December 27, 2025: Mumbai’s E Ward, which includes Byculla, Mazgaon and surrounding neighbourhoods, is facing growing civic challenges marked by deteriorating air quality, chronic traffic congestion and delayed infrastructure projects. Despite housing some of the city’s most prominent heritage sites and major public hospitals, residents and elected representatives say persistent administrative lapses have adversely affected the quality of life in the densely populated ward.
The E Ward spans areas such as Byculla, Mazgaon, Mumbai Central, Chinchpokli, Agripada, Nagpada and Kamathipura, and includes landmarks like Mazgaon Dock, Reay Road and Dockyard Road railway stations, and the Veermata Jijabai Botanical Garden. It is also home to major public hospitals, including JJ Hospital, Nair Hospital and Kasturba Hospital, alongside several private healthcare facilities. However, in recent years, the ward has frequently made headlines for poor air quality, narrowing roads due to ongoing projects and incomplete bridges such as the Y Bridge, Hancock Bridge and Belasis Bridge.
Byculla and Mazgaon again featured among Mumbai’s worst air quality hotspots this year, with Mazgaon’s AQI crossing 300 during winter, prompting the BMC to implement the Graded Response Action Plan. Civic authorities halted some water works, acted against an illegally operating bakery, intensified road washing and undertook deep cleaning drives to curb pollution.
Residents argue that the problem runs deeper. “It is not only bakeries that add to the pollution, but also excessive construction work, which hardly follows any air pollution control norms. Roads are dug up and debris and dust are left roadside, which is not picked up every day,” said activist Kamlakar Shenoy. Echoing traffic concerns, Byculla resident P. Kharade said, “Every road in Byculla has some or the other construction going on… All vehicles need to take a long route, adding to residents’ woes.”
MLA Manoj Jamsutkar alleged civic apathy and project delays, stating, “There is complete apathy of the BMC towards addressing several issues,” while also highlighting pending bridge works, rehabilitation delays, and safety risks near railway tracks. He further raised concerns over illegal drug activity and unchecked nighttime construction, warning that poor enforcement continues to worsen air and noise pollution in the ward.
Source: The Free Press Journal
