The TATA Mumbai Marathon 2026 has drawn over 69,000 runners, but for many, the real finish line reward is the medal waiting at the end. This year, organisers are offering four different medals-one each for the full marathon, half marathon, 10K, and the ever-popular Dream Run-because effort, it seems, now comes in multiple sizes. The longer races get sleek rectangular medals, while Dream Run finishers receive a circular one, perfect for first-timers and proud family selfies. In a city that loves status symbols, even endurance now has a carefully curated design.

Mumbai has opened 2026 with a medical milestone, as Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital performed India’s first heart transplant of the year, saving a 10-year-old child in acute heart failure. After exhausting every high-tech option-from ECMO to an LVAD-the doctors confirmed what no parent wants to hear: a transplant was the only way forward. A donor heart, flown in under a green corridor, made the six-hour surgery possible and successful. It’s a rare feel-good reminder that amid daily chaos, modern medicine-and organ donation-can still pull off near-miracles.

Mumbai’s new corporators have a simple starter task: make the city look less like a dumping ground, especially in places like Andheri where garbage now seems more reliable than street sweepers. A long-floated idea of a “garbage brigade” that responds to citizen calls sounds smart, though it may work better if Mumbaikars also rediscover basic civic sense and fear a stiff fine or two. Meanwhile, a nostalgic visit to a sea-facing vegetarian icon delivered great views, decent food, undercooked parathas, and prices that suggested fine dining while the plate said otherwise. And in politics, a “rasmalai” remark somehow turned into electoral folklore, sweet revenge, and viral sales claims-proving that in Mumbai, even desserts can swing narratives.

Mumbai’s Metro Line 2B has added some symbolism to steel and cables with the completion of the Shunya Bridge’s final pylon, giving the structure its bold zero-shaped design inspired by Aryabhata. The 130-metre cable-stayed bridge packs 750 tonnes of steel, a 40-metre pylon, and kilometres of precision welding-proof that “zero” can involve a lot of hard work. Officials say it will become a visual landmark, which is encouraging in a city where infrastructure is usually admired more for patience than aesthetics. With five stations on the line nearly ready, commuters may soon experience this tribute to zero while hoping their waiting time also drops close to it.

Mumbai’s overcrowded suburban lifeline got a rare dose of relief as the 5th and 6th railway lines between Kandivali and Borivali received CRS approval for passenger and freight services. The 3.21-km upgrade promises higher capacity, better punctuality, and slightly less daily squeezing-assuming trains use the extra space as planned. Speed trials clocked over 100 kmph, though regular operations will run slower, because Mumbai optimism always comes with fine print. Still, for commuters on the Western line, two new tracks feel like a small but welcome miracle in steel.

After a 20-year wait, Kalyan has unveiled India’s longest funicular railway, cutting the punishing two-hour, 2,600-step climb to the Malanggad shrine down to a breezy 10 minutes. The project, proposed in 2004 and finally completed in 2026, is being hailed as a major win for devotees-especially seniors and families-just in time for the annual yatra. Capable of carrying 120 passengers per trip, the service even starts with two days of free rides, because miracles do happen occasionally. Beyond the blessings, the railway is expected to boost tourism, proving that patience, like faith, is eventually rewarded-though not quickly.

At the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2026, 49-year-old Shivananda Shetty ran 42 km in 3 hours 31 minutes-finishing 53rd in his age group and doing it in a traditional Jire Topi, just to make endurance look stylish. A marathon regular since 2006, Shetty has logged over 800 races worldwide, proving consistency can outlast hype. His journey from serving tea in a BMC canteen to becoming a familiar face on the marathon circuit is as impressive as his timing. In a city obsessed with shortcuts, Shetty’s story is a reminder that real progress is still measured step by step.

ISKCON Kharghar is marking the first anniversary of its Sri Sri Radha Madanmohanji Temple with prayers, music, and festivals that prove one year can feel spiritually busy. Since opening in 2025, the temple has quickly become a hub for aartis, kirtans, and cultural events rooted in the Bhagavad Gita and Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition. The celebrations include Brahmotsav rituals and the colourful Nauka Vihar boat festival, blending devotion with spectacle. For a temple that’s barely a year old, it’s already celebrating like a seasoned spiritual landmark-and doing it on a grand scale.

Customs officers at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport have cracked an international gold smuggling racket, detaining a Bangladeshi passenger and an airport contractual staffer who apparently took “teamwork” a bit too far. Acting on a tip-off, officials seized gold worth Rs 2.15 crore, neatly hidden in capsules-because subtlety is overrated. The case once again exposes how airport facilities, designed for travel and security, keep getting repurposed for organized smuggling. Authorities say investigations are ongoing, suggesting this glittery operation may not have been a one-off mistake.

Lollapalooza India 2026 is back in Mumbai this weekend, ready to transform the Mahalaxmi Racecourse into a two-day marathon of loud music and louder crowds. With more than 40 artists across four stages, Day 1 leans into global pop and alt vibes with Playboi Carti, Yungblud, and Fujii Kaze, while Day 2 raises expectations-and decibels-with Linkin Park’s first-ever performance in India. Gates open at 2 pm, shows run till 10 pm, and sleep is clearly optional. For Mumbai, it’s shaping up to be the kind of weekend where the city trades traffic noise for guitar riffs and bass drops.

The Bombay High Court has scolded the Maharashtra government for making “too little” progress on child and maternal deaths in Melghat, asking for a detailed four-week roadmap instead of more explanations. Judges questioned why decades-old committee reports are still “gathering dust” while doctors juggle impractical daily rosters and basic infrastructure remains missing. The state blamed social factors like child marriage and anaemia, but the court wasn’t buying excuses without solutions. With comparisons drawn to better-funded states and a warning of close monitoring, the message was clear: good intentions won’t save lives-actual action might.

Mumbai Climate Week has kicked off a three-year pilot in Raigad, betting that climate action works better when communities-and especially women-are actually in charge. Launched during TISS’s Navati celebrations, the project blends indigenous knowledge with grassroots leadership, a refreshing change from climate plans written far from the people they affect. The goal is to build a model that can be copied elsewhere before Mumbai Climate Week 2026 rolls around. In short, the message is simple: climate policy might finally be moving from conference halls to the ground, where it was always meant to be.

At the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2026, three professionals from Navi Mumbai proved that awareness can run just as far as endurance. Two of them took on the 21-km half marathon dressed as schoolchildren to call out screen addiction and shrinking playtime, while the third ran in a doctor’s coat to remind healthcare workers that fitness isn’t just for patients. The trio skipped the easier “fun run,” choosing the tougher route to make sure their message didn’t take shortcuts either. Along the way, they turned the marathon course into a moving public service announcement-sweat, placards, and all.

Rashtriya Sevika Samiti marked Makar Sankranti in Panvel with a tightly choreographed Saghosh Sanchalan, marching through the city to underline its “Nation First” message and pride in Indian culture. Nearly 180 Sevikas from four talukas took part, joined by about 100 supporters, turning familiar streets into a showcase of discipline and symbolism. Leaders used the occasion to reflect on the organisation’s 90-year journey, stressing social reform through personal conduct and collective responsibility. The procession ended, as expected, with Vande Mataram-because when you’re promoting unity, you might as well do it in perfect formation.

Three men in Virar East were arrested after allegedly trying to sell a Mandul (Red Sand Boa) snake, proving once again that superstition can be a surprisingly profitable business. Acting on a tip-off, forest officials set a trap, seized the snake and a four-wheeler, and booked the accused under the Wildlife Protection Act. The illegal trade thrives on myths about instant wealth and occult powers, with snakes smuggled for hefty sums and even exported for traditional medicine. Authorities say strict action will follow - a reminder that wildlife is not a shortcut to prosperity, no matter what the rumors promise.

Mumbai has a rare infrastructure success story to celebrate: the Bellasis Flyover was completed in just 15 months, finishing well before its own deadline. Replacing a 19th-century bridge deemed unsafe, the new cable-stayed structure promises smoother connectivity between Nagpada and Mumbai Central - once the Railways give their final nod. Despite monsoons, court cases, relocations, and the usual urban chaos, engineers somehow kept things moving. Now the city waits for the last clearance, because in Mumbai, even record speed still ends with “pending NOC.”

Mumbai’s civic body is going green this Maghi Ganeshotsav, with the BMC making artificial ponds mandatory for idol immersions starting January 22. Following Bombay High Court orders, rivers, lakes, and the sea are officially off-limits, while eco-friendly immersion sites take center stage. Pandal permissions have also been simplified through a single-window offline system costing just ₹100 - efficiency, at least on paper. The message is clear: celebrate with devotion, but leave nature out of the cleanup duty.

Just days after the BMC elections wrapped up, Mumbai’s footpaths have been swiftly reclaimed - not by pedestrians, but by illegal hawkers, political hoardings, and celebratory firecrackers. The strict enforcement seen during the poll season has quietly vanished, making it clear that clean streets were more about optics than policy. Activists accuse civic authorities and politicians of selective action, as public spaces clog up again and air quality takes another hit. In Mumbai, it seems the model code of conduct works wonders - until it’s no longer required.

Mumbai Police pulled off a rare feel-good miracle by reuniting a woman with her family 12 years after she went missing. Found at JJ Junction, she was safely placed in a shelter home while officers worked the case with quiet persistence. With help from the Koshish NGO, her relatives were finally traced in Parbhani, turning a decade-long mystery into an emotional reunion. In a city better known for chaos and headlines, this was one rescue story that actually ended right.

Mumbai drivers seem to be sobering up - at least statistically - with drunk driving cases dropping by 39% in 2025. Numbers fell from 9,462 cases in 2024 to 5,798 last year, thanks to strict police enforcement and relentless awareness campaigns. The message clearly got through, especially after crackdowns that saw 70 drunk drivers arrested in a single night. Turns out, fear of flashing lights and suspended licences works better than good intentions alone.