MUMBAI: The city’s transport network faces the threat of major disruption after the BEST Workers Union issued a deadline to municipal authorities, warning of a major agitation if long-standing grievances over wage agreements, fleet ownership and land sales are not addressed by mid-August. The warning comes as the union leadership broke ranks with an umbrella action committee, accusing negotiators of accepting interim financial relief while tacitly allowing the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking to monetise its prime real estate assets. Speaking ahead of a mass meeting scheduled for 17 August at Shirodkar Hall in Parel, BEST Workers Union leader Shashank Rao criticised recent negotiations that yielded limited pay increases for staff while leaving systemic issues unresolved. “The interim relief offered to workers is a distraction from the erosion of BEST’s core public mandate,” Rao said. “The administration cannot be allowed to hand over municipal land to private developers under the guise of financial restructuring while ignoring long-pending wage revisions and equal pay for contractual staff.” The union’s five-point charter of demands calls for an immediate halt to the sale or lease of BEST-owned land to private builders, the urgent merger of BEST’s ‘C’ budget into the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) primary ‘A’ budget, and the implementation of long-delayed pay revisions for the 2016–2021 and 2021–2026 periods in line with the 7th Pay Commission. Labour representatives are also pushing for the implementation of a June 2019 memorandum of understanding. The agreement mandated the municipal body to fund operational deficits, clear pending retirement gratuities, and maintain a self-owned fleet of buses rather than relying heavily on privately operated wet-lease buses. “Wet-lease staff perform the same duties as permanent employees but are denied equal pay,” Rao said. “We are demanding full implementation of the 2019 agreement. If the administration fails to take a decisive and binding decision in the interest of the workforce by 15 August, there will be no stepping back, and we will launch a full-scale agitation.” Municipal authorities and BEST management have faced growing scrutiny in recent months over the increasing privatisation of the city’s bus fleet and delays in payments to retired personnel. If the union proceeds with industrial action after the 17 August meeting, millions of daily commuters in the financial capital could face severe transport disruption.

A five-storey Bhiwandi building collapsed, killing ten people and injuring three others

MUMBAI: The state govt ordered an inquiry into the crash of a part of a five-storey Bhiwandi building that claimed 10 lives.An FIR was lodged against the contractor hired for repairs, Ashok, and building owner, Bilal Khan, under Sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 125 (negligent act endangering human life or personal safety of others) of BNS and relevant provisions of Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act for illegal construction, said DCP (zone 2), Thane, Pawan Basod.The PM announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of those killed and the CM Rs 5 lakh each.This was the third such major building collapse in Bhiwandi since 2020.Repairs began four days earlier after residents flagged falling plaster chunks and hired a contractor on their own. The building was not vacated during the work.Around 8pm on Thursday, residents noticed that a supporting pillar in wing B had developed a crack and was tilting, alerted the contractor and vacated the building.

Hundreds of dangerous buildings in MMR, thousands at risk (Photo credit: Santosh Gupta)

Workers were immediately brought in and the pillar was reinforced with iron support rods. Assuming that the structure had been stabilised, many residents went back into the building around 11.30pm.Moments later, half the wing collapsed, trapping many residents and labourers under the rubble.Over the next 15 hours, NDRF, fire brigade and Thane disaster response force personnel pulled out the bodies of Rakesh Paswan (25), Mukesh Paswan (30), Ashok Paswan (40), Krish Kumar (32), Ranjit Singh (45), Radheshyam Kushwaha (45), Siraj Rasul Sheikh (45), Shamim Ansari (32), Shyam Pal (40), and Santosh Pandey (42).Those injured, Abhay Yadav (26), Deepak Yadav (25) and Sangeeta Prajapati (36), were taken to a hospital. Some residents were rescued from the portion of the wing that remained standing.An NDRF officer said the building suffered a “pancake collapse”, in which one floor falls directly onto another.“The chances of survival in such collapses are extremely low. We deployed trained sniffer dogs to locate the victims.”Disaster management minister Girish Mahajan, who visited the site, said the repairs were carried out late at night to escape civic scrutiny.He directed the authorities to ensure that all dangerous buildings in Bhiwandi are vacated and appropriate action.Mehtab Ansari, a resident, told TOI that all flat owners had contributed around Rs 10,000 each for the repairs.Another resident, Komal Arvind Gupta, alleged that negligence during the work damaged the pillar.

Affluent Indian buyers now prioritize wellness and community in luxury homes (AI-generated image used for representational purposes)

MUMBAI: India’s luxury housing market is witnessing a decisive shift in buyer behaviour, with affluent homebuyers increasingly willing to pay a premium for thoughtfully designed residences that offer wellness, privacy, sustainability and a strong sense of community rather than simply larger homes or extravagant amenities.The changing preference is emerging as one of the biggest trends in the country’s premium residential sector at a time when demand for luxury homes is surging.According to the CBRE-ASSOCHAM report, luxury housing sales in India grew 85% year-on-year during the first half of 2025, with Delhi-NCR accounting for nearly 57% of total luxury home sales, signalling that buyers are increasingly valuing quality of living over sheer size.For prospective buyers, the trend means that the definition of luxury is changing rapidly. Spacious balconies, landscaped open spaces, natural ventilation, wellness zones, walking trails, low-density planning and thoughtfully designed common areas are replacing imported marble, oversized clubhouses and lavish interiors as key differentiators.Homebuyers are also placing greater emphasis on privacy, security and neighbourhood quality as homes increasingly double up as workplaces and family spaces.The report suggests that architecture, sustainability and community planning are now becoming major purchase drivers alongside location and price.Developers say affluent Indians, including NRIs, are seeking homes that deliver long-term liveability and emotional value rather than just status.This has led to growing demand for designer residences, branded developments and curated communities where design, nature and lifestyle are integrated from the planning stage itself.The shift has important implications for investors as well. Property consultants say projects backed by reputed developers with a proven record of execution, transparent governance and quality construction are expected to command stronger buyer confidence, better occupancy and superior long-term value.As premium home purchases involve significant capital commitments, buyers are carrying out greater due diligence on legal approvals, construction quality, maintenance standards and delivery timelines before signing deals.The evolution is also influencing the wider housing market.Features once confined to luxury developments, including energy-efficient buildings, larger green spaces, wellness amenities, smart home technologies and efficient apartment layouts, are gradually finding their way into premium mid-income projects as developers respond to changing consumer aspirations.The broader outlook for the sector remains robust.CBRE projects that residential inventory across India’s seven major cities could reach nearly 7 billion sqft by 2030, driven by rising urbanisation, growing disposable incomes, increasing homeownership aspirations and sustained demand for sustainable developments.The report also identifies luxury housing, branded residences and wellness-led communities as among the fastest-growing segments of the residential market.Industry experts, however, caution that buyers should not mistake premium branding for quality.They advise purchasers to evaluate legal clearances, financial strength of developers, project execution capabilities, maintenance frameworks and resale potential before investing, particularly in the luxury segment where ticket sizes are substantially higher.Delhi-NCR-based luxury developer TARC Ltd. believes the market is moving from “living bigger” to “living better”, with buyers increasingly seeking homes that blend timeless architecture, wellness, sustainability and curated community experiences.While the trend is currently most visible in the luxury segment, experts believe it is likely to influence residential development across price categories over the coming years.For homebuyers, the message is clear: luxury is no longer being measured only in square feet. Increasingly, it is being defined by how well a home supports health, privacy, environmental sustainability and everyday quality of life.For developers, the challenge will be to deliver on these promises through credible execution rather than marketing alone.

Image used for representative purpose only

MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: India appears to have crossed an important milestone in its clean energy transition, with solar power helping meet record summer electricity demand without a proportionate increase in coal-fired generation, according to a new analysis that points to a gradual but significant shift in the country’s electricity mix.The April-June quarter of FY2026-27 saw India record its highest-ever quarterly electricity generation of 524 billion units (BU), up 9% from a year earlier, even as national peak demand climbed to an all-time high of 271 GW on May 21. Yet, despite the unprecedented demand, coal’s dominance in meeting incremental electricity needs continued to ease as renewable energy—led overwhelmingly by solar—accounted for a growing share of additional power generation. For Maharashtra, the findings carry particular significance. The state recorded the country’s highest peak electricity demand at 30 GW, ahead of Uttar Pradesh (27 GW) and Gujarat (25 GW), reflecting the energy needs of India’s largest industrial economy and one of its fastest-growing urban regions. With rising temperatures, expanding manufacturing, commercial activity and increasing air-conditioner use, electricity demand in Maharashtra continues to outpace most other states. The report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) found that solar electricity generation surged 37% year-on-year to 57 BU, making it by far the fastest-growing source of power. Solar supplied 10.9% of India’s total electricity generation during the quarter—the first time it has crossed the 10% mark in an April-June period—and contributed 36% of the year-on-year increase in electricity generation, compared with just 11% two years ago. Over the past three years, solar generation has more than doubled from 28 BU to 57 BU, while daily solar output touched a record 696 million units on May 11.For consumers and businesses, the trend signals that renewable energy is increasingly helping meet rising daytime demand, reducing pressure on conventional power plants during periods of peak consumption. On 61 of the 91 days during the quarter, the country’s daily peak demand occurred while solar plants were generating electricity, underscoring solar’s growing role in supporting India’s daytime power needs. Coal, however, remains the backbone of India’s electricity system. Coal and lignite together generated around 369 BU, or roughly 70% of the country’s electricity. But their contribution to the increase in electricity generation slipped to 68%, down from 71% in Q1 FY2024-25, suggesting that an increasing share of new demand is now being met by renewable energy rather than additional coal generation. Combined non-fossil sources generated a record 149 BU during the quarter.Another notable development was the operational debut of large-scale battery energy storage in supporting the national grid. On days when peak electricity demand occurred after sunset, battery energy storage systems (BESS) supplied up to 4.1 GW, meeting about 1.1% to 1.8% of national nighttime peak demand. India’s storage pipeline is also expanding rapidly, with tenders issued for around 272 GWh of storage projects, while about 7.5 GWh of battery capacity is already operational and another 3 GWh is expected to come online by the end of this year.India’s installed power generation capacity stood at 549 GW by the end of June, with non-fossil fuel sources accounting for 54% of installed capacity, overtaking fossil-fuel-based capacity for the first time. Renewable energy additions continued to dominate investments, with about 13 GW added during the quarter compared with 2.26 GW of new thermal capacity. Even so, around 42.7 GW of coal-fired capacity remains under construction, though nearly 89% of it is still at an early stage of development. The report, however, points to a major bottleneck that could slow India’s clean energy transition. Despite record renewable generation, substantial quantities of green electricity could not be used because of transmission and operational constraints. During the quarter, around 473 million units (MU) of solar power and 112 MU of wind power were directly curtailed, while even larger volumes were backed down under grid-balancing mechanisms. The findings indicate that unless transmission networks, battery storage and grid flexibility expand much faster, India risks wasting increasing amounts of low-cost renewable electricity even as demand continues to rise.“India is demonstrating that renewable energy is reliable and can be deployed at scale. The next challenge is ensuring the grid can fully utilise renewable electricity,” said Manoj Kumar, India Analyst at CREA. He said expanding transmission infrastructure, accelerating battery storage and improving the operational flexibility of existing coal plants would be crucial, while future decisions on new coal capacity should be evaluated alongside investments that improve the utilisation of existing assets.The quarter’s numbers suggest India’s power sector is entering a new phase. The debate is no longer only about adding renewable capacity but about ensuring that clean electricity generated across the country reaches homes, industries and businesses efficiently. Whether India’s transmission network and storage infrastructure can keep pace may now determine the speed of the country’s energy transition.

A BJP Chhattisgarh social media post contrasted two Gen Z mindsets using a dancer’s video. Urwashi Palandurkar accused the party of using her footage without permission.

MUMBAI: A social media post by the BJP’s Chhattisgarh unit contrasting two “Gen Z mindsets” has sparked a political row after Mumbai-based professional dancer and content creator Urwashi Palandurkar, whose protest video was used in the post, accused the party of using her footage without permission and responded with a sarcastic rebuttal that has since gone viral.The BJP Chhattisgarh post asked, “Which mindset Gen Z will you choose?” On one side, it featured a video of Palandurkar with the caption, “Babar ki virasat par thumke lagane wali Gen Z.”On the other, it highlighted 14-year-old national judoka Yogita Mandavi, who was recently conferred the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar by President Droupadi MurmuPalandurkar, who has over 3,00,000 followers on Instagram, first posted the protest dance video during the NEET protest, where it went viral and has since garnered more than 24 million views.Reacting after the BJP post on Instagram, she alleged that her video had been used without her permission. She said the post had led to her direct messages being flooded with people asking if she was okay.Her reaction reel carried the caption: “Please watch till end🙏 I AM NOT OKAY!!!! Not okay with reaching and being followed by the wrong audience 💀 The right ones please engage and help me get my cult balance back🥹🎀.”Beginning the video with a serious expression before bursting into laughter, she said, “No, I am not okay. I am that Gen Z student who is facing all this.”Calling it her “reaction video”, Palandurkar responded point by point to the BJP’s post.Mocking the caption, she said, “Your caption game is very weak. Your ChatGPT is not giving you good responses. What is ‘Babar ki virasat’? We can’t relate with it. Make it more relatable.”She also accused the party of trying to divide young people. “Divide and rule in 2026? You’re trying to divide the same Gen Z whose unity taught Parliament the term ‘Gen Z’. Logic is not logicing,” she said.Responding to the comparison between academic excellence and extracurricular activities, Palandurkar said both could coexist. “I got 93% in Class 10 and 93% in Class 12. I danced and created content throughout,” she said, showing photographs of medals and certificates displayed at her home.She added that the awards reflected achievements in academics as well as yoga, karate and other activities.“Extra-curriculars and academics can coexist, and I am living proof of it,” she said.Defending street performances during protests, she added that dancing in public had long been associated with celebration. “I’ve always seen people dancing on the streets after victories. I don’t know why it is not clocking.”She also joked about what she called the “brown girl trauma”, saying, “Being a brown girl, our parents have already taught us how to deal with trauma. You guys are not able to give trauma. Try harder.”Ending the video, Palandurkar acknowledged that she had approached the issue humorously despite its seriousness before signing off with a sarcastic remark, “Vastaguna huiya.”

The reel has gained traction online and entered the political discourse. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi shared it on his Instagram Story, while Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav posted on X: “Those who are companions on the new path, don’t think that they are misguided.”The BJP Chhattisgarh unit has not publicly responded to Palandurkar’s allegations that her video was used without permission.

The Tata Institute of Social Sciences abruptly postponed its convocation ceremony.

MUMBAI: The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) abruptly postponed its 86th annual convocation, scheduled for Sunday, just hours before Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant was to attend as the chief guest, leaving hundreds of graduating students and their families stranded and upset.In an email sent to students around 12.50am on Friday, the institute said the convocation had been postponed due to “unforeseen circumstances”. In a statement issued later in the day, TISS said the decision had been taken in the “best long-term interests of the institute” and to ensure the well-being of students, faculty, staff, dignitaries, guests and the campus community.The institute, however, did not specify the reason for the last-minute postponement. Several students claimed the administration may have cancelled the event over concerns about possible protests linked to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). They maintained that no protest had been planned or discussed either on or off campus, and added that students had not been officially informed in advance that the CJI would be attending the ceremony.The sudden cancellation left many students facing financial losses after travelling to Mumbai with their parents and relatives. Several said they had spent on non-refundable flight and train tickets, hotel bookings and had taken leave from work to attend what they described as a once-in-a-lifetime milestone.Student collective Progressive Students’ Forum also questioned the decision, pointing out that final semester results had already been delayed, affecting students. The group demanded accountability from the institute for the last-minute cancellation and compensation for the financial losses incurred by students.In its statement, TISS acknowledged the inconvenience caused to graduating students and their families and said it would examine requests related to financial hardship arising from the postponement on a case-by-case basis. It added that it was working to reschedule the convocation and was exploring alternative formats for holding the ceremony.Students, however, described the midnight communication as “disrespectful” and said it had caused avoidable hardship.“I was already in Mumbai for work, but my parents travelled all the way from our hometown. Graduating from TISS was a proud moment for our family and we were looking forward to the ceremony. Now there is no clarity on compensation or when the convocation will be held,” said one student.Another student said several members of the graduating batch were still awaiting placements and could ill afford another trip to Mumbai. “Some students requested that the institute issue degree certificates and final marksheets without the ceremony, but that was declined. Many of us may not be able to travel again if the convocation is held on another date,” the student said.

A BJP Chhattisgarh social media post contrasted two Gen Z mindsets using a dancer’s video. Urwashi Palandurkar accused the party of using her footage without permission.

MUMBAI: A social media post by the BJP’s Chhattisgarh unit contrasting two “Gen Z mindsets” has sparked a political row after Mumbai-based professional dancer and content creator Urwashi Palandurkar, whose protest video was used in the post, accused the party of using her footage without permission and responded with a sarcastic rebuttal that has since gone viral.The BJP Chhattisgarh post asked, “Which mindset Gen Z will you choose?” On one side, it featured a video of Palandurkar with the caption, “Babar ki virasat par thumke lagane wali Gen Z.” On the other, it highlighted 14-year-old national judoka Yogita Mandavi, who was recently conferred the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar by President Droupadi MurmuPalandurkar, who has over 3,00,000 followers on Instagram, first posted the protest dance video during the NEET protest, where it went viral and has since garnered more than 24 million views. Reacting after the BJP post on Instagram, she alleged that her video had been used without her permission. She said the post had led to her direct messages being flooded with people asking if she was okay. Her reaction reel carried the caption: “Please watch till end🙏 I AM NOT OKAY!!!! Not okay with reaching and being followed by the wrong audience 💀 The right ones please engage and help me get my cult balance back🥹🎀.” Beginning the video with a serious expression before bursting into laughter, she said, “No, I am not okay. I am that Gen Z student who is facing all this.”Calling it her “reaction video”, Palandurkar responded point by point to the BJP’s post.Mocking the caption, she said, “Your caption game is very weak. Your ChatGPT is not giving you good responses. What is ‘Babar ki virasat’? We can’t relate with it. Make it more relatable.”She also accused the party of trying to divide young people. “Divide and rule in 2026? You’re trying to divide the same Gen Z whose unity taught Parliament the term ‘Gen Z’. Logic is not logicing,” she said.Responding to the comparison between academic excellence and extracurricular activities, Palandurkar said both could coexist. “I got 93% in Class 10 and 93% in Class 12. I danced and created content throughout,” she said, showing photographs of medals and certificates displayed at her home. She added that the awards reflected achievements in academics as well as yoga, karate and other activities.“Extra-curriculars and academics can coexist, and I am living proof of it,” she said.Defending street performances during protests, she added that dancing in public had long been associated with celebration. “I’ve always seen people dancing on the streets after victories. I don’t know why it is not clocking.”She also joked about what she called the “brown girl trauma”, saying, “Being a brown girl, our parents have already taught us how to deal with trauma. You guys are not able to give trauma. Try harder.”Ending the video, Palandurkar acknowledged that she had approached the issue humorously despite its seriousness before signing off with a sarcastic remark, “Vastaguna huiya.”

The reel has gained traction online and entered the political discourse. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi shared it on his Instagram Story, while Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav posted on X: “Those who are companions on the new path, don’t think that they are misguided.”The BJP Chhattisgarh unit has not publicly responded to Palandurkar’s allegations that her video was used without permission.