20 May,2026 08:11 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Chaotic situation around Bandar station amid demolition drive in Garib Nagar (Pic/Nascimento Pinto)
The second day of the massive demolition drive at Garib Nagar in Bandra East continued to trigger chaos on Wednesday, blocking roads towards the Bandra Station. The chaotic situation in the area is severely affecting commuters travelling to and from railway station as heavy police deployment and road barricades disrupted normal movement.
Police officials have erected barricades near the Bandra district court area, with no vehicular movement being allowed beyond the restricted point towards the station.
While the official from the Western Railway asserted that a total of 60 per cent of demolition work has been completed, the restrictions are continuing to cause major inconvenience to daily commuters heading towards the station during peak hours of Wednesday.
The north-bound bridge leading to Bandra station has been completely shut for commuters as the demolition operation continues.
At present, the south-bound bridge and the newly constructed skywalk on the southern side remain the only available routes for pedestrians trying to access the busy railway station.
The situation turned tense as police resorted to a lathi-charge to disperse protesting residents and onlookers who had gathered near the demolition site. Several protesters have also reportedly been detained by Bandra Police to prevent further escalation.
As per the officials, there are more than 1000 security personals present at the demolition site.
Despite heavy security presence, the atmosphere remains tense and concerning, with a large number of people continuing to gather near the site to witness the demolition drive. The crowding has added to traffic congestion and raised concerns over public safety.
Concerning the heavy crowd gathering around the station, vehicular movement is severely disrupted.
Authorities have intensified security arrangements in the area to maintain law and order as the operation progresses. Officials are yet to issue a detailed statement on the expected timeline for completion of the demolition drive, even as commuters continue to face significant disruption.
The demolition is part of an ongoing civic action in the locality, though public resistance and the resulting traffic snarls have made the situation increasingly challenging for both officials and residents.
(With inputs from Nascimento Pinto and Rajendra Aklelkar)
