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Hindustan Times
13 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
State wants global architects for Maha Vista, to float fresh tender
MUMBAI: The response to the state's grand plan for a Maha Vista has not been 'maha' enough. The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance government will therefore float a fresh tender, inviting architects from all over the world to submit designs for a makeover of the Mantralaya precinct in South Mumbai. The idea is to redevelop the precinct on the lines of the Central Vista in New Delhi. Mantralaya building. (Photo by Bhushan Koyande/HT Photo) The nodal agency for the project is the state public works department (PWD). Chief engineer Ranjeet Rahane said, 'The tender we floated earlier drew a response from just three Indian architects. The government wants more architects, and global ones. So we will be issuing another tender.'' Plans to completely remodel the Mantralaya precinct, in the offing for a long time, began to take shape in February last year, when deputy chief minister and finance minister Ajit Pawar announced the Maha Vista project in his budget speech. With the space crunch at the secretariat assuming alarming proportions, and given that the building itself is more than 60 years old, the government plans to redevelop the secretariat and annex; the iconic Vidhan Bhavan, or state legislature; and the row of British-era ministerial bungalows on Madam Cama Road opposite the secretariat. After the Mantralaya fire in 2012, several government departments such as medical education, public health, rural development and water supply have been operating from independent premises. Currently, the secretariat is undergoing major renovations to accommodate the ballooning staff of the ministers, many of whom have been assigned cabins being built in the corridors. The row of colonial-era ministerial bungalows opposite Mantralaya too will be razed, making way for residential towers to accommodate IAS officers and ministers. They will be equipped with modern amenities and adequate parking facilities. Since the precinct is defined by art deco norms, the rules are likely to be tweaked so that the towers align with the area's architectural identity. Since colonial times, the area where the ministerial bungalows stand and its periphery were marked for a garden. Over time, the Mahatma Gandhi Garden was developed near the LIC Building, while part of the space opposite was developed into Jawaharlal Nehru Garden. The rest was taken over to build the state BJP office, and other offices for political parties.
Hindustan Times
13 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Mumbra train incident: HC suggests automatic doors to prevent overcrowding fatalities
MUMBAI: Eleven days after the Mumbra train incident in which at least five passengers died after falling from overcrowded local trains, the Bombay High Court on Friday termed the state of commuter safety on Mumbai's suburban rail network 'alarming' and recommended the installation of automatic doors to help prevent further fatalities. Thane, India. June 10, 2025: Local trains cross near section at Mumbra Railway Station, where four commuters lost their lives and nine others were injured on June 9, 2025, in Thane, India. The incident occurred when the commuters fell from a train heading to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus. Thane India. June 10, 2025. (Photo by Raju Shinde/HT Photo) (Hindustan Times) A division bench comprising chief justice Alok Aradhe and justice Sandeep Marne was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by daily commuter Yatin Jadhav, who highlighted the persistent dangers faced by passengers on the city's lifeline. The court noted that approximately ten commuters die every day on Mumbai's local trains, a statistic it said demanded urgent systemic intervention. 'The doors should not be left open. There should be automatic doors,' the bench observed. 'We are not experts, but we are relying on their expertise to arrive at this suggestion.' The petition, filed through senior advocate Rohan Shah and advocate Surabhi Prabhudesai, drew the court's attention to the tragic June 9 incident, in which at least five passengers died and several were injured after falling from overcrowded trains between Mumbra and Diva stations on the Central line. The bench criticised the pace of infrastructure upgrades by the state and rail authorities, observing that despite improvements, fatalities continue unabated. It directed concerned departments to file affidavits detailing the steps being taken to enhance passenger safety. This includes forming an expert committee to independently analyse recurring accidents on the suburban railways and propose preventive measures. The court also ordered officials to take into account the petitioner's suggestions and submit a status report within three weeks, including a clear timeline for implementing proposed safety enhancements. Responding on behalf of the railway authorities, Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh informed the court that a 'zero death mission' is underway. A high-level monitoring committee has already been constituted, and an additional multidisciplinary committee, led by the Senior Divisional Safety Officer of Central Railway, is investigating the June 9 incident to recommend targeted safety protocols. Singh acknowledged the difficulty of executing large-scale upgrades on an active network, noting that most work—such as constructing boundary walls, fencing tracks, and shifting platform stalls to reduce congestion—must be carried out at night to avoid disrupting the city's daily commute. 'The suburban railway is among the most economical and fastest modes of transport in Mumbai. While fatalities have decreased by 46% since 2009, last year alone saw 3,588 deaths. Our mission is zero death, and we are open to all suggestions in the public interest,' Singh told the court. The matter is now scheduled for further hearing on July 14.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
6% surplus rain in UP already, more in store: Weatherman
LUCKNOW Uttar Pradesh has already received 6% surplus rain since the southwest monsoon officially entered the southern areas of the state on Wednesday. This is in sharp contrast to the fact that the rain deficit was pegged at 46% on June 16 – two days prior to the advent of monsoon in the state, revealed statistics shared by the Lucknow Met office. Water-logging at Jankipuram extension new campus after a heavy rain in Lucknow on Friday. (Deepak Gupta/HT Photo) The deficit was 27% on June 18 and 20% on June 19, when Lucknow and other districts received widespread rain. 'Southwest monsoon has advanced into the remaining parts of east UP and some parts of west UP. Conditions are favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon into the remaining parts of west UP during the next two days,' said Mohd Danish, a senior scientists at Lucknow Met office. Barely two days after the monsoon entered UP on June 18, it entered Lucknow with a brisk spell of rain on Friday morning (June 20). 'Monsoon has now covered the entire east and south UP. Only some parts of west UP (northwest UP and NCR) are left out. Monsoon is a planetary scale system, so it advances over a vast area during active monsoon surge rather than strictly district by district,' said Atul Kumar Singh, senior scientist at Lucknow Met office. Heavy showers were recorded at some places in Kheri, Shravasti, Barabanki, Unnao, Hamirpur and Sitapur and Lucknow during the last 24 hours, due to which there was a significant drop in the maximum temperature. Jhansi recorded the lowest maximum temperature of 28.7° C in UP. It was the 10th lowest maximum temperature of June in the observation history of Jhansi since 1969. Etawah experienced a maximum of 31.1 mm rainfall, Kanpur city 10.5 mm and Jhansi 7.7 mm. Rain/thundershowers are likely at many places over west UP and most places over east UP. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning/gusty winds (speed 30-40 Kmph) are likely at isolated places over the state while isolated places in west and east UP are likely to see heavy rain. Lucknow recorded day and night temperatures of 35 and 25 degrees Celsius, respectively, on Friday. The city is likely to see partly cloudy sky with few spells of rain/thundershowers.
Mint
18-05-2025
- Climate
- Mint
Mumbai rains: Yellow Alert! IMD issues thunderstorm, rainfall warnings till June 21; details
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday issued a yellow alert warning for Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, and several other parts of Maharashtra, indicating the possibility of thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, moderate rainfall, and gusty winds. The alert is in place until at least Wednesday. According to the latest IMD bulletin, Mumbai will remain under a yellow alert on Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, while neighbouring districts such as Thane and Raigad will stay under warning from Sunday through Wednesday. Mumbai, India. May 06, 2025: A dark cloud loomed over Mumbai city on Tuesday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert for the city, indicating moderate rainfall, for both Tuesday and Wednesday. This alert also extends to the neighbouring districts of Thane, Raigad, and Palghar. Mumbai, India. May 06, 2025. (Photo by Raju Shinde/HT Photo) The alert extends beyond the Konkan region, with much of the rest of Maharashtra also placed under a yellow warning for the next four days, signaling the likelihood of unsettled weather across the state. Speaking to ANI on Friday, IMD scientist Akhil Srivastava pointed out that southern India, especially the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka, will experience persistent rainfall, accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds for the next five days. Similar weather conditions are expected to prevail over Central India. Earlier on Saturday, rain lashed several parts of Mumbai as the city has been experiencing pre-monsoon showers over the past few days. In 2025, IMD said the southwest monsoon seasonal (June to September) rainfall over the country as a whole during 2025 is most likely to be above normal (greater than 104 per cent of the Long Period Average). The advance of the southwest monsoon over the Indian mainland is marked by monsoon onset over Kerala. It is an important indicator characterising the transition from the hot and dry to the rainy season. The yellow alert indicates the likelihood of unsettled weather across the state. Persistent rainfall and thunderstorms are expected over the next five days. The southwest monsoon typically sets in over Kerala on June 1, with a standard deviation of about 7 days. (With inputs from agencies) Key Takeaways Mumbai and several parts of Maharashtra are on yellow alert until June 21. The IMD predicts above-normal monsoon rainfall for 2025. Southern India will also experience significant rainfall and thunderstorms.
Hindustan Times
08-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Ghatkopar bridge end-2025 deadline postponed to June 2027
MUMBAI: In the hope of easing the traffic logjam in the eastern suburbs, yet another British-era bridge—the busy Ghatkopar rail over bridge (ROB)—is set to bite the dust and get replaced by a new, wider overpass. But with its initial deadline of end-2025 being forwarded to a distant June 2027, commuters are riding their hopes on the east-west crossing bridge being built at the adjacent stations of Vidyavihar and Vikhroli. Mumbai, India. May 07, 2025: General view of the under-construction Ghatkopar bridge. The bridge connects Western Express Highway and Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg (LBS Road) in Mumbai, India. May 07, 2025. (Photo by Raju Shinde/HT Photo) (Hindustan Times) The 78-year-old Ghatkopar ROB came under the BMC's scrutiny after the Gokhale Bridge mishap, prompting structural audits of bridges all over Mumbai by IIT-Bombay in 2018. On finding it overloaded and in need of major repairs, the work on its reconstruction was given to the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (MRIDC) funded by the BMC. 'The bridge starts from the Golibar Road junction near LBS Marg on the Andheri-Ghatkopar Link Road till the Eastern Express Highway (EEH), connecting Ghatkopar East to Ghatkopar West,' said an official from MRIDC. 'The portion over the railway tracks will be a cable-stayed bridge while the portion over LBS Road will be a bowstring steel span. This is so that long spans of the bridge can be constructed without pillars adding to the traffic congestion on the road below. The bridge will also crisscross with two metro lines and the bullet train.' With work orders given in 2022, the work is inching ahead at a snail's pace. The old bridge, with its 2+2 lanes, has been allowed to continue to function after maintenance although heavy vehicles have been restricted on it. This, however, has been causing issues. 'BEST buses have to take a long turn right from Amar Mahal, as they can't ply on the old bridge, and heavy vehicles that are headed to Sakinaka also face this issue,' said Ajay Bagal, a resident who has long been campaigning for a new Ghatkopar ROB. The old bridge will be demolished as the right-hand lanes of the new bridge near completion in around a year, allowing for some traffic movement to continue. 'Traffic will be diverted onto the right-hand lanes, and then we will take up work on the left side,' said the MRIDC official. While work on the railway portion is on, it is the approach roads where the issue lies, as there are encroachments crowding the alignments. MRIDC acknowledged this, saying it was the BMC's responsibility to remove the encroachments. 'There are shops and a recently constructed SRA building in the way of the west-side approach road, which is delaying the work,' said Bagal. 'By now, the work on the bridge should have been almost complete, but it isn't. The other bridges coming up at Vikhroli and Vidyavihar will surely reduce the load on this one, but this bridge offers a straight road up to Sakinaka and the international airport, and is in one of the most congested areas, so it is of utmost importance.'
