Latest news with #Mumbaikars
Time of India
21 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Two decades after deluge: Poisar to Dahisar, river revival at a trickle
Mumbai: When Sagar Vira bought an apartment in Kandivli, he had no idea that his new home was near a river—or even that Mumbai had any rivers. But when he visited his new home to check on renovations, he saw a poster on the gate announcing a 'River March'. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "That day," he says, "I discovered I was living next to a river called Poisar." For decades, Mumbai's rivers were perceived as mere nullahs—backyard sewers absorbing the waste of a city. It was the 2005 floods, when the rivers swelled and overflowed that Mumbaikars discovered the existence of the Mithi, Oshiwara, Poisar and Dahisar in the west and Mahul in the east. These rivers originate in the hills of Sanjay Gandhi National Park and flow down through forest and city to meet the Arabian Sea. Plans to clean and revive the rivers to guard against future flooding and restore ecological balance have since moved slowly, especially on the Poisar. Encroachments on Poisar The river's 1,192-crore project, first tendered in 2019 and given environmental clearance last year, includes removing encroachments, building retaining walls, and constructing sewage treatment plants (STPs) to divert and clean the waste going into the river. So far, retaining walls have been built, and some trash booms installed to collect dry waste. But the river has not been widened, nor has the water quality improved, says Vira. "Untreated sewage from slums continues to flow in the river," he says. Construction work on treatment plants has recently begun. "The BMC has taken up the Poisar rejuvenation work without removing all the encroachments," says BJP MLA Atul Bhatkalkar. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now With most slumdwellers unwilling to move far, and few alternative houses available in the area, they should be declared project affected persons and moved into nearby permanent transit camps, he adds. Some widening work has been done near the sea, Bhatkalkar adds, but service road work is still pending. Dahisar's walls There's been more progress on Dahisar River, where encroachments are fewer and have largely been removed. Two STPs are almost complete. However, local resident Gopal Jhaveri points out that the tabelas (cow sheds) continue to discharge untreated waste. Like Vira, Jhaveri is sceptical of the concrete walls built along the river. They prevent water entering the river and lead to water flowing on to the roads instead, he says, causing flooding in Daulat Nagar, Ashokvan and Leprosy Colony. "The concrete wall has converted the river into a gutter," he says. Changing Oshiwara's course Oshiwara is the shortest of the rivers in the western suburbs. At Dindoshi in Goregaon, heavy rains bring to life a little-known waterfall that flows down into what is popularly known as Walbhat nullah. The waterfall is a popular trekking destination and the river flows into Aarey Colony, then crosses the railway line before joining the sea. Most encroachments here have been moved, according to officials, and STPs are under construction. However, the river's course has been changed near Gokuldham due to land being reclaimed, says Sandeep Sawant, a resident of Nagari Nivara. "At Ram Mandir, pillars are being erected on the riverbed.," he says, adding, "All this naturally reduces the width of the river." Additional Municipal Commissioner Abhijit Bangar acknowledges that works are pending. Once the STPs are complete, he says, the idea is to create riverfronts like the Sabarmati waterfront in Ahmedabad. The widely criticised concrete walls, he says, currently prevent the re-entry of encroachers onto the river. With development along the rivers in many places, there's barely any space left to create service roads, say officials. "A riverbank on either side is a tall order," an official says.
News18
a day ago
- News18
Mumbai's Versova To Madh Island In 10 Minutes Instead Of 1.5 Hours: Why Green Nod Matters
Curated By : Last Updated: July 28, 2025, 20:10 IST The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has secured clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). (PTI File) Mumbai's Versova-Madh cable-stayed bridge: Ten years after it was proposed, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has secured clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to construct a cable-stayed flyover connecting Madh Island in the western suburbs with Versova, the Indian Express reported. The bridge will provide all-weather connectivity and cut down travel time from one-and-a-half hours to 10 minutes between Madh and Versova. It will help ease traffic in Andheri, Madh, Borivali and Gorai areas of the western suburbs. The cable-stayed bridge between Madh and Versova The distance between Madh and Versova is 21 to 22 km. The idea for the bridge first came up in 1967. The proposed bridge is a cable-stayed flyover spanning about 2.06 km across the Madh Creek. It will be 27.5-m wide, with four lanes (two in each direction). What next after MoEFCC nod? Once the Bombay High Court clearance is received and the formal work order is issued—likely by late 2025, the construction is expected to begin, with full completion around 2028. How long will it take to build? The estimated construction time is approximately 36 months (about 3 years) once work begins. What is the cost of the Madh-Versova bridge? Initial tender estimates (March 2024) were around Rs 1,800 crore, but due to market adjustments, the final cost has risen and is currently pegged at Rs 2,395 crore (including GST, civil works, maintenance). How will Madh-Versova bridge ease travel? Currently, there is no direct road access between Versova and Madh Island. Commuters have to take a long detour via Link Road, S.V. Road, Western Express Highway, often taking 45–60 minutes during peak hours—and potentially up to 90 minutes during heavy traffic or monsoon disruptions. Once completed, the new flyover is expected to cut this journey down to just 5 minutes. The bridge move directly across Versova Creek instead of circling through central suburbs. The current ferry service is often suspended during the monsoons or evenings. The bridge will remain operational 365 days a year. The cable-stayed structure involves fewer piers, minimizing ecological damage to mangroves while providing direct access. Why is Madh Island a popular weekend getaway? Madh Island, located in North-West Mumbai, is famous for its scenic beaches, historic fort, film shoots, and peaceful coastal charm. Surrounded by the Arabian Sea and Malad Creek, it offers a quiet escape from the city's chaos. The island is home to fishing villages like Erangal and Madh, where the local Koli and East Indian communities preserve traditional lifestyles. Its relatively secluded beaches such as Madh Beach, Erangal Beach, and Dana Pani make it a favourite weekend getaway for Mumbaikars. Madh Island is also a hotspot for Bollywood, TV, and ad film shoots, thanks to its rustic settings and private bungalows. Swipe Left For Next Video View all The historic Portuguese-built Madh Fort adds to its allure, though it's not always open to the public. Accessible by road from Malad or a short ferry ride from Versova, Madh Island is known not only for its natural beauty but also for its role in Mumbai's cultural and entertainment scene. With Agency Inputs Manjiri Joshi At the news desk for 17 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing special copies ... Read More At the news desk for 17 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing special copies ... Read More view comments News cities » mumbai-news Mumbai's Versova To Madh Island In 10 Minutes Instead Of 1.5 Hours: Why Green Nod Matters Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
3 days ago
- General
- Time of India
At 922, railway fatalities drop marginally in 1st 5 mths of '25
1 2 Mumbai: Fatalities on Railways in Mumbai caused due to various factors dipped marginally from 1,003 in Jan-May 2024 to 922 in Jan-May 2025, police data has shown. A majority of the deaths in the first five months of this year were caused by track crossing (461) and falls from crowded trains (210), which are both preventable factors. Railways said they have attempted to prevent track crossing by identifying critical 'black spots', removing ramps at the end of platforms and constructing boundary walls. According to police data, Thane section had the highest number of deaths from track crossing (75), while Kalyan section had most fatalities from falling off locals (50) so far this year. Activist Subhash Gupta of the Rail Yatri Parishad said that to prevent accidents from track crossing, foot overbridges must be constructed at locations where demand from commuters is high. On June 9, five people were killed and eight were left injured after falling off two fast suburban trains on opposite tracks near Mumbra. An internal investigation was started by Central Railway to look into the reasons. Activists highlighted that the approval of large scale housing projects in the distant suburbs has not been accompanied by development of alternative modes of transport. As a result, the residents depend completely on the railway network. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Owning A Villa In Dubai Might Not Be As Costly As You Think Villas Dubai | Search Ads Undo "Closed-door locals are essential for commuter safety but it is not possible on existing services. Air-conditioned locals have automatic doors but their fares are unaffordable for the common man. So, non-AC locals that arrive on the platform after AC locals are packed beyond capacity. Commuters are forced to travel on the footboard to avoid delays at work," said Gupta. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai Police data also showed an uptick in suicides from 38 incidents to 46 incidents in the first five months of this year. "India is in a chronic disaster state where helplessness, alienation, loneliness and disconnection are prominent symptoms. Mumbai is no exception. Dying under a train is a sign of serious distress. The administration has done little to make travel easy for Mumbaikars to unburden the stress," said psychiatrist Dr Harish Shetty. He added that there is an urgent need to screen families door-to-door. Among overall fatalities, deaths from natural causes such as illnesses were also high with 190 such instances being reported between Jan-May this year.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
Rain soaks Mumbai, disrupts traffic; IMD's orange alert in place today too
Mumbai: The city city and its adjoining areas reeled under continuous rainfall on Friday amid India Meteorological Department's orange alert, triggering traffic snarls in several places. The IMD extended till Saturday the orange alert for Mumbai and Thane, indicating heavy to very heavy showers in isolated areas. For Sunday, a yellow alert is in place for the city. In the 12-hour period ending Friday 8.30pm, IMD's Santacruz and Colaba observatories recorded 83mm and 12mm rainfall, respectively. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai Mumbai is also currently experiencing a period of high tides, when waves are expected to breach a height of 4.5m. On Friday, the city saw a high tide of 4.66m at 12.40pm. BMC has advised Mumbaikars to avoid beaches and seafront areas when a high tide of 4.67m is expected at 1.20pm on Saturday, and of 4.6m at 1.56pm on Sunday. Heavy rainfall coinciding with a high tide can lead to waterlogging, as particularly in low-lying areas, as it prevents rainwater from draining into the sea. Among the areas that witnessed 10mm+ rainfall between 8am and 6pm were Andheri East (110mm), Andheri West (106mm) and Goregaon (105mm), according to the readings from BMC's automatic weather stations. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Eine zielgerichtete Strategie für Ihre finanzielle Zukunft eToro Click Here Undo Mulund recorded 96mm of rainfall, Ghatkopar 95mm, and Powai 94mm, while Sion and Wadala saw 39mm and 32mm, respectively. The persistent downpour led to traffic disruptions, with the Andheri subway forced to shut thrice in the day due to waterlogging. Traffic congestion was reported on the Western Express Highway at Goregaon (E) near NESCO towards Vakola flyover and Malad Link Road's south-bound arm near Infiniti mall. On the Eastern Express Highway, the Vikhroli-Chheda Nagar stretch and Amar Mahal-Sion stretch also saw bumper-to-bumper traffic. Mumbai Police issued a public advisory early on Friday, urging citizens to remain indoors, avoid coastal areas, and drive cautiously. Weather experts attributed the intense showers to an ongoing active monsoon phase. Athreya Shetty, an independent forecaster, said, "We're currently in the midst of active monsoon conditions. The strongest monsoon surge of the season so far is hitting the Konkan coast with winds of 40-60kmph, bringing in plenty of moisture. This, combined with a depression over West Bengal and adjoining areas and an active offshore trough, is responsible for heavy rains in Mumbai. The pull effect from the depression aligned the heaviest rainbands over Mumbai suburbs, Navi Mumbai, and Thane, leading to the heaviest downpours in these areas specifically."
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Mumbai to see more intense rain over the weekend: Here's what IMD and police say
Mumbai is bracing for an extended spell of rain over the weekend after Friday, July 25, began with a downpour and several parts of the financial capital saw continuous rain. The weather department has issued an orange alert for Mumbai and most of its surroundings, warning of more intense rain — 'heavy to very heavy showers'. Municipal workers check water level on a flooded road during rain at Andheri subway in Mumbai.(PTI) While a red alert implies the most severe "take action" warning, while orange and yellow alerts suggest "be prepared to take action" and 'be aware', respectively. Local train services on were delayed on Friday by 10 to 12 minutes, while speed was lowered across many lines as a precaution or due to low visibility. Orange alert means people in Mumbai should stay indoors if possible — police have issued an advisory saying that — and stock up on essential supplies too. In Thane, too, the IMD has predicted "heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places" for Saturday and Sunday. For Raigad, a red alert has been sounded as the entire western Indian region is seeing monsoon rain in abundance over the past few days. A forecast similar to that for Mumbai was issued for the districts of Konkan-Goa region and the ghat areas of central Maharashtra as well. 'Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, gusty winds reaching 30 to 40 kmph' along with 'light to moderate' rainfall is forecast for the Marathwada region. Mumbai police posted on its X handle on Friday morning: 'Due to heavy rainfall in Mumbai and nearby districts, citizens are advised to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary, avoid coastal areas, and drive cautiously." The post further read: "Our officials and staff are on high alert and ready to assist Mumbaikars. In case of any emergency, please dial 100 / 112 / 103.'
