Assurance Follows Woman’s Death on Thane-Belapur Road and Residents’ Protest Over Lack of Safe Crossing.

The Bridge

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has assured residents that a pedestrian bridge will be constructed at Turbhe Store on the Thane-Belapur Road within a month. The assurance came after a woman was killed while crossing the busy road, prompting local residents to stage a protest demanding immediate safety measures.

Chhaya Gaikwad died on Monday evening after being hit by a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) waste transportation vehicle while crossing the road. She died on the spot. The incident angered residents, who said the absence of a safe pedestrian crossing and delays in completing the flyover project had put commuters at risk. Led by social activist Abhiman Jagtap, protesters demanded a temporary pedestrian bridge until the flyover is completed.

Resident Santosh Jadhav said he had been demanding the flyover for several years and criticised the civic administration for failing to address pedestrian safety concerns earlier. Following the protest and a representation from residents, NMMC Executive Engineer Pandharinath Chavde provided a written assurance that the pedestrian bridge would be constructed within a month.

The civic body has also promised to deploy traffic police personnel and security guards in the area. Additional measures, including CCTV cameras and traffic signals, are planned to improve traffic management and pedestrian safety. Residents have urged the authorities to implement these measures without delay to prevent further accidents. The incident has renewed concerns over road safety at Turbhe Store, where pedestrians continue to face difficulties crossing the busy Thane-Belapur Road while the flyover project remains incomplete.

With Morbe Dam at 84% Capacity, Civic Body Urges Residents to Save Water Amid Drought Concerns.

The Conservation

Amid concerns over a possible water shortage and the state government’s directive to reduce water supply by 10%, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) is prioritizing conservation measures before introducing immediate cuts in regular supply.

The civic body is focusing on reducing water wastage, restricting supply to construction sites and encouraging the use of alternative water sources to preserve drinking water stocks for the coming months. Ravikant Patil, chairman of the NMMC Water Supply and Sewage Committee, said the administration is cleaning wells, installing pumps and providing water tanks in slum areas wherever possible. These measures will help residents use groundwater for non-drinking purposes.

The NMMC is also encouraging housing societies to use treated sewage water for activities such as car washing, toilet flushing and cleaning premises. Treated water can be supplied through tankers on request, helping reserve regular drinking water supplies for essential needs. According to figures dated October 28, 2026, Morbe Dam, owned by the NMMC, holds 133.295 million cubic metres (MCM) of water, equivalent to 84% of its live storage capacity. This is lower than the 97.09% recorded during the corresponding period last year.

Ravikant Patil said only around 64% of the available stock was usable for drinking purposes. He warned that supplies might last until the middle of next year only if water is used carefully. The possibility of El Niño could further increase concerns over future availability. The NMMC aims to sustain available water stocks until May 2027 and has appealed to citizens and housing societies to avoid wastage and adopt responsible water-use practices.

Inspection Highlights Infrastructure Gaps, Civic Officials Urged to Address Shortcomings Before Opening the Facility.

The Hospital

BJP corporator and advocate Bharti Patil is persistently following up on the early opening of the Lokmata Ahilyadevi Holkar Mother and Child Hospital in Sector 22, Koparkhairane. Despite the completion of the hospital building, residents are still waiting for the facility to become operational.

Recently, Mayor Sujata Patil and House Leader Sagar Naik joined Bharti Patil for an inspection of the hospital. During the visit, she highlighted several shortcomings in the infrastructure and urged officials to address them on priority. Bharti  Patil said Koparkhairane’s rapidly growing population has increased the demand for local healthcare facilities. At present, residents largely depend on Vashi Hospital for treatment, making the delay in opening the new hospital a major concern.

She pointed out that several rooms are too small for hospital operations, while narrow entrances could make it difficult to move patients on beds and wheelchairs. The labour room and operation theatre also require attention to ensure patients can receive proper treatment once the hospital becomes functional. Bharti Patil said she had raised these concerns with civic authorities earlier, including through a letter submitted to the municipal commissioner in August. She also stressed the need to increase manpower and review the building’s design.

She urged officials to study the deficiencies and make the necessary modifications before the hospital opens, warning that correcting structural problems after patients are admitted could prove difficult. The inspection aimed to bring these issues to the attention of civic authorities and speed up corrective action so that residents can access the long-awaited healthcare facility at the earliest.