BEST buses have begun returning to Mumbai’s Girgaon’s Jagannath Shankarsheth Road after nearly nine years of diversion caused by Metro construction, restoring part of the original alignment for five routes and easing a long-standing inconvenience for residents.
Routes 66, 69, 86, 88 and 126 were diverted through Maharshi Karve Road in April 2017 after JSS Road was excavated for construction of the Girgaon and Kalbadevi Metro stations. According to Mid-Day, services began returning through Girgaon on September 11, initially operating at least up to Thakurdwar Naka.
The restoration is being carried out in phases. Water tanker parking and traffic management issues are still affecting parts of the road, while restrictions linked to the Ganpati festival are also in place. Complete restoration is expected to be pursued after the festival period, with services planned to extend through the Charni Road–Chira Bazaar stretch.
Dilip Naik, a Girgaon resident and former corporator who had been pursuing the issue with BEST officials, said the routes were being restored after residents had waited for years. He said the return of buses would particularly benefit senior citizens and students. Resident Vilas Vasant Dali, 60, also said the diversion had caused considerable hardship and that the restored services would help older residents and students.
The route changes followed prolonged Metro-related construction on JSS Road. The issue gained momentum after Naik raised it with BEST officials for several months and Mid-Day reported on residents’ concerns. BEST committee chairperson Trushna Vishwasrao subsequently took up the matter and directed officials to restore the routes to their original alignment.
Public transport facilities in the area are also set to receive an upgrade. Modern bus shelters are planned at four BEST stops in Girgaon, with work expected to begin shortly. The shelters are intended to improve waiting facilities as bus operations return to the area.
A meeting at Vishwasrao’s office was attended by Shiv Sena functionaries Prathamesh Shah, Nilesh Bhoite and Kavita Malhar, along with BEST officials. Officials assured the meeting that the services would be restored in phases. The next stages depend on resolving road access and tanker parking issues, as well as the completion of Ganpati immersion-related restrictions.
