Mumbai's K East administrative ward, encompassing the eastern stretches of Vile Parle, Andheri, and Jogeshwari, has descended into a state of profound civic decay. The area stands as a stark example of municipal dysfunction spiraling out of control, leaving its residents in a relentless struggle for basic livability.
A Ward Overwhelmed by Chaos and Neglect
The daily reality for inhabitants is a grim tapestry of problems. Andheri (East) is synonymous with suffocating traffic jams, towering piles of uncollected garbage, and footpaths completely overrun by hawkers. Basic public services are collapsing under the strain. While Jogeshwari (East) and Vile Parle (East) are in a marginally better state, the overall situation paints a picture of an area where governance has failed to keep pace with its challenges.
The political landscape has seen significant shifts. The ward's political allegiance moved towards the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which increased its corporator count from just one in 2012 to six in 2017. Conversely, the Shiv Sena saw its seats drop from nine to four in the same period, with Congress and independents remaining on the fringes. A critical blow to local development came after the corporators' terms ended in 2022. The flow of BMC corporator funds ceased, stripping the area of resources and impetus for action. Complaints from citizens and former corporators now largely go unheeded by civic officials.
Activists Decry a "Deplorable State" of Affairs
Activist Godfrey Pimenta of the Watchdog Foundation pulls no punches in his assessment. "K East is in a deplorable state," he states. He highlights the complete occupation of footpaths along the Andheri-Kurla Road by hawkers, exacerbated by double-parking, especially near the Saturday Bazaar. The roads are clogged by tankers, tempos, and trucks, while footpaths are perpetually dug up, eliminating safe walking space. "Corporators have shown no accountability since their term ended. A grievance redressal mechanism is non-existent. BMC and traffic police rarely take action," he laments.
Another activist, Sriganesh Parthasarathy, criticizes the pathetic state of urban planning. He points to unused foot over-bridges and flyovers that ironically create traffic bottlenecks. Vendor encroachment on footpaths is rampant in areas like MIDC, Ramakrishna Mandir Road, and near Seepz. A shocking revelation is the condition of main water pipelines buried under tons of garbage and sewage behind Seepz and the airport's international terminal (T2)—a mess that has accumulated over two decades. "None of the corporators in the last two decades have cleared this muck," he asserts, calling for voters to support candidates who will personally supervise cleanup.
Political Responses and Ongoing Battles
Local MLA Murji Patel (now with Shinde Sena), a corporator since 1981, acknowledges issues like the annual monsoon flooding at Andheri Subway and problems with traffic and illegal hawkers. He credits Metro 3 for benefiting the area, which sees a floating population of around six lakh people commuting daily. He claims efforts are ongoing to clear Development Plan roads and improve garbage collection. On the halted funds, Patel clarifies that while individual corporator funds have stopped, BMC provides a common fund for public applications.
Former corporators from across parties detail specific failures. Ex-BJP corporator Abhijeet Samant emphasizes tackling unauthorized parking and hawkers, along with ensuring adequate water pressure from reservoirs. Former Sena corporator Priyanka Sawant (now with UBT) identifies the four-year fund freeze as crippling garbage collection and drainage work, forcing slum dwellers to rely on grossly inadequate public toilets.
The personal toll is evident. Former corporator Kamlesh Rai reveals his own society, Vasant Oasis, pays a staggering Rs 13 lakh per year for water tankers due to an unresolved BMC supply gap. "Since we are no longer corporators they pay no heed," he rues. His wife, Sushma Rai, is fighting for slum dwellers facing displacement from Sahar airport land.
In Jogeshwari, ex-BJP corporator Pankaj Yadav proposes pragmatic solutions like underground parking beneath public grounds to remove heavy vehicles from residential areas. Meanwhile, some outgoing corporators level serious allegations, claiming a local BJP MLA has instructed BMC to ignore opposition complaints, accusing the ruling alliance of hijacking the system for electoral gains through schemes like Ladki Bahin.
The consensus is clear: Mumbai's K East ward is trapped in a cycle of neglect, with its residents bearing the brunt of political inertia and administrative failure. The urgent call is for restored local governance through timely civic elections and leaders who prioritize ground-level supervision over ribbon-cutting ceremonies.
