Mid-day impact: Andheri Metro station gets temporary lighting, residents seek removal of construction material

The under-construction Metro Pink Line 6 in Swami Samarth Nagar, Andheri West, is lit up on Friday night

Taking note of mid-day's report highlighting the lack of illumination around the under-construction Swami Samarth Nagar Metro station in Lokhandwala, Andheri West, the contractor concerned has installed temporary lights beneath the piece of infrastructure. However, locals say the lighting alone is not enough. They are now demanding that the construction material stored beneath the station and along the footpath be cleared immediately.

[popcorn number="Sept 11" desc="Day mid-day revisited spot" class="Default"]

The under-construction Metro Pink Line 6 in Swami Samarth Nagar, Andheri West, is shrouded in darkness on September 1

Dhaval Shah and Karan Jotwani of the Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizens Association (LOCA) said that following mid-day's September 7 article about how residents, especially women, were finding it difficult to walk along the stretch after sunset, the contractor installed temporary lights below the station at Swami Samarth Nagar and some construction material was also moved away.

The same stretch on Friday night, after the contactor installed temporary lights. Pics/Satej Shinde

On September 11, when this reporter visited the spot, a few temporary lights could be seen, but construction material had not been cleared from beneath the Metro station and the footpath.

Residents Speak

Yukti Pal, who uses the road regularly
‘It is good to see that authorities have finally installed temporary lights following mid-day's coverage, but I think more lights should be installed on either side of the stretch because this road is used by many devotees during Ganeshotsav. The authorities must also remove construction material and container cabins on the footpath, as they force pedestrians to risk their lives walking on the road'

Komal Mehta, Lokhandwala local
‘With Ganeshotsav just a few days away, the authorities have installed temporary lights, but what about the construction material that is still lying on the footpath and road below Swami Samarth Nagar station? During Ganeshotsav, the road sees increased pedestrian movement and leaving the footpath blocked endangers them'