Taking serious note of the mid-day report that highlighted inconveniences faced by commuters exiting the Aarey-JVLR Metro station due to the absence of streetlights and bad condition of the footpath along Jogeshwari Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR), local MLA Anant (Bala) Nar has written to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), urging them to address the issue at the earliest.
Speaking with mid-day, the Shiv Sena UBT MLA from Jogeshwari East said, “I have written to the K East ward office urging them to promptly address the lack of functioning streetlights along the JVLR stretch outside the Aarey-JVLR Metro station. Commuters using the Aqua Line are forced to walk in darkness on this busy road, posing serious safety concerns.
Commuters forced to cross the road in the dark, amid traffic
Additionally, I have requested the MMRDA, currently constructing the elevated Swami Samarth Nagar to Vikhroli Metro Line, to urgently repair the damaged footpath beneath the under-construction Metro section on JVLR. I’ve been informed that pedestrians are currently walking on the road due to the poor condition of the footpath, further increasing the risk of accidents. I have also urged the K East ward office to repair the non-operational lights in the vehicular and pedestrian underpass at Sariput Nagar too.”
On October 11, the mid-day report ‘Commuters face long waits, poor lighting at Mumbai Metro’s Aarey-JVLR terminal’ highlighted how commuters at Aarey-JVLR Metro station struggled to find rides and walk in darkness owing to poor lighting and no last-mile connectivity. Some commuters mentioned they had to wait up to 45 minutes to find a ride home. Regular Metro commuters told mid-day that the footpath along JVLR, outside the JVLR Metro station, is in poor condition. Along one stretch, due to ongoing construction work on the elevated Metro station, pedestrians are forced to walk on the busy road, putting their lives at risk.
Commuters stranded outside Aarey-JVLR Metro station due to lack of last-mile connectivity. PICS/SATEJ SHINDE
Furthermore, passengers from Aqua Line who wish to travel towards Jogeshwari and are coming onto JVLR have to cross the busy JVLR road. Consequently, they have been demanding that a pedestrian signal crossing or a footoverbridge be constructed. Omkar Sawant, a commuter, said, “The need of the hour is to have a pedestrian public crossing or a signal on JVLR near the JVLR Metro station so that pedestrians can safely cross the road and go towards Jogeshwari in order to catch a bus, autorickshaw or cab.”
