In pursuant to the daily commuters, demand about repairing the long-neglected service road between Belapur Railway Station and Urban Haat, Cidco has resurfaced the stretch fully.
The road, which had fallen into severe disrepair, was repaved and the work was completed on May 15.
Navi Mumbai based citizens group Sajag Nagrik Manch had undertaken a campaign to restore the road in December 2024.
The Manch had formally approached CIDCO with a demand to re-asphalt the critical stretch used by railway passengers from Agroli, Income Tax Colony, and Sector 30 in Belapur. The appeal followed the installation of protective grills by railway authorities along the station platforms, which eliminated other access points and left this route as the sole pathway for commuters.
" The road had become a point of frustration for years, riddled with potholes and strewn with garbage. Jurisdictional disagreements between CIDCO and the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation only worsened the situation, with each agency allegedly deflecting responsibility for its upkeep," said S member from the group.
Now, with fresh asphalt laid and the surface restored, commuters are experiencing a long-overdue sense of relief. “This is a major victory for citizens who rely on this route daily,” said Pradeep Kashalkar, a member of Sajag Nagrik Manch. “The resurfacing marks a visible change brought about by consistent civic engagement.”
However, the group has raised further concerns about the adjacent Urban Haat wall, which has developed several cracks. With the monsoon approaching, there is a heightened risk of soil and debris spilling onto the newly repaired road. Sajag Nagrik Manch member Bhimrao Jamkhandikar has called on CIDCO to take timely measures, including repairing the wall and clearing nearby drains to prevent flooding or blockages.
“By acting on public demands and completing the work before the rains, CIDCO has given a timely gift to railway commuters,” said Arun Kagale, Vice President of Sajag Nagrik Manch.
