Mumbai: Safety infrastructure on the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, also known as Atal Setu, will be strengthened on priority, the Maharashtra government told the legislative council on Monday after a series of suicides from the sea bridge triggered concern. Replying to a calling attention motion, industries minister Uday Samant said the government will issue a directive to complete barricading along the entire 22-km stretch at the earliest “so that nobody can jump and commit suicide”.The statement follows the recent death of a young man from Pune who allegedly leapt into the sea from the country’s longest sea bridge.Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has also decided to appoint a high-level committee of senior govt officers to recommend multiple preventive measures. The panel will examine structural interventions, surveillance, and response protocols to deter attempts and enable rapid rescue.Official data tabled in the house showed there were six incidents in 2026, of which four proved fatal, and six incidents in 2025, resulting in five deaths. In all, there were 15 suicides in three years in which 11 people died since 2024.Legislators across parties pressed for immediate safeguards on a corridor that carries high-speed, high-volume traffic. Congress MLC Bhai Jagtap suggested integrating coast guard surveillance to improve response times during such emergencies. “With coast guard surveillance in the area, we can get better emergency response in such untoward incidents,” he said.Samant said that the government will “discuss with the Coast Guard and take their assistance as well”.The state has already deployed emergency resources on the bridge, including three motorbikes, two ambulances, three patrol vehicles and two speed boats to aid search and rescue operations, he said. However, members argued that prevention must be the primary focus.Raising the motion, MLC Uma Khapre flagged gaps in safety preparedness despite continuous vehicular movement on the corridor. She called for high barricades on both sides and emergency communication systems at regular intervals, including dedicated call points or mobile-based contact centres for commuters in distress.While Atal Setu has significantly cut travel time between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, the government indicated it will now prioritise comprehensive safety upgrades to ensure such tragedies are not repeated on this critical link.

The airport sector in India is gearing up for an investment boom

MUMBAI: India’s airport infrastructure sector is poised to attract investments of nearly Rs 4.2 lakh crore by 2029, as operators race to expand capacity amid sustained growth in domestic air travel and the rollout of new greenfield airports, according to a report by Brickwork Ratings.The report estimates that projects announced and under implementation account for investments of about Rs 3.7 lakh crore, while another Rs 50,000 crore worth of airport projects are expected to be commissioned by 2029.More than 65 airport projects have been announced till FY26, with the sector expected to add capacity for 500-600 million passengers over the next few years.The outlook assumes particular significance for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, where the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport is expected to ease congestion at Mumbai’s existing airport and emerge as one of the country’s largest aviation hubs.Along with the Jewar airport near Delhi, the project is expected to anchor the next phase of India’s aviation growth.Brickwork Ratings expects domestic passenger traffic to grow 8-10%, driven by rising disposable incomes, improved regional connectivity under the UDAN scheme and expanding air travel demand from Tier-II and Tier-III cities.The agency, however, cautioned that international traffic is likely to remain subdued in the near term because of geopolitical tensions in West Asia, route restrictions and elevated fuel prices.Since the Middle East accounts for nearly 38-40% of India’s international passenger traffic, disruptions in the region continue to weigh heavily on overseas travel.According to Niraj Rathi, Senior Director-Ratings at Brickwork Ratings, the first half of FY27 is likely to remain muted, but demand is expected to recover sharply during the second half as airlines add winter schedules and newly commissioned airports ramp up operations.The ratings agency has maintained a stable credit outlook for the airport infrastructure sector despite heavy capital expenditure.It estimates operating margins to improve to 53.8% in FY26 from 44.4% in FY25, and further to 54.5% in FY27, aided by the commissioning of new terminals that generate higher-margin non-aeronautical revenues such as retail concessions, food courts and commercial leasing.The report also points to improving financial health among airport operators. Sector debt-equity ratios are projected to decline from 3.8 in FY25 to 2.7 by FY27, reflecting repayment of construction loans as airports begin generating stronger cash flows.However, the expansion story is not without risks. Despite healthy operating margins, the sector continues to report consolidated net losses because of high depreciation, interest costs and large capital investments. Volatile aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices remain another concern.Since fuel accounts for roughly 40% of airline operating costs, sustained increases can hurt airline profitability, delay fleet expansion and ultimately slow passenger growth, affecting airport revenues.Long regulatory timelines for tariff approvals and high maintenance costs also remain structural challenges.

Why it matters for Mumbai

For Mumbai, the findings reinforce the strategic importance of the Navi Mumbai International Airport, which is expected to decongest the saturated Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and support long-term passenger growth.Airport operators are increasingly relying on commercial revenues, from retail, hospitality, advertising and real estate, rather than just passenger charges, making modern terminal development a key driver of profitability.The report also suggests that while India’s airport sector remains one of the country’s strongest infrastructure growth stories, investors and lenders will closely watch the pace of project execution by the Airports Authority of India and private operators, including Adani Airports, besides the trajectory of fuel prices and geopolitical developments that influence international traffic.

Mumbai: Two officials of the state-run JJ Mahanagar Blood Bank, the largest in Maharashtra, have been sacked over allegations of irregularities in the handling and distribution of blood units, it was announced in the council on Monday.“Their services are being terminated and an FIR is being registered,” minister of state for health Meghana Bordikar told the house.The Mahanagar blood bank was sealed on Friday by the state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) due to severe blood safety violations.On Monday, allegations of serious irregularities in the handling and distribution of blood units at the blood bank came under sharp scrutiny following a calling attention motion moved by MLC Chitra Wagh. The motion flagged that of 77 blood bags collected during a donation camp in Chinchpokli, nearly 50 to 55 units were allegedly transferred to a private blood bank in Badlapur without authorisation.Bordikar responded, terming the lapse as “serious and illegal” and added that the bank’s nodal officer Dr Hitesh Pagare and another official, Ajay Bhise, had been found guilty. “Their services are being terminated,” she told the house.She said that to prevent recurrence, the state will introduce a standard operating procedure (SOP) for all blood banks and roll out QR code-based tracking of blood packets to ensure traceability from collection to utilisation.The minister noted that blood banks operate under licences issued after inspection by FDA, and Maharashtra currently has 417 such facilities. She also announced that a third-party audit of blood banks across the state is being planned.Separately, the State Blood Transfusion Council (SBTC) has ordered recovery of Rs 55,000—calculated at Rs 1,100 per bag—for the 50 units alleged to have been diverted, from the staff responsible. The complaint also points to discrepancies between the number of units collected at donation camps over the past three years and those recorded in the official registry of the JJ blood bank, prompting demands for an independent audit.Raising the issue, Wagh sought a full accounting of collection and utilisation, alleging the existence of a “blood mafia.” Concerns were also raised over patient welfare, with complaints that patients suffering from thalassemia, hemophilia and sickle cell anaemia faced harassment despite possessing valid donor cards, leading to financial and mental distress.

Despite 8% dip, Mumbai metropolitan region remains India’s biggest housing market

MUMBAI: Geopolitical uncertainty arising from the ongoing West Asia conflict appears to have taken some steam out of India’s residential property market, with housing sales across the country’s seven largest cities declining 6% year-on-year during the April-June quarter even as developers continued to launch new projects.According to ANAROCK Research, around 90,715 homes were sold across the top seven cities in Q2 2026 compared with 96,285 units in the corresponding quarter last year. On a sequential basis, sales declined 11%.For the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), however, the slowdown did little to dent its position as the country’s largest residential market.MMR recorded the highest absorption of about 28,710 homes during the quarter, nearly one-third of total sales across the top seven cities, despite registering an 8% decline from the 31,275 units sold a year ago.The region also led fresh supply, with developers launching about 34,555 homes, a 23% increase over the corresponding quarter last year, although launches fell 14% compared to the January-March period.More than 57% of the new supply in MMR was priced below Rs 1.5 crore, indicating sustained developer focus on upper-mid income homebuyers.Together, MMR and Bengaluru accounted for nearly 48% of all homes sold and 53% of new launches across India’s seven major residential markets.The report attributed the moderation in demand to uncertainty triggered by the West Asia conflict, its impact on global supply chains and caution among homebuyers amid concerns over the technology sector.“The Middle East war’s impacts on the entire sector were all too obvious. We now have a more balanced housing market where new supply is catching up with absorption as sales growth moderated across most cities,” said Anuj Puri, Chairman, ANAROCK Group.He added that demand continues to be driven by premium housing, infrastructure-led corridors and cities with strong Global Capability Centre (GCC) employment, while uncertainty surrounding the IT and ITeS sectors and rapid advances in artificial intelligence have prompted some prospective buyers to postpone purchase decisions.Despite slower sales, developers maintained confidence by increasing launches 7% annually to about 1.06 lakh units across the top seven cities. ANAROCK said much of the new supply came from large and listed developers launching projects on land parcels acquired during 2025.The report also highlighted a clear shift towards premium housing. Homes priced between Rs 80 lakh and Rs 1.5 crore accounted for the largest share of fresh launches at 27%, followed by the Rs 1.5 crore-Rs 2.5 crore segment with 25%.Luxury housing priced above Rs 2.5 crore contributed another 22%.In contrast, affordable housing continued to lose ground, with homes priced below Rs 40 lakh accounting for just 6% of total new supply, a single-digit share that underlines the widening gap between demand and availability in the budget segment.Among other cities, only Kolkata, Hyderabad and Bengaluru recorded annual growth in housing sales, while Pune witnessed the steepest decline of 15%. Hyderabad posted the highest increase in fresh launches at 53%, while Bengaluru saw a 41% jump in new supply.Residential prices continued to rise, though at a slower pace. Average prices across the seven cities increased 7% year-on-year but only 1% over the previous quarter, suggesting price appreciation is stabilising after the sharp gains seen over the past two years.NCR recorded the highest annual price increase at 13%, followed by Bengaluru at 8%.Meanwhile, unsold inventory across the seven cities rose 10% year-on-year to over 6.16 lakh units by the end of June 2026, reflecting improving supply.Bengaluru registered the highest inventory growth at 34%, while NCR remained the only market where inventory levels stayed largely unchanged.The findings suggest that while housing demand has moderated amid global uncertainties, developers remain optimistic about long-term demand, particularly in metropolitan regions such as MMR where infrastructure expansion and employment growth continue to underpin residential activity.

Dada Bhuse said, “The Maharashtra government is fully committed to the preservation, promotion, and propagation of the Marathi language.”

MUMBAI: Maharashtra education minister Dada Bhuse on Monday announced that Marathi will be a compulsory language from Classes 1 to 10 across all schools in the state.According to news agency ANI, he warned of strict action against institutions violating the directive and said the government is committed to promoting Marathi and the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.Announcing the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly’s Monsoon Session, Bhuse said the state government has issued instructions to ensure Marathi is taught compulsorily in all affiliated schools.The issue was raised during a question by BJP MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar, who flagged concerns over several schools allegedly not implementing the mandatory teaching of Marathi.During the discussion, legislators also pointed out that penalties imposed on erring schools were inadequate and that enforcement of existing rules remained ineffective.Responding to the concerns, Bhuse said, “The Maharashtra government is fully committed to the preservation, promotion, and propagation of the Marathi language.”He stated that a special inspection campaign will be launched across the state, reviewing the compulsory teaching of Marathi in all schools.“If any violations are found during the inspections, strict action will be taken against the concerned schools and officials,” the minister said.Bhuse also spoke about the inclusion of the history of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in school textbooks, stating that the coverage had been significantly expanded.He said that while textbooks of other education boards earlier devoted only about one-and-a-half columns to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the content has now been expanded to 22 pages with the approval of the Central government, enabling students to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the Maratha ruler’s life and contributions.The minister reiterated that the state government remains committed to strengthening the Marathi language and ensuring that students are educated about the glorious legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.The announcement comes a day after the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) said it would implement the three-language formula in phases across schools in the country.According to the CBSE, the current batch of Class X students will not have to follow the new language policy, and students currently in Classes VII, VIII and IX will not be required to appear for a board examination in a third language when they reach Class X.The CBSE also said students in the current batches of Classes VII, VIII and IX who had already opted for two foreign languages would continue with the same, along with one additional native Indian language (bhartiya bhasha). It added that grade-appropriate resource material would be made available in a time-bound manner.(With inputs from ANI)

The complainant alleged that she became acquainted with Merchant through Mehraj Qureshi, who operated Sunshine Beauty Parlour.

MUMBAI: A Mumbai metropolitan court has acquitted a woman accused in a two decade old investment fraud case, holding that the prosecution failed to prove her involvement in the alleged cheating scheme beyond reasonable doubt.The case related to investments collected in 2007 for a purported textile import business that allegedly promised high returns to investors. The court noted a major gap in the prosecution’s case as the original complainant was never examined during the trial.It also found that witnesses had handed money only to the main accused, Parveen Merchant, and not to the acquitted woman. The court ruled that there was insufficient evidence to establish her role or common intention to defraud investors.The additional chief judicial magistrate SK Fokmare of the 19th Court acquitted Mehraj Qureshi of all the charges of cheating. The case pertains a complaint filed by complainant Aashiya Lasanwala and several other investors were allegedly induced in 2007 to invest money in a purported textile import business run by accused Parveen Tahir Merchant. Police said more than 30 investors were duped of around Rs 2 crores.The complainant alleged that she became acquainted with Merchant through Mehraj Qureshi, who operated Sunshine Beauty Parlour. Qureshi allegedly informed the complainant that Merchant was engaged in importing cloth from Dubai and Pakistan and that investors could earn substantial monthly returns.The complainant claimed she initially invested Rs 50,000 after being promised returns of Rs 10,000 per month. Subsequently, Merchant allegedly sought an additional Rs 1 lakh, claiming the funds were needed to release imported textile consignments.Investors were allegedly assured returns of up to Rs 40,000 per month on investments of Rs 1.5 lakh. The prosecution further alleged that after making an initial payment of Rs 10,000 as a return, Merchant stopped making payments and avoided investors.When investors sought refunds, they were allegedly refused and threatened.The EOW recorded statements of victims and witnesses, conducted searches at premises linked to the accused, and collected various documents, including memorandums of understanding, receipts, cheques, bank records and handwriting expert reports.The accused were charge-sheeted for offences under Sections 406 and 420 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code. During the proceedings, accused Jyoti Hasmukh Mistry and Shakil Ahmed Rehmani were discharged in December 2015. The trial against Parveen Merchant was separated after she absconded.Aftaf Qureshi advocate for Qureshi said the prosecution examined 12 witnesses, including several alleged victims who had invested money in the scheme. However, the court noted a significant weakness in the prosecution case: the original complainant, Aashiya Lasanwala, was never examined during the trial.The court further found that none of the victim witnesses had entered into any monetary transaction with Mehraj Qureshi. Witnesses consistently admitted during cross-examination that they had handed money to Merchant and not to Qureshi.“One witness stated she never gave any money to Qureshi, another admitted she had no financial dealings with Qureshi, a third witness acknowledged that all monetary transactions were with Merchant and lastly, a landlord who testified against Qureshi ultimately admitted that her grievance was limited to unpaid rent and that she had no financial dealings with the accused in relation to the investment scheme,” said advocate Qureshi.The court observed that for an offence of cheating under Section 420 IPC, the prosecution must prove dishonest intention from the very inception of the transaction.Magistrate Fokmare held that while there was material against absconding accused Merchant, the evidence against Qureshi was insufficient. The prosecution failed to establish that Qureshi knowingly made false representations regarding Merchant’s business or that she shared any common intention to cheat investors.The proceedings against absconding accused Parveen Tahir Merchant remain pending. The court directed the prosecution to take steps to secure her presence and continue proceedings against her.

MUMBAI: The India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) prediction of a rain-soaked week played out dramatically just after midnight on Monday, when an intense three-hour spell of rain lashed Mumbai’s eastern suburbs, leading to the weather bureau to issue an orange alert at 1.05 am.The heaviest downpour was concentrated over the eastern suburbs, with automatic weather station (AWS) data showing Mulund (West) receiving over 200 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours ending 8 am on Monday. Almost the entire deluge, however, fell within a few hours between midnight and the early morning, overwhelming several low-lying pockets.The stark variation in rainfall was evident across the city. While the IMD’s Santacruz observatory recorded 104 mm of rain in the 24 hours ending 8.30 am, the Colaba observatory in south Mumbai logged just 30.4 mm. Localities such as Byculla (43 mm) and Malabar Hill (45 mm) also received less than 50 mm of rainfall.Neighbouring regions bore the brunt as well, with Thane recording 117 mm and Navi Mumbai averaging 118 mm during the same period.The overnight downpour led to waterlogging in some low-lying areas, including the Andheri East-West subway, which was temporarily shut to traffic. However, by the start of the morning rush hour, civic agencies had cleared most water logged stretches, allowing road, school and office traffic to resume.Independent weather observer Athreya Shetty attributed the highly localised ‘cloudburst’ like rainfall to a rare confluence of weather systems. He said strengthening monsoon westerlies carried abundant moisture but failed to penetrate beyond Navi Mumbai, creating a convergence zone over Thane Creek and Navi Mumbai.“This triggered towering cumulonimbus clouds that remained virtually stationary because of weak steering winds, dumping 120-195 mm of rain in barely three hours over the eastern suburbs and Navi Mumbai. At Koparkhairane, rainfall intensity briefly touched 149 mm per hour, approaching cloudburst levels,” he said.The heavy rain kept emergency services busy through the night. The BMC reported 16 short-circuit incidents, including nine in the eastern suburbs, though no injuries were reported. Civic authorities also received 34 complaints of fallen trees and branches and three complaints of partial wall or house collapses. Relief work was initiated in all cases, with no casualties reported.Even as Mumbai received a major rain spell water stocks in the seven lakes supplying to Mumbai are yet to see a significant increase. The seven lakes supplying drinking water to Mumbai currently hold 1 lakh million litres, or just 6.93% of their total capacity of 14.47 lakh million litres. On the same date last year, lake storage stood at 5.71 lakh million litres, or 39.5% of capacity.Average rainfall recorded by IMD observatories for a 24 hour period ending 8.30 am on June 29:

Total rainfall recorded by the automatic weather stations in the 24 hours ending 8 am (June 28-29)

A comparative analysis of air quality index data from June 1 to 27 reveals that Mumbai emerged as the cleanest city in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region

Mumbai: Even as a heavy blanket of monsoon clouds hovered over the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), the cities of Mumbai, Thane, and Navi Mumbai recorded starkly contrasting air quality trajectories through most of June.A comparative analysis of air quality index (AQI) data from June 1 to 27 showed that Mumbai emerged as the cleanest city in the MMR by clocking eight days in the ‘good’ category (AQI 0–50), while Thane lagged with the lowest count of pristine air days (3) despite maintaining a highly consistent ‘satisfactory’ AQI streak.According to data compiled from the daily AQI calendar, Mumbai registered clean air spells primarily during the latter half of the month — on June 1, 18, 19, 20, and from June 22 to 25. Satellite city Navi Mumbai logged seven ‘good’ air days, while Thane cut a dismal figure with just three days of ‘good’ AQI days from June 22 to 24.However, Thane dominated the ‘satisfactory’ category (AQI 51–100), logging 24 days where the air quality remained moderate with minor health impacts for sensitive individuals. Navi Mumbai recorded 20 ‘satisfactory’ days, while Mumbai saw 19.None of the three cities breached the ‘moderate’ or ‘poor’ thresholds during this 27-day summer-monsoon transition period, ensuring that the overall regional air remained highly breathable.Overall, Mumbai scored the best in the month due to its superior number of ‘good’ air days and lower localised AQI dips, making it the cleanest pocket in the metropolitan belt. PM10 emerged as the predominant pollutant in Thane and Navi Mumbai, where it dictated the AQI on 26 out of 27 days. Conversely, Mumbai exhibited a mixture of different pollutants: PM10 was the most frequent primary pollutant at 13 days, and ozone and NO2 dominated for seven days each.“Mumbai exhibits higher NO2 levels primarily driven by its concentrated industrial emissions, alongside volatile organic compounds that trigger ground-level ozone formation due to intense vehicular density in the island city,” said Sunil Dahiya, founder and lead researcher at Envirocatalyst. “Conversely, PM10 largely fueled by road dust dominates the satellite cities of Thane and Navi Mumbai, where heavy construction and infrastructure projects remain major contributors.”