Articles by Sabah Virani
BMC holds meeting with warring Bhuleshwar residents and goldsmiths
The residents have long claimed to be troubled by the pollution emitted by the gold- and silver-processing units while the goldsmiths have spoken up in support of their centuries-old trade
Published on Mar 28, 2025 06:44 AM IST
Final countdown: Gokhale Bridge to open by May 15
In a city increasingly defined by traffic gridlock, bridges are rising – sleek, soaring and reshaping the way Mumbai moves. The BMC has more than 20 bridges in the pipeline. In this series, HT examines these bridges, their costs, their impact and how they will transform commuting in Maximum City
Published on Mar 27, 2025 08:20 AM IST
Citizens fear uncertain fate of reclaimed land
Breach Candy residents, who have a clear view of the Coastal Road’s reclaimed land from their homes, are wary of what will become of the reclaimed land bank
Published on Mar 27, 2025 07:52 AM IST
BMC and police evacuate residents from Dsouza Mansion
A week after their electricity and water connections were cut off, the BMC and police evacuated the residents of Dsouza Mansion in Santacruz East, to prepare for the building’s demolition.
Published on Mar 26, 2025 10:14 AM IST
BMC awaiting papers to establish illegalities at Habitat studio
BMC is investigating illegalities at Unicontinental Hotel and Habitat Studio after Kunal Kamra's controversial song, awaiting necessary documents for action.
Updated on Mar 26, 2025 06:09 AM IST
Plucky security guard dies in Vidyavihar building fire
Mumbai: Uday Gangan, a security guard, died in a fire at Takshashila building, while trying to extinguish flames. He is survived by his wife and two sons.
Published on Mar 25, 2025 08:26 AM IST
Cultures of play: A new book looks at how children play in the city
MUMBAI: A new book, "Cult of Play," explores how Mumbai's play culture has shifted from communal spaces to gated communities, impacting children's play experiences.
Published on Mar 24, 2025 08:10 AM IST
Planned coastal road interchange at Charkop worries residents
Residents of Charkop Sector 8 are alarmed as the Coastal Road project threatens their trees, mangroves, and community infrastructure, seeking urgent BMC intervention.
Published on Mar 21, 2025 07:42 AM IST
Nahur bridge: Phase 1 almost complete
The existing bridge has acquired two ‘arms’ – each one flanking the current structure, and each one carrying traffic in opposite directions
Published on Mar 20, 2025 07:58 AM IST
Residents of Santacruz gaothan building up for demolition allege injustice
On March 11, the BMC served the residents a notice to evacuate, as their building had been categorised as C-1 or dilapidated and to be demolished
Published on Mar 19, 2025 09:02 AM IST
Sabah Virani, Mumbai
1992 Bombay riots: The pictures show consequences of a vicious atmosphere: Justice Srikrishna
The allegations of fabrication then set the police after him, with Crasto hiding out in the dark room, as the newspaper prepared to publish a rebuttal with photographs from his film reel depicting the sequences of events of the day
Published on Mar 16, 2025 07:50 AM IST
100 years later, villagers in Mulshi satyagraha suffer on, says new book
Mulshi dam's impact lingers for 52 villages, lacking land rights and basic services, despite a century-old anti-dam movement. A new book highlights their plight.
Published on Mar 15, 2025 05:06 AM IST
Vikhroli bridge: Stretching commuters’ patience
In our series on Mumbai’s bridges, some new, others being reinvented, we spotlight the Vikhroli ROB – a saga of delays that goes back almost 30 years. Now the BMC says it will be opened to traffic before the monsoon
Published on Mar 13, 2025 07:38 AM IST
Citizens oppose raised platform on Carter Road beachfront
After noticing trucks dumping stones on the Carter Road beachfront, 30 residents have penned a letter to the public works department (PWD) to stop work on the 150-square-metre raised platform intended for local fishermen to park their boats.
Published on Mar 12, 2025 06:27 AM IST
Kandivali slum razed twice, residents in limbo
This is not the first time they have found themselves in this predicament. In 2012, the slum was razed, ironically for another road-widening project. While a few families were rehabilitated then, the other residents rebuilt their tenements when they were found ineligible for rehousing
Published on Mar 09, 2025 08:00 AM IST
Residents of Charkop Sector 8 rally to save 336 trees from axing for Coastal Road project
Residents of Charkop, Kandivali, face the loss of 336 trees for a Coastal Road project, sparking community outrage and concerns over environmental impact.
Published on Mar 08, 2025 08:20 AM IST
The Bandra woman who stopped road digging
Though relieved about halting the wreckage of the quaint lane, Natasha Pereira said concretisation had ruined the look and feel of many neighborhoods
Published on Mar 07, 2025 07:12 AM IST
Inching forward: State clears plan to continue building SGNP wall
The wall was ordered to be built by the Bombay High Court in 1997, as a measure to prevent encroachments in Mumbai’s green lung
Published on Mar 07, 2025 06:46 AM IST
Frequent power cuts add to residents’ woes amid Khar road work
The prolonged roadwork and indiscriminate dumping of debris have left the air thick with dust and cement. Even after work is completed, the roads are not cleaned,” said Anupama Shankar, another resident. “The trees are suffocating, and mosquito infestations have increased
Published on Mar 06, 2025 08:20 AM IST
Carnac Bridge to rise 10 yrs after unsafe tag
MUMBAI: Carnac Bridge, closed for over a decade, will reopen on June 10 after extensive reconstruction, following delays and safety concerns.
Published on Mar 06, 2025 07:52 AM IST
Janak Daftari returns to the Mithi, one last time
Janak Daftari, a river revivalist, was honored as family immersed his ashes in Powai Lake, reflecting his lifelong dedication to the Mithi River.
Published on Mar 04, 2025 08:52 AM IST
25 comedians talk funny about air pollution
Denial taken to absurd heights and razor-sharp wit laid bare the bizarre new normal Mumbaiites are being forced to adapt to. This was Mumbai’s first-ever stand-up comedy show on air pollution
Published on Mar 01, 2025 08:18 AM IST
Vehicle ramps razed in Santacruz East to improve footpaths
Building ramps within housing society premises was not possible due to paucity of space, said residents
Published on Feb 28, 2025 07:38 AM IST
Reay Road Bridge: Waiting for the CM
MUMBAI: The new Reay Road bridge, a cable-stayed structure, set to ease traffic, awaits inauguration. It preserves historical elements while enhancing connectivity.
Published on Feb 27, 2025 08:02 AM IST
BMC to impose garbage tax soon
The ‘user fee’ will be imposed on residential and commercial units, and will require an amendment to the solid waste management by-laws, after 20 years.
Published on Feb 25, 2025 07:58 AM IST
Fires near their huts keep Jai Bhim Nagar residents on edge
Labelling them as scare tactics, the resident footpath-dwellers at Jai Bhim Nagar, Powai, have claimed there has been a sequence of little fires in and around their homes for the past four nights.
Published on Feb 23, 2025 07:54 AM IST
Borivali subway culvert project gains hope as WR, BMC resolve dispute
The WR, which began installing three 1,200 mm diameter pipes stretching 90 meters across the Borivali subway in March 2024, has received only ₹2 crore from the BMC, leaving pending dues of ₹26.29 crore. Citing the unpaid amount, WR had threatened to halt further work and prevent the culvert from being put into operation
Published on Feb 22, 2025 08:20 AM IST
Fire-hit Ambewadi residents worried for future
Many families were scourging through the rubble and ash all day on Friday, desperate to locate anything they could find of their belongings
Published on Feb 22, 2025 07:38 AM IST
Additional coastal road exit at Nepean Sea Road ‘feasible’: BMC
To ensure the coastal road remains signal-free, one possibility for the proposed exit is a vehicular underpass after the Amarsons interchange for southbound traffic
Published on Feb 21, 2025 07:40 AM IST
Two housing societies in Borivali complain of dirty tap water
After the water took a muddier turn on Monday, most residents switched to bottled water for their drinking and cooking needs, even as they wait for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to act on their complaints
Published on Feb 19, 2025 07:24 AM IST