1. MMRDA Terminates Monorail Contract With L&T-Scomi JV
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) on Friday terminated its contract with LTSE — a joint venture between Larsen and Toubro Limited and Scomi Engineering BHD — that was tasked with operating the Monorail corridor in the city.
The authority took the decision after the company “failed to perform and fulfil contractual obligations” and “failed to maintain the quality of Monorail services”. MMRDA Commissioner R A Rajeev said, “The MMRDA had to take this unfortunate decision… terminate the contract that was entered into in 2008 when the first 9-km-long phase (of the Monorail) from Chembur to Wadala was opened for public.”
(Source: Indian Express)
2. Alok Nath Files Anticipatory Bail Plea in Rape Case
Actor Alok Nath on Friday filed an anticipatory bail plea before the Dindoshi sessions court, a month after the Oshiwara police had booked him for rape following a complaint from screenwriter Vinta Nanda.
Nath had earlier filed a civil suit against Nanda, after she wrote a social media post in October, detailing how she was sexually assaulted by Nath. He had also sought an injunction on Nanda from speaking against him on any platform. The court, however, had refused to grant the injunction.
(Source: Indian Express)
3. New Beginning for Cumballa Hill Hospital in 2019
One of city’s renowned oncologists, Dr Ramakant Deshpande, also the Director of the Asian Cancer Institute (ACI) in Sion, was a consultant at Cumballa Hill Hospital and Heart Institute in Kemps Corner before it shut down in 2017 due to significant financial losses. Pained at seeing a good healthcare facility locked, Dr Deshpande saw reason and purpose in taking the lead in managing the hospital when likeminded doctors approached him with the idea. After months of deliberations, the ACI has now offered to manage one of the oldest healthcare addresses in South Mumbai until it finds a buyer.
(Source: Mumbai Mirror)
4. Tulsi, Vihar, Powai Lakes to Get Heritage Tags
Three of the city's water bodies are set to get a heritage tag. The Heritage Review Committee of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had suggested that the Tulsi, Vihar and Powai lakes, all man-made, be tagged as industrial heritage of the city. This tag will ensure that even the city's infrastructure is recognised and preserved. The tag has not been used before, revealed civic sources.
With this, the review committee's work on the heritage list published by the state government is complete, with 70% of places in it retained. The recommendation which marks these lakes as industrial heritage, has now been submitted to the municipal commissioner along with the heritage list for his approval.
(Source: Mid-day)
5. Seven Years After Man Loses Rs 20 Lakh for Flats, Cops File FIR
The desire to have a bigger house and an offer from a childhood friend of two 225sq ft MHADA flats at low rates in Andheri East, tempted a Colaba-based businessman to shell out Rs 20 lakh (between September 2010 and February 2011). Sadly, the flats were non-existent.
After seven years of running around, pursuing his friend and others to return the money, in 2016, the complainant filed a private complaint before the Esplanade Court. The court last month directed the Colaba police to register an FIR (a copy is with this paper) in the case.
(Source: Mid-day)
6. Mumbai Man Dies After Fifth-Floor Window Shutter Falls, Crushes Him in SoBo
A 32-year-old insurance agent was killed after the shutters of a window, from the fifth floor of a south Mumbai building, came crashing down on him.
Sunil Harishchandra Gavkar, a resident of Goregaon, was walking past the Darabshaw House in Ballard Estate on Thursday afternoon while doing his routine rounds to collect insurance cheques from offices in the area. The police said Gavkar was crushed by the weight of the heritage building’s window shutter.
“Gavkar got off a BEST bus near the Asiatic Library, and walked towards Ballard Estate. He was about to walk left from the Darabshaw building when the loose shutter fell on him,” said Sanjay Kamble, senior police inspector, MRA Marg police station.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
7. Student Dies in Tug-Of-War Game
Jibin Suny, a 19-year-old medical student died during an intense game of tug-of-war on Friday. Suny, a second-year student of KJ Somaiya School and College of Nursing in Sion, collapsed during the game being held as part of the college sports session at the Somaiya ground on Friday morning around 11 am. Primarily, doctors said he died of natural causes, but the exact cause of his death is yet to be ascertained.
(Source: Mumbai Mirror)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)