More than a month after nearly 500 homes in Garib Nagar near Bandra East railway station were demolished for the construction of the fifth and sixth railway lines, many affected families continue to struggle through the monsoon while awaiting rehabilitation.
Although around 100 households have been declared eligible for rehabilitation, only 16 families are expected to receive their rehabilitation flats this week. The remaining eligible residents are likely to wait until August before they can move into permanent homes.
With heavy rainfall continuing to lash Mumbai, several families are living amid the rubble of their demolished houses, relying on makeshift shelters covered with plastic sheets and tarpaulins to protect themselves from the rain. The temporary arrangements have offered little relief as persistent downpours have made living conditions increasingly difficult.
Many residents have also been forced to separate from their families during this period. While children have been sent to stay with relatives in safer locations, parents have remained at the demolition site to safeguard the few belongings they were able to salvage from their homes.
The delay in rehabilitation has added to the hardships faced by displaced families, who continue to cope with inadequate shelter, unpredictable weather and uncertainty over when they will receive permanent accommodation.
The demolition drive was carried out as part of the railway infrastructure project to construct the fifth and sixth railway lines, aimed at expanding suburban rail capacity and improving connectivity in Mumbai.
However, with the monsoon now in full swing, the slow pace of rehabilitation has raised concerns about the living conditions of affected residents. For many families, the wait for a permanent roof continues even as they endure the city’s relentless rains in temporary and vulnerable shelters, hoping the rehabilitation process gathers pace in the coming weeks.
Source: The Indian Express
