MUMBAI BUZZ

Covid cases surge in Mumbai Mumbai division reported 2,856 new cases and 11 deaths, taking the cumulative caseload to 7,49,849 and death toll to 19,921, Livemint reported. Mumbai's COVID-19 tally increased to 3,38,643 and four deaths took the fatality count to 11,519. But BMC Chief Chahal told the Indian Express that “As of now, there is no plan of imposing a lockdown." As many as 90 per cent of patients in Mumbai, who tested positive for COVID-19 in January and February this year, were residents of high-rises, while the remaining 10 per cent were from slums and chawls, NDTV quoted BMC officials.…

Was Mumbai's power outage a cyberattack? A New York Times article last week cited a cybersecurity report to claim that Mumbai's major power blackout last October may have been a cyberattack from China. But the Central and State governments are now in disagreement about what happened, Boom reported. Maharashtra's Energy Minister confirmed the Chinese cyberattack, while Central government chalked it up to a human error and not an attack. Source: Boom After BMC Chief, Aaditya Thackeray talks about the need for a single authority in Mumbai Aaditya Thackeray, Photo by Amit Chivlikar, Unsplash Maharashtra minister and Shiv Sena leader Aaditya…

Cost of riding autos and taxis increases After six years, the base fare for auto rickshaws has been increased from Rs 18 to Rs 21 and for taxis, it has increased to Rs 25 from Rs 22. In 2015, the base fares were increased by Rs 1 each for both autos and taxis, the Indian Express reported. The fare hike, applicable for the entire Mumbai Metropolitan Region, will be effective from March 1. For rickshaws, the charge for every additional kilometre over the base fare has been hiked by Rs 2.21 per km to Rs 14.2, while for taxis, the…

Spurt in COVID-19 cases in Mumbai There's been a rapid increase in the coronavirus cases in Mumbai. On on Wednesday, Mumbai recorded 721 fresh COVID-19 cases, the highest single-day spike since January 7, according to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). BMC has now issued updated guidelines. See them below: https://twitter.com/mybmc/status/1362426766527066113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1362426766527066113%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.livemint.com%2Fnews%2Findia%2Fnew-curbs-in-mumbai-amid-surge-in-covid-19-cases-check-new-rules-here-11613694432059.html Mumbai's air quality is worsening Factories across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) burn two million tonnes coal every year, a new study by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a Delhi-based non-profit, found. The study identified the Trans-Thane Creek (TTC), Taloja, Ambernath and Dombivali, which covers about 70 per cent…

Surge in COVID-19 cases The Mumbai Metropolitan Region reported 1,075 new Covid cases on Wednesday—a 55% surge from 693 cases recorded on Tuesday, according to a report by The New Indian Express. Many wondered whether the higher cases are because of resumption of local train services. “The cases have increased but it cannot be attributed to local trains. We have increased the number of testing at airports and other destinations as a result of which the number of cases may increase,” a BMC official told The New Indian Express. Source: The New Indian Express Restrictions on travel from Kerala After…

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Unveils Budget  The Mumbai civic body presented an ambitious budget of Rs 39,038.38 crore. BMC has experienced a dip in its revenue due to COVID-19 induced lockdown. But its budget was 16.74% more than last year’s Rs 33,441.02 crore budget. BMC’s capital expenditure is also increased by a whopping 71% at ₹18,750.99 crore. BMC plans to earn through property tax, sewage tax, interests from investments, state grants, among others. Although capital expenditure has gone up by around Rs 5,000 crore, BMC has slashed its garden and parks budget by 50%, Mumbai Mirror reported.  Source: Hindustan Times, Mumbai…

Local trains to resume in slots from February 1 Suspended since March 2020 and restarted in phases, Mumbai local trains will be open to the general public under fixed time slots from February 1. The time slots are the first service to 7 am, 12 pm to 4 pm and 9 pm to the last service. Frontline workers, healthcare staff, single women travellers will be allowed to travel between the timings as well. Source: NDTV Government Extends Lockdown Restrictions Till March 28 The state government imposed a lockdown from the third week of March 2020. Since then, almost all restrictions…