August 14, 2025: The Bombay High Court has removed a key obstacle to the Worli–Sewri Elevated Corridor project by directing three slum dwellers to vacate structures obstructing the construction site. A bench comprising Justices Girish Kulkarni and Arif Doctor was hearing a petition filed by the Mahakali Nagar Rahivasi SRA Sahakari Gruhnirman Sanastha, representing slum residents seeking protection from eviction until completion of their long-delayed rehabilitation.
The court noted that the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) had sanctioned the rehabilitation scheme in 2004, yet the project had stalled for over a decade, leaving many families without permanent homes. The bench criticised the failure to complete the work in more than 20 years, as well as the non-payment of rent to some residents for up to 12 years.
The dispute centred on three individuals — Sharda Suhas Page, Hemchand Gangaram Gupta, and Kalpana Bhagwan Mhatre — whose homes stood in the way of the corridor. While four other dwellers had accepted compensation and vacated, these three had resisted eviction despite notices issued in 2022. In court, the SRA offered to pay each of them Rs 25,000 per month as advance rent for one year if they agreed to leave. The offer was accepted, with the dwellers undertaking to vacate within 10 days of receiving the payment.
The bench ordered the SRA to deposit the advance rent into their accounts by August 13, 2025, and set August 22, 2025 as the deadline for vacating, warning that demolition could follow in case of non-compliance. The SRA was also instructed to resolve the petitioner’s application under the Slums Act within 15 days.
The court emphasised that the SRA must consider taking over stalled projects where developers fail to meet obligations, ensuring timely rehabilitation and safeguarding residents’ rights.
Source: The Free Press Journal
