As the BMC elections near, mid-day takes a look at F North ward, characterised by quiet lanes and traffic snarls
Fitness enthusiasts lift weights at the Five Gardens, one of F ward’s nine open spaces, in Matunga. FILE PIC/SHADAB KHAN
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) F/North ward, corresponding to the areas of Matunga, Dadar East, Five Gardens, Wadala, and the quiet residential areas of Hindu Colony and Parsi Colony is amount the largest wards in the Island City, when it comes to its composition of electoral wards. The F/North ward consists of 10 electoral wards, and its neighbouring G/North ward consisting of Dadar West and Mahim comprises of 11 electoral wards.
The F/North administrative ward, with its 10 electoral wards from number 172 to 181 has a total of eight wards reserved for women. Two of these eight wards have been reserved in the OBC (women) category, and 6 others have been reserved in the women category. This amounts to a reservation from women to 80% in this area. This marks the ward with the highest number of women to be seated in the upcoming general body of BMC post elections, in 2026.
Due to its vast disparity, where on the one hand it consists of quiet suburbs areas of Hindu Colony and Parsi Colony, it also comprises of a small potion of the slums congruent with Dharavi — India's largest slum pocket now set for redevelopment and rehabilitation — the area supports a mixture of representation from Congress, BJP, and Shiv Sena. The former leader of the opposition in BMC, Ravi Raja, formerly associated with the Congress party also had representation from this area, from Electoral ward number 176. Last year, Ravi Raja shifted to BJP, and will be unable to contest from the area this elections, due to its large women reservation.
The ward is also home to the famous five gardens, with its open spaces surrounded by old residential buildings.
Until 2021-22, it was notoriously known for its chronic waterlogging spot at Gandhi Market, that would witness upto 3 feet of logged water during monsoons.
Today, the area faces dual challenges to traffic snarls especially on the BA road that cuts through this administrative ward, due to the ongoing reconstruction of the Elphinstone Bridge at Parel.
Administrative ward: F ward
Areas under ward: Areas under ward: Parts of Dadar East, Matunga, Five Gardens, Wadala, Anton Hill, Dharavi, Gandhi Market, parts of Sion, GTB. Nagar, Parsi Colony, Hindu Colony
Population: 5,29,034 Gross density of ward: 441
Characterised by: Some of the widest footpaths in the city at Matunga and King’s Circle, quiet lanes at Parsi Colony, Hindu Colony, Five Gardens, Matunga, and portions of Dharavi
Main issues:
Chronic waterlogging spot: 2
Vulnerable settlements: 4 low-to-moderate-risk landslide-prone locations, at Salamati Hill in Sion, Raoli Camp Reservoir, Sion Koliwada, and Barkat Ali Dargah Hill
Open spaces: 9 including Five Gardens and Maheshwari Udyan
Road concreting status:
Partially completed 21
Completed 12
Not started 45
Electoral Ward 172 in the F Ward:
LT Hospital, Sion Fort, Sion Talao, Gandhi Market, Matunga police station
Demographic details
Total population: 51,535
SC population: 2199 (4%)
ST population: 714 (1%)
Ward reservation
2017 - Open
2025 - Women
Voter details
Tentative voters (2025): 42,882
Male: 21,599
Female: 21,282
Others: 1
Political details
Previous Municipal Councillor (2012): Manoj Sansare (IND)
Municipal Councillor's name (2017): Rajeshree Rajesh Shirwadkar (BJP)
Winning margin: 60%
Votes received: 13,731
Total votes cast: 22,961
Electoral Ward 173 in the F Ward:
Somaiya Hospital, Municipal Kamgar Vasahat, Pratiksha Nagar, Shastri Nagar
Demographic details
Total population: 55,559
SC population: 6339 (11%)
ST population: 460 (1%)
Ward reservation
2017 - SC
2025 - Women
Voter details
Tentative voters (2025): 41,270
Male: 21,725
Female: 19,542
Others: 3
Political details
Previous Municipal Councillor (2012): Alka Hemant Doke (Shiv Sena)
Municipal Councillor's name (2017): Ramdas Devidas Kamble (Shiv Sena)
Winning margin: 37%
Votes received: 6492
Total votes cast: 17,331
Electoral Ward 174 in the F Ward:
Wadala Truck Terminal, Vijay Nagar, Wadala RTO, Chandni Nagar
Demographic details
Total population: 50,491
SC population: 1900 (4%)
ST population: 419 (1%)
Ward reservation
2017 - Women
2025 - Women
Voter details
Tentative voters (2025): 30,786
Male: 18183
Female: 12603
Others: 0
Political details
Previous Municipal Councillor (2012): Naina Manahar Sheth (Cong)
Municipal Councillor's name (2017): Krishnaveni Vinod Reddy (BJP)
Winning margin: 16%
Votes received: 2300
Total votes cast: 14,142
Electoral Ward 175 in the F Ward:
Kokri Agar, CGS Colony, Sect 7, Motilal Nehru Nagar
Demographic details
Total population: 57,023
SC population: 3898 (7%)
ST population: 777 (1%)
Ward reservation
2017 - OBC
2025 - Women
Voter details
Tentative voters (2025): 39,751
Male: 22,080
Female: 17,626
Others: 9
Political details
Previous Municipal Councillor (2012): Sabreddy Mallesh Bora (RPI-A)
Municipal Councillor's name (2017): Mangesh Shridhar Satamkar (Shiv Sena)
Winning margin: 35%
Votes received: 6906
Total votes cast: 17599
Electoral Ward 176 in the F Ward:
Indira Nagar, GTB Nagar, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital, Sardar Nagar
Demographic details
Total population: 53,001
SC population: 4715 (9%)
ST population: 438 (1%)
Ward reservation
2017 - Open
2025 - OBC Women
Voter details
Tentative voters (2025): 30,748
Male: 16,349
Female: 14,368
Others: 31
Political details
Previous Municipal Councillor (2012): Anusha Kodam (Shiv Sena)
Municipal Councillor's name (2017): Ravi Raja (Cong)
Winning margin: 26%
Votes received: 3814
Total votes cast: 14,871
Electoral Ward 177 in the F Ward:
Punjabi Camp, Kane Nagar North, Shanmukhananda Hall, Five Gardens, Hindu Colony
Demographic details
Total population: 50,655
SC population: 3040 (6%)
ST population: 428 (1%)
Ward reservation
2017 - Women
2025 - Women
Voter details
Tentative voters (2025): 49,202
Male: 19,086
Female: 18,684
Others: 23
Political details
Previous Municipal Councillor (2012): Rajendra N Suryawanshi (Shiv Sena)
Municipal Councillor's name (2017): Nehal Shah (BJP)
Winning margin: 56%
Votes received: 11,298
Total votes cast: 20,148
Electoral Ward 178 in the F Ward:
Hindu Colony, Parsi Colony, Azad Nagar, Kohinoor Mills
Demographic details
Total population: 50,835
SC population: 3015 (6%)
ST population: 241 (-)
Ward reservation
2017 - Open
2025 - Women
Voter details
Tentative voters (2025): 42,213
Male: 21,125
Female: 21,087
Others: 1
Political details
Previous Municipal Councillor (2012): Wakeel Ahmed Shaikh (Cong)
Municipal Councillor's name (2017): Amey Arun Ghole (Shiv Sena)
Winning margin: 29%
Votes received: 7095
Total votes cast: 24,492
Electoral Ward 179 in the F Ward:
Shaikh Mishiri Dargah, Kane Nagar South, BPT Colony, Nadkarni Park
Demographic details
Total population: 57,013
SC population: 3302 (6%)
ST population: 810 (1%)
Ward reservation
2017 - Open
2025 - Women
Voter details
Tentative voters (2025): 41,693
Male: 21,482
Female: 20,208
Others: 3
Political details
Previous Municipal Councillor (2012): Jyotsna Harjeevan Parmar (SP)
Municipal Councillor's name (2017): Sufiyan Niyaz Ahmed Vanu (Cong)
Winning margin: 27%
Votes received: 5630
Total votes cast: 20,910
Electoral Ward 180 in the F Ward:
Dosti Arcade, Sangam Nagar, Shiv Shankar Nagar, Ganesh Nagar
Demographic details
Total population: 51,808
SC population: 2695 (5%)
ST population: 699 (1%)
Ward reservation
2017 - OBC Women
2025 - Women
Voter details
Tentative voters (2025): 46,156
Male: 21,482
Female: 20,208
Others: 3
Political details
Previous Municipal Councillor (2012): Vishnu Ramchandra Gayakwad (IND)
Municipal Councillor's name (2017): Smita Sharad Gaonkar (Shiv Sena)
Winning margin: 42%
Votes received: 8625
Total votes cast: 20,512
Electoral Ward 181 in the F Ward:
Korba Mithagar, Shanti Nagar, Kherap Creek
Demographic details
Total population: 52,109
SC population: 6,518 (13%)
ST population: 877 (2%)
Ward reservation
2017 - OBC Women
2025 - Open
Voter details
Tentative voters (2025): 46,156
Male: 27,209
Female: 18,939
Others: 8
Political details
Previous Municipal Councillor (2012): Shraddha Rajesh Patil (MNS)
Municipal Councillor's name (2017): Pushpa Krishna Koli (Cong)
Winning margin: 32%
Votes received: 5723
Total votes cast: 17,835
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