Journalism of Courage
Premium
Nine homes stall Sewri Worli Connector work over rehab dispute
Families refuse MHADA homes citing distance, living conditions
Residents of Haji Noorani building continue to resist relocation over rehabilitation concerns, as excavation work triggers vibration fears in nearby structures.
(Express Photo by Akash Patil)
Even as most hurdles in the way of the Sewri Worli Connector have been cleared, resistance from nine households in Prabhadevi is holding up a key demolition required for the project.
Rehabilitation disputes involving residents of the Haji Noorani building have delayed its demolition, which is crucial for the construction of the bridge’s pillars. The only other structure in the way, Laxmi Niwas, began demolition in late March.
The delay has impacted construction timelines for the Sewri Worli Connector, being built by J Kumar under the MMRDA, which is aiming to meet a September deadline.
Of the nine households, six families living on the upper floors and one shopkeeper have refused the alternate accommodation offered by MHADA in areas such as Dadar, Mahalaxmi, Wadala and Byculla. Residents cited concerns ranging from distance to living conditions.
“The rehabilitation home I was offered was in Jacob’s Circle, Mahalaxmi, which is too far,” said Suhas Badade, 55, who runs a newspaper recycling shop in the building. Rohini Mayekar, who was offered a home in Hindmata, Dadar, said the building was too dark and lacked adequate street lighting. Others declined homes in Wadala citing issues with the locality.
MMRDA officials said the residents were offered flats of 405 sq ft with additional compensation where applicable. “The MMRDA offered homes of 405 sqft area worth crores to all residents of the two buildings, Haji Noorani and Laxmi Niwas, back in January, paying them extra compensation if the area was less and asking residents to pay if they were being given larger homes,” an official said. “Even then, a few residents have taken issue with the homes and areas they’ve been given homes in. We have requested MHADA for more homes, but stock in this area and to their specifications are limited.”
Officials are now working on offering alternative homes within Prabhadevi to resolve the standoff.
Story continues below this ad
Complicating matters further, three households on the ground floor, located within the chawl compound but not part of the main building structure, were not offered rehabilitation initially.
“The three of us live in small rooms on the ground floor for generations, but we have been left out,” said Sonal Mayekar, 49, who lives with her son in a 75 sq ft room. “Just because our rooms are small, does that mean we’re not entitled to a rehabilitation home?”
MMRDA said it would examine their eligibility. “The three residents are not a part of the cessed building that is Haji Noorani. The structure they reside in was a structure for the building’s security, which the three households have converted into different rooms they stay in. Their homes are barely 7 9 sqft, which are barely homes. But as they come to us with their documents, we will write to MHADA and check if they are eligible for rehabilitation homes,” the official said.
In a related development, residents of Sewri BDD Chawl building 9 raised concerns over vibrations from piling work for the connector. Around 75 residents reported tremors on Tuesday evening and approached local representatives, following which work was temporarily halted. They have demanded a structural stability audit by VJTI before construction resumes.
Advertisement
Loading Recommendations...
Live Blog