The proposed Vasai-Virar smart meter protest on Monday, September 7, will move from the Mumbai-Ahmedabad National Highway to the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) office after organisers deferred their planned road blockade to avoid disrupting commuters, patients and festival-related travel.
The all-party march is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. from a petrol pump in Vasai East and proceed to MSEDCL’s main office, according to a report by Loksatta – Vasai-Virar. Residents, political representatives and members of local organisations are expected to participate. Vasai Mayor Ajiv Patil said a large number of citizens and activists would join the demonstration.
The protest is focused on MSEDCL’s ongoing replacement of conventional electricity meters with smart meters across Vasai-Virar. Residents have alleged that electricity bills have risen excessively, in some cases doubling, after the new meters were installed. Protesters have also claimed that old meters are being removed and replaced without prior consent from consumers.
These claims are allegations reported by the organisers and residents. The material supplied for this report does not include an independent billing audit, consumer-level data or a response from MSEDCL addressing the allegations. A related claim cited in the source report says MSEDCL has stated that smart meters have generated savings of Rs 11 crore for five lakh consumers in Vasai-Virar, although details of the calculation are not provided.
The proposed highway blockade had been planned at Shirsad Phata on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad National Highway. Organisers said they decided to defer it because the Jain community is observing Paryushan and Ganeshotsav is approaching, creating additional movement by devotees, families and festival workers. They said a highway protest could have affected ambulances, commuters and people travelling for religious activities.
The change in venue does not mean the campaign has been withdrawn. Protesters are demanding that what they describe as coercive smart-meter installation be stopped immediately and that the issue be resolved through an administrative decision. They have warned MSEDCL in writing that a more intense highway blockade could be organised if no satisfactory decision follows the march.
The immediate public issue is therefore both the proposed demonstration and the dispute over how smart meters are being introduced. The march at the MSEDCL office is expected to provide the next formal opportunity for the protesters to submit their demands and for the distribution utility to respond. Any subsequent highway action will depend on the outcome of that process, according to the organisers.
