Mumbai's Gorai Beach set to get functional streetlights after long delay

BMC workers fixing the new lights at Gorai. PIC/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

For over half a year, Gorai Beach has been in complete darkness as the sun sets daily. This is despite locals complaining since the onset of the monsoon in 2025, after the streetlights stopped working in May.

But what can be seen as a New Year's gift, one of the first things being fixed on the island are the streetlights at Gorai Beach. Expressing relief, Rossi D'Souza, a member of the Gorai Gaothan Panchayat, told mid-day, "We saw workers here and one of them told me it is to restore streetlights at the beach."

Due to heavy wear and tear caused by sea breeze, sand, and water, the streetlights which were on the beach earlier stopped working, with one of the poles breaking off and falling onto the sand on the beach. While residents complained, work couldn't be done as the monsoon set in.

Residents feel that the functioning streetlights would provide safety, and prevent illegal or dangerous activities on the beach. "We had a mini bus stuck during high tide last year. Luckily, since it was in the morning time, we could help get the bus out. If such an incident was to happen in the evening hours, it would be very difficult to get help to those who are stuck," Royston Godinho, a member of Gorai Gaothan Panchayat had told mid-day earlier.

Godinho added, "The lights are not only for those who will be visiting, it is also for those who live along the beach. In the last six months they have suffered due to no proper light. But now that the lights will be functional soon, they will have a safer path home."

Samuel D'Souza, one of the younger residents of the area, said, "Once the lights are functional, we will have more time to hang around and play at the beach, but we hope high-intensity lights are installed, as the ones used previously didn't help much. mid-day contacted the BMC R Central ward office for a comment on when the lights will be functional, but no response was received till the time of going to press.