🏙️ Then vs Now: How Mira Bhayandar Transformed in Just 10 Years (Locals Share Shocking Changes)
From farms to high-rises, STD booths to 5G — this city isn’t what it used to be.
🚦”Pehle toh yahan kuch bhi nahi tha…”
Ask any longtime resident of Mira Bhayandar and that’s the line you’ll hear first.
In just a decade, this once sleepy, semi-rural suburb has transformed into a bustling mini-city.
Flyovers replaced fields. Cafés replaced cutting chai taps. Rent doubled, and so did the speed of life.
So what really changed in 10 years?
We asked the people who’ve lived through it.
🧓 1. From Buffaloes to BMWs — Mira Road’s Landscape Flip
Then (2013):
- Open plots with grazing buffaloes in areas like Shanti Nagar and Kanakia Road
- Gated societies were rare; “gaon-style” living was the norm
- Water tankers were a daily struggle
Now (2024):
- High-rises like Lodha Aqua and JP North dominate the skyline
- Landscaped podiums, sky gardens, biometric security
- 24/7 water, gyms, and valet parking
“Our 1BHK in 2012 had a well next door. Now it’s a Starbucks.” — Mrs. Patel, Shanti Park
🏗️ 2. Flyovers, Footbridges & The Metro Boom
Then:
- Mira Bhayandar was infamous for traffic jams on Mira-Bhayandar Road
- Buses came “kabhi kabhi” and there were no skywalks
- Auto rickshaw meters were decorative items only
Now:
- 2 Flyovers (GCC & Kashimira) + 3 footbridges
- Metro Line 9 (Dahisar East–Mira Bhayandar) now connects us to Mumbai
- AC buses, Ola/Uber, and e-rickshaws are everywhere
“Earlier, it took me 45 mins just to cross Dahisar Check Naka. Now I’m in Borivali in 15.” — Rakesh Mehta, Bhayandar East
🍲 3. From Vada Pav to Vegan Cafés — Food Scene Revolution
Then:
- Food meant local stalls: Anna’s dosa, roadside vada pav, Chinese van at 10pm
- Pizza = Dominos. That’s it.
Now:
- Korean BBQ in Bhayandar, rooftop cafés in Mira Road
- Organic stores, Zomato Pro, Insta-famous delivery brands
- Cloud kitchens booming from Naya Nagar to Uttan
“We had only one sandwich wala in 2011. Now even he’s on Zomato.” — Imran Sheikh, Naya Nagar
🧑🎓 4. Education & Coaching Ka Mahasangram
Then:
- 5–6 decent schools (RBK, N.L. Dalmia, Holy Cross)
- No major colleges except Bhavans
Now:
- Over 20+ top-tier schools, 5 junior colleges, 3 international curriculum options
- NEET, JEE, UPSC, IELTS — coaching centers in every building’s ground floor
“Back then, we sent kids to Dadar for classes. Now Dadar sends theirs here!” — Rupali Joshi, Indralok
💸 5. Rent, Real Estate & “Jab Building Bana Tha…”
Then:
- Rent for 1BHK: ₹5,500–6,500
- 2BHK resale: ₹35–40 lakhs
Now:
- 1BHK rent: ₹12,000–16,000
- 2BHK resale: ₹70–90 lakhs (some above 1Cr)
Builders like Lodha, Kalpataru, JP Infra, RNA are turning Mira Road into a premium corridor.
“Yeh flat papa ne 32 lakh mein liya tha. Ab log 1 crore bol rahe!” — Karan Shah, Beverly Park
📱 6. Society Culture & the Rise of “Tower Wale Log”
Then:
- Families knew each other
- Building festivals were simple, low-budget
- Announcements happened via “shouting from balcony”
Now:
- 40-flat WhatsApp groups, swipe-entry gates, CCTV in lifts
- Festival events have themes, DJs, sponsors
- “Society Secretaries” run things like election campaigns
“Hum toh ganpati ke time aarti leke jaate the. Aaj toh event management company bulaate hai.” — Uncle Benny, Old Bhayandar
👨💻 7. Jobs, Remote Work & Freelancers Everywhere
Then:
- Most jobs meant travelling to Andheri, Lower Parel, or beyond
- Work-from-home was “nautanki” to older relatives
Now:
- Mira Bhayandar has co-working spaces, podcast studios, influencers
- Freelancers, digital marketers, traders, startup founders everywhere
- Zoom calls in kurta + shorts is the new dress code
“WiFi + inverter + air fryer = my Mira Road office.” — Sneha Rana, Phase 8
📶 8. From Landline to Lightning Fast 5G
Then:
- MTNL lines, 2G speed, and “Jio kab ayega?”
- Sharing dongles with society friends
Now:
- JioFiber, Airtel Xstream, and 5G on your terrace
- Everyone’s got Alexa, ring doorbells, and CCTV on their phones
“Earlier we waited for cable to work. Now even the cat has a YouTube account.” — Pintu Bhai, Bhayandar Gaon
🏞️ 9. The Green That Got Greyer
Then:
- Open spaces, playgrounds, and mini forests near Ghodbunder
- Cycling on empty roads was common
Now:
- Concrete everywhere. Traffic always.
- Parks reduced. Lakes neglected.
But the good news: citizens groups are taking charge, planting trees, and reviving lakes like Chene and Shivar.
“We lost open spaces but gained community awareness.” — Ekta Jain, Environmentalist, Kashimira
🧠 What This Change Tells Us
In just 10 years, Mira Bhayandar went from:
- 🏡 Town to Tower
- 🛺 Slow to Speedy
- 🍽️ Simple to Smart
- 😌 Quiet to Connected
It’s not perfect — but it’s alive, thriving, and full of energy.
“Change is visible. But what’s invisible is how it changed us — our habits, dreams, even how we say hello.” — Anonymous
📣 Final Thoughts
If you haven’t taken a walk down your own memory lane in Mira Bhayandar lately, try it.
Stand where your old tapri was.
Eat at that one shop that’s still the same.
Look at a skyscraper that once used to be an open field.
And just smile.
Because no matter how much it changes, Mira Bhayandar will always be home.
Did you grow up here?
Tell us in the comments — what has changed the most for you in the last 10 years?
Or tag us on Instagram @MiraBhayandarWala with #MiraThenNow
