Naigaon’s Key East-West Link Plunged Into Darkness Over Unpaid Power Bill

Naigaon, Maharashtra: crucial Naigaon road overbridge (ROB), connecting the eastern and western parts of the suburb, has been without electricity for the past 15 days due to unpaid power bills amounting to ₹8.36 lakh. The situation has sparked outrage among commuters and law enforcement agencies, who fear an increase in accidents and criminal activities on the darkened 1.3-km stretch.

The ROB, built by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and opened to the public in April 2022, has yet to be handed over to the Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC). The power distributor, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd. (MSEDCL), confirmed that MMRDA has not cleared the dues since taking the electricity connection in September 2022. “We repeatedly approached MMRDA officials, but they assured us that the bill would be cleared upon handing over the bridge to VVCMC. With no response, we had no option but to disconnect the supply,” said MSEDCL Superintendent Engineer Sanjay Khandare.

The lack of lighting has raised serious security concerns. Mira Bhayandar Vasai Virar (MBVV) police warned that the ROB could attract anti-social elements and increase road accident risks, especially since CCTV footage is now unclear at night. Locals, including fishermen and office-goers, have also expressed frustration, highlighting safety risks on the stretch.

Meanwhile, VVCMC Executive Engineer Amol Jadhav confirmed that they have written multiple letters requesting MMRDA to hand over the bridge, but there has been no response for over 1.5 years. MMRDA officials remained unavailable for comment, with their PRO citing delays in obtaining information.

Residents demand urgent action to restore lighting and ensure safety, questioning why taxpayers should suffer due to bureaucratic delays.