Frustrated by weeks of frequent power outages, residents of Turbhe took to the streets on Friday night, demanding immediate action from MSEDCL to restore the power supply. Students are unable to study due to frequent power outages amid scorching heat, said residents.
For the past two months, locals have been grappling with daily power cuts lasting up to five hours. The unrelenting summer heat has only made the situation worse, leaving families unable to sleep and students struggling to study.
“It’s unbearable. We haven’t had proper power for weeks, and children are falling behind in their studies,” said Kasim Khan, a resident who joined the protest.
Former corporator Shubhangi Patil, who led the agitation, recalled that residents had protested back in 2021, demanding that the existing 22kV transformer be converted to an 11kV one to improve supply. Although the plan was sanctioned, she said there has been no progress. “We also demanded the replacement of old, faulty cables—but nothing has moved forward even after four years,” she added.
The protest caused temporary disruption to traffic before police intervened and convinced residents to disperse peacefully.
Patil later met Forest Minister and Airoli MLA Ganesh Naik at his Janta Darbar and raised the issue. Responding to the complaints, Naik directed officials from MSEDCL to replace the outdated transformer and cables and ensure uninterrupted power in the area.
Patil has announced she will visit the MSEDCL office on Monday to follow up. “If there’s no visible action within 10 days, I will launch a fresh protest at Turbhe Chowk,” she warned.
