Residents of the Mahalaxmi Co-operative Housing Society, a mammoth Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) settlement on DP Road off Pandurang Budhkar Road in Worli, have been literally living in the dark for a decade

There are no streetlights on this stretch of densely packed street, which is roughly 700m in length

"There is a large number of bikes on this road which people find very difficult to walk on. It is also challenging for bikers, but mainly for pedestrians who have to juggle a light along with some parcels or bags they may be carrying." said a resident

Another resident added, “Things are doubly difficult for the most vulnerable such as senior citizens and children. There is dense traffic on this road, and people are negotiating this in the dark”

According to the locals, girls are especially fearful at night. “Late at night there, are drug addicts on this road,” one said, adding that all the residents stated that streetlights not only dispel danger but fears too

Milind Deora subsequently wrote a letter to the BEST, referencing Mandrekar’s letter “concerning installation of street lights in the area”

In the latest communication, a letter dated February 12, 2025, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray wrote to civic chief Bhushan Gagrani about the need to install streetlights in the area and improve the lives of residents

The letter was also marked to S V R Srinivas, general manager of the BEST

The BEST general manager’s spokesperson told mid-day, “We received this letter yesterday (Tuesday). We have a long procedure for streetlight installation at new locations"

Adding that the "BMC’s approvals are a requirement in this process. Our street lighting department will process the matter as early as possible”