Several neighbourhoods across Mumbai’s eastern and western suburbs are set to experience prolonged water supply disruptions as the city undertakes critical infrastructure works linked to an upcoming metro corridor. The civic administration has announced a 99-hour water disruption to facilitate technically complex pipeline diversions required for ongoing metro construction, highlighting the delicate balance between infrastructure expansion and everyday urban services.
The disruption will begin on Monday morning and continue until Friday afternoon, affecting parts of Andheri, Vile Parle, Dharavi and Bandra East. Civic officials said the interruption is necessary to divert a major high-capacity water pipeline supplying large sections of the city, as metro construction advances through dense urban areas. The works form part of a crucial interchange corridor aimed at improving east–west connectivity and reducing long-term pressure on Mumbai’s road and rail networks. According to officials overseeing the operation, the affected pipeline is one of the city’s largest trunk mains, carrying water from distant sources to multiple wards. Any intervention on such infrastructure requires phased shutdowns, cross-connections and rigorous safety checks. Engineers have planned the work in carefully sequenced stages to limit risks and restore supply as quickly as possible, though residents are expected to experience low-pressure water or complete suspension during specific time windows.
Large residential clusters, industrial zones and transport-adjacent neighbourhoods are among those impacted. In parts of the western suburbs, including airport-linked areas and commercial districts, afternoon and evening water supply will be available only at reduced pressure. Several residential pockets in central and eastern wards will see altered supply timings, with morning or late-night water flow continuing but significantly weakened. Urban planners note that such disruptions are becoming increasingly common as Mumbai retrofits ageing utility networks to accommodate new transport infrastructure. The city’s underground systems—water pipelines, sewers, power cables and telecom networks—often predate modern metro alignments, making diversions unavoidable. While short-term inconvenience is evident, experts argue that coordinated infrastructure upgrades are essential for long-term resilience.
Civic authorities have urged residents, housing societies and commercial establishments to store water in advance and use it judiciously during the disruption period. Tanker supplies may be arranged in critical locations, particularly hospitals and essential services, if required. Officials also stressed that real-time monitoring teams will be deployed to respond to unforeseen technical issues during execution. From a sustainability perspective, urban infrastructure specialists emphasise the need for integrated planning that minimises repeated disruptions. Aligning water, transport and energy infrastructure planning can reduce future service interruptions while supporting low-carbon mass transit expansion. As Mumbai continues to build capacity for a growing population, such coordination will be central to creating a more inclusive and reliable urban services framework.
Andheri, Vile Parle Face 99 Hour Water Cuts For Metro Works
