Mumbai: Andheri’s Lokhandwala residents fear for safety as Metro 6 stretch goes dark

Residents of Lokhandwala Complex in Andheri West especially women are finding it increasingly difficult to walk along the stretch beneath the underconstruction Metro Line 6 after sunset due to missing street lights With the area remaining poorly lit residents have raised concerns over safety and inconveniencepopcorn number15 km descApproximate length of Metro Line 6 classDefaultLocals have complained about the same to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority MMRDA demanding that the issue be resolved at the earliestResidents also alleged that construction material has been dumped on the footpath below the Metro line leaving no space for pedestrians to walkDhaval Shah and Karan Jotwani of the Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizens Association LOCA told midday that they had already raised the issue with the MMRDA and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation DMRCWhat midday witnessedOn Tuesday night these reporters travelled along the stretch below the underconstruction Swami Samarth Nagar Metro station only to find that there were no lights to help pedestrians walk safelyVarious spots beneath the underconstruction Metro Line 6 in Swami Samarth Nagar Andheri West are shrouded in darkness PICSSatej ShindeConstruction material was also lying beneath the Metro station and on the footpath leaving pedestrians with little choice but to walk on the road The other side of the stretch was also in complete darkness With the footpath blocked pedestrians were forced to walk on a dark road putting themselves at riskWhen the reporters crossed the Infiniti Mall signal and walked further along the stretch below the underconstruction Metro Line 6 there was one section with no lighting at all Further ahead temporary floodlights had been installed near one stretchWoman reporterrsquos firstperson accountAs I traversed the stretch as part of the test drive I realised how unsafe something as basic as walking home or accessing daily necessities can feel With the authorities responsible for constructing the Metro Line 6 removing all street lights exploiting the footpaths to dump construction materials and establish temporary accommodation for workers between Swami Samarth Nagar Metro station and Infiniti Mall pedestrians are forced to negotiate a combination of missing footpaths and construction sites in poor lightFrom left Dhaval Shah and Karan Jotwani of the Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizens AssociationWhile larger shops and showrooms on the stretch are open their lighting provides some illumination But once these establishments shut for the day the stretch becomes dark deserted and intimidating This is a concern for those who need to access essential services such as medical shops For women especially the absence of basic safety infrastructure such as CCTVs makes the situation even more worryingWith no adequate pedestrian pathway street lighting or visible security arrangements walking through the stretch after business hours can be particularly frightening with construction material lying haphazardly on one side and vehicles zooming past from the other and darkness shrouding everythingOfficial SpeakAn MMRDA official told midday ldquoThe Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority are coordinating with Adani Electricity to restore all street light poles and also making temporary arrangements for lighting to provide immediate reliefrdquoResident SpeakKashmera Shah actorlsquoWe have stopped walking on the stretch below the underconstruction Metro station near Swami Samarth Nagar and the Metro corridor opposite Infinity Mall after sunset because there are no street lights After 11 pm it becomes completely dark and very difficult to walk which is worrying from a safety point of view Temporary floodlights should be installed at the earliest before something unfortunate happensrsquoSaumya Tandon actorlsquoWe appreciate that the government is building the Metro to encourage people to use public transport But it is disappointing that pedestrian safety seems to have been ignored The contractor carrying out the Metro Line 6 work from Swami Samarth Nagar to Vikhroli has dumped construction material below the underconstruction station at the former spot leaving very little space for pedestrians to walk At night the situation becomes worse as there are no street lights below the station This is a serious concern especially for womenrsquo