General
Tale of Mumbai’s rising trend of air pollution

Every winter, smog-filled days and nights across entire north India are a common thing and by contrast, the western region looks much cleaner.
However, a new analysis of regional air pollution levels by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has shown that proximity to the sea has not helped in containing the increasing air pollution in the financial capital, Mumbai.
Even though winter pollution levels in the western region are not as high as that seen in the Indo-Gangetic Plains due to its proximity to the sea and improved ventilation, the levels have been seen to be increasing despite the geographical advantages and favourable meteorology, the CSE analysis said.
In other words, increasing air pollution is not restricted to winters but is now an yearlong problem in Mumbai too.
“The number of bad-air days in Mumbai have doubled between 2019 and 2021, while good days are down by 20 per cent. This underscores the urgency of scaling up action across all sectors to prevent further worsening and to arrest the trend in this region,” executive director, research and advocacy, CSE, Anumita Roychowdhury said.
This new analysis, released on Wednesday, of real time pollution data is part of CSE’s air quality tracker initiative and also has an assessment of annual and seasonal trends in PM2.5 concentration for the period January 1, 2019, to January 9, 2022.
This analysis is based on the real time data available from the current working air quality monitoring stations. Review of data availability from the automated monitoring stations in the region under the continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) programme of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) shows major data gaps. When it comes to data availability calculated as number of days with adequate PM2.5 data for computation of a valid 24-hour average, among Mumbai stations, Kurla in east-central Mumbai had only 55 per cent data while Malady (West) in north Mumbai came up with 68 per cent.
“It is not clear why these stations have such poor data availability despite minimal problems of electricity and internet connectivity in the region,” said CSE’s programme manager, Urban Data Analytics Lab, Avikal Somvanshi.
Like other cities in Maharashtra and Gujarat, studied as part of the same analysis by CSE, Mumbai too has indicated a rising trend in annual PM2.5 levels after an initial drop during 2020 (when there were lockdowns) with a rebound and a rising trend visible in 2021.
The CSE analysis to indicate that the number of bad-air quality days are increasing in Mumbai is supported with Air Quality Index (AQI) data. Daily AQI analysis based on 10 oldest stations shows a 20 per cent drop in the number of good AQI days in the city between 2019 and 2021 — while days with poor or very poor AQI have doubled.
South Mumbai has the worst air within the city during winter: In December 2021, the stations in south Mumbai reported significantly higher PM2.5 levels compared to the rest of the city.
Mazgaon with a monthly average of 134 micrograms per cubic metres was the most polluted neighborhood of the city, followed by Navy Nagar, Colaba (124 micrograms per metre cube), Kurla (101 micrograms per metre cube), Vile Parle-West (101 micrograms per metre cube) and Worli (97 micrograms per metre cube).
Khindipada, in north Mumbai, which is at the edge of Sanjay Gandhi National Park in the suburbs with a monthly average of 54 micrograms per metre cube was the least polluted neighborhood. Bandra and Malad (West) reported low numbers, but the values are not considered valid due to a significantly large amount of missing data from these two stations, the CSE analysis showed.
Maharashtra
Muslim organizations’ legal action to register case against Kirit Somaiya

Mumbai: Muslim organizations have now started legal proceedings against Mumbai BJP leaders and former MP Kirit Somaiya. In an important meeting of Muslim elders and scholars in the Mumbai Peace Committee, it was decided that a case should be registered against Kirit Somaiya for disturbing communal harmony in Mumbai city, creating enmity between two communities, and spreading religious hatred. Applications should be filed in various police stations of the city to register a case against Kirit Somaiya. Despite all these legal proceedings, if the police is unable to register a case against Kirit Somaiya, then they should approach the court against it. Muslim organizations have also decided to knock on the door of the court if the case is not registered.
Mumbai Peace Committee President Fareed Sheikh said that the atmosphere of the city has deteriorated due to the provocations of BJP leader Kirit Somaiya and the loudspeaker removal campaign against mosques. There is also a risk of communal violence and religious hatred. This has also created a rift between Hindus and Muslims. Therefore, a request has been made to the Mumbai Police to register a case against Kirit Somaiya. At the same time, we have also demanded that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis take action against the mischievous leaders because this is deteriorating the atmosphere of Maharashtra. Maulana Ijaz Ahmed Kashmiri, the preacher and imam of Handiwala Mosque, said that the provocation of Kirit Somaiya regarding the removal of loudspeakers from mosques in Mumbai has led to communal tension and in such a situation, a law and order problem has arisen in Maharashtra and Mumbai.
He said that this meeting was held regarding the issue of loudspeakers in mosques as well as the legal action against Kirit Somaiya’s provocation, in which it was decided that NGOs and organizations will approach the police stations to register a case against Kirit Somaiya. If a case is not registered despite all these requests, then the court should be approached soon. He said that it is very important to stop leaders like Kirit Somaiya to maintain a peaceful atmosphere in Mumbai. Kirit Somaiya has started a campaign to make Mumbai free of loudspeakers, due to which he visits police stations within the limits of mosques and tries to put pressure on police officers, due to which there is law and order here. The problem of discipline arises. In all these situations, there is a risk of tension in Mumbai. Therefore, we also demand from the government to take action against leaders like Kirit Somaiya and make efforts to maintain peace and order in Mumbai city. Maulana Anis Ashrafi, Naeem Sheikh, Shakir Sheikh, APCR head Aslam Ghazi, Advocate Abdul Karim Pathan were also present in this meeting.
Maharashtra
Accused of beating blind woman in disabled compartment of Mumbai local train arrested

Mumbai: The Railway PRP has claimed to have arrested Mohammad Ismail Hassan Ali for allegedly beating up a blind woman in a disabled compartment in a Mumbai local train. Mohammad Ismail Hassan Ali was travelling in a disabled compartment with his pregnant wife and 10-year-old daughter in a train departing from Mumbai’s CST railway station. During this, a blind woman, 33, entered the compartment. Other passengers requested Hassan Ali to give up his seat for the disabled woman. He refused. During this, the victim abused him, so Hassan Ali, 40, got angry and started beating up the woman. Somehow, the passengers in the compartment saved the blind woman and the beating went viral on social media, after which comments on it also started on social media. Taking notice of this, Kalyan GRP took action and arrested Mohammad Ismail Hassan, a resident of Mumbra, and the matter has been handed over to the police for further investigation. A case has also been registered against Hassan Ali for traveling in a disabled compartment without any excuse, assaulting, and violating the rights of a blind passenger.
Maharashtra
Traffic police collect fines worth over Rs. 556 crore

Mumbai: Through the ‘Mumbai One State One Challan’ digital portal, the Mumbai Traffic Police Department has collected challans worth a whopping Rs 556 crore 64 lakh 21 thousand 950 (₹5,564,219,050) between January 1, 2024 and February 28, 2025. This revelation came through an RTI application. During the said period, a total of 1,81,613 online complaints were received on the portal, out of which 1,07,850 complaints were rejected. That is, about 59% of the complaints were rejected.
Right to Information (RTI) activist Anil Galgali had sought information from the Mumbai Traffic Police on e-challan complaints. According to Mumbai Traffic Police, the classification of complaints received based on vehicle types (such as two-wheelers, four-wheelers, goods vehicles, passenger vehicles, etc.) is not available on the ‘One State One Challan’ portal, due to which it is currently impossible to analyse the action taken on specific vehicle categories.
Complaint Investigation Procedure:
All complaints are investigated at the Multimedia Cell, Traffic Headquarters, Worli, Mumbai. It involves examining the images of the vehicle and the visual evidence around it. If the images or evidence are not clear, it is sent to the concerned traffic department or police station for investigation. The final decision to uphold or cancel the challan will be taken only after receiving the local investigation report.
RTI activist Anil Galgali said that it is the need of the hour that the e-challan system should be transparent. Citizens should be given a full and fair opportunity to present their views and every complaint should be investigated fairly and thoroughly.
-
Crime3 years ago
Class 10 student jumps to death in Jaipur
-
Maharashtra8 months ago
Mumbai Local Train Update: Central Railway’s New Timetable Comes Into Effect; Check Full List Of Revised Timings & Stations
-
Maharashtra7 months ago
Mumbai To Go Toll-Free Tonight! Maharashtra Govt Announces Complete Toll Waiver For Light Motor Vehicles At All 5 Entry Points Of City
-
Maharashtra8 months ago
False photo of Imtiaz Jaleel’s rally, exposing the fooling conspiracy
-
National News7 months ago
Ministry of Railways rolls out Special Drive 4.0 with focus on digitisation, cleanliness, inclusiveness and grievance redressal
-
Crime7 months ago
Baba Siddique Murder: Mumbai Police Unable To Get Lawrence Bishnoi Custody Due To Home Ministry Order, Says Report
-
Maharashtra6 months ago
Maharashtra Elections 2024: Mumbai Metro & BEST Services Extended Till Midnight On Voting Day
-
National News8 months ago
J&K: 4 Jawans Killed, 28 Injured After Bus Carrying BSF Personnel For Poll Duty Falls Into Gorge In Budgam; Terrifying Visuals Surface