October 10, 2025: While the inauguration of Metro 3 has enhanced Mumbai’s transport connectivity, it has brought unintended challenges for residents of Thakur Niwas, a seven-decade-old, six-storey residential building in Churchgate. Positioned right in front of the building, the multi-storey ancillary Metro structure is causing constant noise and heat, making daily life uncomfortable.
During a visit on Thursday, residents expressed frustration but clarified that they had supported the project throughout its construction. Shefali Kapadia, a resident, said, “If one had to come and measure the decibel levels, it would show up as well within the limits. But it can’t go on as such all through the day. We are finding it difficult to even keep the windows and doors of our balcony open.”
The ancillary building, housing technical equipment, now occupies a space that was previously a traffic island. The area is also culturally notable, as it featured in the filming of the iconic Hindi song ‘Babu Samjho Ishare’, as reported by TOI in November 2021.
Kavita Ghatge, chairman of Thakur Niwas, added, “Ever since work on the ancillary building started back in 2021, we kept raising the issue with the authorities. They kept telling us it wouldn’t disturb the locality, and now, when the project is ready, we are expected to deal with this large structure accompanied by noise.”
Residents also voiced concerns over traffic congestion due to nearby political offices. Lalan Kapadia, living on the third floor, said, “One can’t keep ACs on the entire day and would like to keep the doors and windows open for some fresh air. But rather we have to bear with hot air from morning till night.”
When approached, MMRCL stated, “The site team will conduct actual site readings to assess the situation, and appropriate action will be taken promptly if any irregularities are observed,” assuring residents that their concerns are being evaluated.
This situation underscores the challenges of integrating large-scale infrastructure into densely populated urban neighborhoods.
Source: The Times of India
