Chandivali Residents Mark Two Years of Delay in BMC’s 90-Ft Road Project With Symbolic Protest

Chandivali, Powai | Mumbai News:

Residents of Chandivali marked two years of delay in the construction of the long-promised 90-foot DP road by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) with a symbolic protest, expressing frustration over what they described as an unfulfilled civic commitment.

More than 100 members of the Chandivali Citizens Welfare Association (CCWA) gathered at a clubhouse on Nahar Amrit Shakti Road, where they cut a cake labelled “Jhoot Bolo” to highlight the continued inaction by the civic body.

90-Ft Road Meant to Connect Chandivali to JVLR

The proposed 90-foot road was planned to provide direct connectivity from Chandivali to the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR), reducing travel time from the current 45–60 minutes to just 15 minutes. According to the development plan, the road was also expected to ease traffic congestion, offer alternate routes, and improve access from residential complexes to the main highway.

The full stretch of the DP road was proposed to run from Sakinaka to JVLR, with residents requesting at least a 700-metre section from JVLR to Chandivali Farm Road to be completed on priority to ease daily traffic woes.

BMC Assurances Remain on Paper

In 2023, residents had staged a hunger strike to draw the BMC’s attention to the issue. Following the protest, the civic body assured that the tender process would be completed within a month and that construction would begin within a year.

Although a ₹27.78-crore tender was released and required approvals were obtained, residents say no work has begun on the ground even after two years.

Encroachments Cited as Major Hurdle

The BMC has cited encroachments as the main reason for the delay. A portion of the road alignment passes through land owned by the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), while another stretch is occupied by slum dwellers on land belonging to a private builder.

Notices were issued to over 80 encroached units in Manubhai Chawl, but the residents challenged the eviction in court. The case concluded with an order directing the private builder to rehabilitate the encroachers under the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) scheme. However, the rehabilitation work has yet to begin.

While SCI has agreed to relocate, it has stated that relocation would only take place after the BMC takes full possession of the land. Meanwhile, residents allege that the private builder continues construction activity in other parts of the area without fulfilling rehabilitation obligations.

Traffic Woes and Safety Concerns Grow

With the rapid rise in residential projects, population, and vehicle density, traffic congestion in Chandivali has worsened significantly. Residents have also raised serious concerns about emergency access, stating that ambulances and fire brigades are often forced to navigate narrow and overcrowded internal roads.

CCWA Seeks Immediate Intervention

On September 2, the Chandivali Citizens Welfare Association submitted a formal letter to Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, urging immediate intervention and time-bound action. However, residents say there has been no visible progress, leaving the future of the crucial road project uncertain.