The metropolitan regions of Mumbai generally depend on the core city for its identity and economy. It could be differently designed and developed so the metropolitan region has a better economic activity and help depopulate Mumbai, writes Mahesh Vijapurkar.
Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) has officially commenced its international flight operations with an Air India Express service to Abu Dhabi, marking a significant boost in connectivity for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and establishing a new global gateway.
A 22-year-old social media influencer and gym trainer, Arif Ayub Shaikh, has been arrested in Palghar, Maharashtra, on charges of rape, physical abuse, and attempting to force a woman to convert her religion under the guise of marriage. BJP leader Kirit Somaiya has labelled the case as "love jihad," alleging a larger network exploiting young Hindu girls in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Police recovered over 100 explicit video clips from Shaikh's phone, with some potentially distributed abroad.
Tata Power is positioning itself as a key partner in India's rapidly expanding data centre ecosystem, with a significant opportunity pipeline across renewable energy, transmission, and distribution. The company is broadening its offerings to include comprehensive solutions like powered land and grid connectivity, actively supporting hyperscalers and AI-ready digital infrastructure, particularly in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
Wadhwa Group Holdings Ltd, the holding company of real estate developer The Wadhwa Group, has filed preliminary papers with markets regulator Sebi for an Initial Public Offering (IPO) using the confidential route, keeping offer details private for now.
Commuting by CNG-run black and yellow cabs and auto-rickshaws in Mumbai will become more expensive from September 1, with the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority (MMRTA) approving a fare hike of Rs 2 for taxis and Rs 1 for auto-rickshaws.
Churches across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region have started asking worshippers to fill self-declaration forms, affirming they are attending prayers voluntarily. This move comes after Maharashtra's new anti-conversion law, the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2026, came into force, leading to concerns among the Christian community about potential harassment and false accusations.
Ten people, including a 3-month-old baby, were injured when a hydraulic crane toppled onto houses in Mumbai's Kurla East during preparations for demolition work, affecting goods train movement and damaging vehicles.
The Special Intensive Revision of Maharashtra's electoral rolls has identified over 76 lakh voters classified as permanently shifted across the state. Mumbai Suburban, Thane, and Pune districts reported the highest numbers, highlighting significant discrepancies in voter lists and the ongoing challenge of maintaining accurate electoral data.
The Mumbai Cricket Association is working with the Maharashtra state government to accelerate the development of a new 100,000-capacity cricket stadium in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
Mumbaikars are set to face a significant financial burden as the prices of milk, CNG, and taxi-rickshaw fares have all seen a substantial increase from September 1, 2026, impacting household budgets ahead of the crucial festive season.
The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) has waived landing charges for international flights at the Navi Mumbai International Airport for one year, with phased discounts for subsequent years. This move aims to incentivise airlines to establish new international routes from the airport, modifying previous criteria that linked waivers to the broader Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
Arvind SmartSpaces Ltd has partnered with Sigma Oxford Realtors to develop a residential housing project in Goregaon, Mumbai, with an expected revenue of Rs 2,400 crore.
Large office leases in Mumbai and Delhi-NCR are commanding premium rentals in key micro-locations, driven by a scarcity of quality Grade-A space and sustained occupier demand, according to real estate consultants.
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has secured the conviction of five individuals involved in a major synthetic drug trafficking case in Mumbai, and has seized assets worth over Rs 6.5 crore linked to the illegal trade.
Mumbai and its metropolitan region are experiencing severe monsoon rains, leading to widespread waterlogging, transport disruptions, and the closure of schools and colleges. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an 'extremely heavy rainfall' alert, with some areas receiving nearly 200 mm of rain in 12 hours, prompting Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to urge residents to avoid non-essential travel.
Maharashtra's transport department has initiated a statewide drive to assess taxi and autorickshaw drivers' working knowledge of Marathi, issuing notices to 1,268 drivers on the first day. Those who fail the initial 16-question test will receive a one-month notice to learn Marathi, with subsequent failure leading to a three-month badge suspension.
A 19-year-old worker died after a steel frame fell on him during the construction of the Sewri-Worli Connector in Mumbai. This is the fourth fatality involving infrastructure projects in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region in recent days, raising concerns about construction safety.
A crane collapse at a Mumbai Metro construction site in BKC caused significant traffic disruptions, prompting swift action from MMRDA to restore normalcy and investigate the cause of the accident.
Mumbai Police have registered a second FIR against a construction company for allegedly blocking the Kalina-BKC Link Road with cranes and materials. The fresh case, filed under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, names the project manager and administrative head, following a previous penalty by MMRDA and viral videos of the obstruction.
India's real estate sector recorded an unprecedented $9.5 billion in capital inflows during Q3 2026, primarily driven by foreign investors' strong interest in data centres, according to a CBRE Group report.
India's current account deficit could widen to 1.7 per cent of GDP, or about $71 billion, if crude oil prices stay above $90 a barrel for a significant part of the second half of FY27.
Mumbai's metro network has expanded with the inauguration of the first phases of Metro Line 9 and Line 2B, promising improved connectivity and reduced travel times for commuters.
Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik announced that autorickshaw and taxi drivers will be given an opportunity to learn Marathi before any action is taken against them for non-compliance with the language requirement. This move softens the state's earlier stance, which had evoked mixed reactions and concerns about livelihoods.
The development comes in the wake of India's triumphant campaign in the Women's ODI World Cup.
Lodha Developers plans to generate approximately 10,000 crore in sales over the next three to four years by monetising about 150 acres of land at its data centre park in Palava, part of the Mumbai metropolitan region (MMR). This strategy is a planned recurring pillar of their business, funding the build-out of 1 gigawatt of powered shell capacity and aiming for over 2,000 crore in annual rental income by FY32.
Two employees of a construction firm in Mumbai have been booked for allegedly blocking the new Kalina-BKC Link Road with cranes and other materials, leading to an FIR after viral videos and a failure to comply with MMRDA's request to clear the stretch.
Avoid builders with very large commitments.
Maharashtra's Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik announced a drive against auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers lacking a 'working knowledge' of Marathi, with penalties ranging from licence suspension to cancellation, sparking fears among non-Marathi speaking drivers.
The Adani Group-owned Navi Mumbai International Airport is slated to commence international passenger and freighter operations from July 15. This marks a significant expansion for the airport, which began domestic services last December. Air India Express and IndiGo are expected to operate international flights, with customs readiness reviews already completed. The airport anticipates a substantial increase in daily passenger footfall and air traffic movements by the year-end.
Icra predicts that the top seven Indian cities will see an 8-11 per cent year-on-year growth in housing sales value by FY27, reaching approximately 7.9 trillion, primarily driven by the ongoing trend of premiumisation and a favourable product mix.
India's top 11 listed real estate developers are projected to achieve combined presales of 1.82 trillion by FY27, a significant increase from 1.49 trillion in FY26, demonstrating sustained sales momentum despite market challenges.
The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has ordered the shutdown of 19 ready mix concrete plants in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region for violating environmental guidelines and contributing to deteriorating air quality levels.
The Maharashtra cabinet has approved a land acquisition and allotment policy for development projects in the 'Third Mumbai' area near the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (Atal Setu), along with other key infrastructure and development initiatives across the state.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the Navi Mumbai International Airport and a portion of the Mumbai Metro Line, marking significant improvements to transportation infrastructure in Mumbai.
How does the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation's budget compare with the budget of other Indian cities?
The mobile app enables commuters to book a single QR-based digital ticket usable across Metro, Monorail, buses and local trains in the city and surrounding regions.
Maharashtra plans new policy to make domicile certificate mandatory for driving licence from August 2026, alongside efforts to regulate bike taxi services for revenue and job creation.
NMIAL is spending close to Rs 18,000 crore to get the airport up and running.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the next Mayor of Mumbai will be from the ruling alliance and will be 'both Hindu and Marathi,' as political campaigning heats up for the city's top civic post.
