August 4, 2025: The recent spell of heavy rainfall in Mumbai’s suburbs has brought renewed hardship for residents of the Ghatkopar Pant Nagar Railway Police Colony, where persistent water ingress and crumbling infrastructure have made living conditions increasingly dire.
Seventeen ageing residential buildings within the colony—comprising a total of 980 rooms—are now classified as dilapidated. Of these, only around 450 families continue to live in precarious conditions, while the rest have vacated their homes due to serious safety concerns.
In a letter addressed to Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, residents have demanded immediate redevelopment of the railway quarters and urged the government to grant them ownership rights. They are also worried that prolonged inaction could result in vacant portions of the colony being encroached upon by slums, which would severely complicate any future redevelopment plans.
According to the residents, although some external plastering work has been carried out, the interiors of the buildings remain in shambles. Many flats have broken windows, leaking walls, and crumbling ceilings. “It becomes unbearable during the monsoon,” said one resident. “Drainage lines get clogged, waterlogging worsens, and mosquito breeding increases, raising the threat of dengue and malaria.”
Those living on the ground floors are hit the hardest. During periods of intense rainfall, their homes often flood, forcing them to vacate temporarily and endure unsanitary conditions.
The community, once home to hundreds of railway police staff and their families, now finds itself battling neglect and decay. With every monsoon, the risk to life and health grows, and residents say they can no longer afford to wait. They are calling for the government to take swift and concrete action before the situation deteriorates further.
Source: Times Of India
