Even though the ward is dominated by Marathi, Gujarati and Rajasthani population, it comprises more than 5000 families of Sindhi and Punjabi migrants who are settled in the Mulund colony – it is considered one of the five largest settlements in Mumbai spread over 100 acres.
Mulund is surrounded by areas like Navghar, Mithagar, Nirmal Nagar, Hariom Nagar and Gavanpada in the east, and stretches from Sanjay Gandhi National Park to Mulund Colony in the west.
The ward has two major transport routes – the Eastern Express Highway and LBS Road – passing through it, causing heavy traffic during peak hours in the morning and evening. These two roads provide connectivity between Mumbai and areas in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) such as Thane and Bhiwandi.
The ward, which houses people from upper, middle and lower income families, is known for active civic participation. Issues such as poor infrastructure, unresolved dumping ground, the proposed golf course, rehabilitation of Dharavi residents, a stray dog shelter, and pressure on infrastructure due to the PAP project have led to public anger.
Lawyer and social worker Kamal Kotai, who lives in Mulund colony, said, “The CG Nagpal Road is being constructed for two years and the work is not completed yet. There is no proper sewerage line, electricity supply get disconnected frequently due to road work. The local MLA has not visited once in the last two years, even to see the road work.”
In December last year, clashes broke out between residents and illegal hawkers occupying roads and footpaths especially in the Mulund West outside the railway station, leading to traffic congestion and inconvenience for pedestrians.
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A social worker and Mulund resident, Nirmal Thakkar said, “Last month, when I raised the issue of illegal hawkers creating traffic jams in my building’s lane, one hawker even followed me on bike till my building and allegedly threatened me. When I started recording a video, their tone lowered. They do not fear the BMC and police. BMC only acted after the video went viral and registered NC at the police station.”
Another resident, on condition of anonymity, said, “The hawkers and illegal parking in the Mulund West are the major issues. There is no action by BMC, police or even the local MLA.”
Mulund has been under BJP control since 1990. In the 2017 BMC elections, the BJP corporators won all six electoral wards in the T ward while Congress, NCP and other parties failed to win a single seat.
In the 2024 Assembly elections, Mihir Kotecha won second time from the BJP.
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BJP’s Anita Vaiti who is contesting from ward number 105, which is reserved for women, told The Indian Express, “The roads in Mulund (East) are not good. So our focus will be to concretise the roads. We will not allow unauthorised slums in the area and also plan to make hawker zones so footpaths are not illegally occupied.”
The dumping ground in Mulund has been closed and the administration is trying to build a golf course there.
Another key issue is the rehabilitation of Project Affected Persons (PAP), primarily from Dharavi and other areas onto salt pan lands in Mulund. This has faced strong local opposition due to fears of increase in crime, infrastructure strain, population burden, environmental damage on ecologically sensitive land.
Despite the government’s policy to provide housing for the project-affected people, the local residents and activists protested demanding to relocate Dharavi residents to alternative locations.
Among those contesting from the ward this year is former corporator Prakash Gangadhar for BJP from ward 104.
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His nomination led to resignations by two BJP office bearers, one of whom tried to contest as an independent and his nomination was rejected. Gangadhar faces strong competition from MNS’s Rajesh Chavan, Congress’s Hemant Bapat, and NCP’s Shivaji Khadtale.
In ward 105, Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Archana Chavre is contesting against BJP’s Anita Vaiti.
In ward 106, MNS’s Satyawan Dalvi and BJP’s Prabhakar Shinde are contesting. A candidate from Sena (UBT) withdrew from the race, preventing a split in Marathi votes and strengthening the Opposition challenge.
In ward 107, BJP’s Neil Somaiya, son of former MP Kirit Somaiya, is contesting again. Major Opposition parties have not fielded candidates, leaving him to face candidate of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi and independents.
