August 29. 2025: Residents of Chaitanya Cooperative Housing Society in Sion’s Pratiksha Nagar have been waiting for over 12 years for compound walls to be built around their premises, despite repeated assurances from the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA).
The society, which consists of 112 flats and four shops, was allotted to homeowners through a MHADA lottery in 2011 and formally handed over in 2013. Since then, residents have pressed MHADA for the promised compound wall, citing concerns over safety and trespassing. In July this year, MHADA’s Mumbai Board finally directed BG Shirke Construction, a private contractor, to undertake the work.
While the contractor visited the site last month to demarcate the boundary, work was soon halted after nearby slum dwellers objected, claiming the land earmarked for the wall belonged to them. The dispute has escalated further due to an ongoing slum redevelopment project directly behind the society, which residents allege is attempting to absorb their compound area into the redevelopment.
Society members say they have resorted to erecting tin sheets against their building walls to prevent intrusions, while also being forced to park vehicles outside the premises. “From the time we raised the issue, three managing committees have come and gone, and several MHADA officials have been transferred. Yet our problem remains unresolved,” said Kiran Patel, a committee member.
Another resident, secretary Vinayak Adep, voiced fears about structural risks: “Our D Wing’s pillars, which face the slum, are at risk of further damage from redevelopment work and the movement of heavy vehicles.”
Despite MHADA’s instruction to arrange police protection for the contractor, construction has not progressed. When contacted, MHADA’s Mumbai Board vice chairman and chief officer, Milind Borikar, did not respond on when the long-delayed compound wall work would begin.
Source: Hindustan Times
