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Sabah Virani

Articles by Sabah Virani

A traveller’s account and a Lithuanian Parsi connection in Mumbai

A Lithuanian student, Antanas Poska, honored Parsi priest Jivanji Modi after his death in 1933, celebrating their cultural ties and Poska's journey in India

A traveller’s account and a Lithuanian Parsi connection in Bombay

Mumbai

Updated on Sep 04, 2024 09:40 AM IST

BySabah Virani

High Street Phoenix chimney to come down, neighbourhood residents protest

The Phoenix Mills Limited company first floated its plan to develop Block 5 of the mall in 2021, seeking a preliminary approval from the civic body. It was asked to acquire an NOC from the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee, as the chimney was proposed to be demolished

Mumbai

Updated on Sep 01, 2024 05:56 AM IST

BySabah Virani

Hook, line and sinking: How big infra is impacting Mumbai's fisherfolk

PM Modi laid the foundation for India's largest sea port at Vadhavan, amid fisherfolk opposition due to significant drops in fish catch from coastal projects

Tidal flow and turbidity are the two factors the fisherfolk on the Thane creek have also blamed for the drop in fish catch on the MTHL (AP)

Mumbai

Updated on Aug 31, 2024 09:12 AM IST

BySabah Virani, Mumbai

Will our work be null and void, ask Mumbai's interim vending committee members

Mumbai will hold elections for hawker representatives in town vending committees tomorrow, crucial for implementing the Street Vendors Act

A hawker sells plastic items at Mathuradas Road, Kandivali West. Photo by - Vidya Subramanian /Hindustan Times. (Hindustan Times)

Mumbai

Updated on Aug 28, 2024 09:11 AM IST

BySabah Virani

2 labourers die, 1 injured in wall collapse beside Kalbadevi construction site

The collapse of a wall adjoining an under-construction building in Chira Bazaar, Kalbadevi, at around 2.15 pm on Monday left two workers on the site dead

Mumbai

Updated on Aug 27, 2024 09:23 AM IST

BySabah Virani

Juhu Koliwada residents fend off SRA project

On Sunday, SRA officials assured HT that no redevelopment projects were planned in koliwadas and gaothans in the city, including in Juhu

On Wednesday, the residents held a protest meeting at the koliwada, which was attended by over 400 participants. Andheri West MLA Ameet Satam, who was present at the meeting, assured residents that no SRA project would be taken up in their koliwada

Mumbai

Updated on Aug 26, 2024 06:07 PM IST

BySabah Virani

At 33.7°C, Mumbai records hottest day in August since 1969

Mumbai recorded its hottest August day since 1969 at 33.7°C. Santacruz hit 33.7°C, Colaba 32.6°C. Expect rain till Monday with a yellow alert for heavy rainfall

A woman covers her child with a scarf to save him from heat. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)(AP)

Mumbai

Updated on Aug 23, 2024 08:47 AM IST

BySabah Virani

BMC ignoring its own pollution norms in Bandra East, residents livid

Unable to bear the noise and dust pollution, residents shot off a complaint letter to the H East ward office earlier this week, but have yet to receive a reply

Mumbai

Updated on Aug 23, 2024 08:54 AM IST

BySabah Virani

Wood-fuelled bakeries third-largest cause of city’s pollution: study

Mumbai bakeries rank as the third-largest air pollutant source, mainly due to scrap wood use. Cleaner, cost-effective electricity could reduce harmful emissions.

Mumbai

Updated on Aug 22, 2024 08:02 AM IST

BySabah Virani

Cobblers struggle for right to sell plastic chappals

Despite the ongoing struggle to get the provision back, it is set to become obsolete in about two months with the rollout of the Street Vendors Act, 2014

“We were allowed to sell chappals in our old licenses, which I inherited from my father,” said Khandudeo Ghanshyam, 69, who plies his trade on a footpath at Dadar station. (Raju Shinde/HT Photo)

Mumbai

Updated on Aug 21, 2024 08:38 AM IST

BySabah Virani

Mount Mary steps may go without stalls in this year’s Bandra fair

The tussle over the stall rates started with applications for the 150 stalls on the steps. Due to objections, the base rate was brought down to ₹900

Mumbai

Updated on Aug 20, 2024 08:48 AM IST

BySabah Virani

BMC's water department severely understaffed, says union

According to Praja, a research organisation, 39% of scheduled posts in the water department are lying vacant

At least 80 positions of sluicemen, who operate water valves as per designated timings, have been lying vacant in the island city for months, forcing workers to put in double shifts

Mumbai

Updated on Aug 19, 2024 09:13 AM IST

BySabah Virani

BMC fast-tracks zero-prescription policy, rollout by mid-October

The zero-prescription policy for Mumbai's civic hospitals, delayed since April, now aims for a September 15 LOI to the winning bidder, with implementation by mid-October.

Mumbai

Updated on Aug 18, 2024 05:40 AM IST

BySabah Virani

Plans for parking lot under Patwardhan Park shelved

The gardens department also confirmed that they are considering beautifying the part of Raosaheb Patwardhan Park under which the parking lot was to be built

Mumbai

Updated on Aug 17, 2024 08:49 AM IST

BySabah Virani

Kolkata rape and murder: On I-Day Eve, Mumbai's women reclaim the night

Citizens marked the 78th Independence Day with protests against the rape and murder of a doctor, with major gatherings in Mumbai despite police obstacles

The prelude to the night’s events began with a small gathering outside Dadar East railway station. Representational Image(REUTERS File)

Mumbai

Updated on Aug 16, 2024 09:13 AM IST

BySabah Virani

Coastal Road creates massive traffic jams on Bandra-Worli Sea Link: Commuters

Memon explained that commuters have been dealing with traffic ever since work on the coastal road began due to the barricades which extended up to the BWSL

Commuters have been complaining of heavy traffic jam at the Worli end of coastal road. (ht photo)

Mumbai

Updated on Aug 15, 2024 08:53 AM IST

BySabah Virani

39 applications from hawkers received for apex committee

Members of some unions decided not to send applications, sceptical about the number of hawkers eligible to vote

While hawker unions have been unhappy with the number of hawkers deemed eligible for voting, many set aside their apprehensions and have backed chosen candidate. (HT PHOTO)

Mumbai

Updated on Aug 14, 2024 07:46 AM IST

BySabah Virani

BMC holds meet with former corporators, guardian minister

BMC held a meeting with former corporators and officials after four months to discuss civic issues like public toilets, hospital policies, potholes, and playgrounds.

Mumbai

Updated on Aug 14, 2024 06:02 AM IST

BySabah Virani

Marbled Haji Ali dargah will be unveiled in 2028

Work on the renovation of the mazaar is underway; the cost of the project is ₹50 crore. The plan is to transform the dargah from its present state into a marbled vision, which is slowly coming to life – the renovation of the minara and masjid are complete, while the work on the dargah sharif is going on

Mumbai

Updated on Aug 11, 2024 07:06 AM IST

BySabah Virani

Police deny permission for annual Indigenous march in Aarey

Adivasi group in Mumbai claims police denied permission for annual march in Aarey on World Indigenous Peoples Day. They plan to proceed without written permission.

Mumbai

Updated on Aug 09, 2024 07:48 AM IST

BySabah Virani

Hawkers’ protests gain impetus ahead of crucial elections in BMC

Hawkers in Mumbai demand all vendors be allowed to vote in BMC elections, questioning eligibility criteria. Writ petition filed in Bombay HC.

Around 1,500 mutinous hawkers gathered at various spots of the city – Malad, Goregaon, Jogeshwari, Andheri and Mankhurd -- on Tuesday to voice their demands.

Mumbai

Updated on Aug 07, 2024 09:02 AM IST

BySabah Virani

Shiv Sena (UBT), BJP leaders spar over Coastal Road hoardings at BMC

Aaditya Thackeray made a vehement argument about the danger of putting up four to five hoardings planned on the open spaces along the Coastal Road

Aaditya Thackeray dashed off a letter to Gagrani voicing his concern about hoardings on the Coastal Road. (PTI)

Mumbai

Published on Aug 06, 2024 11:00 AM IST

BySabah Virani

Soon, QR codes to tell untold stories and history of city street names

Thanks to Project Mumbai’s initiative called Naksha, launched this year, which is compiling a detailed history of the names printed on the blue signboards at every turn. Project Mumbai, a non-profit organisation, aims to identify challenges faced by the citizens and find realistic solutions for them

Cotton Green, named after the textile and indigo trade that made the area “green,” ie, wealthy (Hindustan Times)

Mumbai

Updated on Aug 04, 2024 07:38 AM IST

BySabah Virani

Why Street Vendors Act could not be implemented in Mumbai for 10 years

HT EXPLAINER: Ahead of election of hawkers to Town Vending Committee, a look back on a decade since the formulation of the Act

Mumbai

Updated on Aug 02, 2024 08:56 AM IST

BySabah Virani

Drive to mark BMC engineer’s retirement mops up ₹4 lakh in fines

On his last day at work, Kazi Irfan organised a campaign among SWM staff, clean-up marshals and Swacch Mumbai Prabodhan Abhiyan workers to penalise litterbugs

Mumbai

Updated on Aug 02, 2024 09:00 AM IST

BySabah Virani

BMC spends ₹45,000 daily to clean Malad’s 7 beaches

BMC spends ₹45,000 daily to clean Malad's 7 beaches. Aksa most popular, but plagued by littering and drownings. Dana Pani and Marve face garbage issues too

Erangal beach at Madh Island, Malad. HT Photo

Mumbai

Updated on Aug 01, 2024 08:54 AM IST

BySabah Virani

Two 144-year-old Goan clubs fight for survival in Mumbai

The Club of St Anthony, Deussua, and the Club of Dandevadcares are trying to stave off fraudulent sale, preserve slice of history

Joe D’Cruz, a Dockyard Road resident, is an honorary member of both clubs. (Bhushan Koyande/HT Photo)

Mumbai

Updated on Jul 31, 2024 09:19 AM IST

BySabah Virani

Pelagic birds land up on Mumbai’s shores, catch fancy of birders

Thanks to stormy weather and heavy rains, the birds are being swept towards land by the strong winds and delivered to Mumbai’s doorstep

A Saunders’s Tern was spotted at Geeta Nagar. (Yash Kothiala)

Mumbai

Updated on Aug 05, 2024 06:00 PM IST

BySabah Virani

Breach Candy residents draw up plan for a forest on Coastal Road open space

CRF on Saturday organised an online townhall for all Breach Candy residents to inform them about the plan it had come up with and invite further suggestions

There already is, the residents pointed out, a forested space at Amarsons Garden; this would be an extension of it.

Mumbai

Updated on Jul 28, 2024 07:28 AM IST

BySabah Virani

Mahim beach fills up with garbage

Mumbai residents frustrated as high tides bring heaps of garbage to Mahim beach, despite BMC's cleaning efforts. Environmentalists suggest metal nets at nullah outfalls to prevent sea pollution.

Mumbai

Updated on Jul 27, 2024 09:42 AM IST

BySabah Virani

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Sabah Virani

A Lithuanian student, Antanas Poska, honored Parsi priest Jivanji Modi after his death in 1933, celebrating their cultural ties and Poska's journey in India

The Phoenix Mills Limited company first floated its plan to develop Block 5 of the mall in 2021, seeking a preliminary approval from the civic body. It was asked to acquire an NOC from the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee, as the chimney was proposed to be demolished

PM Modi laid the foundation for India's largest sea port at Vadhavan, amid fisherfolk opposition due to significant drops in fish catch from coastal projects

Mumbai will hold elections for hawker representatives in town vending committees tomorrow, crucial for implementing the Street Vendors Act

The collapse of a wall adjoining an under-construction building in Chira Bazaar, Kalbadevi, at around 2.15 pm on Monday left two workers on the site dead

On Sunday, SRA officials assured HT that no redevelopment projects were planned in koliwadas and gaothans in the city, including in Juhu

Mumbai recorded its hottest August day since 1969 at 33.7°C. Santacruz hit 33.7°C, Colaba 32.6°C. Expect rain till Monday with a yellow alert for heavy rainfall

Unable to bear the noise and dust pollution, residents shot off a complaint letter to the H East ward office earlier this week, but have yet to receive a reply

Mumbai bakeries rank as the third-largest air pollutant source, mainly due to scrap wood use. Cleaner, cost-effective electricity could reduce harmful emissions.

Despite the ongoing struggle to get the provision back, it is set to become obsolete in about two months with the rollout of the Street Vendors Act, 2014

The tussle over the stall rates started with applications for the 150 stalls on the steps. Due to objections, the base rate was brought down to ₹900

According to Praja, a research organisation, 39% of scheduled posts in the water department are lying vacant

The zero-prescription policy for Mumbai's civic hospitals, delayed since April, now aims for a September 15 LOI to the winning bidder, with implementation by mid-October.

The gardens department also confirmed that they are considering beautifying the part of Raosaheb Patwardhan Park under which the parking lot was to be built

Citizens marked the 78th Independence Day with protests against the rape and murder of a doctor, with major gatherings in Mumbai despite police obstacles

Memon explained that commuters have been dealing with traffic ever since work on the coastal road began due to the barricades which extended up to the BWSL

Members of some unions decided not to send applications, sceptical about the number of hawkers eligible to vote

BMC held a meeting with former corporators and officials after four months to discuss civic issues like public toilets, hospital policies, potholes, and playgrounds.

Adivasi group in Mumbai claims police denied permission for annual march in Aarey on World Indigenous Peoples Day. They plan to proceed without written permission.

Hawkers in Mumbai demand all vendors be allowed to vote in BMC elections, questioning eligibility criteria. Writ petition filed in Bombay HC.

Aaditya Thackeray made a vehement argument about the danger of putting up four to five hoardings planned on the open spaces along the Coastal Road

HT EXPLAINER: Ahead of election of hawkers to Town Vending Committee, a look back on a decade since the formulation of the Act

On his last day at work, Kazi Irfan organised a campaign among SWM staff, clean-up marshals and Swacch Mumbai Prabodhan Abhiyan workers to penalise litterbugs

BMC spends ₹45,000 daily to clean Malad's 7 beaches. Aksa most popular, but plagued by littering and drownings. Dana Pani and Marve face garbage issues too

The Club of St Anthony, Deussua, and the Club of Dandevadcares are trying to stave off fraudulent sale, preserve slice of history

Thanks to stormy weather and heavy rains, the birds are being swept towards land by the strong winds and delivered to Mumbai’s doorstep

CRF on Saturday organised an online townhall for all Breach Candy residents to inform them about the plan it had come up with and invite further suggestions

Mumbai residents frustrated as high tides bring heaps of garbage to Mahim beach, despite BMC's cleaning efforts. Environmentalists suggest metal nets at nullah outfalls to prevent sea pollution.

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