Vikhroli is a suburb in the eastern part of Mumbai, in the state of Maharashtra, India. It lies along the Central Line of the Mumbai Suburban Railway and is administratively part of the Mumbai Suburban district. The suburb is known for hosting the headquarters and original manufacturing complex of the Godrej Group, as well as the Godrej-managed mangrove forests along Thane Creek.
| Type | Suburb of Mumbai |
|---|---|
| City | Mumbai |
| District | Mumbai Suburban |
| State | Maharashtra |
| Country | India |
| Civic body | Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) |
| Railway line | Central Line, Mumbai Suburban Railway |
| Notable feature | Godrej industrial township and mangroves |
Geography
Vikhroli is situated between the suburbs of Kanjurmarg to the north and Ghatkopar to the south. It is divided by the Central Line railway tracks and the Eastern Express Highway into two broad sections, commonly referred to as Vikhroli East and Vikhroli West. To the east, the suburb extends towards Thane Creek, where a substantial belt of mangrove forest is preserved by the Soonabai Pirojsha Godrej Marine Ecology Centre. To the west, the area rises towards the hills of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park.
History
Originally a low-lying area of marshland, salt pans and small village settlements on the eastern fringe of Bombay (now Mumbai), Vikhroli was transformed in the 1940s after the Godrej Group acquired large tracts of land for an industrial township. The Godrej factories, residential colonies for employees, schools and the Pirojshanagar township subsequently became defining features of the locality. Urban growth accelerated through the latter half of the 20th century as Mumbai's eastern suburbs expanded, and Vikhroli developed into a mixed industrial and residential neighbourhood.
Civic administration
Vikhroli falls under the jurisdiction of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and is part of the BMC's S Ward, which also covers Bhandup and Kanjurmarg. For state and parliamentary elections, the suburb is represented through constituencies in the eastern Mumbai region.
Transport
Rail
Vikhroli railway station, on the Central Line of the Mumbai Suburban Railway, is the principal commuter link, with services running between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Kalyan, Karjat and Kasara. The station serves both slow and fast local trains.
Road
The Eastern Express Highway passes through Vikhroli, connecting it to South Mumbai, Thane and the Mumbai–Nashik corridor. The Jogeshwari–Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR) provides an east–west connection across the city, linking Vikhroli to the Western Express Highway and the western suburbs. Local bus services are operated by the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST).
Metro
The JVLR corridor in Vikhroli is served by Mumbai Metro Line 6 (Swami Samarth Nagar–Vikhroli), which is intended to improve east–west connectivity in the city.
Economy and institutions
The Godrej Group remains the most prominent commercial presence in Vikhroli. The Pirojshanagar campus houses manufacturing facilities of Godrej & Boyce, the corporate offices of various Godrej companies, and Godrej One, the group's headquarters building. Real estate development by Godrej Properties has added residential and commercial projects in recent years. Educational institutions in the area include the Udayachal schools run by the Godrej Memorial Trust.
Environment
The mangrove belt along Thane Creek adjacent to Vikhroli is one of the largest privately managed mangrove forests in India. The Soonabai Pirojsha Godrej Marine Ecology Centre, established by the Godrej Group, undertakes conservation, education and research activities related to the mangroves and associated wildlife, including a wide variety of birds and aquatic species.
Significance
Vikhroli is significant in Mumbai's urban history as an early example of a planned industrial township within the metropolitan area, and as a site where large-scale industrial activity has coexisted with substantial ecological preservation. Its location on both the Central Line and the JVLR makes it an important node in the city's transport network.