24 Apr 2025

The Maharashtra State Archives has launched four heritage trail handbooks tracing colonial and local history from Bandra to Vasai. Led by director Dr. Rucha Deo, the project covers trails through Bandra, Andheri-Dahisar, Mira-Bhayandar, and Bassein, highlighting forts, churches, markets, and East Indian villages. Developed with support from institutions like St Xavier's College and JJ School of Architecture, the booklets include QR-mapped locations, architectural sketches, and oral histories. Officials aim to integrate these trails into tourism and educational initiatives, helping residents reconnect with Mumbai's overlooked suburban heritage. Digital editions are also planned to widen access and revive community interest.Read more

24 Apr 2025

Mumbai will soon have its first dedicated bird park since Independence, with the state government approving BMC's INR 80 crore proposal to set up an aviary-themed public space in Mulund, near Sanjay Gandhi National Park. Spread over 4.4 acres in Nahur, the park will house 206 birds from 18 species-including ostriches, macaws, and hornbills-within a 10,859 sq m enclosure. The project aims to boost biodiversity awareness and recreation in the eastern suburbs. Construction is expected to begin later this year and finish by late 2026, easing pressure on Byculla Zoo and expanding public learning spaces.Read more

24 Apr 2025

The Bombay High Court has directed the BMC to demolish an unauthorized community hall built by Akhil Bhatwadi Sarvajanik Utsav Mandal on a Ghatkopar plot reserved for a playground. The court found BMC and MHADA approvals invalid, ordered demolition within a week, and held civic officials accountable for inaction. It also criticized the trust's misuse of court injunctions and referred its lawyer to the Bar Council for misconduct. The court reaffirmed that reserved open spaces must be preserved, signaling strict enforcement of urban planning norms and a crackdown on illegal constructions that strain civic infrastructure.Read more

24 Apr 2025

The underground bullet train station at Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) is 75% complete, marking key progress in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail project. Major construction activities, including raft casting and tunneling, are advancing steadily. Of the 21-km tunnel, 16 km will use Tunnel Boring Machines, with the rest built using NATM. Over 3,300 piles have been installed, and work on viaducts and bridges is ongoing across Maharashtra and Gujarat. The corridor is expected to significantly boost mobility in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Real estate activity in BKC is already heating up, with developers and investors anticipating a sharp rise in demand ahead of the project's planned 2028 completion.Read more

24 Apr 2025

Akshay Kumar has sold an office space in Lower Parel, Mumbai for INR 8 crore, earning a 65% return on his 2020 purchase of INR 4.85 crore. Located in the upscale One Lodha Place project, the 1,146.88 sq ft office also included two parking spots. The deal, registered in April 2025, involved a stamp duty of INR 48 lakh. Earlier this year, he sold a Borivali flat and a luxury Worli apartment for impressive profits. His success highlights growing celebrity interest in commercial property, especially in prime areas like Lower Parel.Read more

23 Apr 2025

MMRDA has achieved a major milestone for Mumbai's Metro Line 7A with TBM 'Disha' completing a 1.67-km underground tunnel between Gundavali and the airport. The 3.4-km corridor, part of the Red Line 7 extension, includes elevated and underground sections and aims to boost east-west connectivity through key interchanges with Lines 2, 3, 6, and 9. Currently 59% complete, the metro line is expected to be operational by December 2025. Officials say this link will ease airport traffic and cut travel time. CM Shri Devendra Fadnavis hailed it as a step forward in strengthening Mumbai's infrastructure and commuter mobility.Read more

23 Apr 2025

After a 2.5-year closure, Mumbai's historic Carnac Bridge near Masjid Bunder will reopen on June 7, 2025. The INR 41.3 crore reconstruction replaces the 1866 British-era structure and aims to decongest key trading routes linking Crawford Market, P D'Mello Road, and CST. The new 70m steel girder bridge was installed in January 2025 during carefully timed railway blocks. Final touches, including road surfacing and safety fittings, are underway. Originally shut in 2022 due to safety concerns flagged in 2018, the revamped bridge is expected to restore crucial connectivity for traders and commuters and ease pressure on detour-heavy routes like Kalbadevi and Princess Street.Read more

23 Apr 2025

Oberoi Realty Ltd reported a 31% jump in sales bookings, reaching INR 5,266 crore in FY 2024-25, up from INR 4,007 crore the previous year. The Mumbai-based luxury developer sold 928 units, compared to 705 in FY24, with total carpet area sold rising by 19% to 12.81 lakh sq ft. The strong performance reflects sustained demand for premium housing, particularly in Mumbai. With upcoming projects in Borivali, Thane, and Goregaon, and a focus on mixed-use developments, Oberoi Realty is well-positioned to benefit from India's positive economic outlook and growing interest in high-end homeownership.Read more

23 Apr 2025

Central Railway has successfully dismantled all seven girders of the century-old Sion Road Over Bridge (ROB), a key step in adding the 5th and 6th railway lines between Kurla and Parel. The final girder, in place since 1912, was removed during a five-hour block on Sunday. The ROB, a crucial east-west link connecting Dharavi, LBS Marg, and the Eastern Express Highway, was closed earlier, causing traffic congestion on alternate routes like the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road. The dismantling supports Mumbai's rail network expansion to ease commuter load. Plans for a new bridge are underway, with broader upgrades across Mumbai's railway infrastructure in progress.Read more

23 Apr 2025

Eleven lakes in Malad will be rejuvenated over the next two years as part of 'Project Mumbai,' Union Minister Piyush Goyal announced. Phase 1 has already begun with five lakes, while Phase 2 will cover six larger, more degraded waterbodies. The initiative includes desilting, sewage diversion, and the creation of walking paths, seating zones, and biodiversity improvements. Lakes like Lotus Talao, Hanuman Nagar Talao, and Somnath Talao are among those listed. With support from over 500 companies, officials aim to complete the work by 2026, making this north Mumbai's largest multi-lake restoration effort to date.Read more

23 Apr 2025

The Bombay High Court has ordered Neelkamal Realtors Suburban Pvt Ltd to complete and hand over eight buildings to MMRDA in Mahajanwadi under the defunct Rental Housing Scheme (RHS). The buildings-comprising around 3,000 residential and commercial units-were to be built on 25% of the plot using 1 FSI, in exchange for 3 FSI for free-sale buildings. While the developer built and sold 26 buildings, it failed to deliver the MMRDA units. The court rejected Neelkamal's plea to shift to a newer housing policy, reinforcing that public welfare obligations under RHS must be honoured despite scheme discontinuation.Read more

23 Apr 2025

Earlier this week, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) launched a large-scale demolition drive targeting unauthorised constructions in Belapur, Nerul and Vashi. The operation, conducted under the directives of Commissioner Dr Kailas Shinde and supervised by senior officials, included action against illegal structures despite prior notices. In Belapur, illegal constructions on plots in Sector 15 were removed, while in Nerul's Sector 28, 28 unauthorised huts on CIDCO land were demolished. Additionally, in Vashi's Sector 31A and nearby areas, a total of 110 unauthorised huts were cleared. These operations involved local police, municipal staff, and machinery including JCBs.Read more

22 Apr 2025

The Bellasis Bridge, a vital east-west link in South Mumbai, may reopen by December 2025-six months ahead of its original June 2026 deadline. Jointly undertaken by BMC and Western Railway with a INR 114 crore budget, the 360-metre bridge near Mumbai Central is being rebuilt after being declared unsafe and demolished in 2024. The six-lane connector is crucial for traffic between Tardeo and Nagpada. Early tenders and inter-agency coordination enabled the fast-tracked timeline. While the project boosts urban mobility, it faces resistance from local fisherfolk over rehabilitation concerns.Read more

22 Apr 2025

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has successfully launched a 400-metric-ton open web girder over Central Railway's Diva-Vasai corridor for Metro Line 5, connecting Thane, Bhiwandi, and Kalyan. Installed using four cranes and 40 hydraulic jacks, the steel structure bridges a key gap between Mankoli and Durgadi Naka. This engineering feat over high-traffic railway tracks brings the 24-km corridor closer to completion by 2025. Once operational, Metro Line 5 will serve over 2 lakh commuters daily, easing congestion and linking with Metro Lines 4, 12, and suburban rail networks in one of Mumbai's busiest suburban regions.Read more

22 Apr 2025

In a key step for India's first bullet train project, Japan will donate two Shinkansen rakes-E5 and E3 series-for test and inspection runs on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor. With 48% of the 508-km route completed, the trains are expected to arrive well before the project's August 2026 launch. The E5 model, capable of 320 kmph, will support initial trials between Surat and Bilimora. Japan is also funding a large share of the INR 1.1 lakh crore project through low-interest loans, echoing its longstanding role in India's infrastructure growth, similar to France's early support for the Delhi Metro.Read more

22 Apr 2025

CIDCO and Adani Airport Holdings reviewed the final phase of the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), on track for a June 2025 launch. With DGCA issuing the Airport Information Publication and ORAT trials underway, the airport is nearing operational readiness. Phase 1 includes a Code-F runway, modern terminal, and cargo facilities to handle 20 million passengers annually. CIDCO is fast-tracking road and metro connectivity with NHAI to ensure seamless access. Once operational, NMIA is expected to ease traffic at Mumbai airport and boost real estate, logistics, and economic growth across Ulwe, Panvel, JNPT, and the wider MMR.Read more

22 Apr 2025

Earlier this week, the Maharashtra Nature Park Society (MNPS), under the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), launched a lineup of eco-centric events to celebrate both Earth Day and the park's Foundation Day. Spread over 37 acres, this park, once a landfill, has become a hub of biodiversity and nature education. Highlights included a birdwatching tour, a guided nature walk, a wildlife photography exhibition, and a street play on endangered species. Starting this week, 500 saplings are also being distributed to promote household-level greening under the "One Family - One Plant" initiative.Read more