September 26, 2025: For more than 15 years, thousands of families in Juhu Galli, Mumbai, have lived with uncertainty, waiting for homes promised under a slum redevelopment project first announced in the early 2000s. What was meant to transform the lives of over 5,000 poor households, including sanitation workers, instead became a tale of stalled construction, corruption allegations, and dashed hopes.
The redevelopment project, handed to Darshan Builders in 2009 by the then Congress-led government, was hailed as a social welfare initiative. But soon, reports of questionable land deals and political interference began to surface. Despite work orders and multiple announcements, no meaningful construction followed, leaving families stuck in cramped and unsafe living conditions.
For residents, every passing year deepened their frustration. “We were told our new homes would be ready long ago. Instead, we are still waiting, moving from one promise to another,” said one slum dweller, echoing the mood across the settlement.
The collapse of Darshan Builders, whose promoters were later arrested in connection with a Rs 7,000 crore financial fraud, only worsened matters. With the project paralysed, families felt abandoned—victims of political manoeuvring and corporate greed.
Now, in 2025, the Supreme Court has lifted a stay on the project, and the BJP-led government has announced a renewed push to restart redevelopment. Officials have pledged that the 2,343 houses earmarked in the first phase will be included in the Mumbai Board’s April 2026 housing draw.
Yet, for those who have waited for over a decade, scepticism remains. Many families fear another round of delays, while others cling to cautious optimism that this time, change may finally come.
For Juhu Galli’s residents, life remains suspended between hope and despair—a community still stuck in limbo, waiting for the dignity of a home they were promised long ago.
Source: Organiser
