BEST Bus Trapped as Road Caves in Near Thakurdwar Signal; No Injuries Reported

Mumbai, June 17: A major mishap was narrowly averted on Monday morning when a portion of the road near the Thakurdwar signal in Girgaon caved in, trapping the rear wheel of a BEST bus. The incident occurred around 9:30 a.m. involving Route No. 121 (Bus No. 6232) operated from the Backbay Depot, which was en route to J. Mehta Marg.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and the passengers were safely evacuated. A towing vehicle was promptly dispatched to the scene and successfully extricated the bus. It has since been returned to the depot for further inspection.

The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) confirmed that the cave-in occurred in an area undergoing metro construction. In a statement, MMRCL said,“Water ingress was observed in the basement pit of the proposed Girgaon rehabilitation building, likely due to a nearby utility leakage. This seems to have caused ground loss forming a cavity that was not visible on the surface.”

Municipal and metro authorities have launched a joint investigation to identify the cause of the collapse and prevent future occurrences. MMRCL added that it is coordinating with BMC officials to trace potential leakages in water mains, sewer lines, or storm water drains, and efforts are underway to reinstate the road section at the earliest.

A BMC control room official confirmed the cave-in and said further assessments are ongoing.

This incident underscores growing concerns over the state of Mumbai’s roads amid extensive infrastructure activity. In April, a mid-day report highlighted how Mumbai resembles a chaotic construction zone, with countless streets and bylanes dug up for concreting, metro works, utility repairs, and overdue civic projects. Often, roads are freshly paved only to be dug up again, causing frustration and safety hazards.

Citizens across the city — including the elderly, disabled, and emergency responders — are disproportionately affected. In some locations, even access roads to hospitals are blocked, with no alternate routes provided. This continues despite the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, which mandates accessible public infrastructure.

Urban planning experts point out that the lack of integrated underground ducting for utilities is a key flaw. While officials maintain that concrete roads are more durable and cost-effective than asphalt, the piecemeal approach to infrastructure execution is proving disruptive and dangerous.