Independence Day 2025: Andheri East Residents March To Reopen Road Closed For Metro 3 Work After MMRCL Fails To Meet Deadline

Mumbai: In a symbolic freedom march, activists and residents of Andheri (E) opened an internal road which was closed down for construction of the Metro line 3, on Independence Day. The residents took it on their shoulders to open the road as Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL) failed to open it on the promised date.

Road Closure Extended Despite Project Completion

The internal road, connecting Sahar main road and Shanti Nagar, had been closed down for pedestrian movements due to the construction work of Metro Line 3, known as Aqua line, by MMRCL. However, the two-way road continued to be closed even after the construction work in the area was completed and the services commenced in the area.

Repeated Appeals to MMRCL Ignored

On July 23, activists of the Watchdog Foundation had written to officials of Mumbai Metro 3 and conveyed that the closure was causing significant inconvenience to the local residents. They urged the government company to reopen the road to vehicular traffic, free from any kind of obstacles, by removing the barricades put up by the contractor.

Andheri residents march with tricolours to reopen closed Metro 3 road on Independence Day

MMRCL’s Unfulfilled Promise

Replying to the letter, MMRCL had said that the road would be opened for two-way vehicular traffic along with a pedestrian walkway on August 15. The MMRCL official said that the dismantling of a temporary support system of water mains in front of Sahar road metro station was in the final stage of completion and the restoration of the said road can be completed only once dismantling of temporary support and backfilling is completed.

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Locals Take Matters into Their Own Hands

However, as MMRCL and the contractor failed to open up the road, the residents and activists from Watchdog Foundation took the task upon themselves and opened the road on the date announced by the authority. With tricolour flags in hand, the locals marched on the closed road, as a symbolic freedom of the road, and opened it for public use.