Concrete roads deepen BEST-BMC standoff on power repairs in Mumbai

BEST staff lay and repair underground power cables amid ongoing restoration work

Mumbai's ongoing road concreting drive is now affecting power restoration timelines, with BEST officials claiming delays in permissions to dig newly built roads are slowing down repairs to underground cable faults.

According to BEST officials, complaints related to power supply issues have risen sharply over the past year, even as restoration teams struggle to access underground utility lines buried beneath concreted roads.

Officials said the issue stems from a lack of coordination between utility agencies and civic authorities, forcing BEST to seek road-digging permissions from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) every time a cable fault has to be repaired.

Officials excavate a road stretch during underground cable repair and restoration work. Pics/By Special Arrangement

"Earlier, it was easier to dig up a road or footpath and fix cables promptly, but now with road concretisation, permissions are not forthcoming," a senior BEST official said.

The official added that around 2500 complaints remain "technically unattended" despite power being restored temporarily. "These complaints can only be completed if road digging is allowed," the official said.

Why repairs are getting delayed

BEST workers carry out road digging work to access underground power cables for fault restoration. Pic/mid-day

>> Newly concreted roads are harder to open for repairs
>> Permissions are required before road digging
>> Delays in approvals are extending restoration timelines
>> Underground utility lines are trapped beneath concrete roads
>> Low-voltage cable repairs remain a major issue

How BEST restores power during faults

When a cable fault is detected, and road digging permission is unavailable:
>> Faulty cables are isolated
>> Electricity load is shifted to alternate cables
>> Supply is restored temporarily to consumers
>> Permanent repairs are delayed until digging permission is granted

What has changed?

BEST officials said the BMC has now started prioritising permissions for high-voltage cable restoration work, but repairs involving low-voltage cables continue to face delays.

"Every time we need to fix a fault, we need to approach the BMC for permissions. There are delays in permissions, which delay the overall timeline of restoration of power," the official said.

The official also pointed to the larger problem of multiple underground utilities sharing limited space beneath Mumbai's roads.

"The whole of Mumbai's utilities - about 27 of them - are below the roads and concreting has led to a lot of unprecedented problems," he added.

Why South Mumbai is more vulnerable

Officials said South Mumbai is vulnerable because several densely populated areas depend on ageing underground cable infrastructure and overloaded substations. Sources said rising electricity demand has increased the number of BEST faults, while manpower shortages have worsened response timelines. BMC has recently allowed BEST to dig concreted roads for repairs involving Extra High Voltage (EHV) cables that cater to multiple phases.

Activists question planning

Activist Godfrey Pimenta, criticised the lack of utility ducting during road concreting work
"Concreting has become a problem. There are no chambers for the cables. We have a different power company in our area. I do not think they wait for permissions. Digging of roads is in abundance. All the cables are trapped underneath, and it is a waste of money. Why were removable utility ducts not built into the project design? I do not understand why ducting was not done. All the cables need to be restored repeatedly. The MTNL used to dig a lot. Now it is the power companies. They should have put all the utility cables under a removable duct instead of wasting public money by digging like this."

BMC disagrees with BEST's claims

"There is no problem or hurdle in giving permission for work. It is not just BEST that approaches us for permissions, but Tata and Adani also ask BMC. The permission is always given," a BMC official said.
"If other power supply agencies do not have an issue, how can BEST claim to have an issue? It is BMC's own organisation. However, as per policy decisions laid down for digging roads, permission is given to lay or repair utilities when road concretisation work begins on any particular road. This can be the cause of delay, if any," the official added.

South Mumbai under added strain

Areas facing the biggest pressure

Issue Details
Affected wards A, B, C, D and E wards
Consumers dependent on one Fuse Control Room Around 3.5 lakh
Congested areas impacted Bhendi Bazaar, Kalbadevi, Zaveri Bazaar, Masjid, Bhuleshwar
Key problems Ageing cables, overloaded substations, manpower shortage
Temporary restoration Supply shifted from nearby substations method and alternate lines
Risk Additional load pressure on active cables
EHV cable replacement progress Around 50 per cent completed
Total old EHV cable network under replacement 120 km

By the numbers

Issue Details
Rise in complaints From 6500 to 7500 over one year
Increase over previous year Around 1000 complaints
Pending complaints About 2500 technically unresolved
Utilities under Mumbai roads Around 27

Inputs by Eeshanpriya MS