P-North and P-East wards face chronic congestion, illegal constructions, and water contamination, while P-South grapples with dust pollution and encroachment amid major infrastructure projects. Ahead of the 2026 BMC elections, BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde), UBT, NCP, and MNS contest key seats, making these densely populated wards pivotal in Mumbai civic politics.
The P-North ward, covering Malad East and Malad West, is the largest and most densely populated ward under the BMC’s jurisdiction. Its vast geographical spread and heavy population made it increasingly difficult for the civic body to effectively deliver civic amenities, leading to the ward being bifurcated into P-East and P-West in October 2023. However, longstanding civic issues such as encroachment on government land, illegal constructions, contaminated water supply, traffic congestion, and pollution continue to persist. Similarly, the neighbouring P-South ward, comprising Goregaon East and West, is witnessing several major infrastructure projects but is grappling with severe dust pollution and chronic encroachment issues.
P-North and P-East wards stretch from Malad Railway Station to Marve, covering areas on both sides of the Western Express Highway. Vinod Gholap, Chairperson of the Fight for Right Foundation and a local resident, said that little has changed in the area even after the bifurcation of the P-North ward. “Severe congestion persists around Malad railway station, while commuters continue to face inconvenience on the Link Road. Hawkers have encroached upon the station road, and despite repeated BMC action, they return soon after. Bus frequency to areas such as Madh, Marve and Malwani remains poor, and the menace of illegal auto-rickshaws continues. Traffic congestion on SV Road and Marve Road makes commuting extremely difficult,” he said. Kumar Verma, a local activist, echoed similar concerns, pointing to rampant encroachment on government land. “Water supply is inadequate and often contaminated, particularly in slums and high-rise buildings, largely due to damaged pipelines during road concreting work. The area also suffers from inadequate health centres, poor street lighting and the absence of a civic hospital, further worsening overall living conditions
The neighboring P South ward is undergoing significant changes, with high-rise buildings emerging across the area. At the same time, large slum settlements such as Santosh Nagar, Sanjay Gandhi Nagar, and Prem Nagar coexist alongside green zones like Aarey Forest Colony. The ward is also witnessing major infrastructure developments, including the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road and a segment of the Mumbai Coastal Road North – Versova-Dahisar Link Road (VDLR). Several large-scale redevelopment projects are also underway. However, these developments have led to an increase in dust pollution, adversely affecting the health of local residents, according to to complaints from the community.
Traffic congestion has been a longstanding issue in the area, which officials claim will be alleviated upon the completion of these two major projects. Additionally, the ward continues to face challenges such as hawker proliferation and encroachment on open spaces. The BMC’s decision to demolish the seven-year-old Veer Savarkar flyover in Goregaon has met with strong opposition from both residents and political parties. Ulhas Ghadi, a resident of Goregaon, said, “If this flyover is demolished, the only remaining exit for southbound traffic will be severely overburdened. It could take commuters over an hour just to cross the junction. Until the VDLR becomes operational, the coming years will be a traffic nightmare for the entire area.” In response to the backlash, the BMC is now reconsidering the decision and exploring alternative options to preserve the flyover.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-bmc-elections-2026-p-north-p-east-p-south-wards-overview