Articles by Sabah Virani
‘They brought us here for work, now we live in darkness’
“The struggle of man against power is the struggle of memory against forgetting.” With these words, invoking the Czechoslovakian writer Milan Kundera, Anand Teltumbde, the civil rights activist, released a report on the struggle of the Jai Bhim Nagar basti in Powai, which made headlines when it was demolished on June 6, 2024.
Published on Feb 06, 2025 07:50 AM IST
BMC promises to make footpaths walkable at ₹100 crore
BMC's 2025-26 budget includes ₹100 crore for the 'Universal Footpath Policy' to enhance walkability in Mumbai, prioritizing pedestrian safety and accessibility.
Published on Feb 05, 2025 08:40 AM IST
BMC budget proposes 3-pronged attack on air pollution
BMC allocates ₹113.18 crore to combat air pollution with emission inventories, air-quality sensors, and a forecasting system called AIRWISE.
Published on Feb 05, 2025 06:54 AM IST
Citizen warriors vs BMC
Citizens in Mumbai are actively opposing harmful government projects and advocating for community-driven initiatives, improving local environments.
Published on Feb 04, 2025 08:36 AM IST
Aarey Road repair work casuing polluion, traffic
Residents said eight to 10 spots on the road were dug up in the last week alone, a few of them as recently as Friday
Published on Feb 02, 2025 06:24 AM IST
BMC’s draft hoarding policy critiqued by citizens, advertisers
BMC formulated the ‘Draft Policy of Outdoor Advertisements, 2024’ in August 2024 and elicited reactions from citizens before a final policy can be tabled.
Updated on Jan 31, 2025 09:09 AM IST
Explore Mumbai’s marine biodiversity in 10-day bioblitz
The areas covered include Haji Ali, Nepean Sea Road, Carter Road, Bandstand, Juhu Koliwada, Girgaon Chowpatty, and Bhuigaon Beach
Published on Jan 29, 2025 08:02 AM IST
Breach Candy residents' demand for Coastal Road interchange gets a push
Breach Candy residents seek a new Coastal Road interchange near Priyadarshini Park; BMC explores feasibility with MSRDC's potential support.
Updated on Jan 28, 2025 09:51 AM IST
Pope accepts Cardinal Gracias’s resignation, appoints new Bombay archbishop
Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Oswald Cardinal Gracias as Archbishop of Bombay. John Rodrigues succeeds him, effective immediately.
Updated on Jan 26, 2025 06:58 AM IST
150-year-old Horniman Circle Garden restoration to be completed by Feb
This intricately crafted boundary, reminiscent of London’s Kensington Gardens, stands as a testament to the urbanisation of Bombay in British India. The restoration of the garden is now slated for completion by February 2025
Updated on Jan 25, 2025 08:02 AM IST
Breach Candy Hosp or BMC? Tussle erupts over reclaimed land
A land dispute in Mumbai arises as Breach Candy Hospital claims a portion of reclaimed land for parking, while BMC asserts ownership for public use.
Updated on Jan 24, 2025 05:32 PM IST
Coastal Road ‘returns’ 6,000 sq m submerged land to Breach Candy Hospital, Club
With the hospital having staked its claim to the land, BMC is in the process of constructing a wall to demarcate the portion under lease to the hospital
Updated on Jan 23, 2025 09:21 AM IST
Students complain of skin irritation, school to write to BMC to investigate
MUMBAI: SVIS Kandivali West to request BMC checks after students reported skin irritation, possibly due to local pollution and construction dust.
Updated on Jan 22, 2025 08:10 AM IST
Nearly 60,000 runners take over streets for 20th Mumbai Marathon
Mumbai celebrated the 20th Tata Mumbai Marathon with 59,967 runners braving heat and pollution, showcasing resilience and community spirit.
Updated on Jan 20, 2025 09:16 AM IST
Parents and political leaders’ protest saves 65-year-old Chandivali school from immediate closure
Mumbai parents and leaders ended a weeklong protest, allowing a Marathi-medium school to remain open until the academic year's end after a safety scare.
Updated on Jan 19, 2025 07:22 AM IST
Environmentalists and residents demand action on Mumbai’s worsening air
Mumbai citizens and activists met to address air pollution, emphasizing urgent action, health risks, and bureaucratic delays in the MPCB
Updated on Jan 18, 2025 09:34 AM IST
Malad residents block land survey for Dharavi residents rehab for the second time
Rajendra Kshirsagar, district collector of Mumbai Suburban, however, claimed that the survey was completed before the protestors could stop it
Updated on Jan 17, 2025 08:22 AM IST
‘Safety in Bandra is only a mirage, there is no fear of the law’
To say Bandra is an unsafe address where the lawless roam might be a bit of a stretch, but three recent high-profile crimes have left Bandra residents rattled.
Updated on Jan 17, 2025 09:06 AM IST
Residents sign petition against hoardings along Coastal Road
Residents also urged the authorities to conduct public consultations before decisions that affected public spaces were taken
Updated on Jan 16, 2025 07:46 AM IST
Medical supplies to 27 BMC hospitals suspended over dues worth ₹120 cr
Mumbai's AFDLHF halted medicine supplies to 27 BMC hospitals over ₹120 crore in unpaid dues, promising to review the decision after BMC's assurance.
Updated on Jan 14, 2025 09:17 AM IST
MEET THE ROADS SCHOLARS
Mumbaikars face ongoing roadwork frustrations as BMC's concretisation plans lag, with 86% of phase 1 unfinished and complaints rising amid poor conditions.
Updated on Jan 12, 2025 06:44 AM IST
Shabana to join Kaifi Azmi cultural heritage walk in Madanpura
Actress Shabana Azmi will revisit Madanpura on Sunday to honor her late father, poet Kaifi Azmi, with a walk celebrating the area's rich cultural history.
Updated on Jan 12, 2025 06:42 AM IST
BMC invites private firms to develop open spaces along Coastal Road
BMC coastal road department invited expressions of interest from private firms, opening up the possibility of commercial exploitation of these spaces.
Updated on Jan 11, 2025 09:08 AM IST
Restored and sparkling, iconic Bhau Daji Lad Museum re-opens today
The Bhau Daji Lad Museum reopens after five years of restoration, showcasing Mumbai's heritage amid hopes for future expansion and new exhibits.
Updated on Jan 09, 2025 09:17 AM IST
Mazgaon, Worli, Malad (W) face worst air pollution: Report
Mumbaikars face poor air quality, with Mazgaon, Siddharth Nagar, Worli, and Malad West exceeding PM2.5 limits, impacting health and environment.
Updated on Jan 08, 2025 09:17 AM IST
BMC employees protest transfer of asst engineer
Tension prevailed outside the BMC’s H West ward office on Monday morning as around 150 engineers, staff and members of the Municipal Engineers’ Association (MEA) protested in support of Sachin Hanamdar, an assistant engineer (AE) in charge of maintenance
Updated on Jan 07, 2025 09:40 AM IST
How did Mumbai fare in air pollution in 2024?
Mumbai's air quality improved in 2024, nearing pre-pandemic levels, but experts caution that 'moderate' AQI is still far from healthy standards.
Updated on Jan 05, 2025 08:59 AM IST
Five Gardens beautification: Only ‘retrofitting’ on cards
Mumbai's Five Gardens will undergo retrofitting to enhance accessibility for the differently abled, preserving existing footpaths and heritage.
Updated on Jan 04, 2025 08:52 AM IST
BMC to seek SC approval for fire stations on Coastal Road reclaimed land
BMC plans to build two fire stations along the Coastal Road for safety, pending Supreme Court approval, while also addressing speeding with new cameras.
Updated on Jan 03, 2025 07:26 AM IST
Mumbai gaothan residents set out to reclaim their lost heritage
The Mobai Gaothan Panchayat aims to revive Mumbai's gaothans under the Smart Gaothan Project by restoring their unique architecture and community identity
Updated on Jan 02, 2025 09:18 AM IST