Mumbai: Shastri Nagar Road remains shut after 18 months, forcing Andheri commuters to detour

The ongoing construction of the Mogra nullah bridge in Andheri West. pics/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

Eighteen months after the BMC shut Shastri Nagar Road in Andheri West for reconstruction of a bridge over Mogra nullah, the stretch remains closed, forcing residents and commuters to take a detour of more than 1 km for a road that is barely 400 metres long.

The road connects P Tandon Marg to Sundervan Complex via Yavateshwar Marg and runs near Bhaktivedanta School. Residents say the prolonged closure has increased travel time and disrupted school traffic. The BMC had originally said the bridge work would take 18 months. It now says the project is scheduled for completion by March 2027.

The road leading to the Mogra nullah bridge

Why residents are upset

The bridge had provided a shortcut between P Tandon Marg and Shastri Nagar. With the road shut, commuters now have to use the main road, where residents say they face additional traffic congestion. School buses and parents travelling to Bhaktivedanta School have also been affected, said Parag Motani, a resident.

Citizen's body flags delay

The ongoing construction of the Mogra nullah bridge in Andheri West. Pics/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

The Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizens' Association (LOCA) has written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the BMC Commissioner and the BMC Bridges Department seeking intervention. According to the association, the work order was issued in 2024, and construction began in the first week of 2025. It said the project was initially given an 18-month timeline, including the monsoon period, but remains only about halfway complete.

‘Work is lagging behind by a very high margin'

LOCA also questioned why the project had taken so long, describing the bridge as a "micro project" that did not involve major ramps or approach roads.

The road leading to the Mogra nullah bridge

Pipeline to blame for massive delay?

LOCA director Aarush Jotwani said residents had been told that shifting a water pipeline was one reason for the delay. The association has questioned why the pipeline shifting was not factored into project planning before the tender was floated and construction began. LOCA has sought the appointment of a senior official to monitor the project and ensure that work is completed without further delay.

BMC speak civic official

‘The foundation work of the bridge over the nullah is done; further work is ongoing for constructing the superstructure. The deadline for the project is March 2027. Residents can be assured that the stretch will be open before the next monsoon'

Voices of concern

Sudhaanshu Paandey, Shastri Nagar resident
‘I really don't understand why it is taking so long to construct such a small bridge. This is an important arterial link that used to save considerable time for people travelling from Shastri Nagar towards Infiniti Mall. Now, commuters are forced to take a detour of more than a kilometre and then get stuck in traffic on the main road, adding to the daily inconvenience'

Urmila Shah, Shastri Nagar resident
‘Already, the bridge work has been delayed and the original deadline missed. We hope that authorities now speed up the work and complete the work by this year-end at least'

Aparna Nadig, resident
‘Many students travelling from P Tandon Road to Bhaktivedanta School used to take this small bridge over Mogra nullah as it provided a convenient shortcut and saved considerable time compared to using the main road. With the bridge still closed, schoolchildren and their parents have no option but to take the longer route to reach the school, adding to their daily travel time and inconvenience'

With inputs from Sarthak Mehta