September 25, 2025: The Bombay High Court has intervened to address safety concerns raised by residents of a Dharavi rehabilitation building, directing an independent structural audit following allegations of severe soil erosion and damage caused by construction on an adjacent plot.
The 15-storey Kamraj Nagar Co-operative Housing Society, located along the Sion-Bandra Link Road, was granted a partial Occupancy Certificate by the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) in July 2022. Problems arose shortly after developers began constructing a 21-storey free-sale tower on the neighbouring site.
Residents claimed that excavation work destabilised the ground, resulting in significant soil erosion and structural damage. According to their petition, the flooring at the main entrance sank by nearly 40 inches in one section and by 1.6 feet along the edge. They warned that ongoing erosion continues to threaten the building’s foundation, while persistent waterlogging has created accident-prone conditions.
Between October 2024 and June 2025, residents repeatedly appealed to the SRA’s Executive Engineer, requesting an independent audit, immediate soil stabilisation, accountability from the developer, and compensation for damages. Their complaints, they said, were ignored. Attempts to involve local police were also unsuccessful, prompting residents to approach the court.
Hearing the petition, a division bench comprising Justice G.S. Kulkarni and Justice Aarti Sathe observed that the structural stability concerns were serious and required urgent attention. The bench directed a committee of two panel architects—Shetgiri & Associates and GM Arch Pvt. Ltd.—to inspect the site and submit a report on the erosion and damage.
The court also instructed the SRA’s Executive Engineer to be present during the inspection, scheduled for 1 October. The matter is listed for further hearing on October 7.
This case highlights the challenges faced by rehabilitation residents in rapidly urbanising areas, underscoring the importance of monitoring neighbouring construction projects and enforcing safety regulations to protect vulnerable communities.
Source: Hindustan Times
