Abandoned Vehicles and Misuse Plague Area Beneath Gokhale Bridge Residents Urge BMC, Traffic Police to Act on Growing Urban Neglect

Abandoned Vehicles and Misuse Plague Area Beneath Gokhale Bridge Residents Urge BMC, Traffic Police to Act on Growing Urban Neglect Mumbai, May 25: The space beneath the newly reconstructed Gokhale Bridge in Andheri East, once envisioned as a functional urban zone, has become a site of growing concern for residents and daily commuters. Instead of serving a civic purpose, the area has turned into a dumping ground for abandoned vehicles and a haven for anti-social activities, raising alarm among the local community. The Watchdog Foundation, a prominent citizens’ group, has drawn attention to the deteriorating condition of this space. According to the Foundation, numerous dilapidated and unclaimed vehicles—often referred to as khataras—have been left under the bridge, creating not only an eyesore but also a potential breeding ground for mosquitoes and disease.

Public urination, loitering by anti-social elements, and general misuse of the area, especially at night, have made this stretch unsafe for residents,” said Nicholas Almeida and Adv. Godfrey Pimenta, Trustees of the Foundation. They emphasized that the space, instead of benefiting the public, now contributes to urban decay and public health hazards. The issue also casts a shadow on the effectiveness of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) ‘Operation Khataara’, which was launched to remove such abandoned vehicles across the city. The presence of numerous khataras under the Gokhale Bridge points to lapses in enforcement and urban management. Advisors to the Foundation, Adv. Vivian D’Souza and Rita D’Sa, have called for immediate intervention by the BMC and Mumbai Traffic Police.

These neglected spaces often become hotspots for criminal activity and severely impact the quality of life in the vicinity,” they stated. The Foundation has demanded swift and decisive action to clear the area, ensure regular patrolling, and put in place long-term measures to prevent future misuse. Residents hope that the authorities will treat the issue with the urgency it deserves, ensuring that urban infrastructure like the Gokhale Bridge uplifts the community rather than becoming a point of concern.