Thieves leave Panjrapol tunnel in utter darkness

Mumbai: The 800-metre long tunnel connecting Chembur and South Mumbai on Eastern Freeway at Panjrapol, Chembur, has been without lights for the past three to four  days due to theft of lamps by some miscreants. 

The thieves also burnt down electrical wires supplying power to the tunnel. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has filed a complaint at the local police station against the unknown miscreants. 

The BMC maintains some of the portion of Eastern Freeway, which has one-km twin tunnels, in the Panjrapol region. The civic body has installed electric lamps and electrical cables to provide electricity in the tunnel.

According to civic officials, some miscreants burnt down the cable in the tunnel completely and they also stole electrical lamps and fittings. 

Shriniwas Kilje, assistant commissioner of M-East ward said, “The BMC has undertaken the works on the war footing to restore the electric supply in the tunnel and generators would be used temporarily to provide lighting within the tunnel. The regular electric supply would be restored within three weeks.”

A civic official said, “This is not the first time that cables and other electrical fittings have been stolen. This time however almost all the cables have been burned down and cannot be repaired temporarily. It will take around 21 days as cable will have to be laid on the wall 20 feet above ground to avoid theft and also new 120 LED fittings will be installed.”

The eastern freeway was built by Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and was opened to traffic in June 2013. 

After initial maintenance by the contractor, MMRDA handed over the road to the municipal corporation.