Mumbai: Mumbai experienced a crisp and relatively cool start to Saturday, giving residents a brief respite from the city’s usual humidity. Clear skies, mild winds and lower temperatures made the early hours pleasant. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the minimum temperature hovered around 19°C, while the maximum was expected to reach about 30°C, making it one of the more comfortable winter days of the season.

However, the pleasant weather concealed a persistent environmental concern. A thin layer of haze was visible across several parts of the city, indicating continued deterioration in air quality. Data from air quality monitoring platform AQI.in showed Mumbai’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 224 on Saturday morning, placing it in the ‘unhealthy’ category. Such levels pose health risks, particularly for children, senior citizens and people with respiratory ailments.

The sustained pollution is largely attributed to Mumbai’s ongoing infrastructure boom. Dust and fine particulate matter generated by major government projects, including metro rail corridors, coastal road construction, bridge works and extensive road-widening activities, continue to majorly impact air quality.

In addition, numerous private real estate developments across the city are adding to the pollution burden, especially during winter months when dry conditions allow dust to remain suspended in the air for longer periods.

Area-wise AQI readings revealed sharp contrasts across the city. Chembur emerged as the most polluted area, recording an alarming AQI of 327, categorised as ‘severe’. At such levels, even healthy individuals may experience breathing discomfort and other health effects.

Wadala East followed closely with an AQI of 326, while Santacruz East recorded 305, both also in the ‘severe’ category. Govandi and Jogeshwari reported ‘unhealthy’ AQI levels of 280 and 277, respectively, remaining dangerously close to the severe threshold.

Suburban areas fared slightly better, though air quality remained far from satisfactory. Andheri East recorded a ‘moderate’ AQI of 97, while Kandivali East and Powai stood at 120 and 163, both falling in the ‘poor’ category. Pollution levels were higher in other suburbs, with Borivali East registering an AQI of 170 and Goregaon East 177, categorised as ‘unhealthy’.

As per standard air quality classifications, AQI levels between 0 and 50 are considered ‘good’, 51 to 100 ‘moderate’, 101 to 200 ‘poor’, 201 to 300 ‘unhealthy’, and readings above 300 fall under the ‘severe’ or ‘hazardous’ category.

The Mumbai Municipal Corporation General Elections are a very important process of democracy and the responsibility of conducting them successfully, transparently and fairly lies with all the concerned central and state officers and employees. It is mandatory to record every action correctly and timely as per the rules during the period of the code of conduct. Discipline, peace and justice are the fundamental aspects of the election process and they should be strictly followed. Municipal Commissioner and District Election Officer Bhushan Gagrani has given a stern warning that no kind of mistake, negligence or violation of rules will be tolerated. The election laws and guidelines should be strictly implemented at every stage. Shri Gagrani also informed that if these instructions are followed, the trust of the citizens in the administration will be strengthened. In connection with the Mumbai Municipal Corporation General Elections 2025-26, Municipal Commissioner and District Election Officer Bhushan Gagrani held a meeting of the Chief Monitoring Committee today. The meeting held at the Municipal Corporation headquarters discussed in detail the preparations for the pre-elections, law and order, strict adherence to the code of conduct, the work of various flying squads and monitoring of suspicious and large-scale transactions. On this occasion, Gagrani gave necessary instructions to the concerned agencies.

On this occasion, Additional Municipal Commissioner Dr. Ashwini Joshi, Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Mr. Satyanarayan Chaudhary, Special Duty Officer (Election) of the Municipal Corporation Mr. Vijay Balmwar, Joint Commissioner (Tax Assessment and Collection) Mr. Vishwas Shankarwar, Additional Collector of the Deputy Commissioner (Municipal Office) Mr. Paresh Shankarwar were present. (Konkan Division) Frog Macadam, Assistant Commissioner (Tax Assessment and Collection) Mr. Gajanan Belle was accompanied by representatives from the Reserve Bank of India, well-known District Banks, Airport Authority of India, Central Industrial Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Railway Protection Force, Indian Coast Guard and other departments of the State Department. Municipal Corporation Commissioner and District Election Officer Bhushan Gagrani said that the Municipal Corporation administration and the election machinery are committed to ensuring that the Mumbai Municipal Corporation general elections 2025-26 are held in a completely fearless, free, transparent and orderly atmosphere.

Comprehensive and extensive preparations have been made in this regard. The role of various machinery is very important in the entire election process. To promote democratic values ​​and ensure that the electoral process remains fair, transparent and credible, all central and state machinery should strictly follow the code of conduct framed by the State Election Commission and should fully cooperate with the municipal corporation administration. Gagrani appealed that good planning should be done to create a positive, exemplary and exemplary example in the electoral process. Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Satyanarayan Chowdhury said that necessary police personnel have been made available for the flying squads established in the administrative divisions of the municipal corporation. The place where the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) has been placed and necessary security has been deployed at the counting centre. Police security will be provided during the transportation of the EVM. A contingency plan for the elections has been prepared by the police department. The process of confiscation of weapons has been initiated. Notices have been sent to all arms holders by the Mumbai Police Department. Orders for confiscation of weapons have been issued as per the report of the local police station. Precautionary measures and necessary deportation cases are being disposed of immediately. Instructions have been given to the Deputy Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner, Police Inspector to take necessary action to maintain law and order. Social media is being monitored independently. Chaudhry said that the responsibility has been entrusted to the Cyber ​​Cell of the police.

If illegal money is being transferred at airports and railway stations, regular action should be taken in this regard. Action should be taken to report suspicious and large-value transactions to the Income Tax Department as per the existing procedure. It was also directed in this meeting that reports of large and suspicious withdrawals of money and gift cards should also be reported immediately to the Income Tax Department.

Mumbai: The Mumbai Municipal Corporation administration has made complete preparations for the Mumbai BMC general elections 2025-26. The municipal corporation and the election administration have planned meticulously so that every voter can easily exercise their right to vote in this important exercise of democracy. A total of 1 crore 3 lakh 44 thousand 315 voters will exercise their right to vote in this election. A total of 10 thousand 231 polling stations have been identified for them at various locations. This includes schools, colleges, government/semi-government buildings, cooperative housing societies as well as private buildings. Municipal Commissioner and District Election Officer Bhushan Gagrani said that the polling stations have been planned keeping in mind the population, number of voters and geographical conditions in each ward.

Municipal Commissioner Gagrani said that in connection with the general elections to the Mumbai Municipal Corporation, the final list of 227 ward-wise polling stations prepared by the Election Department of the Municipal Corporation in compliance with the rules and regulations of the State Election Commission has been published. The final list of polling stations has been prepared to provide easy and secure voting facilities to the voters while maintaining transparency in the election process as per the instructions of the State Election Commission. To avoid any problem or inconvenience on the polling day, voters should make sure in advance which is their respective polling station. The ward-wise final list of polling stations has been published with the aim of providing ease, transparency and convenience to the voters in the voting process.

A total of 10,231 polling stations have been identified for the voters in the jurisdiction of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation, as per the 24 administrative division offices in seven wards and 23 central polling stations. Special facilities will be provided for the disabled, senior citizens and women to avoid any inconvenience during the voting process. Facilities like power supply, drinking water, toilets, ramps etc. have been provided at the polling stations. These have been inspected and verified by the Returning Officer. ‘Voter Assistance Centres’ will be set up near the polling stations to help voters find their names. Information boards have been directed to be installed at the polling stations. Gagrani said that overall, extensive and planned arrangements have been made for polling stations at different locations and in different types of places to ensure a smooth, safe and easy voting process. A total of 10,231 polling stations will be set up in different types of buildings and locations, keeping in mind the past schedule of polling stations. Out of which 4,386 polling stations are being set up in government/semi-government buildings. Out of these, 2,387 polling stations will be in closed areas, 880 polling stations in semi-closed areas and 1,119 polling stations in open areas.

In addition, a total of 702 polling stations have been arranged in cooperative housing societies. Out of these, 181 polling stations will be in closed areas, 312 polling stations in semi-closed areas and 209 polling stations in open areas. In addition, a total of 5,143 polling stations will be set up in private buildings. Out of these, 2,710 polling stations will be in closed areas, 1,378 polling stations in semi-closed areas and 1,055 polling stations in open areas.