raised concerns over the trade deal signed between India and the United States, calling it significant but expressed disappointment over its terms. She said the manner in which tariffs and trade barriers were reduced was not what Indians expected. Her statements came as India and the United States agreed on a $500 billion-dollar trade deal under which Washington will bring down the reciprocal tariff on Indian goods to 18 per cent from the current 25 per cent.
While speaking to news agency media, she raised questions on the way tariffs were brought down, “The way we have brought tariffs and trade barriers down to zero… we agree to buy Venezuelan oil, stop buying Iranian oil, stop buying Russian oil, the trade barriers on agricultural goods have been removed from our markets.”
While the Sena UBT MP reiterated that the India-US trade agreement is important, she added that “what has come from Trump’s side doesn’t seem like a win-win situation at all.” Meanwhile, the announcement of the trade deal was made by US President Trump on Monday after a phone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
A late night tweet also came from PM Modi thanking Trump on behalf of the 1.4 billion people of India for the announcement. Taking to X, the Prime Minister wrote, “Wonderful to speak with my dear friend President Trump today. Delighted that Made in India products will now have a reduced tariff of 18%. When two large economies and the world’s largest democracies work together, it benefits our people and unlocks immense opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation.”
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is likely to make a statement in Parliament on Tuesday on the India-US trade agreement, sources as reported by media. The sources added the minister is returning to Delhi from Mumbai to make the statement.
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