Mumbai’s streets, from Dahisar to Andheri, are riddled with dug-up roads and broken footpaths, raising questions about the enforcement of civic norms and public safety. Despite clear guidelines from the Bombay High Court, many ongoing projects lack basic signage, barricades, or information boards, leaving citizens to navigate dangerous conditions.
Advocate Floyd Gracias, Supreme Court counsel, highlights a key ruling in Suo Motu PIL No. 71 of 2013, which mandates that roads and footpaths be kept level and usable. Contractors must display start and end dates and details of full restoration, but these boards are missing in most areas. “Roads across Mumbai’s suburbs are in a state of disrepair, and this violates the court’s directives,” Gracias said.
According to Sections 319 and 321 of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, public notices must be issued before road closures, and all construction zones must be safely secured—requirements that are rarely met. This negligence disproportionately affects senior citizens and daily commuters.
In Bandra West’s St Roques Road, where cement concrete roads are being laid, compliance is partial. Some stretches feature proper barricades with QR codes and contractor details, but others remain exposed. “Lack of lighting and barricades is a major safety hazard,” said a senior citizen from the area.
In Andheri West’s SVP Nagar and Lokhandwala, residents report months-long disruptions with no signage or completion timelines. Dhaval Shah, chairman of a local citizens’ group, said, “We don’t know when work started or when it’ll end.”
In Dahisar East’s Anand Nagar, construction led to a damaged water pipeline, cutting off the water supply for two days. With BMC and contractors blaming each other, residents continue to suffer.
Mumbai’s civic infrastructure overhaul may be essential, but it cannot come at the cost of citizen safety and legal compliance.
Source: Mid-day
