Mumbai: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has issued eviction notices to residents of Haji Noorani Chawl in Prabhadevi, directing them to vacate their homes ahead of a planned demolition on April 29 to make way for the Sewri–Worli Elevated Corridor project.
According to officials, the chawl is the last remaining structure obstructing the alignment of the 4.5-km elevated corridor near the Elphinstone bridge area. Its clearance is crucial for completing a key stretch of the infrastructure project.
Residents have been asked to vacate the premises within the stipulated deadline, failing which the MMRDA has warned it will proceed with eviction and demolition, and will not be responsible for any loss or damage to belongings.
Rehabilitation and Dispute
The chawl houses nine tenants, of whom four have already accepted rehabilitation offers, while others initially resisted relocation, seeking accommodation closer to their current locality.
Authorities said that eligible occupants have been allotted alternative housing under rehabilitation norms. In cases where there is a difference in carpet area, compensation will be provided as per policy guidelines.
Under the rehabilitation scheme, residents of smaller tenements are entitled to larger flats of around 405 sq ft, with options for additional space on payment or monetary compensation.
Importance of the Project
The Sewri–Worli Elevated Corridor is a major infrastructure project aimed at improving east-west connectivity in Mumbai. It will link key roads and integrate with major transport networks such as the Bandra-Worli Sea Link and the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link.
The project includes a 27-metre-high double-decker flyover, designed to ease congestion and significantly reduce travel time across central Mumbai.
Project Timeline
Officials said that once the structure is cleared, work on the final stretch of the corridor will accelerate. The installation of girders over railway tracks is expected to be completed by July, after which approach road construction will begin.
Background
The demolition follows earlier clearance of nearby structures, including Laxmi Nivas Chawl, which had also posed a hurdle to the project. Delays due to land acquisition and rehabilitation issues had slowed progress, but authorities are now pushing to complete the corridor within the planned timeline.
Bigger Picture
The eviction highlights the ongoing challenges of balancing urban development with rehabilitation concerns in a densely populated city like Mumbai. While the project promises improved connectivity and reduced traffic congestion, it also underscores the complexities involved in relocating residents affected by large-scale infrastructure development.
The upcoming demolition of Haji Noorani Chawl is expected to remove the final bottleneck, paving the way for faster completion of one of Mumbai’s key transport corridors.
