Over thousand residents from across the Powai–Chandivali belt gathered on Sunday, 30th August for a silent protest march against massive upcoming commercial projects, including a proposed 30,000-seater Global Capability Centre (GCC) and the Citipark redevelopment.
Organized by the Powai Action Forum (PAF), the peaceful protest saw participation across all age groups-from young schoolchildren to senior citizens-holding placards to voice alarm over the rapid transformation of what was once a quiet residential pocket into an overburdened commercial hub.
The protest follows a signature drive that gathered more than 5,000 online and offline endorsements. The forum is now petitioning the Maharashtra state government for an official public hearing representing over 100,000 affected residents.
Key Concerns Raised
Severe Traffic Gridlock: The twin projects could pipe nearly 100,000 people and an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 vehicles daily into an already congested road network.
Overspill Parking: Inadequate dedicated parking threatens to choke internal residential lanes, housing society gates, and pedestrian walkways.
Emergency Access at Risk: Residents fear extreme gridlock will delay ambulances and fire engines heading to critical facilities during the golden hour.
Strain on Civic Utilities: Severe pressure on local water supply, sewage treatment, and stormwater drainage systems without planned infrastructure upgrades.
Ecological Damage to Powai Hills: Unchecked excavation risks damaging natural drainage channels, hill stability, tree cover, and local biodiversity.
Lack of Public Consultation: Neighborhoods including Hiranandani Gardens, Chandivali, Raheja Vihar, Lake Homes and Nahar Amrit Shakti were not consulted prior to project approvals.
Voices from the Ground
This is not just about daily inconvenience; it is about the fundamental carrying capacity of our neighborhood. You cannot drop a 30,000-seater commercial behemoth onto roads that are already choking every single morning. We are demanding accountability, independent impact studies, and a transparent public hearing before irreversible damage is done to Powai’s ecology and infrastructure.”
– Ratan Sharda, Author, Resident & Activist
Getting out of Chandivali during morning peak hours already takes 45 minutes just to reach the main road. If 25,000 more cars enter this corridor, emergency vehicles won’t stand a chance. We need the authorities to halt approvals and hear the citizens who actually live here.”
– Local Resident, Raheja Vihar
Demands Submitted to the State Government
Cumulative Impact Study: Direct BMC, MMRDA, and Mumbai Traffic Police to conduct a fresh, independent evaluation covering traffic, civic infrastructure, disaster response, and environmental stability.
48-Hour Ground Traffic Audit: Carry out a continuous traffic assessment from 7:00 AM to midnight across two regular working days during peak hours.
Mandatory Public Hearing: Make all project findings public and conduct structured citizen consultations before granting operational clearances.
Halt on Construction: Put further construction work on the commercial complex on hold until comprehensive impact assessments are evaluated.
Delegation Meeting: Grant an urgent hearing to a PAF citizen delegation to present detailed ground reports and community proposals to senior officials.
At BGRE, we believe commercial growth must align with sustainable urban development. As a responsible corporate citizen, we are committed to Powai’s well-being through green spaces, sustainable mobility and community engagement.
We respect the concerns raised by residents and will continue to work with the community and all stakeholders to address them constructively. All development is undertaken with requisite statutory approvals and as per applicable statutory guidelines.”
– Company Spokesperson, BGRE.
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