August 19, 2025: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is preparing a fresh proposal to resolve the long-pending rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) issues concerning project-affected persons (PAPs) linked to the under-construction Sewri-Worli Connector. According to sources in Mantralaya, the authority is considering offering alternative accommodation to displaced families from Prabhadevi through a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) housing project.
Under MMRDA’s existing compensation framework, PAPs are entitled to receive over Rs 1.2 crore instead of alternative housing. However, many residents have rejected the payout, arguing that property prices in Sewri are far higher, making it impossible to purchase homes in the same area. They have pressed for an upward revision of the package, but officials maintain that the demand does not align with the government’s fixed formula. The redevelopment of the two affected buildings under Development Control Regulations (DCR) 33(7) also fails to provide the necessary floor space index (FSI), as much of the land parcel has been absorbed into the project.
As an alternative solution, MMRDA is exploring the allocation of flats from nearby BMC housing schemes. Discussions with affected families are expected shortly, with a final decision to be taken after consultations. The authority has also approached the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) regarding housing availability for slum dwellers impacted by the project’s alignment. Earlier, flats developed by HDIL in Kurla had been considered for resettlement, but local legislators opposed the plan, citing the distance and the need to retain South Mumbai residents closer to their existing neighbourhoods.
The 4.5-km four-lane Sewri-Worli Connector is a critical link in the dispersal network of the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (Atal Setu). Once complete, it will connect the MTHL to the Bandra-Worli Sea Link and the Coastal Road. Around 60 per cent of construction has been completed, with commissioning targeted for January 2026.
Source: The Free Press Journal
