August News Roundup, Mumbai | Ganeshotsav, Sunburn fest debut & more

From Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in Mumbai to 249 fined for pigeon feeding, August has been packed with major headlines. Take a look at this roundup, covering the most important updates that made news across Mumbai this month.

Football fans in Mumbai are in for an exciting December as Lionel Messi visits the city on December 14. The Argentine star will be celebrated at Wankhede Stadium, with Indian cricket legends like Dhoni, Tendulkar, Kohli, and Sharma joining the event. Messi's visit, part of his three-city tour, promises a football match, a youth workshop, and more.

To boost ridership on Mumbai’s underused Aqua Metro line and improve tourism access, MMRC plans a 3-km ropeway connecting Aarey Metro Station to Film City and potentially Sanjay Gandhi National Park. Expected to carry 2,000-3,000 passengers hourly, the eco-friendly ropeway will address last-mile connectivity and complement the upcoming Metro 3 line to Cuffe Parade.

Mumbai Metro Lines 2A and 7 have surpassed 200 million passengers since their launch in April 2022, reflecting a growing preference for modern urban transit. Ridership has been growing at 4–5% per month, with the latest milestone of 300,000 commuters on July 8, 2025. To improve the commuter experience, enhancements like higher service frequency and e-ticketing are being implemented.

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has intensified its crackdown on pigeon feeding and coops due to health concerns. Between July 13 and August 3, 249 people were fined ₹1.24 lakh for feeding pigeons, with Dadar seeing the highest fines. BMC has also shut down 51 pigeon lofts. Despite protests, including from the Jain community, BMC remains committed to enforcing the ban.

Asia's biggest EDM festival, Sunburn, will debut in Mumbai from December 19-21, 2025, after 18 years in Goa. The event will feature world-class DJs and immersive production. Supported by the Government of Maharashtra, it aims to boost Mumbai’s cultural economy.

Mumbai’s historic 140-year-old Mahalaxmi Racecourse is set for a futuristic upgrade, featuring a two-level underground complex with Olympic-grade sports facilities like a 400m track, swimming pool, and courts. The redesign also includes a 63-acre garden, event spaces, and an urban forest. Designed by Hafeez Contractor, the project will preserve heritage while adding modern amenities to support future champions.

HSNC University, Mumbai, in partnership with Skill Shakti Community, has launched InclusivEd, India’s first university-certified program for neurodivergent adults. Offering Certificate and Diploma courses in life and career skills, it aims to provide academic recognition for learners with autism, ADHD, Down Syndrome, and more.

A dedicated tourism security force will soon be deployed at Mumbai’s Gateway of India and Nariman Point to enhance safety and manage crowds. Following success in Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani, the force will patrol key areas, ensure visitor safety, and maintain traffic flow. Personnel will be sourced from the Maharashtra State Ex-Servicemen Welfare Board and receive legal training before deployment.

Mumbai’s Sydenham College honoured Yasmin Khurshedji Surveyor, Asia’s first female commerce graduate (1925), by unveiling her statue and launching a ₹20-lakh scholarship in her name. Despite initial resistance, she gained admission with support from Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and later became the first woman employee at Central Bank of India. The scholarship will award ₹1 lakh annually to the college’s top female commerce student.

Acting on a Bombay High Court order, authorities have banned DJ systems during Ganeshotsav in Mumbai to curb noise pollution. Noise levels are capped at 50 decibels from 10 PM to 6 AM. Police can seize equipment from violators, and organisers are encouraged to use traditional instruments. The move aims to balance festive spirit with public health concerns.

From August 15, visitors to Maharashtra's Mantralaya must use the Digi Pravesh app or facial verification for entry, replacing paper passes. This system, designed for faster, secure entry, requires Aadhaar registration and a QR-code pass. While it reduces wait times significantly, concerns remain about accessibility for citizens with limited digital access, despite provisions for assistance.

Mumbai's Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) is undergoing a traffic revamp with the removal of its 13-km, underused cycle track to add two more vehicular lanes. The ₹25 crore project will reduce commute times and improve traffic flow. However, critics question if lane expansion alone can tackle congestion, citing issues with last-mile connectivity ahead of Metro Line 2B.

Mumbai unveiled a stunning 7.47-km seafront promenade along the Coastal Road this Independence Day. Opened on August 15 at 4:30 PM, it offers sweeping views, cycling tracks, and inclusive access. The first 5.25-km stretch connects Priyadarshini Park to Haji Ali and Baroda Palace to Worli. Simultaneously, the Coastal Road itself will open 24/7 to vehicles, enhancing connectivity and public space in the densely packed city.

Mumbai's iconic dabbawalas now have a museum dedicated to their legacy, the Mumbai Dabbawala International Experience Centre (MDIEC), inaugurated near Rizvi College. Spanning 3,000 sqft, the museum offers a sensory journey through the 135-year-old tradition, showcasing vintage tiffin boxes, photographs, and a tribute to Mahadevrao Bachche, the service's founder.

Mumbai's Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR) extension, opening on August 14, will ease east-west travel. The ₹650 crore project features South Asia’s first 90-degree curved cable-stayed bridge, enhancing traffic flow and cutting travel time by 15-20 minutes. It improves connectivity to BKC, Vakola, and LBS Marg while addressing bottlenecks at key junctions.

Mumbai’s Automated Rapid Transit System (ARTS), the pod taxi project, has received clearance from the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority. With a ₹1,016.34 crore budget, it will improve last-mile connectivity for up to 600,000 daily commuters. The 8.01 km elevated corridor, however, raises environmental concerns due to mangrove clearing and tree felling, despite eco-friendly pods.

Mumbai ranked 7th in Asia for workcations, and 36th globally, according to the IWG’s 2025 Work From Anywhere Barometer. Scoring 73 out of 120, the city offers strong broadband, flexible workspaces, and nearby weekend escapes. With its blend of work-friendly infrastructure and vibrant culture, Mumbai is becoming a top choice for hybrid workers seeking both productivity and relaxation.

A new foot overbridge (FOB) at Mumbai's CSMIA–T2 Metro station now connects directly to Terminal 2, cutting travel distance from 450 meters to 118 meters. The 88-meter bridge, elevated 23 meters above the ground, offers passengers a safer, quicker route without road crossings. It improves last-mile connectivity, enhances the airport experience, and bypasses city traffic.

The Lodha Foundation has launched India’s first privately funded mathematics research hub, the Lodha Mathematical Sciences Institute (LMSI) in Mumbai, with a ₹20,000 crore endowment. Led by Fields Medalist Dr. Manjul Bhargava, LMSI aims to advance pure and applied mathematics. Its inaugural program focuses on arithmetic statistics, with future collaborations planned with leading institutions like TIFR and ISI.

For the first time in Mumbai, a standalone bungalow will undergo self-redevelopment. The Pereira family plans to transform their 87-year-old Victoria Cottage in Bandra into a 14-storey tower, with the family occupying the top four floors. The project includes 20 flats for sale, with construction expected to be completed by 2026, funded by the family and a bank loan.

The Tata Mumbai Marathon returns for its 21st edition on January 18, 2026, starting from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus. Registrations are now open for the World Athletics Gold Label race, featuring categories like full marathon, half-marathon, 10K, and Dream Run. New initiatives include the “TMM Debutants” for first-timers and “Home Run Squad” for families.

The ICC has announced that Mumbai will replace Bengaluru as a host city for the Women’s ODI World Cup starting September 30, after Chinnaswamy Stadium failed security clearances. DY Patil Stadium will now host up to five matches, including the opener, semi-final, and possibly the final. Other venues include Guwahati, Indore, Visakhapatnam, and Colombo.

From August 23 to September 8, the Maharashtra government has waived tolls on key highways, including Mumbai-Goa and Mumbai-Bengaluru, for Ganesh Chaturthi travel. Commuters can use special “Ganeshotsav 2025 - Konkan Darshan” passes, while restrictions on heavy vehicles and extra buses and trains aim to ease festive congestion.

Mumbai’s GSB Seva Mandal, India’s richest Ganesh mandal, has taken a record ₹474.46 crore insurance cover for its five-day Ganeshotsav at King’s Circle. Covering priests, volunteers, devotees, ornaments and infrastructure, it safeguards both faith and logistics. Marking its 71st year, the mandal blends tradition with meticulous planning and social contribution.

Mumbai Police has deployed over 17,600 personnel for Ganeshotsav 2025 from August 27 to September 6, with special focus on pandals, visarjan sites, and processions. Security measures include SRPF units, bomb squads, drones, mounted police, 11,000+ CCTVs, and traffic diversions to ensure safety during the city’s grand festival.

Mumbai’s vehicle count has crossed 50 lakh, with two-wheelers and cars making up nearly 88%, while buses remain under 1%, the BMC’s Environment Status Report 2024–25 reveals. Between April 2024 and March 2025, 2.94 lakh vehicles were added, raising concerns over traffic and pollution. BEST plans to go fully electric by 2027 to cut emissions.

Mumbai–Konkan travel is set to get a major upgrade with the launch of the Ro-Ro ferry service on September 1, 2025. The high-speed M2M Princess, South Asia’s fastest passenger-cum-vehicle ferry, will link Mumbai with Jaigad in 3–4 hours and Vijaydurg in 5–6 hours, cutting travel time by half and offering smoother, safer journeys.

Linkin Park will make their India debut at Lollapalooza India 2026 in Mumbai on January 25. With new vocalist Emily Armstrong joining Mike Shinoda and co., the band brings its explosive From Zero World Tour to the Mahalaxmi Racecourse. Tickets are live on BookMyShow, don’t miss this historic moment in India’s music scene!

Mumbai is ranked among India’s safest cities for women, alongside Kohima, Visakhapatnam, and Gangtok, in the NARI 2025 index released in Delhi. The report credits women-friendly infrastructure, civic participation, and effective policing. Patna, Jaipur, Delhi, and Kolkata ranked lowest. Despite progress, the survey highlights persistent night-time vulnerabilities, underreporting of harassment, and gaps in safety perception versus reality.