A portion of the retaining wall adjoining Ruby Hill 47, a century-old cessed building along Walkeshwar Road in Malabar Hill, collapsed on Monday night amid heavy rainfall in south Mumbai. Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) officials commenced demolition on Tuesday, as the incident raised grave concerns over hill stability and unregulated construction.
Tenants of Ruby Hill 47 have been relocated to a transit camp in Mazgaon by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), while a neighbouring structure has been instructed to undergo a structural audit. However, residents fear the incident signals a broader, more dangerous pattern. “There are at least four high-rises under construction on this hillside,” said long-time resident Pervin Sanghvi. “The city’s urban planning is ignoring the hill’s natural contours, water flow paths, and geological vulnerabilities.”
The debris from the demolition spilled onto Walkeshwar Road— a high-security VIP route used by the Maharashtra governor and chief minister — prompting intermittent traffic halts. A large tree, whose roots had intertwined with the collapsed wall, was also being removed.
Sanjay Shirke, a tenant of Ruby Hill 47, lamented the lack of clarity about their future. “The retaining wall was never reinforced. We’re left in the dark,” he said. His sister-in-law, Hema Shirke, added that they’ve held rent-paid receipts since the 1950s and have received no meaningful response from the authorities.
D Ward Assistant Commissioner Manish Walunju confirmed that MHADA ordered the building’s demolition after a mudslide was detected. Meanwhile, RTI activist Santosh Daundkar criticised the state for ignoring prior warnings, stating that no geological surveys were undertaken before new constructions began.
MHADA clarified that only residential tenants would be provided alternative housing, leaving commercial occupants in limbo.
Source: The Times Of India
