Fight for Mumbai's toughest turf

Spanning Kurla, Saki Naka and parts of Chandivali, L Ward is often described as a 'microcosm of Mumbai's extremes'.

- Dhairya Gajara

From the dense, narrow lanes of Jari Mari to the glitzy high-rises of Chandivali, the ward has become the epicentre of an intense political tug-ofwar amid a growing civic crisis.

The L ward remains one of Mumbai's most underserved areas, where infrastructure has struggled to keep pace with a population exceeding nine lakh. The ward struggles with the 'super slum' dilemma with around 60% of the population living in informal settlements. While the areas like Jari Mari, Bail Bazaar and Saki Naka consistently struggle with irregular water supply and increasing garbage dumping, the residents of Chandivali's high-rises struggle with patch roads and increasing air pollution.

Residents are increasingly vocal about systemic failures that have turned the ward into a civic hotspot. However, it is infamous for the distribution of freebies by the administrative ward. Over the past two years, the local legislator and the BMC has distributed crores worth of freebies, including pressure cookers, sarees and juicer mixers among other items. The residents have alleged that the distribution strategically happens before elections to lure voters from the lower financial class.