December 1, 2025: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), along with the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST), has begun implementing a major illumination initiative across slum settlements in Colaba, installing more than 2,500 LED lighting poles as part of a 5,000-pole plan aimed at improving visibility and public safety. Estimated to cost between Rs 8–10 crore, the project covers several densely populated pockets, including Ganesh Murti Nagar, Shiv Shakti Nagar, and Macchimar Nagar.
According to former BJP corporator Makarand Narvekar, this marks the first time the city has undertaken a slum-focused lighting project of this scale. He said, “Initially, the BMC had experimented with solar panels for lighting in the areas. However, challenges such as charging inefficiencies due to limited sunlight exposure, issues with battery life, and theft led to reconsideration. Consequently, the BMC and BEST have focused on LED street lighting to illuminate these densely populated areas.” He added that the initiative could be implemented in other similar neighbourhoods across Mumbai.
Residents in areas where the new lights are already operational, particularly Macchimar Nagar, said the improved illumination has strengthened safety and helped reduce incidents linked to poor visibility. Many have welcomed the move, noting that narrow lanes and crowded homes make basic infrastructure like lighting particularly essential.
With the first 2,500 poles in place, BMC is now executing the second phase, which includes installing the remaining poles across internal lanes and settlement clusters. The project is being driven by Colaba MLA and Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar, who has facilitated the funding required for implementation.
Once completed, the initiative is expected to significantly improve night-time movement and overall living conditions in these areas, marking a notable step toward addressing infrastructure gaps in informal settlements.
Source: The Indian Express
