Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has finalized developers for 15 out of 21 stalled slum rehabilitation schemes built on municipal land, bringing new hope to thousands of slum dwellers waiting for homes.

The civic body announced that developers offering at least 25 percent more than the land value would be selected, while some developers have offered premiums as high as 150 percent. For the remaining six schemes, the BMC plans to hold discussions with the top two bidders before finalizing the developer.

Out of the 228 stalled slum schemes across Mumbai, 78 were taken over by the BMC for redevelopment. The civic body had earlier invited letters of interest from developers for 63 of these projects and finally decided to implement 47 of them. A total of 96 developers came forward, but since 26 schemes received interest from only one developer, tenders will be reissued for those.

Under the finalized plans, developers must construct the rehabilitation buildings free of cost and provide slum dwellers with two years of advance rent, along with cheques for the following year. Only those who meet these conditions will be approved. The proposal will be sent to the Municipal Commissioner for final approval, said Umesh Bodkhe, Deputy Chief Engineer overseeing the project.

Some of the finalized projects include Shri Saibaba in Jogeshwari East by Saroj Landmark, Hariom in Vile Parle by Seth Nine Splendor LLP, and Mahavir Dham in Borivali West by Ruparel Infra and Realty. Other developers include Labdhi Lifestyle, Siroya Corp, DGS Township, and Skylark Buildcon.

Projects that will be finalized after discussions include schemes like Sahyog in Jogeshwari East, Ajit Nagar in Borivali West, Sai Adarsh in Wadala, and Panchsheel in Mulund West.

Mumbai: In a major boost to India’s urban transport infrastructure, the country’s operational metro rail network has now crossed the 1,000-kilometre mark, excluding the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS). This achievement was made possible with the full opening of Mumbai Metro Line 3, also known as the Aqua Line, on 8 October 2025.

With the complete rollout of Metro Line 3, Mumbai’s total operational metro length has reached 80.43 km, making it the city with the third-longest metro network in the country. This development pushes Mumbai ahead of cities like Chennai and Hyderabad in terms of active metro corridors.

Mumbai is not slowing down. Several new lines are set for phased inaugurations by the end of 2025, including Line 2B, Line 4, and Line 9. Once operational, these additions are expected to take Mumbai to the second position nationally, just behind Delhi in terms of metro rail length.

India’s expanding metro rail network reflects a broader push towards modern, sustainable urban transport. Over the past decade, metro projects have gained momentum across various cities, with improved funding, streamlined approvals, and growing public support. Excluding the RRTS corridors, this 1,000 km milestone signifies a shift towards cleaner and more efficient city mobility.

With several cities including Pune, Bhopal, Indore, and Patna progressing rapidly on their metro phases, the national operational network is expected to cross 1,200 km in the coming year. As metro systems become integral to easing congestion and reducing pollution in India’s urban centres, the focus now shifts to timely execution, last-mile connectivity, and affordability.

Vasai: The suicide of two teenagers in Virar has taken a significant turn. While it has been confirmed that one of the teenagers committed suicide due to a broken heart, the mystery surrounding his friend’s death persists. Police have suggested two possibilities: that he either took his life in solidarity with his friend or that he lost his balance and fell while attempting to save him.

The incident occurred on Monday night when two friends, Sham Ghorai (20) and Aditya Singh (21), jumped from the 16th floor of an under-construction building in Bolinj, Virar. The two were close friends who resided in Achole, Nalasopara, and were studying at Rahul International College. The case initially became more complex due to allegations of murder from the parents, who claimed that their sons were pushed off the building.

During the investigation, police found a suicide note written by Sham inside a book at his home. In the note, he revealed that he was in love with a girl who was in a relationship with someone else, and that this was the reason for his depression and subsequent suicide.

With Sham’s motive confirmed, the question of why Aditya also jumped has been raised. Police have not yet found a concrete reason for Aditya’s death. According to Deputy Commissioner of Police Suhas Bawche, there are two possibilities: that he may have taken his own life out of loyalty to his friend, or that he might have fallen while trying to save Sham. Bawche has clarified that foul play has been ruled out and no third party is believed to be involved.