KALYAN: A significant portion of the surveillance and public safety infrastructure installed under the Rs 120-crore Smart City project in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) area is currently non-functional, raising concerns among police officials and triggering questions over the upkeep of the technology-driven system.Data accessed by TOI indicates that 392 of the 1,065 Smart City devices installed across Kalyan and Dombivli are not operational, translating to nearly 37% of the infrastructure being out of service.Among the affected systems are 253 of the 846 CCTV cameras that form the backbone of the city’s surveillance network. More worrying is the condition of vehicle-monitoring infrastructure, with 57 of the 84 Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras and 27 of the 36 Exit Number Plate Recognition (NPR) cameras reportedly non-functional.The problem extends beyond surveillance. Of the 45 Variable Message Display (VMD) boards installed to relay traffic updates, weather alerts and public information, 22 have stopped working. Similarly, 17 of the 28 public announcement systems meant for emergency communication are non-operational. Sources also claimed that 16 of the 26 Emergency Call Box units are currently defunct.Police officials, who rely heavily on the Smart City network for crime detection and monitoring law and order, have repeatedly requested the civic administration to restore the systems.A senior police officials told TOI that, “Most of cameras in Dombivli’s many parts are not working and we have requested KDMC to start these cameras”. The command-and-control centres operated jointly by KDMC and police have played a key role in maintaining a crime detection rate of over 80% in the twin cities.Sources said many of the faults are linked to damaged cables, hardware failures and disruptions caused by ongoing metro and infrastructure works. The original maintenance contract expired in April 2025, after which KDMC continued maintenance through the same agency.KDMC IT officer Pramod Kamble acknowledged that not 36 some equipment was not functioning and said restoration work is underway. “Metro construction and other infrastructure projects have affected some systems. Efforts are being taken to make them operational at the earliest,” he said.Smart City infrastructure status Equipment |Non-functional| Total Installed| % Down

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KALYAN: In a move aimed at enhancing transparency, accountability, and administrative efficiency, the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation (UMC) has rolled out a comprehensive electronic Human Resource Management System (e-HRMS) as part of its institutional reforms in the General Administration Department (GAD). Municipal Commissioner Manisha Awhale said the new system integrates several employee-related services on a single digital platform. A facial recognition-based attendance system, linked directly to the payroll mechanism, has been introduced to ensure accurate attendance records and reduce manual intervention. The civic body has also shifted its leave management process entirely online through a dedicated leave app. Pension proposal processing and approvals have been digitised, enabling faster and more transparent disposal of retirement-related cases. As part of the reforms, digital seniority lists have been made available on a dashboard to facilitate timely review and ensure transparency. Promotion-related procedures have also been streamlined through an online system. Officials said employee service records and establishment management functions have now been integrated under a unified e-HRMS platform, allowing easier access to data and improved monitoring. The UMC is also developing an integrated dashboard for real-time review and supervision of administrative processes. Civic officials believe the reforms will strengthen governance and improve overall efficiency in municipal administration.

THANE: A four-year-old boy was allegedly beaten to death by his mother’s lover in Maharashtra’s Thane district, police said on Wednesday. The motive behind the killing is yet to be established.The accused, identified as Shambhu Sharma, was arrested after investigators became suspicious during the preliminary probe into the child’s death on Monday. The incident occurred in the Kashimira police station area, and further investigation is underway.According to police, the boy’s mother had been living with Sharma. Investigators alleged that the accused brutally assaulted the child at their residence, causing fatal injuries. Police further claimed that an attempt was made to portray the death as a natural one in order to conceal the crime.However, during the panchnama, police noticed multiple injury marks on the child’s body, raising suspicions about the circumstances of the death. The body was subsequently sent for a post-mortem examination, which confirmed that the boy died from severe internal injuries sustained in the assault.Based on the findings, police detained Sharma, who allegedly confessed to assaulting the child during questioning, officials said.A murder case was registered against him on Tuesday. Investigators are now trying to determine the motive behind the assault and whether the child’s mother had any knowledge of or involvement in the alleged crime, police added.(With agency inputs)

ULHASNAGAR: In a major anti-encroachment drive, the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation (UMC) on Friday removed 23 illegally erected stalls and shops along the Kalyan-Murbad Road stretch between Dhobighat Chowk and the municipal hospital. The action was carried out under the directions of the municipal commissioner Manisha Awhale and supervised by senior civic officials.According to civic authorities, the operation targeted encroachments that had occupied portions of roads and footpaths, causing inconvenience to pedestrians and motorists.In addition to demolishing 23 roadside stalls and shops, officials also seized and removed 12 handcarts that were allegedly obstructing public movement.The drive was conducted by a team of assistant commissioners under the guidance of the additional commissioner, with support from the encroachment department and local police personnel. Authorities said special attention was given to ensuring smooth traffic flow during the operation.Assistant commissioner Ganesh Shimpi said the civic body would continue its crackdown on illegal encroachments that obstruct roads, footpaths and public spaces. He warned that strict action would be taken against individuals who attempt to re-establish encroachments after their removal.Following the operation, a significant portion of the road and footpath was cleared, providing relief to commuters and local residents. Many citizens welcomed the municipal corporation’s action and urged officials to extend similar enforcement measures to other congestion-prone areas of the city.Residents specifically demanded action against the alleged illegal parking and roadside car market activities along the Kalyan-Ambarnath Road. They claimed that a large section of the road remains occupied by parked vehicles linked to the car market, worsening traffic congestion.With ongoing cement concrete road works in the area, motorists and daily commuters have been facing severe traffic snarls, prompting calls for stricter enforcement by civic authorities.

THANE: A 34-year-old woman allegedly died by suicide after consuming rat poison following a domestic dispute with her husband in Bhiwandi city of Thane district, police said on Wednesday, adding that statements of her in-laws are being recorded.Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) and launched an investigation, an official said.The deceased, identified as Amruta Ajay Pimplekar, and her husband reportedly used to quarrel frequently over domestic issues. Following one such heated argument on May 8, she allegedly consumed rat poison at her residence. She later succumbed during treatment on May 13, police said.“Since the initial medical admission and subsequent death occurred under their jurisdiction, the Agripada police in Mumbai initially registered the case. It has now been formally transferred to us for further investigation, as the incident took place within our jurisdiction,” a Bhiwandi Police official said.He added that police are recording statements of the deceased’s family members and neighbours.(With PTI inputs)

KALYAN: The Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation has intensified its crackdown on people dumping garbage in open spaces across the twin-city area. Over the past 15 days, cases have been registered against more than 100 people at different police stations, officials said. The action is being led by the KDMC’s Solid Waste Management Department Deputy Commissioner Ramdas Kokare, who said the strict drive will continue to maintain cleanliness and improve public health conditions in the city. According to Kokare, residents in areas where action has been taken have now started following garbage disposal rules and are handing over waste directly to garbage collection vehicles at designated times. He said many people dump waste at night to avoid detection. Officials said open dumping of leftover food, chicken, meat and fish waste attracts stray dogs, increasing dog-bite incidents, especially among children and senior citizens. Open garbage also creates foul smells and unhygienic surroundings, affecting residents’ health. Most cases have been registered in Kalyan East and other garbage-prone areas. Kokare appealed to residents to inform the civic body if garbage collection vehicles are not arriving regularly in their localities. KDMC officials said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 300 open dumping spots were shut and garbage bins removed to encourage door-to-door waste collection. The civic body now plans to further strengthen the cleanliness drive.

THANE: Tensions flared in Mira Road near Mumbai after a video showing a policeman running away with a pig — allegedly being taken towards the protest site — went viral on Tuesday amid a row over goats being kept inside the Poonam Cluster society premises ahead of Bakrid.The controversy erupted after members of the housing society objected to around 40-50 goats being housed within the residential complex for ritual sacrifice during Eid celebrations.Videos of heated arguments between members of both communities circulated widely on social media on Monday evening, with both sides standing firm on their positions. One person was reportedly injured during the altercation.On Tuesday afternoon, the Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC) removed around 40-50 goats from the society premises using three pickup trucks and shifted them to a designated site allocated by the civic body.Heavy deployment of Mira-Bhayander-Vasai-Virar (MBVV) police personnel was made in the area to ensure law and order and prevent any untoward incident. Locals maintained that animal sacrifice should be carried out only at officially designated locations and not within housing societies.Later, a group gathered outside the society and recited the Hanuman Chalisa.Visuals from the spot also showed members of certain Hindu groups carrying pigs near the protest site as a mark of protest.Former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya visited Mira Road and demanded a ban on animal sacrifice within housing society premises, saying only designated spaces should be used for the purpose.He said it was the responsibility of the municipal corporation to ensure compliance with the rules. Somaiya also referred to last month’s incident in Mira Road in which two security guards were allegedly stabbed after religious profiling by accused Zaib Ansari.Local BJP MLA Narendra Mehta said all communities should celebrate their festivals without disturbing others. He alleged that around 40-50 goats had been kept “illegally” inside the Poonam Cluster society over the past two days, triggering objections from residents.According to Mehta, society members had repeatedly requested that the animals be removed, but tensions escalated on Monday night. He added that residents were unhappy because the authorities could have acted a few days earlier.