January 12, 2026: Encroached roads, illegal constructions, pollution, and recurring flooding continue to affect Mumbai’s R-North Ward in Dahisar, highlighting persistent civic shortcomings despite rapid redevelopment and large infrastructure projects such as the Coastal Road. Residents say poor desilting of nullahs, destruction of mangroves, a sewage-choked Dahisar River, rising construction dust, and weak internal connectivity have widened the gap between urban expansion and basic governance.
R-North Ward, located at the northern edge of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation limits, includes Dahisar East and West and parts of Borivali. The area comprises a mix of residential neighbourhoods, slum pockets, and open land and has seen accelerated redevelopment and rising population density in recent years. It also falls within the Mumbai Coastal Road Phase 2, which includes a 20-km corridor from Versova to Dahisar and a 5.6-km elevated road linking Dahisar to Bhayandar. While the project aims to sharply reduce travel time and emissions, residents say inadequate connecting roads at the local level limit its benefits.
Flooding during the monsoon remains a major concern. Civic records show 15 major and 16 minor nullahs in the ward, many of which are poorly desilted. Areas such as Dahisar Check Naka on the Western Express Highway frequently experience waterlogging, leading to traffic snarls and increased air and noise pollution. Local resident Dilip Rane said, “The BMC claims to have implemented several measures for a flood-free Mumbai, yet Station Road still floods. Waste in some slum pockets is collected late or left unattended, and unmonitored redevelopment has increased dust and pollution in the area.”
Environmental issues extend to mangrove destruction and river pollution. In Ganpat Patil Nagar, unauthorised construction has led to clearing of mangrove land, residents allege. The Dahisar River continues to emit foul odours due to untreated sewage and waste. Gopal Zaveri of the citizens’ group Mumbai March said, “Despite the BMC spending Rs. 200 crore on two Sewage Treatment Plants, the problem persists even after five years, with methane emissions affecting the entire area. The BMC has taken no effective action.” He added, “The area faces poor connectivity to development plan roads, no BEST bus terminal in Borivali East causing traffic congestion, high dust and poor air quality, and frequent flooding near the station during the monsoon—issues that remain unresolved.”
As civic elections approach, these unresolved issues have turned R-North Ward into a closely watched and highly competitive political battleground.
