The under-construction Lord Venkateswara temple in Ulwe, Navi Mumbai, is nearing completion but now faces a new debate over a proposed temporary helipad within its 10-acre premises.

Raymond Consumer Care Limited, the temple’s principal donor, has requested the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) to consider building the helipad on Plot No. 3, Sector 12, allotted by the Maharashtra government through CIDCO. However, site engineers informed Raymond that no such provision exists in the commencement certificate issued by CIDCO.

Raymond has asked TTD to escalate the proposal for management consideration. TTD’s Chief Engineer acknowledged that a helipad could serve as an emergency facility and a secure access point for VVIPs, given Navi Mumbai’s severe traffic congestion. TTD Executive Officer J Shyamala Rao clarified that the helipad is not part of the core temple construction and that no permissions have been granted yet. “We are still evaluating the proposal in line with Agama Shastras and regulatory guidelines,” Rao said.

Local devotees support the helipad, highlighting its potential to significantly cut travel time for pilgrims. The Chief Engineer also noted that nearby Sector 12 already hosts several helipads, making the proposal regionally viable.

The temple project has previously navigated major hurdles, including a legal challenge over CRZ norms and the complex rerouting of a Reliance Industries gas pipeline passing through the site.

If approved, the Navi Mumbai temple would become the first TTD temple globally to feature a helipad, potentially setting a precedent for future temples across India and abroad.

Nerul Police have arrested Ranjit Bhalchandra Naik, a former BJP Yuva Morcha office-bearer and real estate agent, for allegedly cheating a woman of Rs 3.5 lakh by falsely promising to sell her a flat and a shop in Sector 23, Nerul. Naik, who runs Samarth Krupa Developers, has been booked under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) due to multiple similar fraud cases linked to him.

The complainant, 51-year-old Ahmadi Abdurrah Mulla from Tala, Raigad, approached police after Naik failed to deliver the promised properties. Naik had offered her a 950 sq. ft. flat and a 450 sq. ft. shop in the Shivam Classic building at a discounted price of ₹45 lakh. Between May 2023 and mid-2025, Mulla paid Rs 3.5 lakh through cheque, online transfer, and cash. When she repeatedly asked for possession or a refund, Naik allegedly threatened her, prompting her to file a complaint on June 9.

Police investigations revealed Naik was already facing four similar cheating cases, registered in 2023 and 2024, at Nerul Police Station. Despite multiple summonses, he failed to appear for questioning.

“Recognizing a consistent pattern of fraud, we proposed applying MCOCA against Naik,” said Senior Police Inspector Brahmananda Naikwadi. The proposal, cleared by senior officers, led to Naik’s arrest on June 19. He was produced in court on June 20 and remanded to four days of police custody. Assistant Police Inspector Nilesh Phule is leading the ongoing investigation to identify more potential victims.

A recent sighting of golden jackals behind DPS Lake in Sector 52A, Nerul, has reignited calls from environmentalists and local citizens to protect the ecologically sensitive area. Wildlife enthusiast Ashutosh Kelkar captured the sighting, drawing renewed public attention to the region’s rich biodiversity.

The DPS Lake area, surrounded by mangroves and part of a vital wildlife corridor near the NRI wetland, has been under scrutiny due to ongoing development pressures. Golden jackals, known to thrive in mangrove ecosystems, have been regularly spotted in the area, underscoring its ecological significance.

Environmentalists argue that the lake and surrounding green patches are essential urban habitats and should be designated as protected forest land. “CIDCO had earlier marked the DPS Lake plot as developable land, despite the revised Development Plan awaiting state approval,” said activist Sunil Agarwal. Allegations have also surfaced against a private builder for illegally cutting over 300 trees without permission or formal possession of the plot.

In response to growing public concern, Maharashtra Forest Minister Ganesh Naik has reportedly instructed CIDCO to immediately halt all development activities on the site. Naik has also asked the Forest Department to explore declaring the area a Conservation Reserve, which would ensure long-term ecological safeguarding.

Activists emphasize that the plot’s close proximity to mangroves makes it a critical part of Navi Mumbai’s coastal ecosystem. “The sighting of golden jackals confirms this is not just green space—it’s an active urban forest,” Agarwal stressed.