Shastri Nagar Road in Andheri West has remained closed for 18 months as work continues on the reconstruction of a bridge over Mogra nullah, forcing residents and daily commuters to take a detour of more than 1 km. The BMC, which had initially set an 18-month construction timeline, now expects the project to be completed by March 2027.
The roughly 400-metre road connects P Tandon Marg with Sundervan Complex through Yavateshwar Marg and is located near Bhaktivedanta School. Residents say the prolonged closure has increased travel times and worsened congestion on surrounding roads, particularly during school hours.
The Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizens’ Association (LOCA) has approached Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the BMC Commissioner and the civic body’s Bridges Department, seeking intervention. The association said the work order was issued in 2024 and construction began in early 2025. It claimed the project is still only around halfway complete despite being assigned an 18-month schedule.
LOCA director Aarush Jotwani said residents had been informed that shifting a water pipeline was among the reasons behind the delay. The association questioned why the utility relocation was not accounted for before the project was tendered and work commenced. It has sought senior-level monitoring to prevent further delays.
The BMC said the bridge’s foundation work has been completed and construction of the superstructure is underway. A civic official said, “The foundation work of the bridge over the nullah is done; further work is ongoing for constructing the superstructure. The deadline for the project is March 2027. Residents can be assured that the stretch will be open before the next monsoon”
Residents remain frustrated by the extended closure. Sudhaanshu Paandey said, “I really don’t understand why it is taking so long to construct such a small bridge. This is an important arterial link that used to save considerable time for people travelling from Shastri Nagar towards Infiniti Mall. Now, commuters are forced to take a detour of more than a kilometre and then get stuck in traffic on the main road, adding to the daily inconvenience”
The closure has also affected students and parents travelling to Bhaktivedanta School, who now have to use longer routes.
A resident, Aparna Nadig, said, “Many students travelling from P Tandon Road to Bhaktivedanta School used to take this small bridge over Mogra nullah as it provided a convenient shortcut and saved considerable time compared to using the main road. With the bridge still closed, schoolchildren and their parents have no option but to take the longer route to reach the school, adding to their daily travel time and inconvenience”
Source: Mid-day
