1. FOB Collapses; Traffic Choked for Five Hours
A foot-over-bridge (FOB) near Vashi Creek bridge collapsed on Sunday afternoon, affecting traffic movement on the busy Sion-Panvel highway. No injuries were reported, but the removal of the debris from the accident site took five hours.
The accident took place around 3 pm on Sunday near the Mankhurd octroi check naka, where the partially collapsed FOB was in the process of being dismantled by the Public Works Department (PWD) with the help of two cranes.
Source: Mumbai Mirror
2. Hookah Parlours Banned Across Maharashtra, Rs 1 Lakh Fine for Violations
The Maharashtra government issued a notification on Thursday, introducing a blanket ban on hookah parlours in the state with immediate effect.
The notification was issued by the government after the President assented to the bill passed by state legislature in April this year. Maharashtra is the second state after Gujarat to impose such a ban, which will come into effect immediately.
The amended Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act (COTPA), 2003, imposes a fine of Rs 1 lakh and imprisonment of up to three years for violations.
Source: The Hindustan Times
3. IAS ‘Squatter’ Finally Leaves Govt Bungalow
A two-year struggle to evict Additional Municipal Commissioner Vijay Singhal – a1997-batch IAS officer – from a sprawling south Mumbaibungalow has ended, with Singhal agreeing to shift to Neelambari building near Mantralaya.
Singhal has been occupying the state Excise Department bungalow adjoining the BMC headquarters opposite Azad Maidan for more than two years after he was transferred from the Excise Commissioner’s post in 2016.
Source: Mumbai Mirror
4. Four Held With Gold Worth Rs 1 Crore at Mumbai Airport
Four people from Haryana were arrested at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Saturday while allegedly attempting to smuggle gold ornaments valued at Rs 1 crore.
The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of the Mumbai Airport Customs first arrested Rakesh Kumar, who had flown in from Bangkok and was travelling to Dubai. The Rewari native is accused of smuggling gold bracelets, pendants and chains worth Rs 1.8 crore from Bangkok to Mumbai. Upon landing in Mumbai, Kumar allegedly contacted three domestic passengers who were to fly to Delhi.
Source: The Indian Express
5. Humiliated at School, 13-yr-old Hangs Self
A 13-year-old girl committed suicide in her house in Central Mumbai after she was allegedly humiliated by her teacher in school.
The Wadala TT police have registered a case of abetment of suicide against the accused teacher who is since absconding. According to the police, the incident took place on Saturday night in the Sion-Koliwada area. The victim, a Class VI student of civic-run KD Gaikwad School, hung herself from the ceiling with a dupatta on the mezzanine floor of her home.
Source: Mumbai Mirror
6. Drunk Men on Bike Assault Constable at Bandra Checkpoint
The Bandra police on Sunday arrested two bikers for allegedly assaulting an on-duty police constable near the Bandra-Worli Sea Link during a routine checking. The duo reportedly snatched the cop’s walkie-talkie and smashed it on his head leaving him with a severe head injury.
Medical reports of the two, both residents of Mount Mary in Bandra West, have revealed that they were drunk at the time of the incident. Apolice official told Mirror, “They were produced before the court on Sunday and have been remanded to police custody.”
Source: Mumbai Mirror
7. City’s Rooftop Eateries in Star Hotels Can Now Operate Bars
The Maharashtra government has cleared the decks for rooftop restaurants in Mumbai’s star hotels to serve liquor. The move comes nine months after a major fire engulfed two open-air restaurants — 1 Above and Mojo’s Bistro — killing 14 people.
According to a notification brought out by the state’s excise department, such restaurants can now obtain a valid licence to operate bars on their rooftops. There was no provision in the excise rules previously to allow such a facility. But the government’s notification has clarified that poolside areas and banqueting facilities cannot be a part of the composite licence.
Source: The Indian Express
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