A long-standing redevelopment project near Mumbai’s King’s Circle railway station has hit a roadblock as a land ownership dispute among key public authorities stalls progress, triggering confusion for both civic bodies and residents. The matter centres around conflicting claims made by the Central Railways, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), and the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA).
According to civic officials, the BMC had relinquished control of the disputed plot years ago, transferring authority to the SRA for slum redevelopment purposes. A senior official from the municipal zone clarified that the BMC no longer has legal jurisdiction over the site. Despite this, demolition activities initiated as part of an approved rehabilitation project have prompted objections from railway authorities, who maintain that a portion of the land still belongs to the Railways and is entangled in an old legal case. Railway officials argue that the area, which includes a defunct booking office near platform number two, falls within their operational territory. They have raised concerns over unauthorised demolition works, stating that no formal relinquishment of the land was made and any such action must be substantiated with legal documentation such as a property card.
The SRA, however, insists that the land falls under its mandate, supported by formal project approvals for redevelopment being executed by a private developer. Officials from the authority argue that the land in question — including informal housing and abandoned structures — was part of the original annexure approved during the proposal stage. They assert that if the Railways have a claim, it should be backed by documented proof, failing which objections would be considered baseless. A joint meeting held recently at the BMC headquarters aimed to de-escalate the matter. Officials present confirmed that no stay order exists on the land, nor is there an active court proceeding halting redevelopment.
Meanwhile, residents caught in the legal limbo report that the developer has already provided two years’ rent in advance as part of the rehabilitation agreement, leaving them in uncertainty amid rising tension between authorities. As Mumbai continues to grapple with urgent housing needs and sustainable urban renewal, such jurisdictional conflicts between government bodies risk derailing public interest and delaying critical infrastructure upgrades.
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