Andheri West is a popular, lively locality in the city of Mumbai. More affluent when compared to its eastern counterpart, it boasts of scenic sea-side views and landscaped beauty. Most of the property in Andheri West dates back to the early 1940s, with a majority of the residences exuding a sense of olden days. A locality for the elites, it is abode to several TV personalities, which has led to the soaring property values.
Andheri West differs from its eastern counterpart in many ways. Though Andheri East offers great industrial exposure and swift connectivity, it lacks in basic structure and organisation, something Andheri West takes pride in. The western side of this suburb revels in its green landscapes and calm environment, making it a hot property destination among realtors.
Primarily a residential catchment, Andheri West boasts of a myriad of amenities to accommodate to the residents needs. Situated close to the beach are prime residential complexes with state-of-the-art amenities such as swimming pools, jogging tracks, sports centers, departmental stores, and multiplexes. These include Lokhandwala Complex, Yari Road and Dhake Colony, among several others.
Catering to the educational needs of youngsters, there are a plethora of eminent educational institutions such as Arya Vidya Mandir School, Bombay Cambridge High School, Sardar Patel College of Engineering and Valia College of Commerce and Arts.
Key Projects in Andheri West :
Makwana The Lion Park
Platinum Heights
Connectivity and Transit Points
Andheri is one of the stations on the Western and Harbour Lines of the intricate Mumbai Suburban Railway network, connecting the suburb to major stations like Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and Panvel, and other prominent suburbs of the city like Bandra, Santacruz, Vile Parle and Mahim. Stations that are bound for other towns and cities either start at this station or make a halt there. The station is located a mere 4km away from the western part of the suburb.
The recently operational Line 1 of the Mumbai Metro connects Andheri to Versova in the west and Ghatkopar in the east, enabling hassle-free travel between Western Line and the Central line of the suburban rail via important hubs such as the Airport, Western Express Highway, and the industrial region of Saki Naka.
Major Landmarks
Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church
Jain Mandir
St Blaise Church
Versova Beach
Gilbert Hill
Andheri Sports Complex
Factors for Growth in the Past
The construction of the Versova Causeway in 1940 led to the development of the surrounding areas of Andheri on Shasti Island, and the adjoining islet of Versova. One of the oldest colonies in this locality, the Dhake Colony, comprising five historic buildings, was built in circa 1950.
The original layup of this area was that of a residential colony, a network of lanes filled with massive bungalows facing the sea. Though the bungalows have given rise to multi-storey apartments over the years, the well-designed layouts with serene views of the sea shore and landscaped green pavements, remains the same.
Major Challenges
Problems caused by the perennial congestion on roads along with slow moving traffic adversely affect the residents of Andheri West. Poor lighting, ineffective methods of garbage disposal, and incidents of chain snatching and other petty crimes have also been reported.
Factors for Growth in the Future
The operation of Line 1 of the Mumbai Metro, increasing the connectivity between Andheri and other prime localities, has acted as a catalyst in this areas growth.
New projects by renowned developers such as Rustomjee Developers, Sheth Developers, Nahar Amrit Shakti, Kani ka Spaces and Hubtown are in the pipeline.
The future prospects of Andheri West are boundless. The investment in commercial and residential units in this locality will continue to fetch good returns in the near future, leading to unbridled growth and progress.