September 25, 2025: Mumbai residents faced two alarming incidents on Thursday morning, both of which disrupted traffic and reignited debate over the city’s infrastructure and safety standards.
At approximately 6:45 a.m. on September 25, a section of road at Kalpana Chawla Chowk in Borivali West, beneath the Suman Nagar bridge, caved in. The collapse created a sizeable depression in the centre of the busy junction, which is notorious for heavy congestion during rush hour. Police were quick to respond, cordoning off the affected portion and erecting barricades to prevent vehicles and pedestrians from approaching the hazardous spot. Motorists have been advised to avoid the area until repair work is completed.
Although no casualties were reported, the incident has heightened public concern regarding the condition of Mumbai’s roads, particularly following the monsoon season when waterlogging and similar failures frequently occur. Traffic diversions are expected to continue until the damaged stretch is restored.
Barely three hours later, at around 9:30 a.m., a car caught fire inside the south-bound tunnel of the Coastal Road, one of Mumbai’s most ambitious infrastructure projects. The blaze forced officials to suspend traffic movement in both directions. Confirming the situation on its official X handle, Mumbai Traffic Police announced: “Traffic movement is stopped at Coastal Road (Tardeo) south bound and north bound due to car fire.” Traffic was diverted at Haji Ali and the Worli connector to ease congestion, while emergency teams acted swiftly to extinguish the flames. Authorities have stated that no injuries were reported, though the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Both incidents, occurring within hours of each other, have raised fresh questions over the reliability and safety of Mumbai’s critical road network.
Source: Times Now
