A sharp increase in electricity demand during the ongoing heatwave has been reported across Navi Mumbai and the adjoining Panvel region, where repeated power outages, voltage fluctuations and public anger have brought the condition of the local power distribution system under scrutiny. Demand has been said to have risen by nearly 30%, placing heavy pressure on substations, transformers, underground cables and local supply lines that were already under strain.
The disruption has been felt across several areas under the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation, including Airoli, Ghansoli, Kopar Khairane, Turbhe, Nerul, Vashi, Sanpada and CBD Belapur. Similar problems have also been reported from Panvel Municipal Corporation areas such as Kamothe, Kalamboli, Kharghar, Ulwe, Navde, New Panvel and Karanjade. In many localities, residents have complained that power cuts have become frequent, while voltage instability and long interruptions have affected homes, businesses, hospitals, students and senior citizens.
The crisis has been attributed by Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd to a combination of rising consumption, ageing low-tension lines, lack of adequate repair material and a distribution system that has not been upgraded in proportion to rapid urban growth. The situation has been described as especially serious in Panvel, where areas such as Kamothe and Kalamboli remain dependent on limited substation support. Kamothe, despite having a population of more than one lakh, is still largely served by a single substation, while much of Kalamboli’s supply is dependent on the Taloja substation.
Public anger was triggered after nearly 15,000 residents in Kamothe were affected by power failures over a 27-hour period. In Kalamboli, a feeder fault caused large parts of the area to be left without electricity, after which residents gathered outside the MSEDCL substation. Police deployment was required before supply was restored in the early hours.
The issue was also taken up politically. Shiv Sena workers led by MP Naresh Mhaske staged a protest outside the MSEDCL office in Vashi, while another agitation was held outside the utility’s Airoli office. Mhaske was reported as saying that residents had endured repeated outages for months and that patients, senior citizens, children, hospitals and police stations had been affected. Yuva Sena leader Aniket Mhatre also submitted a memorandum demanding faster commissioning of pending substations, replacement of old underground cables, additional transformers and a technical audit.
Panvel MLA Prashant Thakur sought intervention from Minister of State for Energy Meghna Sakore-Bordikar, stating that electricity infrastructure had not kept pace with population growth in Kamothe, Kalamboli, Kharghar and nearby areas. Meanwhile, Forest Minister Ganesh Naik held a high-level review meeting with MSEDCL and civic officials. It was stated by him that if additional funds were required to strengthen the network, a proposal should be submitted and support would be extended.
MSEDCL Superintending Engineer Deepak Patil said that demand had increased by nearly 30% because of rising temperatures. He added that repeated faults in LT lines had caused outages, additional manpower had been deployed, repair cable would soon be made available and the Rabale substation was expected to improve the city’s distribution network.
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