Wednesday updates from Mumbai
What's the story
Mumbai could be the first Indian city to get air ambulances - a god send for accident victims and those waiting for organ transplants.
Residents may soon enjoy much better east-west connectivity once Goregaon-Mulund corridor is completed.
In other news, differences between Shiv Sena and BJP spills over at cabinet meet.
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Health services
Air ambulance for Mumbai
For the first time in India, BMC is planning to implement a helicopter service that will be used for transporting the grievously injured to hospitals and to facilitate organ transplants.
BMC is in the process of identifying landing and take-off spots which will mainly be open grounds or hospital rooftops.
Experts have raised concerns regarding its implementation especially payment for ambulance services.
Terrorism
Indian victims of Istanbul attack
Two Indians had died in the tragic Istanbul attack while celebrating New Years' eve, their bodies arrived here earlier today.
Mumbai film producer, Abis Rizvi's body was taken to his Bandra residence.
Another victim, Khushi Shah of Vadodara, also died in the nightclub attack: her body has been transported to her residence and will be cremated later today.
Pant Nagar
Bizarre knife attack on paan-seller
A paan seller Manoj Chaurasia, was at the receiving end of a horrific attack by one his frequent customers, Naresh Keni.
Keni attacked him because Chaurasia refused to sell him gutkha and beedis on credit.
After several attempts to reach police and ambulance services, a beat constable patrolling nearby apprehended Keni.
Keni confessed to the attack and Chaurasia received 21 stitches on his throat.
Infrastructure
Widening roads on Goregaon-Mulund corridor
BMC has floated tenders for the first phase of project to widen roads between Goregaon and Mulund.
The 16-km Goregaon-Mulund Link Road will be crucial for east-west connectivity in Mumbai: it is expected to cut travel time by 20 minutes.
The entire project is expected to cost Rs.1300 crore: the corridor starts at Oberoi Mall and ends at Nahur station on Eastern Express Highway.
Administration
BMC rejects BEST's deficit budget
For the first time, BMC rejected BEST's deficit budget for year 2017-2018 and asked it to make revisions.
BEST indicated a deficit budget of losses of Rs.590 crore.
BMC said this was unacceptable as the budget presented is required to show a minimum profit of at least Rs.1 lakh.
BEST's GM said this wasn't possible this year unless there was a grant from BMC.
State politics
Rancour between Shiv Sena and BJP at cabinet meet
Difference between the Shiv Sena and BJP were evident at the cabinet meet on Tuesday.
CM Fadnavis had last week shuffled district guardianship but didn't inform Shiv Sena.
At the cabinet meet, discussion over Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train and hawkers policy was introduced without prior notice.
Shiv Sena therefore staged a walkout and forced government to defer these discussions.
BJP however denied this incident.
Wadala
Helpdesk to assist with online licenses
The cashless system being implemented at RTOs requires applicants to pay by card/netbanking and carry proof to RTO.
To ensure smooth implementation of cashless registration of learner's license, the Wadala RTO will set up a helpdesk.
The helpdesk will accept payments in cash and help applicants to upload scans of original documents: this is expected to be implemented only for a few weeks.