FPJ Impact: BMC, Adani Electricity And BEST Launch Inspection Drive After Defunct Street Light Report On Mumbai's Eastern Freeway

Mumbai: Following report on June 26 by The Free Press Journal on defunct street lights on several stretches of the Eastern Freeway, the Mechanical & Electrical department of the BMC said the officials concerned of Adani Electricity and Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking will to visit the site.

"The officials from the both the suppliers will submit a report after their visits on the Eastern Freeway are completed tonight (Thursday, June 26)," a civic official told the FPJ.

On Thursday, the FPJ had highlighted how motorists on the Eastern Freeway, which connects south Mumbai to Ghatkopar, are yet again suffering from blackouts as the street lights at several stretches of the road are defunct. The 16.8 km signal-free road connects south Mumbai from P D’mello Road to the Ghatkopar-Mankhurd link road and is preferred by lakhs of motorists to reach the eastern suburbs.

However, instead of providing basic facilities like street lights, the BMC departments concerned were busy passing the buck. But, taking note of the FPJ's report, the Mechanical & Electrical department of the BMC has sprung into action.

An official from the Electricity section of the BEST said, "We got call from the BMC. The freeway's section from South Mumbai upto Panjarpol falls under the BEST jurisdiction. Beyond the nullah below the Chembur tunnel, our jurisdiction ends. I ordered the staff to visit the site tonight (Thursday) and report which section lights are not working and what exact is the issue."

"The ground situation will be known after the site visit. We will take required actions and ensure all street lights of the Eastern Freeway under BMC jurisdiction are operational," the BEST official said.

The FPJ had highlighted the ordeal of daily users of the Eastern Freeway, especially the risky drive during the monsoon when the water gets accumalated roadside on the freeway. The freeway was constructed by the MMRDA and fully handed over to the BMC for operations and management in 2015.