2008 Malegaon blast case: Army officer having family relationship with Lt Col Purohit turns hostile

An Army officer having a family relationship with Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit, an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, became the 25th witness to turn hostile during the trial here on Thursday.

The Army officer recorded his testimony before Special Judge A K Lahoti on Thursday and recognized Purohit, who was present in the court.

He further testified that the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) had made inquiries with him in connection with the case, but had never recorded his statement, after which the court declared him hostile.

2008 Malegaon blast case: Army officer having family relationship with Lt Col Purohit turns hostile

Bombay HC refuses to grant relief to Air India employees who had challenged the eviction notice issued by the airline

However, in view of Ganesh Chaturthi, the HC has directed Air India not to take action till Sept 24.

Height relaxation near Navi Mumbai airport: HC seeks reply from Airports Authority of India

Expressing displeasure over the proposed relaxation of height norms of buildings in the vicinity of proposed Navi Mumbai International Airport, the Bombay High Court on Thursday asked the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to give details of the same.

A division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice M S Karnik was hearing a public interest litigation filed by an advocate Yashwant Shenoy raising concerns over the dangers posed by high rises near the Mumbai airport.

CM Shinde directs BMC Commissioner not to hike property tax for 2023 in Mumbai

Classical language status for Marathi: Maha CM writes to PM for approval

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to give approval for bestowing classical language status on Marathi.

The matter has been pending with the Union Culture Ministry.

In a letter to the PM, Shinde informed that the state government had sent a detailed proposal on the issue to the Centre on November 16, 2013.

"The state has been regularly following up with the Centre about the status of the proposal. The people of the state conducted a signature campaign and collected 1.20 lakh signatures in support of the demand, which were sent to the President of India," the CM wrote in his letter.

Union Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy had told the Rajya Sabha on February 3 this year that the proposal was under consideration.

"The proposal has been under consideration for a long time and I request that the approval should be given at the earliest," Shinde said in the letter to the PM.

The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly passed a resolution to name Aurangabad as Sambhajinagar and Osmanabad as Dharashiv while Navi Mumbai Airport to be named after farmers' leader DB Patil

About 2000 plus Police personnel will get homes at Rs 15 lakh each after redevelopment of BDD Chawls

Gateway of India closed temporarily for security reasons: Mumbai Police

Mumbai has been on high alert since a boat carrying three Ak-47 rifles with live cartridges was found in Raigad followed by Mumbai Police receiving text messages threatening a 26/11-like’ attack in the city.

On Thursday, the police had issued a ‘no-entry’ for the tourists visiting the Gateway of India, for security reasons. It was then opened shortly for the public after a search operation was conducted.

“We are alert on coastal security and are coordinating with the Coast Guard,” said Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar, at a recent press conference.

According to Mumbai police sources, the ‘no-entry’ at the Gateway of India will continue only for the short notice. “We conducted a search operation for security reasons along with the Coast Guard. Gateway of India will be open shortly for the public as usual,” said a high-ranking police official.

Gateway of India closed temporarily for security reasons: Mumbai Police

No more queues for BEST card, Chalo App users

Now Mumbaikars using BEST's smart cards and Chalo App can heave a sigh of relief as they won't have to stand in queues for tickets anymore.

The BEST has introduced 100 per cent digital (tap-in, tap-out) bus services for hassle-free travel to the card and App holders on 16 prominent bus routes across the city. This is perhaps the first of its kind fully digital bus service in India.

Passengers who have the BEST Chalo App or smart card will be allowed to board these buses during peak hours without waiting in queues. Other passengers will be allowed to board the bus only after digital ticket holders.

“We have introduced these Tap-in Tap-out services on 16 bus routes across the city, including – A-77, A-102, A-105, A-112, A-115, A-116, A-118, A-123, A-162, A-167, A-369, A-378, A-401 A-402, A-Spl8, and ASpl9,” a BEST official said.

Auto, taxi drivers say will go on an indefinite strike from September 15; union to meet today

A L Quadros, General Secretary of Mumbai taxi men union said that they will go on an indefinite strike from September 15; they had demanded a hike of Rs 10 on taxi and auto fares.

According to the union, drivers are currently facing a loss of Rs 200 on a daily basis due to a steady rise in CNG prices.

The Union is set to meet today around 4 pm and decide on the matter.

Opposition staged a walk out in the state assembly expressing displeasure over tribal development Minister Vijay Kumar Gavit's reply that there are no malnutrition deaths in Maharashtra. 

The Speaker of Maharashtra's lower house instructed the government to immediately lift the stay on hawkers policy done by the previous govt and allocate pitches to eligible hawkers and shift them to designated hawking zones.

Opposition demands Maharashtra government declare a wet drought, protest outside Vidhan Sabha

Maharashtra's tallest Ganpati installed in Khetwadi, dubbed as 'Mumbaicha Maharaja' ranges 38 feet

Khetwadi residents welcomed Maharashtra's tallest Ganpati of about 38-ft this year. The ''Mumbaicha Maharaja'' also known as "Khetwadi cha Lambodara" has been installed as an a effigy of Lord Vishnu's avatar Parashurama.

Ahead of Ganeshotsav 2022, to be celebrated on August 31, the tallest Ganesha idol has appeared at 11th lane of Khetwadi, Mumbai. It has been setup by Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav Mandal.

The installation of the Ganesha idol has been credited to Murtikar Kunal Patil.

Read more about 'Mumbaicha Maharaja' here

Maharashtra's tallest Ganpati installed in Khetwadi, dubbed as 'Mumbaicha Maharaja' ranges 38 feet

Commuters, please look out for traffic in these places

From LBS Road, Bhandup pump house to Powai, heavy traffic from IIT to Mulund-Airoli link road due to Metro work and traffic congestion on Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road.

Commuters, make your plans accordingly if you are going to step out

Offences registered against 261 people in one day for traffic violations in Palghar

The Palghar police have registered criminal offences against 261 people in one day for violating traffic rules, an official said on Thursday.

The police carried out the 'Operation All Out' in the Maharashtra district from 10 am to 10 pm on Tuesday, Palghar district Superintendent of Police Balasaheb Patil said.

During the operation, the police also arrested six wanted criminals and registered 21 offences related to prohibition and two cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, he said.

The police also conducted checks on 127 people involved in anti-social activities, the official said.

377 new COVID-19 cases in Thane; active tally up at 2,285

As many as 377 new cases of coronavirus have been detected in Maharashtra's Thane district, taking its infection count to 7,39,777, a health official said on Thursday.

With the addition of the latest cases on Wednesday, the district currently has 2,285 active COVID-19 cases, as against 2,131 the previous day, he said.

The death toll in Thane remained unchanged at 11,939. The recovery count has reached 7,25,928, he added.

Thanekars, don't forget to mask up and follow COVID-apprpriate behaviour!

Due to heavy traffic flow, south bound vehicular movement is slow at CIBA, WEH.

Preparations of Ganesh idols underway in Mumbai ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi on Aug 31

"After 2 years Ganesh Utsav is being celebrated. This time there're no restrictions. The price of idols has increased due to hike in prices of Plaster of Paris (PoP)," told a seller.

Mumbai to recieve moderate to light rainfall in next 48 hours

Dear Mumbaikars, don't forget to carry your umbrellas. IMD has forecasted light to moderate rain in city and suburbs for the next 48 hours.

Mumbai sees two-fold rise in active COVID cases

There has been a two-fold rise in the number of active COVID cases across Mumbai in the last 22 days of August. According to the data, until August 1 there were 1,889 active cases which have now increased to 6,269 (August 22). Moreover, the number of people getting hospitalised has also increased to 551 from 201 during the period.

Doctors attributed the surge to people not following COVID-appropriate behaviour, overcrowding during ongoing festivities and the emergence of new subtypes of the Omicron variant.

Read more about what doctors said in our detailed report here and don't forget to mask up!

Mumbai sees two-fold rise in active COVID cases

BMC undertakes Rs 30 crore works to lock water leakages

FPJ earlier reported how 900 million litres of water is being wasted every day in Mumbai due to leakages and unauthorised connections. The BMC has now decided to undertake repair works of pipelines across Mumbai.

The civic body invited tenders for the replacement of pipelines in Colaba, Fort, Churchgate, Mohamad Ali road, Byculla and Nagpada on Wednesday. These pipes were laid during the British Raj and have weathered over the ages.

Read more about the projects in our detailed report here

Mumbai: BMC undertakes Rs 30 crore works to lock water leakages

Dear commuters, check the latest local train update here

Police personnel from BDD chawls to get home at nominal prices, says Devendra Fadnavis

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday in the state assembly announced that the government will provide homes to the police employees residing in BDD chawls.

He clarified it won’t cost Rs 50 lakh or Rs 25 lakh and reiterated that the homes will be provided at a nominal price.

Fadnavis admitted that the police personnel are currently staying in BDD chawls with the shabby conditions of their tenements. He, however, clarified that the government cannot provide homes to police employees residing in BDD chawls at free of cost as the similar policy will have to be applied to other government employees.

Mumbai: Police personnel from BDD chawls to get home at nominal prices, says Devendra Fadnavis