Balcony Slabs Collapse Again in Andheri’s P&T Government Colony Despite Recent Repairs; Residents Allege Negligence

Mumbai, September 30: In yet another alarming incident, two balcony slabs collapsed on Tuesday morning in the Postal and Telegraph (P&T) Government Colony in Andheri. Fortunately, no injuries were reported as there were no residents present in the affected balconies or below on the ground at the time of the incident.

The P&T Colony, which houses quarters for employees of the postal and telegraph department, comprises 112 buildings, of which approximately 75% are in a dilapidated condition, according to residents. Around 70 buildings are still occupied, while the rest have been vacated due to safety concerns.

Tuesday’s incident marks the third major slab collapse this year in the colony, raising serious questions about the structural integrity of the buildings and the alleged negligence of responsible government authorities.

Anand Nimangare, the colony’s secretary, expressed his frustration: “The building where the slab collapsed today was structurally repaired just last month. The contractor is doing a shoddy job and no government authority seems to care. Every other day, a slab falls from one building or another. Recently, there was even a road cavity due to metro drilling work nearby. This is a government colony, yet it's in terrible condition.”

Residents allege that no structural audit has been carried out for years and that agencies like the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) have failed to issue eviction notices or take preventive action despite the worsening condition of the buildings.

Abhijeet, a long-time resident, said, “None of the authorities, including the BMC, is taking any responsibility. We don’t even remember the last time a structural audit was conducted. People are living in fear.”

The Vile Parle Police reached the location soon after the collapse and are currently assessing the situation. Meanwhile, residents are demanding immediate action, including comprehensive structural audits, repairs with accountability, and safety assurances.

As Mumbai continues to deal with aging infrastructure across several public housing colonies, the P&T Colony stands as a stark reminder of what can go wrong when maintenance and safety protocols are ignored.