Mumbai Slum Dwellers Protest Mobile Towers, Temporarily Halt Local Train Service

Hundreds of slum dwellers in Mumbai's Antop Hill area briefly disrupted local train services on Friday afternoon by blocking the tracks near Wadala Railway Station, protesting the installation of mobile towers on their rooftops. The demonstration targeted what residents described as illegal placements, citing health risks from radiation exposure. The incident, which delayed a Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT)-bound Harbour Line train for several minutes, underscores ongoing tensions between urban infrastructure expansion and community safety concerns in densely populated informal settlements.

The protest erupted around midday as residents from nearby slums gathered to voice their opposition. According to railway officials, the group surged onto the tracks, halting the train and drawing immediate attention to their demands for an immediate stop to the tower installations. Antop Hill, a low-income neighbourhood in central Mumbai, is home to thousands of families living in makeshift structures, where limited space often leads to conflicts over land use. Mobile towers, installed by telecom providers to boost network coverage in high-density areas, have faced similar backlash elsewhere in the city due to fears of electromagnetic radiation, despite regulatory assurances of safety compliance.

Government Railway Police (GRP) and railway authorities swiftly intervened, dispersing the crowd and restoring services without reported injuries or arrests. An official from Central Railway confirmed the brief disruption but noted that operations normalised shortly after. The protesters, primarily women and local leaders, emphasised that prior complaints to municipal bodies had gone unaddressed, prompting the dramatic action. This event echoes broader challenges in Mumbai, where rapid urbanisation clashes with the needs of over 6 million slum residents, as per recent urban development reports.

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The demonstration highlights the need for dialogue between telecom firms, local authorities, and communities. Telecom operators must adhere to Department of Telecommunications guidelines, which mandate radiation assessments, while residents seek greater transparency. As Mumbai grapples with balancing connectivity demands and public health, such protests serve as a call for inclusive urban planning to prevent future escalations.

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