Demand to Revive Defunct Police Beat Chowki in Mahatma Phule Nagar Gains Urgency

Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Nagar in Powai continued to witness rising incidents of crime, prompting residents to renew their appeal for the immediate revival of the long-defunct police beat chowki. Growing concerns over public safety pushed the community to seek swift and decisive administrative action.

The beat chowki, established around 2002–2003 under Parksite Police Station (Zone 7), had originally been inaugurated by the then Deputy Chief Minister, the late Gopinath Munde. In its initial years, police personnel were regularly deployed at the outpost, ensuring visibility and routine vigilance. Over time, however, the facility became increasingly inactive and eventually ceased operations entirely.

In recent years, the abandoned structure had deteriorated further, gradually turning into a hotspot for antisocial activities. Petty criminals, thieves, and drug addicts reportedly began frequenting the premises, creating an atmosphere of fear among local residents. The situation grew more alarming after two major murderous attacks occurred in the nearby hill area within the past year, the most recent resulting in the death of a young man.

Amid this deteriorating law-and-order scenario, youth social worker Avinash Dilip Hajare met Maharashtra Minister of State for Home Affairs Yogesh Kadam on behalf of the residents. He submitted a formal request urging the government to restart the beat chowki at the earliest. Hajare asserted that the decline in routine police patrolling had contributed significantly to the rise in criminal activities and stressed that reviving the chowki was essential for restoring safety and confidence in the locality.

Residents of Mahatma Phule Nagar awaited a timely and positive response from the authorities, hopeful that the restoration of the beat chowki would strengthen policing and curb the escalating crime rate in the area.