Rainfall yellow-alert over weekend
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted rainfall across Maharashtra, including Mumbai, from November 25 to 27, issuing a yellow alert for large coastal areas.
The IMD predicts thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds (30 to 40 kmph) in some regions during this period. This forecast is attributed to the formation of a low-pressure system in the Bay of Bengal, causing unseasonal rainfall.
The IMD expects this development to potentially alleviate air pollution in the city.
Source: Hindustan Times
BMC introduces ‘zero prescription policy’ for direct hospital medicine access
The BMC has introduced a ‘zero prescription policy,’ enabling patients to access all necessary medicines directly from civic hospitals without the need to buy them from external drug stores. To enact this policy, the BMC’s central purchase department (CPD) has expanded its scope of medicines and purchases from 1,000 to 4,000 items, encompassing medicines, drugs, and surgical articles. Hospitals are urged to submit their requisites to facilitate the procurement process.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde disclosed this policy during his visit to KEM Hospital, highlighting that the BMC aims to be the first municipal corporation in India to implement such a system.
Source: Hindustan Times
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CSMT set for revamp
CSMT Railway Station in Mumbai will undergo extensive revamp to elevate passenger experience while preserving its historic significance, announced Central Railway.
Valued at Rs 2,450 crore, the Engineering Procurement & Construction (EPC) project focuses on constructing various facilities like foot over bridges (FOBs), skywalks, rest houses, retail and parcel buildings, among others. Spanning 4.61 lakh sq meters, the project involves new constructions on 2.79 lakh sq meters and refurbishment of 1.3 lakh sq meters. The overhaul includes roof refurbishment, heritage building restoration, landscaping, art installations, ballast-less tracks, and boundary walls, aiming for a comprehensive transformation.
Source: Indian Express
Mumbai University gets Class 1 autonomy status
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has granted the University of Mumbai (MU) a Class 1 graded autonomy status, offering diverse educational opportunities. Previously in 2018, Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), Pune, became the first public university in the state to achieve this status.
As a Class I university, MU gains the autonomy to introduce new courses, departments, campuses, online programs, and distance and open learning institutes without seeking UGC approval. This move aligns with the implementation of the National Education Policy, making it simpler to establish academic collaborations with foreign higher education institutions. This step aims to internationalise education, facilitating dual degrees, associate degrees, twinning programs, and student-teacher exchanges at national and international levels.
Source: Hindustan Times
BMC to launch ‘gym on wheels’ for women in Mumbai slums
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to introduce a ‘Gym on Wheels’ exclusively for women in Mumbai’s slums next month. Proposed by Mumbai’s Guardian Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha, the initiative is reaching its final stage.
The concept aims to support housewives and working women who often neglect their health due to busy routines. The BMC plans to equip buses with gym facilities, driven by a female driver and assisted by a female attendant. Additionally, a female fitness trainer will guide women through exercises and provide education on physical fitness.
The mobile gym, changing its location daily, is designed to visit various slum areas, each with a designated time slot. This pilot project intends to prioritise the health needs of women in different neighbourhoods across the city.
Source: Indian Express
(Compiled by Sherine Raj)