Bandra Residents Slam Bollywood-Themed Metro Beautification Project

A massive outcry has erupted in Bandra West over the installation of Bollywood-themed decorations below the Metro 2B line, stretching from Bandra to Juhu. Residents have called the project a wasteful exercise designed to favour contractors rather than addressing the locality’s real needs.

Prominent activists and citizens are demanding that the Rs350-crore beautification budget be redirected towards sustainable efforts, such as planting shrubs along the Metro pillars, a practice implemented successfully in other areas of Mumbai. An environmental advocate, criticised the artificial installations, stating, “We need greenery that rejuvenates the city’s aesthetics and combats urban heat. These gaudy structures neither serve the environment nor the public.” Adding to the chorus of dissent, a government official alleged procedural lapses in awarding the project. According to the official, no public tenders or expressions of interest were invited, raising concerns about transparency. “The MMRDA commissioner invoked discretionary powers to launch this project, bypassing established norms for expenditures exceeding Rs10 lakh,” he pointed out. He further questioned the timing of the installations, arguing that the Metro line’s inauguration remains years away.

Critics have labelled the installations as impractical and an eyesore, predicting they could become maintenance headaches and targets for vandalism. He underscored the need for meaningful tributes to Bollywood, suggesting alternative approaches that are cost-effective and resonate with public sentiment. Local groups have prepared formal objections and plan to petition the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), and another government official. Residents have expressed hopes for a course correction that prioritises urban greenery and citizen-centric development. The controversy highlights the broader challenge of balancing Mumbai’s modernisation with community needs, raising important questions about governance, transparency, and sustainable urban planning.