Mumbai’s newly opened Telli Galli flyover in Andheri has swiftly turned into a dumping ground for derelict autorickshaws and two-wheelers, sparking serious safety and urban misuse concerns among residents and civic observers.
Opened to traffic barely three months ago in February 2024, the flyover was designed to ease east-west congestion and integrate the key metro corridors of Line 1 and Line 7. Instead, its underbelly is being misused, exposing the gap between infrastructure development and sustainable civic upkeep.Local residents and citizen groups have voiced alarm over the accumulation of abandoned vehicles beneath the structure—an area initially earmarked for pedestrian connectivity and potential urban commons. Due to ongoing construction of a skywalk connecting Gundavali and Western Express Highway metro stations, vehicles once parked there are being unceremoniously pushed under the flyover. This haphazard relocation has not only marred the aesthetics of the area but also amplified fire hazards and environmental neglect.
Godfrey Pimenta, a trustee with the Watchdog Foundation, strongly criticised the inaction of local authorities. “Dumping vehicles in front of premium commercial showrooms and residential neighbourhoods sends the wrong message about governance and civic priorities,” he said. The concern is not merely visual pollution—parts like rear-view mirrors and plastic shards from these deteriorating vehicles are falling onto the road, threatening road users during Mumbai’s monsoon.The problem is not new. In May 2023, a fire had broken out at the same location, allegedly due to residual fuel in one of the junked vehicles. Despite this close call, authorities have failed to implement any preventive measures or designate a safe and regulated space for such abandoned assets.
Rohit Jain, a software professional and local resident, underscored the risks of neglect. “We’re sitting on a disaster. Rather than letting the space go to waste or become a hazard, the BMC should convert it into a revenue-generating pay-and-park zone,” he suggested. The suggestion echoes similar citizen-driven models in other Indian cities where under-flyover spaces have been reimagined as green parks, bicycle hubs, and food courts—part of a larger push for inclusive, zero-waste urban spaces.
Civic activists, including Dhaval Shah of the Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizen’s Association, reiterated that the fire incident should have triggered a redesign of policy. “Instead, we’re watching a repeat of the same failure. Authorities must act swiftly and convert the area into a usable civic space—be it a green patch, a community garden, or even a public plaza,” Shah said.Operation Khatara, a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation initiative launched in 2018 to remove abandoned vehicles from public areas, appears to have lost momentum. Despite regular citizen complaints, enforcement remains patchy, and accountability is hard to trace. With the onset of monsoon, the risks multiply—chemical leaks, blocked drains, and unregulated fires could all result from inaction.
If Mumbai aspires to be a global, green, and smart city, spaces like the Telli Galli flyover need more than just concrete and ribbon-cutting ceremonies. They demand functional, sustainable usage plans that put people, safety, and purpose at the centre of urban design.
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