As Mumbai gears up for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, the spotlight falls on the sprawling S Ward, a densely populated suburban zone grappling with severe civic and environmental crises. Encompassing areas like Bhandup, Kanjurmarg, Powai, and Vikhroli, this ward is a study in contrasts, featuring scenic lakes and industrial hubs alongside crumbling infrastructure and landslide threats.
Monsoon Perils and Crumbling Civic Lines
The hilly terrain of Bhandup, particularly areas like Khindipada, presents a persistent danger. Large slums perched on unstable slopes face significant landslide risks during the monsoon, raising urgent safety concerns. Compounding these hazards is the ward's antiquated civic network. Key utilities, including sewerage, drainage, and water connections, were installed in the 1960s and are now woefully inadequate for the current population.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Chandrashekhar Jadhav, whose wife is contesting from ward number 118 within the S Ward, highlighted this core issue. "Our main focus is to rebuild and widen sewerage lines, drainage, and water connections which were built in the 1960s," Jadhav stated, underscoring a primary electoral promise.
Water Paradox and Traffic Gridlocks
Residents face a stark paradox: despite housing major water sources like Powai Lake, Vihar Lake, and the Bhandup Pumping Station—which supplies water to much of Mumbai—local access is severely limited. "The S ward supplies water to the entire city but citizens of this ward hardly get drinking water for three to four hours," revealed Jai Prakash Singh, a local resident and BJP vice president.
Transportation is another major headache. The Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR) and LBS Marg, crucial connectors for eastern and western suburbs, are plagued by chronic traffic congestion. Monsoon exacerbates the situation with severe water-logging at spots like Kanjur village and Naval colony, where water levels can rise two to three feet, crippling mobility.
Unchecked Redevelopment and Environmental Damage
Rapid, often unregulated redevelopment is transforming the ward's landscape, creating new problems. In areas like Kannamwar Nagar in Vikhroli East, old low-rise buildings are being replaced by high-rise towers, drastically increasing population density without upgrading essential services. "The water connection, drainage and sewerage lines were built 50 years ago... Citizens are facing significant civic issues," said Sanjay Yelve, president of Vikhrolikar Vikas Manch.
This development frenzy contributes to air and dust pollution. Environmental concerns are further heightened by the foul odour from the Kanjurmarg dumping ground and the destruction of mangroves due to garbage dumping. "For the last 15 years, politicians have been making promises every election but there is no concrete solution yet," Yelve added, expressing widespread public frustration.
The Political Battlefield
The upcoming electoral contest in S Ward, which comprises 14 electoral wards, is shaping up as a direct fight between the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT). This reflects the area's strong historical allegiance to the Shiv Sena, which won 11 of the 14 seats in the 2017 BMC polls. The BJP had won two, and the Congress one. The recent 2024 Assembly election saw Ashok Patil of the Shinde Sena secure victory here.
Beyond the political rivalry, the core issues remain starkly visible: narrow, congested roads made impassable for emergency vehicles by illegal parking in areas like Hanuman Nagar, and the ongoing threat of landslides in monsoon. As residents cast their votes, their demands are clear—concrete action to address decades of infrastructural neglect and environmental degradation in one of Mumbai's most critical suburban wards.
