Residents of Haji Noorani Chawl in Elphinstone have begun vacating their long-time homes as part of an ongoing redevelopment and infrastructure push, with many describing the emotional process of leaving behind what they call their “janmabhoomi.”
“We are leaving our janmabhoomi to do our karma,” said Shweta Shirodkar while packing belongings from Room No. 13, reflecting the deep sense of attachment residents feel toward the chawl they have lived in for decades.
Following discussions with officials, the residents agreed to vacate their homes by the end of the week after the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) declined to extend the shifting deadline until May 31. The original deadline of April 24 had already been extended to May 4 before final relocation instructions were issued.
Many residents expressed concern over the limited time given to relocate. “We know that they also have deadlines. But forcing us to pack our entire livelihoods in just a few days or months wasn’t fair. The entire city is going to benefit after the flyover is constructed; we do know that. But it’s our entire life here that is now going to be altered,” said Manjula Wagh, another resident.
Officials, however, stated that arrangements have been made to ease the transition. Shivaji Davbhat, additional collector, said, “The lift in D-Abero has been made functional. We have also offered transportation help if any family requires moving their belongings to the new houses. The procedure took long, but we tried to do our best in our capacity to ensure they do not face injustice. We will also look into the matter of bills.”
Preparatory work for demolition has already begun, with iron sheets and bamboo structures being placed at the site. Authorities said this will take a few days before actual demolition starts, giving families some additional time to shift.
Several residents also raised concerns over the condition of alternative housing provided by MHADA. Issues such as non-functional lifts, incomplete water supply, termite infestation, and leakage in some flats at Priyadarshini Building were reported, along with unexpected utility charges.
Officials acknowledged that infrastructure gaps in the alternate housing remain a key challenge in the relocation process.
Source: Mid-day
