I am a special correspondent with Hindustan Times and also the chief of bureau for Thane. I have worked in Thane for over a decade, covering social, civic, infrastructural, political and cultural issues.
Articles by Megha Pol
Deputy Lokayukta orders probe into seven bungalows in Yeoor
Thane: The Maharashtra State Deputy Lokayukta has ordered a probe into seven plush bungalows in Yeoor at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park following a complaint by Thane-based activists, who alleged that these bungalows are illegally constructed in the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ)
Caught urinating, Thane civic commissioner imposes fine on two
Thane: The Thane Municipal Corporation’s (TMC) commissioner Abhijit Bangar, while taking a round in the city, caught two persons in the act of urinating
Awhad stops late-night screening of movie at Thane multiplex
Soon after the NCP workers left, MNS’s Thane-Palghar district president Avinash Jadhav went to the multiplex and requested it to restart the show
TMC demands ₹57 crore from MMRDA for EEH repair
Thane: The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has requested the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to allot funds of ₹57
‘In 2024, BJP to become single-largest party in Maharashtra’
In the upcoming assembly polls, the BJP president said the Shinde-Fadnavis government will together win over 200 seats.
Thane city set to spend ₹100 crore on makeover
Thane From busy Eastern Express Highway, railway station, flyovers, seven entry and exit points and prominent spots Thane braces for a complete makeover with paintings and colourful illuminations
Demolition of Thane Civil Hospital: The many stories nestled inside the 86-year-old British-era structure
Around 300 employees, including those retired or transferred, were present for the event. Most of them clicked photos with the old Victorian-style buildings, the old cornerstones below them and their respective offices and wards which will soon be demolished.
Noise and air pollution exploded this Diwali in Thane
Thane: With the new government watering down the restrictions on festivals, Thane residents experienced the most polluted Diwali since 2019, with both sound and air pollution levels substantially higher than in the last four years
DJs take over Diwali Pahat in Thane
In their quest to attract the youth, in a break from tradition (where morning ragas are sung), the two factions encouraged music played by DJs and film songs – music blared at every junction along the Ram Maruti Road, Masunda Lake and Chintamani Chowk areas.
Good samaritans chase & nab chain snatchers
The three who chased the thieves were setting up a Diwali stall when they heard the woman scream. They handed the accused, Ashok Gangurde and Manish Vishwakarma over to the Naupada Police Station and informed them that the two have several cases registered against them in Mumbai.
Mumbai: BJP decides to withdraw candidate from Andheri East assembly bypoll
The decision came after the MNS, NCP and an MLA from chief minister Eknath Shinde’s faction sought unopposed election of Rutuja Latke from Amndheri East seat to show reverence to her husband and the deceased MLA, Ramesh Latke
Unstable man rescued by Thane residents reunited with family two months later
Thane A 24-year-old man from Uttar Pradesh travelled to Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and finally ended up on the heap of garbage in Thane
Musical chairs: As factions fight, authorities sit tight
Thane The two Shiv Sena factions in Thane are at loggerheads once again
TMC reluctant to take over highway from MMRDA
Thane The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) is still undecided about taking over ownership of the 4
Won’t immerse idol till CM visits pandal, said Thane group. Shinde sends his son
Tanaje Kolekar said the chief minister dialled him after hearing of their move to put the idol immersion on hold and sent his son Shrikant Shinde on his behalf this year
Thane, Navi Mumbai civic bodies get new commissioners
Abhijit Bangar takes over as new commissioner of Thane Municipal Corporation while Rajesh Narvekar is the new commissioner of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation
Updated on Sep 30, 2022 09:34 PM IST
Megha Pol & Raina Assainar, Thane/navi Mumbai
Rashmi Thackeray visits Tembhi Naka Navratri pandal, Dighe memorial
The visit is significant as Tembhi Naka Navratri festivities were launched by Dighe and is currently controlled by Shinde – the chief minister was part of the procession that brought the idol of the Goddess there. The chief minister has been regularly invoking Dighe in his rebellion against Thackeray
Published on Sep 30, 2022 12:35 AM IST
Megha Pol and Dhaval Kulkarni
Bal Thackeray aide Champa Singh Thapa switches over to Shinde faction
After a mass exodus of party functionaries, the latest recruit from the old guard of Shiv Sena into the Shinde faction is late Sena supremo Bal Thackeray’s personal assistant and helper
Shinde and Thackeray factions fight over banner at public library in Thane
Several party workers, men and women, from the Thackeray-led faction barged into the library when party workers from the Shinde-led faction were inside; they tried to pull down the banner featuring CM’s photo and tried to stake claim over the place, leading to a scuffle between the two groups in Thane
Ajit Pawar writes to CM Shinde for repair of Mumbai-Nashik Highway
Taking cognisance of the pathetic condition of the Mumbai-Nashik Highway, the leader of the opposition, Ajit Pawar, has drafted a letter to the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to repair the highway to avoid accidents and regular traffic snarls
Mumbai-Nashik highway reports heavy traffic jam; motorists urged to use trains
Traffic jams were reported across Thane city owing to heavy rains that led to major traffic congestion along the Ghodbunder Highway, Eastern Express highway and the Mumbai-Nashik Highway.
Nightmarish Wednesday for motorists on Ghodbunder Road in Thane
On Wednesday, from the crack of dawn, the entire stretch from Fountain Hotel in Mira Road up to Kapurbawdi in Thane was jammed on both sides; for the usual 40–45 minutes commute, motorists spent two to three hours on Ghodbunder Road
Published on Sep 15, 2022 06:45 PM IST
Megha Pol and Sajana Nambiar, Thane
55-year-old woman dies as old Peepal tree falls in heavy rain
Three more devotees suffered minor injuries in the tree fall incident. Locals claimed that they had given a letter to the Thane Municipal Corporation to trim the branches to reduce the load, however, the tree was not trimmed as per norms
55-year-old woman dies after tree falls on Ganesh pandal in Thane
Heavy rains lashed Thane for the second consecutive day on Friday evening, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning
RTI activist files plea against former Thane civic commissioner
A Right To Information (RTI) activist and lawyer Pravin Wategaonkar, has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Bombay high court (HC) early this week, against former Thane civic commissioner Sanjeev Jaiswal
Honest Thane auto driver returns wallet with cash, documents to owner
Honest Thane auto driver returns wallet with cash, documents to owner; a police constable posted at the Navi Mumbai police commissionerate lost hopes of getting his wallet back after he lost it early on Saturday morning; however, an honest auto rickshaw driver who found the wallet with ₹10,500 in cash, cards and important documents in his vehicle, returned it to the constable; the police department appreciated Salunke for his honesty
4 years and counting, Thane residents still waiting for resurfacing of Gaondevi Maidan
The parking facility was opposed by residents who claimed that they would lose their only open space in the area; however, the corporation has claimed that it would restore the Gaondevi Maidan within two years; now, four years later, Thane residents have again demanded the ground be brought back to its usual glory
Sena vs Sena battle gets a festive twist
The Thackeray-led government had, in 2021, imposed curbs on human pyramids during Gokulashtami in view of the high number of Covid-19 cases
Published on Aug 17, 2022 12:40 AM IST
Linah Baliga, Charul Shah and Megha Pol
From Ganpati to dahi-handi, political battle for Mumbai gets a festive twist
With the festival season less than a fortnight away, hundreds of makeshift Ganesh workshops have bloomed in Mumbai where artisans are competing to create gigantic idols.
Updated on Aug 17, 2022 02:41 PM IST
Locals flag safety concerns on skywalk nearly two km from CM Shinde’s residence
Four days after a college student was allegedly molested on a skywalk at Manpada, local residents have raised safety concerns over another skywalk in the heart of the city which they claim is taken over by miscreants at night as there are no adequate lights and CCTV cameras
