Mandals Urge BMC, Traffic Police to Fix Potholes and Cables Across Andheri
Ganesh mandals across Mumbai have demanded urgent road repairs, removal of low-hanging overhead cables, and improved traffic management along key procession routes in Andheri and neighbouring areas ahead of the upcoming Ganpati festival.
The demands were raised during a meeting held on August 14 between representatives of the Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti, Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde, and Mumbai Traffic Police Joint Commissioner Satyanarayan Choudhary. The committee sought immediate interventions from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Mumbai Traffic Police before the idol arrival and immersion processions commence.
A major focus of the committee's demands is the condition of roads in the eastern suburbs and western corridors, specifically the Andheri-Kurla Link Road between Marol and Ghatkopar, where severe potholes risk damaging idols during transport. The committee urged the civic body to fill potholes and resurface critical transit stretches immediately.
Safety risks posed by hanging overhead cables along key procession paths were also highlighted. Mandals expressed serious concern regarding loose and dangling cables around the Sakinaka-Andheri signal area, near Sagar Tech Plaza, and along the roadway leading towards Kurla. Representatives noted that low cables could snag on tall Ganesh idols and procession vehicles.
To emphasize the danger, the samiti cited a fatal cable-related accident that occurred during idol immersion processions last year, urging civic and traffic authorities to ensure all overhead utility cables along designated routes are safely bundled or raised to an adequate height.
Traffic bottlenecks along alternative routes were another significant issue raised during the meeting. Because the immersion lake in Aarey is reportedly unavailable this year, mandals expect a higher volume of immersion traffic to divert onto the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR) toward Shyam Nagar Lake. The committee called on traffic police to deploy adequate personnel and manage traffic flow effectively along the corridor.
Additionally, mandals requested specific traffic adjustments at the Jagruti Nagar Metro Junction in Ghatkopar West, noting that the current one-way traffic system could cause heavy gridlock during peak festival hours.
Concerns were also voiced regarding dilapidated railway bridges and rainwater leaks dripping from flyovers and monorail structures onto procession paths, including routes used for idol arrivals in Lalbaug.
Following the discussions, Mayor Ritu Tawde assured the samiti and mandal representatives that the municipal administration would address the highlighted road, safety, and traffic concerns at the earliest.
