January 5, 2026: K-West ward in Mumbai’s western suburbs, which covers parts of Andheri West, Jogeshwari, and Vile Parle, was the city’s third-highest tax-paying ward in 2024–25, contributing more than Rs 504 crore to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. With several premium residential towers, commercial developments, and redevelopment projects underway, the ward is expected to soon emerge as Mumbai’s highest revenue-generating civic zone.
Yet, residents argue that civic services and infrastructure remain far from commensurate with the ward’s financial contribution. Long-pending issues such as traffic congestion on the Western Express Highway, frequent flooding at the Andheri subway, deteriorating air quality, shrinking green cover, and prolonged infrastructure works continue to affect daily life. The absence of a much-needed fire brigade station, despite repeated demands, has further heightened concerns, particularly as high-rise construction accelerates across the area.
Citizen groups and activists have increasingly stepped in to hold authorities accountable. The Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizens Association (LOCA) has released a citizens’ manifesto ahead of the upcoming BMC elections, outlining demands ranging from public consultation on civic spending to curbing hawker encroachments, addressing chronic garbage dumping, stopping repetitive road digging, and improving BEST bus connectivity.
“The ward sees unending road works and new infrastructure projects announced every couple of months, at the time, the existing projects are left incomplete. The Mogra nullas pumping work has been stalled for decades for the best reasons known to the BMC. For decades now, the Andheri subway floods every monsoon. The pumping station will ease waterlogging,” said Dhaval Shah, founder of LOCA.
Fire safety remains another flashpoint. “Recently, a senior citizen lost his life in a high-rise fire in Andheri West. Considering the increasing high-rises, the Ambivali fire station should have been on the top agenda for the BMC ward office and the fire brigade,” Shah added, referring to the continued occupation of the Chitrakoot ground earmarked for a fire station.
Activist and Aam Aadmi Party leader Ruben Mascarnehas highlighted construction-related risks, saying, “K-West has become a hotspot for construction activities, which are failing to obey air pollution control norms and basic safety rules.” Recalling past infrastructure failures, he added, “The people have not forgotten the Gokhale bridge chaos, whose connectors failed to meet 2 meters gap.”
Environmental concerns also dominate resident discourse. “It is high time the citizens should come on the ground and speak up… It’s time to save the 45,000 mangroves that are being cut for the Coastal Road phase 2,” said activist Naazish Shah, who earlier led protests that resulted in the scrapping of a proposed Bollywood-themed installation under Metro Line 2B.
