As the BMC poll nears, mid-day takes a look at the populous L ward, characterised by slums, residential high-rises, industrial units, and poor air quality
A slum in Chandivli, whose residents complain about polluting industrial units. Pic/Satej Shinde
Among the earliest wards to be formed in suburban Mumbai, the L ward came under the jurisdiction of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in the 1950s, along with M, N, H, and K. It then comprised the northernmost tip of the limits of BMC’s jurisdiction.
Today, it is the southernmost ward of the eastern suburbs, and marks the entry into the suburbs from the island city. It comprises slums that span 70 per cent of its surface area, large industrial areas, and residential high-rise buildings.
L ward is the largest administrative ward in the city, comprising 16 electoral wards. It is bound by the Mithi river along its western boundary. Home to several catchment areas of the waterbody, it is prone to flooding during the monsoon season. Powai lake is located along its northern boundary.
The Santacruz Chembur Link Road, a major east-west connector, cuts through the centre of the ward, and it’s prone to severe traffic snarls, especially during peak evening hours.
Over the past two years, residents of Chandivli have complained about the worsening air pollution in their area due to industrial units tagged unauthorised by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board. Action against unauthorised industrial units in the L ward is ongoing, according to information from the BMC.
About L Ward
Areas under ward: Sangharsh Nagar, Chandivli, Tilak Nagar, Subhash Nagar, Lokmanya Tilak Nagar, Sakinaka, Chunabhatti
Characterised by: Its population (the largest in any ward in Mumbai), a high number of open stormwater drains (nullahs), slums spanning 70% of the ward area, and a high number of Muslim voters
Population of ward: 9,02,225
Density of ward: 580
Chronic waterlogging spots: 17 (due to Mithi river)
Vulnerable populations
Settlements: 13 (due to high-tension lines and hill slopes)
Population: 12,000
Open spaces: 60
Road concreting status:
Partially completed: 29
Completed: 31
Not started: 29
Electoral Ward 156
Areas: Tunga Village, Udhyan Complex, Savarkar Nagar, Sakivihar, L&T Company
Demographic details:
Total population: 59,226
SC population: 4,665
ST population: 1,025
Political details:
Municipal councillor (2017): Ashwini Ashok Matekar (MNS)
Votes received: 10,992
Total votes cast: 22,280
Winning margin: 49%
Ward reservation (2017): Women
Ward reservation (2025): Women
Tentative voters (2025): 49,480
Male: 26,796
Female: 22,681
Others: 3
Electoral Ward 157
Areas: Raheja Vihar, MHADA Colony, Sangharsh Nagar, Big Park, Chandivli Studio, Chandivli Lake
Demographic details:
Total population: 58,682
SC population: 4,944
ST population: 349
Political details:
Municipal councillor (2017): Aakanksha Sanjay Shetye (Shiv Sena)
Votes received: 7,349
Total votes cast: 22,101
Winning margin: 33%
Ward reservation (2017): OBC Women
Ward reservation (2025): Women
Tentative voters (2025): 56,642
Male: 30,781
Female: 25,858
Others: 3
Electoral Ward 158
Areas: Yadav Nagar, MHADA Colony, Tilak Nagar, MHADA Maidan
Demographic details:
Total population: 56,878
SC population: 2,586
ST population: 340
Political details:
Municipal councillor (2017): Chitra Somnath Sangle (Shiv Sena)
Votes received: 9,696
Total votes cast: 20,097
Winning margin: 48%
Ward reservation (2017): OBC Women
Ward reservation (2025): OBC Women
Tentative voters (2025): 53,749
Male: 29,619
Female: 24,128
Others: 2
Electoral Ward 159
Areas: Yadav Nagar, Asalpha, Mohili, Subhash Nagar, Shivpremi Nagar, Azad Nagar
Demographic details:
Total population: 54,739
SC population: 1,551
ST population: 244
Political details:
Municipal councillor (2017): Prakash Devji More (BJP)
Votes received: 6,202
Total votes cast: 19,440
Winning margin: 32%
Ward reservation (2017): Open
Ward reservation (2025): Open
Tentative voters (2025): 38,700
Male: 21,541
Female: 17,158
Others: 1
Electoral Ward 160
Areas: Milind Nagar, Bhim Nagar, Narayan Nagar, Home Guard Training Centre
Demographic details:
Total population: 52,802
SC population: 3,477
ST population: 213
Political details:
Municipal councillor (2017): Kiran Jyotiram Landge (IND)
Votes received: 5,752
Total votes cast: 24,651
Winning margin: 23%
Ward reservation (2017): Open
Ward reservation (2025): Open
Tentative voters (2025): 51,690
Male: 28,596
Female: 23,093
Others: 1
Electoral Ward 161
Areas: Lokmanya Tilak Nagar, Krishna Nagar, Veer Savarkar Nagar, Netaji Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Lal Bahadur Shastri Nagar
Demographic details:
Total population: 57,741
SC population: 3,082
ST population: 215
Political details:
Municipal councillor (2017): Vijayendra Omkar Shinde (Shiv Sena)
Votes received: 5,338
Total votes cast: 16,914
Winning margin: 32%
Ward reservation (2017): OBC
Ward reservation (2025): Open
Tentative voters (2025): 44,106
Male: 25,997
Female: 18,106
Others: 3
Electoral Ward 162
Areas: Shivaji Nagar, Sathi D’Souza Nagar, Spenta Residency Park, Airport Runway
Demographic details:
Total population: 54,989
SC population: 2,159
ST population: 323
Political details:
Municipal councillor (2017): Wajid Wahid Qureshi (Congress)
Votes received: 6,148
Total votes cast: 20,695
Winning margin: 30%
Ward reservation (2017): OBC
Ward reservation (2025): Open
Tentative voters (2025): 52,784
Male: 29,445
Female: 23,337
Others: 2
Electoral Ward 163
Areas: Kajupada, Indira Nagar, Mayfair Industrial Area, Sakinaka
Demographic details:
Total population: 55,518
SC population: 4,797
ST population: 165
Political details:
Municipal councillor (2017): Dilip Bhausaheb Lande (Shiv Sena)
Votes received: 8,009
Total votes cast: 17,405
Winning margin: 46%
Ward reservation (2017): OBC
Ward reservation (2025): Women
Tentative voters (2025): 38,671
Male: 21,844
Female: 16,827
Others: 0
Electoral Ward 164
Areas: Premier Residency, Sanjay Nagar, Kamani, Premier Colony, Navpada
Demographic details:
Total population: 56,177
SC population: 4,591
ST population: 281
Political details:
Municipal councillor (2017): Harish Krishna Bhandirge (BJP)
Votes received: 7,262
Total votes cast: 26,666
Winning margin: 27%
Ward reservation (2017): Open
Ward reservation (2025): Open
Tentative voters (2025): 62,945
Male: 36,204
Female: 26,737
Others: 4
Electoral Ward 165
Areas: Christian Gaon, Jay Ambika Nagar, Bhartiya Nagar, Halavpool, Kohinoor Hospital
Demographic details:
Total population: 58,040
SC population: 2,442
ST population: 293
Political details:
Municipal councillor (2017): Mohammed Ashraf Azmi (Congress)
Votes received: 6,268
Total votes cast: 20,282
Winning margin: 31%
Ward reservation (2017): Open
Ward reservation (2025): Open
Tentative voters (2025): 41,538
Male: 22,722
Female: 18,812
Others: 4
Electoral Ward 166
Areas: Kranti Nagar, Sandesh Nagar, Wadia Colony, Kismat Nagar, Shanti Nagar, Chhatrapati Shivaji Talao, Bailbazar, Kurla Bus Depot
Demographic details:
Total population: 56,621
SC population: 4,966
ST population: 794
Political details:
Municipal councillor (2017): Sanjay Ramchandra Turde (MNS)
Votes received: 5,908
Total votes cast: 21,526
Winning margin: 27%
Ward reservation (2017): Open
Ward reservation (2025): Open
Tentative voters (2025): 41,068
Male: 22,611
Female: 18,454
Others: 3
Electoral Ward 167
Areas: Vinoba Bhave Nagar, Buddha Colony, Brahmanwadi, L Ward Office
Demographic details:
Total population: 57,324
SC population: 1,985
ST population: 317
Political details:
Municipal councillor (2017): Dilshadbanu Mohammed Ashraf Azmi (Congress)
Votes received: 8,874
Total votes cast: 20,798
Winning margin: 43%
Ward reservation (2017): Women
Ward reservation (2025): OBC Women
Tentative voters (2025): 45,540
Male: 24,030
Female: 21,509
Others: 1
Electoral Ward 168
Areas: Kalpana Nagar, Taximen’s Colony, Maharashtra Nagar, Kurla Metropolitan Court, Bhabha Hospital
Demographic details:
Total population: 55,707
SC population: 4,374
ST population: 276
Political details:
Municipal councillor (2017): Saeeda Khan (NCP)
Votes received: 7,896
Total votes cast: 25,362
Winning margin: 31%
Ward reservation (2017): Women
Ward reservation (2025): Open
Tentative voters (2025): 50,548
Male: 28,446
Female: 22,102
Others: 0
Electoral Ward 169
Areas: Nehru Nagar, Kamgar Nagar, Shivshakti Nagar, Kurla Mother Dairy
Demographic details:
Total population: 58,269
SC population: 7,637
ST population: 400
Political details:
Municipal councillor (2017): Pravina Manish Morajkar (Shiv Sena)
Votes received: 10,299
Total votes cast: 23,617
Winning margin: 44%
Ward reservation (2017): SC
Ward reservation (2025): Open
Tentative voters (2025): 52,092
Male: 26,980
Female: 25,107
Others: 5
Electoral Ward 170
Areas: Qureshi Nagar, Takshshila Nagar, Rahul Nagar, J.T.B. Nagar, Everard Nagar, Marathi Vidnyan Parishad
Demographic details:
Total population: 53,598
SC population: 2,218
ST population: 193
Political details:
Municipal councillor (2017): Abdul Rashid Kaptan Malik (NCP)
Votes received: 7,348
Total votes cast: 18,617
Winning margin: 39%
Ward reservation (2017): Open
Ward reservation (2025): OBC Women
Tentative voters (2025): 38,784
Male: 20,439
Female: 18,342
Others: 3
Electoral Ward 171
Areas: MHADA Colony, Prem Nagar, Tadwadi, Samarth Nagar, Chunabhatti, Municipal Hospital
Demographic details:
Total population: 52,731
SC population: 3,053
ST population: 201
Political details:
Municipal councillor (2017): Sanvee Tandel (Shiv Sena)
Votes received: 7,720
Total votes cast: 21,184
Winning margin: 36%
Ward reservation (2017): OBC Women
Ward reservation (2025): OBC
Tentative voters (2025): 46,701
Male: 24,803
Female: 21,897
Others: 1
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