Navi Mumbai News: Utility Duct Shortage Sparks Public Outrage, Citizens Demand Better Planning

Despite having a road network stretching nearly 700 kilometres, Navi Mumbai has underground utility ducts on just 100–120 kilometres of its roads—a fact revealed through a Right to Information (RTI) response and now at the centre of growing public anger.

Sajag Nagarik Manch, a prominent citizen’s group, has voiced strong opposition to what it calls the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation’s (NMMC) “deliberate and financially motivated neglect” of proper planning. The group argues that due to the absence of utility ducts, roads are frequently dug up for laying or repairing cables and pipelines—wasting public funds and severely reducing the lifespan of roads built at great expense.

“This repeated digging is not just bad governance; it’s a waste of taxpayers’ money,” said a representative of the Manch. “NMMC has known about this for years, but only about 15% of the city’s roads have utility ducts. Why is such basic infrastructure still missing in a planned city?”

Following news that NMMC plans to dig up several roads for laying treated water pipelines, Sajag Nagarik Manch demanded that utility ducts be installed alongside. However, the civic body has yet to act, prompting the group to halt work at Agroli and call for a direct inspection by senior civic officials.

“This is a critical moment. With roads being opened up again, the administration has a golden opportunity to correct its course. If ignored again, Navi Mumbai will continue to suffer from short-sighted planning,” said Arun Kagale, vice-president of the Manch.

The citizens’ group has reiterated its demand that utility duct systems be made mandatory in all future roadworks—before more public money and infrastructure are lost to poor coordination and planning.