Mumbai’s flagship Sewri-Worli elevated corridor project has reignited controversy over relocation commitments, as residents displaced by the Elphinstone Road bridge demolition say the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has diverged from earlier in-situ rehabilitation assurances. More than 20 families from a decades-old chawl in Prabhadevi allege that new homes offered kilometres away fall short of promises, raising questions about equitable resettlement practices amid the city’s push for major connectivity enhancements.
The affected residents of Haji Noorani Chawl, whose homes are being cleared to make way for the double-decked elevated corridor, were initially told they would be relocated within a short radius of the original site, in line with urban planning principles that prioritise community continuity and minimise disruption to livelihoods. Instead, most have been offered tenements in areas such as Wadala, Antop Hill and Dadar — locations up to several kilometres from the demolition site. Residents argue this undermines the logic of proximity promised by the authority.Urban development experts highlight that relocation distance matters profoundly in dense cities like Mumbai, where access to existing social networks, schools, workplaces and essential services is tightly bound to neighbourhood geography. Moving families to distant clusters can fracture social capital and disproportionately impact low-income households that rely on informal transport and local support systems.
Community advocates also point to lack of transparency in the allotment process. Many tenants say they were asked to pay significant sums to bridge differences in dwelling sizes between their old units and the new ones offered — a practice that can exacerbate financial strain for vulnerable households. In some cases, residents reported structural concerns in the buildings offered, such as non-functional elevators and perceived safety issues, prompting reluctance to occupy the spaces.The original in-situ rehabilitation concept was tied to a broader cluster redevelopment plan encompassing multiple buildings around the Elphinstone site. This model would have allowed affected households to remain embedded in the same urban fabric while participating in contemporary redevelopment. However, approvals for that project are still pending with the state urban development authority, leaving residents in limbo.
Municipal infrastructure planners stress that while delivering large-scale connectivity enhancements is critical for easing traffic and fostering economic flows across the metropolis, the social equity dimensions of such projects cannot be treated as ancillary. Efforts to protect community networks and mitigate displacement impacts typically require integrated policy frameworks and enforceable rehabilitation standards.The MMRDA’s official response to the residents’ concerns has been limited, with agency representatives not publicly addressing specific allegations. As the elevated corridor project advances, the debate underscores the need for clearer governance mechanisms that align infrastructure expansion with inclusive resettlement outcomes — ensuring that development does not compromise social stability.
Looking ahead, stakeholders including urban planners and civil society urge expedited approval of the cluster redevelopment scheme and renewed dialogue with displaced households to co-design solutions that uphold both mobility and housing equity goals.
