Mumbai: The relentless rain that battered the city and several parts of the state over the past few days ha not only disrupted daily life but also dealt a significant financial blow to public transport operators. The BEST undertaking and the MSRTC together have reported losses exceeding Rs 4 crore due to rain-related disruptions.According to BEST officials, the undertaking incurred losses of around Rs 2 crore over three days as heavy downpour, poor visibility, waterlogging and tree falls severely affected bus operations across the city. A total of 327 bus routes were impacted between July 4 and July 6, forcing diversions and hampering schedules.On July 4, as many as 127 routes were affected, while 104 routes faced disruptions on July 5. Another 96 routes were impacted on July 6. Waterlogged roads and uprooted trees prompted traffic diversions, resulting in delays and operational challenges for the city’s bus network.The impact was equally severe on MSRTC, which reported losses of approximately Rs 2.3 crore in just two days. The state-run transporter had to cancel 7,820 bus trips due to adverse weather conditions, road blockages and safety concerns. The cancellations affected thousands of passengers travelling across Maharashtra and led to substantial revenue losses for the corporation.Transport officials said persistent rainfall and infrastructure-related disruptions have placed immense pressure on public transport services, highlighting the challenges of maintaining uninterrupted operations during the monsoon season. If heavy rainfall continues, transport agencies fear further operational disruptions and financial setbacks in the coming days.

There is a long-running dispute over payments owed by the elite sports club in Worli

Mumbai: The state govt will order a fresh scrutiny of the finances of National Sports Club of India (NSCI) in Worli and will convene a meeting within 15 days of conclusion of the legislature session to review its outstanding dues to BMC.The assurance came from minister Shambhuraj Desai in the legislative council after members questioned govt’s handling of the long-running dispute over payments owed by the elite sports club. The issue was raised by MLC Prasad Lad. MLC Anil Parab participated in the discussion.Desai said govt will implement the recommendations of the public accounts committee (PAC) and constitute a panel to examine the club’s functioning and financial transactions. An inquiry report will be submitted within three months and further action will be taken based on its findings, he said.Junior minister Madhuri Misal said BMC had recovered about Rs 66 crore from NSCI towards its revenue share and another Rs 11 crore over unauthorised construction. She said the remaining dues were being recovered in phases.In a written reply to a starred question, deputy CM Eknath Shinde said the 70,376sqm BMC-owned plot at Worli has been leased to NSCI for 99 years since Jan 1, 1951. The club pays annual ground rent of Rs 43,572, besides additional ground rent of Rs 3.39 lakh for extra construction and changes in land use.Shinde said under BMC’s policy, lessees must share 33% of revenue earned through agreements with third parties. Following a show-cause notice issued in 2016 and audits by Comptroller and Auditor General, the civic body recovered Rs 67.7 crore, including penal interest, for 2014-20. Another Rs 5.8 crore was recovered for 2022-26 after BMC took over the stadium during the pandemic.Govt said the club had carried out unauthorised construction and changes in land use. BMC recovered nearly Rs 12 crore as penalty and levied another Rs 34.6 lakh under Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966, before regularising the structures. It added that BMC is now regularly recovering its 33% revenue share from the club. —Manthan K Mehta

Thane: A proposed data centre at Balkum in Thane has drawn fresh political opposition, with Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske demanding an immediate halt to the project and an independent inquiry into alleged large-scale tree felling at the site.Mhaske submitted a memorandum to the Thane civic chief and the district collector after meeting representatives of housing societies, locals, environmental activists and social organisations who have raised objections to the project. He urged the authorities to keep the project on hold in public interest and examine the concerns raised by residents.According to the memorandum, the proposed data centre is planned in a densely populated area surrounded by residential complexes, schools, hospitals and other public facilities. Mhaske said residents fear the project could lead to increased traffic congestion, higher noise and air pollution, and additional pressure on Thane’s already stretched water and electricity infrastructure.The MP questioned the direct benefits the project would bring to locals, seeking clarity on employment opportunities and its overall contribution to the city’s development. He also raised concerns over whether all statutory approvals, environmental clearances and mandatory permissions have been obtained and complied with.Mhaske alleged that tree felling at the project site exceeded the permissions granted by Thane Municipal Corporation and called for a detailed and impartial investigation.The memorandum seeks an immediate suspension of all work, an independent review of approvals by an expert committee, a detailed public hearing with residents, and the release of environmental, traffic, water consumption and noise impact assessment reports before any further decision is taken.The development came days after NCP (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad opposed the proposed project, alleging a lack of transparency and raising concerns over its environmental and civic impact.Thane civic chief Saurabh Rao did not respond to queries seeking comment.

The petition before the Bombay High Court was a dispute concerning a ‘loop road’ at Mandale village on land which the BMC said was not its land, but belonged to the Department of Atomic Energy where Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Colony is located

Mumbai: Citizens should not blame the C alone for Mumbai’s chronic monsoon waterlogging, remarked the Bombay high court on Tuesday, observing that encroachments and clogged drains have made the situation “our own creation”.The petition before the HC was a dispute concerning a ‘loop road’ at Mandale village on land which BMC said was not its land, but belonged to the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) where Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) Colony is located. The HC issued a notice to DAE.Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad made the oral remark on Mumbai’s monsoon situation after BMC counsel, advocate general Milind Sathe, said it was not legally bound to remove any encroachers on the private land, and an opposing lawyer said drains next to the road are maintained by the municipal corporation.The ACJ orally then said: “BMC gave us drains. What do we do? We fill it with dirt…cover the gutter to grab land. BMC gave us footpaths. We put pav bhaji stalls on it…Look outside the HC, there is no space to walk… We are destined to see rainwater on roads…we cannot help it. Everything is clogged.”He further quipped, “Our habit is to rob our own motherland…We put pavement blocks. They are inaugurated by people’s representatives and then they become parking areas. One spell of rain blocks roads in Mumbai…it is our creation.’’ACJ Ghuge added, “When the corporation comes for demolition, you say ‘Give me seven days’ notice’. …When one grabs land, nobody reads the law. So that is how things are in Mumbai.’’Sathe and advocate Joel Carlos for BMC said the issue was that the sanctioned road was 30ft wide in the 1991 Development Plan and the DAE requested the civic body in 2024 to remove any encroachers and make it a 50ft wide loop road. Sathe said if the DAE hands over vacant land it will construct a 40ft loop road.A civic affidavit on Tuesday said the BMC had demolished structures in 2011-12 before starting construction on the sanctioned 30ft wide road and for its construction had cut 59 trees, retained 37 trees in site, and replanted 46 trees. The BMC contested a claim that 192 trees were felled for the road work.

Mumbai: The state legislative council on Tuesday passed the Public Universities (fourth amendment) Bill, 2026 for the appointment of an ombudsman to resolve grievances and to replace the grievance committee.Opposition members asked if universities would be brought under the purview of the Lokpal as the Bill mentioned the appointment of Lokpal. Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil clarified that the vice-chancellor can recommend to the department a panel of three retired judges for the post of an ombudsman to be appointed for three years or till he attains the age of 70 to resolve grievances.Congress MLC Abhijit Vanzari and Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Anil Parab demanded the word ‘Lokpal’ be replaced.

Navi Mumbai: The body of a Nalasopara resident, Chandrakant Chavhan, 55, was retrieved off the railway tracks near Monkey Hill on the Lonavla-Karjat section on Tuesday evening. Under the guidance of Khopoli police inspector Sachin Hire, the volunteers of local NGO Help Foundation brought the body amid inclement weather conditions, including incessant rain, by trekking around 9 km.Prior to mobilisation, the rescue team members were advised to take a basket stretcher, body bag, surgical mask and gloves, helmet, ropes, water, walkie-talkie, sanitisers, among others, as the body was in a decomposed condition and lying in a high-risk area prone to boulder fall and landslides.Chavhan’s family members reached the spot and were accompanying the rescuers along with the body. The rescuers scaled down to pull out his body.Inspector Sachin Hire said, “Prima facie he was suspected to have fallen from a train more than two days ago. Further details can be revealed after collating more information from his family members.”Chavhan went missing while travelling from Mumbai to Solapur on the night of July 4. He was last seen around 2.30 am during the journey. No information regarding his whereabouts was received by his family thereafter. A missing person complaint was lodged with the police.

Mumbai: An MLA was absent at a meeting of Shiv Sena (UBT) legislators called by party chief Uddhav Thackeray at Matoshree on Tuesday.Parbhani MLA Rahul Patil was absent and had reportedly told the party that he was not able to make it to the meeting due to a family function. The remaining 19 Shiv Sena (UBT) MLAs and all five MLCs were present.This was the first meeting of the party after the defection of MLC Sachin Ahir last week, who joined Eknath Shinde’s Sena.Uddhav had called a meeting of Sena (UBT) legislators on June 22, the first day of the monsoon session of the state legislature. Four out of 26 legislators were absent for this meeting. Rahul Pagtil was absent for the June 222 meeting too.Uddhav told the legislators to aggressively raise questions related to the heavy rainfall that has killed several people across the state, farmers and the public in the house in a systematic manner.He told them to put up a united face in the face of a crisis due to the defection of six MPs and Sachin Ahir’s switch to the Shinde Sena. Uddhav also told the MLAs and MLCs to hold meetings with party workers in the constituencies of rebel MPs.