December 4, 2025: B Ward, Mumbai’s smallest municipal ward with just two corporator seats, continues to struggle with old infrastructure and civic issues despite redevelopment efforts. Encompassing areas such as Bhendi Bazaar, Dongri, Masjid Bunder, Mohammed Ali Road, and Mandvi, the ward houses some of the city’s oldest residential and commercial buildings, many nearly a century old. While some structures are being redeveloped, narrow lanes and recurring garbage accumulation remain major concerns for residents.
The ward has historically been a Congress stronghold. In 2012, all three corporator seats of the then-larger B Ward went to the party, and Congress veteran Amin Patel won the Mumbadevi assembly seat for the fourth consecutive term. Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha constituency returned Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Arvind Sawant for the third consecutive term. A portion of the corporator ward now falls under the Colaba assembly, represented by BJP MLA Rahul Narwekar.
Patel highlighted ongoing civic challenges, particularly low water pressure. “The population of the ward has increased over the years, yet residents continue to receive the same amount of water they did decades ago. On top of that, there is low water pressure. How will this suffice?” he said. Mohammed Imran K Gujarati, president of the NGO Brotherhood Medical Aid and Welfare Foundation, pointed out that parking is also a major issue. “Most redeveloped buildings do not provide adequate parking spaces, forcing residents to park on narrow roads. In emergencies, fire tenders and ambulances face difficulty accessing these lanes,” he said.
Residents welcomed the opening of Sindoor Bridge (formerly Carnac Bridge) in July 2025, which improved east-west connectivity. Masjid Bunder resident Sarita Midbaokar said, “Its reopening was a godsend for traffic between P D’Mello Road and commercial hubs, although initial congestion was resolved through MLA intervention.”
Trustee Yusuf Rangwalla stressed the need for civic cooperation to manage garbage and hawkers. “It’s not fair to expect civic staff to collect garbage strewn throughout the day. Rising hawker activity in congested areas also adds to the problem,” he said, underscoring persistent challenges amid ongoing redevelopment.
Source: The Times of India
