Centre to operate from 2 pm to 10 pm, helping working residents and senior citizens access healthcare closer to home.

The Health Centre

A new Urban Health and Wellness Centre was inaugurated at Rabale’s Warlipada area on the occasion of State Forest Minister and Palghar Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik’s birthday. The centre was established through the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation following the efforts of former mayor and corporator Sudhakar Sonawane.

Mayor Sujata Patil inaugurated the facility and inspected the centre along with officials and local representatives. She reviewed the healthcare services to be provided and directed the Health Department to ensure that residents receive quality and effective treatment. During the programme, Sonawane requested that the centre remain open from 2 pm to 10 pm so that working people could visit after returning from work. Patil accepted the request and announced the extended operating hours.

The new centre is expected to benefit working women, senior citizens and other residents who previously had to travel by rickshaw or on foot to access healthcare. Officials noted that Navi Mumbai has 59 Urban Health and Wellness Centres under the Central Government’s healthcare initiative, aimed at bringing medical services closer to people’s homes.

A tree plantation drive was also organised at Rabale as part of the birthday celebrations. Patil praised Sonawane’s efforts to transform barren land into a greener space, describing him as a committed environmentalist. Health Committee Chairperson Dr Jayjinath, Slum Improvement Committee Chairperson Ranjana Sonawane, Medical Health Officer Dr Rajesh Mhatre and other officials and residents attended the programme.

Ganesh mandal uses Ganeshotsav to spread awareness against addiction.

The Awareness

The Shivchhaya Mitra Mandal, popularly known as Navi Mumbaicha Raja, is using this year’s Ganeshotsav to promote a drug-free and healthy lifestyle. The mandal’s 56th Ganeshotsav is being organised at the CIDCO ground near ICL School in Sector 21, Turbhe. The celebrations began on September 14.

A major focus of this year’s festival is an anti-addiction campaign carrying the message “Say No to Drugs”. Through posters, banners and cut-outs, the mandal will create awareness about the harmful effects of alcohol, tobacco, gutkha, drugs, gambling and other addictive habits. The campaign promotes the message that a moment of pleasure can lead to lifelong problems, while staying away from addiction can lead to a happier life.

The festival will also include bhajans, spiritual programmes, blood donation and health camps, Annadan, Atharvashirsh recitation, Satyanarayan Mahapuja and felicitation of achievers. The mandal is also supporting tribal students from Wada and Mokhada in pursuing higher education after Classes 10 and 12.

Around 8 to 10 lakh devotees are expected to visit the pandal during the 12-day festival. A Satyanarayan Katha and Bhandara will be organised on September 24, with food arrangements for around 10,000 devotees.

Civic body prepares 192 immersion sites to support a smooth and eco-friendly Ganeshotsav.

The Ponds

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has made arrangements for the smooth and eco-friendly celebration of Ganeshotsav 2026, which will be held from September 14 to 25. To reduce crowding and help prevent water pollution, the civic body has set up 170 artificial immersion ponds across the city, along with 22 natural immersion sites.

More than 140 Ganesh mandals have applied online for permission to install pandals. The NMMC has introduced a single-window system to make the approval process easier by bringing permissions from different departments together. Across all 192 immersion sites, arrangements have been made for volunteers, CCTV surveillance, electricity and generators. Medical teams will be deployed at 22 major immersion sites, while lifeguards and fire brigade personnel will also be available.

The civic body has arranged rafts at natural immersion sites and separate facilities for wet and dry nirmalya. Dedicated vehicles will collect floral waste and transport it to the processing facility in Turbhe. Road repairs and tree pruning along idol arrival and immersion routes have also been completed.

The NMMC has appealed to citizens to use artificial immersion ponds and celebrate Ganeshotsav in an eco-friendly manner, helping protect the city’s water bodies.