In parts of South Mumbai, ageing chawls owned by the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) stand as stark reminders of neglect and administrative deadlock. Buildings in Khetwadi and Lamington Road, some over a century old, have been declared unsafe, yet hundreds of residents continue to live in them with no clear path to rehabilitation.
At the 137-year-old Angrewadi Chawl in Khetwadi, eviction notices hang alongside safety warnings. Five fragile structures, supported by temporary props, house around 500 residents. Safety nets installed by LIC aim to protect pedestrians from falling debris, but residents say the danger within is constant. “Every time a BEST bus passes by, we whisper a prayer,” said one resident, pointing to vibrations that shake the already weakened structures.
“Jackhammers used for neighbouring buildings under redevelopment make our homes shudder, utensils fall off shelves, plaster keeps peeling, and new cracks appear every few months,” said Arun Phadke.
Many tenants feel abandoned. “Neither MHADA nor LIC is willing to undertake repairs,” said Minaxi Patel, who lives in a 245-sq ft room. Despite paying rent, she claims maintenance is nonexistent. “I pay Rs 6,500 every month, but no repairs are undertaken. I have spent on repairs from my own pocket.”
The risks are real. “The room next to mine, where the Shinde family lived, has collapsed. We shared a common wall,” Patel said. Yet relocation remains out of reach. “My son works in Mahalaxmi. Where will we go? Where will I find a house in South Mumbai for ₹6,500?”
Conflicting positions between authorities have worsened uncertainty. MHADA has classified the structures as beyond repair, while LIC has cited earlier audits suggesting otherwise. Legal disputes have further stalled progress.
Similar conditions persist at New Badamwadi in Lamington Road and Minerva Mansion in Dadar, where residents face eviction notices without clarity on redevelopment timelines. With thousands affected across LIC-owned properties, tenants remain caught between unsafe living conditions and an unresolved future.
Source: Hindustan Times
