October 18, 2025: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Friday razed 169 unauthorised structures in Madraswadi, Worli, near the Dharamveer Swarajyarakshak Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Mumbai Coastal Road Project and Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan Road. The demolition, executed by the G South ward under additional municipal commissioner Ashwini Joshi and directed by municipal commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, comes amid concerns over potential land-grab attempts along Mumbai’s high-value western seafront.
While the constructions initially appeared as routine encroachments, civic activists allege they were strategically placed to gain access to prime real estate. Santosh Daundkar, who alerted the BMC’s coastal road department, said, “The modus operandi is to get these slum-dwellers listed as PAPs of the coastal road project and later, through forged documents, show them as eligible for slum rehabilitation. This would ultimately allow builders to gain access to reclaimed land for real-estate projects.”
Daundkar also highlighted that these encroachments obstructed essential sewer line work behind newly constructed retaining walls in Madraswadi and Markandeshwar Nagar, noting that “these structures came up after the wall was built,” violating civic norms and impeding infrastructure development.
The Rs 14,000-crore Mumbai Coastal Road Project, an eight-lane sea link from Marine Lines to Bandra West, has reclaimed approximately 70 hectares of land from the Arabian Sea. While this reclaimed land is designated for public and open use, its prime location has attracted speculative interest.
Friday’s operation involved around 35 BMC personnel, supported by Worli police and heavy machinery. Officials noted that the demolished structures contributed to monsoon waterlogging. Their removal is part of broader efforts to maintain civic order, ensure smooth progress of major infrastructure works, and safeguard the integrity of one of Mumbai’s most ambitious infrastructure projects.
Source: Hindustan Times
