23 March,2026 09:01 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-day
A crowded Ghatkopar Metro station. File pic
Mid-Day has introduced a new initiative: DEAR GOVERNMENT.
In this your favourite newspaper will print your questions to BMC, Police and State Government every Monday, and will get answers on your behalf. Be it roads, water crime, government policy, whatever your query, write to us at mailbag@mid-day.com or tweet to us at @mid-day and we will try and get responses to your problems.
This is a persistent issue faced by daily commuters on the Ghatkopar-Versova Metro line. Despite repeated discussions and expectations around the introduction of additional coaches to ease overcrowding, there has been no visible update or progress for over a year. This corridor is one of the busiest in Mumbai, and peak-hour travel continues to be extremely congested, causing significant inconvenience to thousands of commuters every day. The lack of communication or timelines from the authorities has only added to the frustration.
Chandan Sharma
Avoiding potholes on the roads is a headache as it is, but what should vehicles do if there are potholes on the speed breakers too? Owing to potholes on the speed breaker on the road going from west to east under the railway bridge north of Dahisar Railway Station, vehicles have to try to pass from the extreme left causing traffic jams. And in Dahisar, potholes have appeared on the speed breakers at many places.
Kiran P Chaudhari
I am a senior citizen resident of G North near the Sahkari Bhandar (Reliance Super bazar), Prabhadevi. Over the last six months food stalls have mushrooned here, becoming a nuisance. Right from morning till late night up to 11.30 pm these stalls make loud noises and also generate garbage. BMC vans do take action periodically, but within an hour, the stalls are back. Our tweets to the ward office, commissioner, and the MLAs have not elicited any response.
KSN Iyer
I am a resident of Shiv Darshan Society in Malad West, Ahimsa Marg. I wanted to report an issue that we are collectively facing as a society - a serious rodent crisis with rats roaming in multiple flats of both A wing and B wing. This issue has originated from A wing (703). This flat has remained closed for nearly six months due to an ongoing legal dispute and a court order. During this period, there has been a terrible foul smell emanating from the flat, almost unbearable, and we suspect it might be due to decaying matter inside. This has further led to an infestation of rats which are now spreading all over the building. The society has reported the issue to L&T Finance which has sealed the flat, but we haven't gotten any positive response. This has also been reported to the BMC, but the legal situation around the flat is proving to be a hindrance in cleaning flat B-703.
Kindly help us find a solution
Sushant Shetty
After Mumbaikars sent in their questions and woes to mid-day last Monday, some of the authorities concerned responded. We haven't given up on the rest. We shall continue to hold authorities accountable for the state of the city.
Response: An official from the Central Pollution Control Board said, "Regular monitoring of all areas takes place and any hotspots are noted by the CPCB, which influence policy measures that need to be taken to mitigate the larger problem of dust pollution. In case of a hyperlocal pollution hotspot, immediate measures can be taken by local authorities to either halt construction work or divert traffic if required until AQI in the area gets better."
Response: Bandra, BKC, Khar Santacruz, are among pollution hotspots noted by the readings on CPCB, BMC, and IIT monitors from the area.
A senior official said, "While the Bandra and Santacruz areas have a number of infrastructure projects going on at the same time at present, efforts are made by BMC to ensure strict rules are followed to curb dust pollution in the locality."
According to the BMC, not all pollution in the area can be attributed to construction. "Other factors include vehicular combustion and wind patterns, not all of which is in the purview of the civic body BMC has tied up with IIT Kanpur to install hyperlocal sensors across the city. Seventy-five such sensors will be set up in areas which have shown constantly high levels on poor air quality.
Response: MMRDA officials refused to comment stating that the matter requires a decision at government and cabinet level.
Response: When contacted, joint commissioner of traffic Anil Kumbhare was unavailable for comment. However, an official from Khar police station assured that corrective measures will be taken to solve the traffic problems.
