July 19, 2025: Civic activist Kamlakar Shenoy has called on the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to ensure that tenants affected by the proposed demolition of the Prabhadevi railway overbridge (ROB) are adequately compensated or relocated before any dismantling work commences. Formerly known as the Elphinstone bridge, the ROB is set to be demolished to make way for the Sewri-Worli Elevated Connector.
On Friday, Shenoy submitted a Right to Information (RTI) request at the MMRDA office, seeking details about the authority’s plans to manage the displacement of residents. He stressed that compensation should be offered at market value or in the form of transit accommodation, failing which he would initiate criminal proceedings against the agency.
“Tenants must not be left in the lurch like those impacted during the Hancock and Carnac bridge demolitions,” Shenoy warned. “The authorities must ensure proper rehabilitation before proceeding.”
The 4.5-km Sewri-Worli Connector is a key infrastructure project linking Atal Setu with the Bandra-Worli Sea Link and the forthcoming Mumbai Coastal Road. Once completed, it will enable signal-free travel from Navi Mumbai to South and Central Mumbai, drastically cutting commute times.
Currently, the demolition of the Prabhadevi ROB is pending clearance from the traffic police. The MMRDA has proposed a compensation scheme based on ready reckoner rates and has outlined plans for redeveloping the affected structures.
Notably, the project’s original alignment would have impacted 19 nearby buildings. However, revised plans have now reduced that number to just two, minimising displacement and the scale of rehabilitation required. Shenoy’s intervention highlights ongoing concerns about the human cost of infrastructure development in the city.
Source: The Free Press Journal
