Latest news with #Galgali
Time of India
03-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Pigeon feeding causes health risks and traffic nuisance, complain residents in Mumbai; welcome Maharashtra government decision to shut kabutarkhanas
Mumbai: Maharashtra govt's decision to shut down kabutarkhanas was long overdue, especially given the city's surging population and resulting congestion, said many citizens. According to RTI activist Anil Galgali, kabutarkhanas may have served a purpose when Mumbai was less populated, but they have now become a traffic and hygiene nuisance. "With the city's massive population growth, these kabutarkhanas only add to street congestion as large crowds gather to feed pigeons," Galgali said. In Khar, where residents have fought a prolonged battle to curb this issue, Anandini Thakoor, managing trustee of the Khar Residents Association, said they were forced to hire a security guard to deter people from feeding pigeons near the railway station. "We tried reasoning with grain merchants, but it didn't work. One of our trustees stepped in to fund a guard, who, with police support, helped restrict pigeon feeding. Residents have even slipped on pigeon droppings," she said, recounting how the kabutarkhana demolition finally happened in Sept 2022, prompted by repeated complaints of pigeon droppings. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai In Andheri Lokhandwala, the problem has persisted for years. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Did You Know Luxury Hotel Prices in 2025 Could Be So Low? Expertinspector Learn More Undo Rakesh Coelho, a local, said pigeon feathers and droppings are proven health hazards. "Authorities should have intervened much earlier. Pigeon feeding isn't just limited to one spot — birds spread across the area, affecting entire localities," he said. Some of them get hit by cars, also said a resident. Deepak Devrukhkar of the Dadar Vyapari Sangh suggested a more balanced approach. "Relocating kabutarkhanas to less populated areas could be a solution. In Dadar, for instance, the kabutarkhana sits in one of the most congested zones. Its removal will greatly improve traffic flow," he said. BMC has never banned feeding of pigeons, but civic rules stipulate a Rs 500 penalty for feeding animals/birds in non-designated areas. In Oct 2019, several joggers slipped on Worli Seaface promenade due to pigeon feed and droppings. In response, BMC briefly deployed clean-up marshals at the site between 6am and 6pm daily to maintain hygiene and deter pigeon feeding.
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
BMC slashes Worli tower cost by Rs 37cr as Mumbai activist questions expense
Mumbai: In a rare decision, BMC has slashed by Rs 37 crore the cost of a 29-storey commercial office building proposed to come up on its asphalt plant and testing lab premises in Worli, following a complaint by an RTI activist about the 'exorbitant' robotic parking planned for 450 vehicles in the redevelopment project. After cancelling the original Rs 525-crore tender, BMC issued a fresh Rs 488-crore tender in May. The biggest cost cut was in the robotic parking system — from Rs 96 crore to Rs 72 crore. RTI activist Anil Galgali told TOI that he had red-flagged the inflated cost of the robotic parking system in the Worli tower project in Aug 2024. "I wrote to the chief minister flagging off the issue and pointing out that it is provided at a lesser rate in other metro cities," he said. On June 19, BMC wrote to Galgali informing him that the tender was cancelled following his complaint. "Thereafter, the estimated cost of the new robotic parking system was determined at Rs 72 crore in consultation with the re-appointed project management technical advisor and executive engineer (Traffic Control)," stated the letter. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai A civic official said the plot currently houses BMC's asphalt plant and material testing lab in three ground-floor structures. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo As per the redevelopment plan, floors 1 to 13 will have shuttle and robotic parking for 450 vehicles with automated retrieval systems, floors 14 to 17 will house advanced material testing laboratories and vigilance department offices for multi-product testing, floors 18 and 19 will have road department offices with a real-time road monitoring command centre and floors 20 to 29 will have ready-to-move-in offices, excluding furniture, for commercial realisation for BMC. "Shuttle and robotic parking systems and stack parking are to be constructed and provided with 20 years of overall. The facility will be for the laboratory testing facility staffers and those who would occupy the office spaces on the top floors," said the civic official, adding: "The tendering process is on, and we plan to finalise the same by next month."
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Min orders fresh feasibility report on scrapped Kurla-Bandra rail link
Mumbai: Mumbai suburban guardian minister, Ashish Shelar, ordered a fresh feasibility report to explore the revival of the long-abandoned Kurla-Bandra railway link. The directive was issued during a high-level coordination meeting attended by officials from Railways, MMRDA, MMRCL, MahaMetro, BMC, and the Mumbai Traffic Police. Shelar posted on his social media handle, "The project, initially envisioned to ease congestion and improve direct access between the city's eastern and western suburbs, was dropped in 2011 on the grounds that Metro Line 2 would provide similar connectivity. However, with growing pressure from activists and citizens, the demand resurfaced." RTI activist Anil Galgali, who was spearheading the campaign for restoration, raised serious allegations against the MMRDA. He claimed the planning body altered the station layout under the pretext of Metro development and diverted land meant for rail infrastructure toward monetisation. "The city needs mass rail connectivity, not real estate deals," Galgali said. Galgali placed four formal demands — revoking the Urban Development Department's 2018 notification, restoring the original alignment, preserving the proposed station sites in E and G blocks, and initiating an inquiry into MMRDA's handling of the project. Transport experts argue that the Kurla-Bandra rail link could act as a vital pressure valve for overburdened stations like Dadar and Ghatkopar, especially with business districts like BKC continuing to expand. The proposal to construct a railway line connecting Bandra and Kurla was originally floated to improve east–west connectivity in Mumbai. However, the plan was scrapped in 2011 by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which argued that the upcoming Metro Line 2 would serve the same purpose and that the project would interfere with Mithi River widening works. Western Railway, a stakeholder in the initial plan, had stated that Metro line alone wouldn't suffice to cater to an estimated 36,000 peak-hour commuters.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
60% of e-challan grievances of motorists fined in 13 mths rejected, shows RTI reply
Mumbai: Around 60% of the grievances raised by motorists regarding e-challans issued to them by the traffic police between Jan 2024 and Feb 2025 were rejected, according to the response given by the department to an RTI plea by activist Anil Galgali. The response stated that of the over 1.8 lakh complaints received, around 1.1 lakh were rejected. As per the One State One Challan portal, Mumbai Traffic Police imposed Rs 556 crore in fines against motorists violating traffic rules between Jan 2024 and Feb 2025. Grievances regarding e-challans are reviewed at the multimedia cell at Worli traffic headquarters. Evidence in the form of images of the vehicle at-fault are studied before making a conclusion. If the images are unclear, the complaint is forwarded to the traffic division concerned for verification. The final decision as to whether to uphold or cancel the challan is made after receiving its report. "Citizens should be given fair opportunity to explain their side, and each complaint must undergo thorough and objective scrutiny," said Galgali. tnn
