From bullock carts to metros, this is how our galli became a growing city.
f you’ve grown up here, chances are you’ve heard this from at least one uncle:
“Beta, jab hum aaye the… yahan kuch nahi tha!”
And they’re not wrong. Before Mira Bhayandar had high-rises, malls, and metros, it was a place with narrow lanes, coconut trees, and a lot of open space. Over the past 40 years, it has transformed beyond recognition.
But how did this happen? How did a cluster of fishing villages and salt pans become one of the busiest suburbs in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region?
Let’s take you on a trip down memory lane — Mira Bhayandar style.
🌾 Once Upon a Time: Salt Pans, Gaothans & Simpler Days
Before the 1980s, Mira Bhayandar was quiet. Peaceful. Almost sleepy.
You’d find:
- Fishing villages like Uttan, Gorai, and Bhayandar Gaon
- Salt production zones, especially in Bhayandar West
- Open fields and farmlands where kids played cricket with coconut branches
The area was mainly home to Koli and Agri communities, who depended on fishing and agriculture. Houses were kuccha (mud-walled), and most people used bicycles or bullock carts.
There were barely any buildings, no proper drainage, and certainly no pizza delivery.
🚉 The Turning Point: Trains, Tracks & Transformation
Things began to shift in the early 1980s. The Western Railway suburban line extended services beyond Borivali. As a result, Bhayandar station became an official suburban stop. Soon after, Mira Road station was developed too.
Suddenly, what was once a far-off coastal village became connected to Mumbai’s heart. That one change opened the floodgates.
Middle-class families from Andheri, Dadar, and Malad started moving here. Why? Because:
- Property was affordable
- The trains made commuting possible
- The dream of owning a home finally felt real
This was the beginning of a major demographic shift.
🏡 1990s: From Gaon to Nagar — The Housing Boom Begins
This was a golden decade for Mira Bhayandar’s growth.
Builders began constructing multi-story buildings. Housing colonies started replacing mango orchards. Famous localities like Golden Nest, Shanti Nagar, and Beverly Park started attracting working families.
This era brought:
- Water tankers (because pipelines weren’t fully developed yet)
- Society watchmen, who knew everyone’s name
- Local kirana shops that gave monthly credit
- First internet cafes charging ₹30/hour for Yahoo Mail
Most residents still had jobs in Mumbai, but Mira Bhayandar had become home.
People didn’t just live here. They built lives.
🏗️ 2000s: Infrastructure Changes Everything
With the formation of the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) in 2002, the region got its own local governance. This was a game-changer.
Here’s what followed:
- Proper roads started getting laid
- Street lighting and public dustbins became common
- New flyovers, especially connecting Mira Road to Western Express Highway
- English-medium schools and hospitals opened up
- Developers like JP Infra, Lodha, and RNA entered the market
The city’s image started to change. People stopped saying, “Yeh gaon jaisa hai.” Now, they began calling it an upcoming suburb.
🛍️ The Lifestyle Shift: Malls, Cafes & Aspirations
By the early 2010s, Mira Bhayandar had fully entered the urban lifestyle game.
Malls like Maxus Mall, Thakur Mall, and Rassaz became go-to weekend hangouts. Food chains like Domino’s, McDonald’s, CCD, and Subway made their way in. New restaurants opened on Mira-Bhayandar Road every month.
Families were upgrading from 1BHKs to 2BHKs. Children began attending private tuition classes and coding workshops. Teens started Instagramming from rooftop cafes.
It was no longer about “settling down.” It was about living better.
🛣️ 2015–2025: The Metro Era & Smart City Status
The current phase is all about connectivity and convenience.
- Mumbai Metro Line 9 (Dahisar to Bhayandar) is under construction
- The region is part of the Smart City initiative
- New parks, libraries, and digital governance tools are being introduced
- Multiple coworking spaces have popped up
- Dahisar Check Naka and Mira Bhayandar Road are being revamped
As a result, the area is attracting startups, freelancers, and digital creators — not just families.
Property prices have risen sharply. In fact, Mira Road is now considered one of the fastest-growing real estate belts in the Mumbai region.
🧠 What Makes Mira Bhayandar Different?
Unlike Navi Mumbai or Vasai, Mira Bhayandar has:
- Close proximity to Mumbai without the chaos
- A mix of traditional and modern cultures
- Middle-class values with upper-middle-class dreams
- Residents from every community and language background
You’ll find a Gujarati dairy next to a South Indian mess, and both will be full during lunch hours.
There’s something here for everyone — and that’s rare.
🧓 Ask Your Elders: “Yeh Pehle Kya Tha?”
Every family in Mira Bhayandar has one “old timer” who remembers it all.
“Idhar jungle hota tha. Khargosh bhi dikhta tha.”
“Yahan pehle pipeline nahi tha. Tanker se paani laate the.”
“School ke liye Bhayandar jaana padta tha.”
These aren’t exaggerations. These are living memories. And they are fading fast.
So next time you’re sitting with your parents or grandparents, ask them what Mira Bhayandar used to be like. Their answers will surprise you.
📈 What’s Next for Mira Bhayandar?
Looking ahead, here’s what’s expected in the next 5 years:
- Metro launch by 2026 connecting to Dahisar and Andheri
- More smart facilities like underground cabling and smart parking
- An explosion in commercial real estate and coworking hubs
- New entertainment zones, parks, and multiplexes
- A stronger push for eco-friendly housing and green initiatives
In short: Mira Bhayandar is not slowing down.
It’s just getting started.
🧭 Final Thought: Not Just a Suburb. It’s an Emotion.
Mira Bhayandar isn’t just a place on the map.
It’s where working-class dreams took shape.
Where neighbors became extended family.
Where “Metro aa raha hai” turned into “Life badal raha hai.”
From buffalo carts to broadband — this city has grown.
But deep down, the warmth never left.
So say it proudly: “Main Mira Bhayandar se hoon.”
