Mumbai Masala: A Refreshing Contrast

Normally, one associates government offices with inefficiency and red tape. But the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Mumbai, presents a refreshing contrast. The staff is alert and proactive. It provides information to the media in real time. The PIB supplies not only news, but also useful features. It played a crucial role during the recently concluded four-day global WAVES summit at Jio Centre at BKC. The preparations started several months before the actual event. Most of the participants from the media were all praise for the PIB. During the recent Indo-Pak crisis, too, the PIB was at the forefront of disseminating news and fact-checking. One wishes other government bodies were also as efficient.

Infra Overdrive

The opening of the second phase of Aqualine 3 Metro from BKC to Worli Naka marks an important development in the city’s mass transport system. It is part of the SEEPZ Colaba line. Even though the ridership in the first phase was not impressive, it is expected to improve majorly with the commissioning of Phase II. This will be a convenient mode of transport, particularly for the thousands of people visiting the famed Siddhivinayak temple at Prabhadevi. But the real game-changer with be when the line is opened up from Worli Naka to Colaba. The number of metro lines and flyovers being laid out in Mumbai is unbelievable. One can’t imagine that so much is happening in such a short span of time.

An Excellent PRO

Umesh Kashikar provides the interface between whoever is the governor of Maharashtra and the media. In fact, he is the contact person for all those citizens who have work in Raj Bhavan. As the public relations officer, he does an excellent job. Recently, Kashikar started producing reels related to the Raj Bhavan. The latest one is based on the Raj Bhavan’s connection with cricket. Kashikar reveals that the second governor, George Harris, was an accomplished cricketer. In fact, he was a captain of the England cricket team. He scored 101 runs during a match with the Khadki team. Thanks, Umesh, for this and other nuggets of information.

Tailpiece

According to a food delivery app Sunita Williams should have simply contacted it for home food instead of travelling all the way back to Earth! (Compiled by S Balakrishnan)

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