January 5, 2026: Residents of Jogeshwari West, who have been seeking relief from traffic noise for nearly four years, have once again raised concerns over the absence of noise barriers on the Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray flyover. With civic elections scheduled for January 15, locals are now taking the issue directly to candidates campaigning in the area, hoping electoral pressure will finally prompt action.
Only about one kilometre of the 2.2-km flyover was opened to traffic in September 2015 to provide connectivity between Jogeshwari East and West. The project’s second phase involves extending the structure over the existing JVLR flyover and Mumbai Metro Line 7 along the Western Express Highway, before terminating at the Jogeshwari–Vikhroli Link Road. However, the flyover runs just a few feet away from several residential buildings, exposing residents to constant traffic noise, honking and congestion.
According to residents, repeated representations to the K-West ward office and the chief engineer (Bridges) requesting the installation of noise barriers have yielded no results. The matter was later escalated to BMC commissioner Bhushan Gagrani through a formal letter, followed by a legal notice when there was no response.
“The sound pollution is unbearable, especially due to honking and frequent traffic snarls on the flyover. Despite several follow-ups, nothing has been done,” said Mansoor Darvesh, who has been coordinating with civic authorities. He added, “We are frustrated with the manner in which Gagrani has been functioning by ignoring the demands of the residents. Now that candidates are coming to us for votes, we finally have a chance to reopen the dialogue.”
Ward 63 in Jogeshwari East, one of the affected areas, is witnessing a multi-cornered contest involving Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP, Congress, BJP, Samajwadi Party, and RPI (Athawale). Questioning inconsistent implementation, resident Shahnawaz Hussain said, “Why are such barriers installed on only a few flyovers while others are ignored? The hardship we face daily due to noise pollution is immense.”
An RTI filed last year drew a vague response from the BMC, citing “technical reasons” for the delay. Residents now say they are likely to back candidates who commit to resolving the issue, though Darvesh noted that most campaigns remain focused on potholes, water supply, and sewage.
Source: Hindustan Times
