The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has cleared the final major hurdle in the construction of the Prabhadevi double-decker bridge, a key component of the long-pending Worli–Shivdi elevated road project linked to the Atal Setu corridor.
The breakthrough comes after authorities successfully vacated Haji Noorani Chawl, following the earlier evacuation and demolition of the nearby Lakshmi Niwas building. Both structures had to be cleared to facilitate the construction of the double-decker bridge at Prabhadevi. Officials said demolition of Haji Noorani Chawl is expected to be completed within the next 15 days, after which bridge construction work is likely to accelerate significantly.
The project, aimed at improving connectivity between Worli and Shivdi, has witnessed repeated delays over rehabilitation concerns raised by affected residents. Several families had resisted vacating the buildings, citing issues related to proper resettlement and housing conditions.
To resolve the deadlock, MMRDA reportedly spent nearly Rs 90 crore on rehabilitation measures and acquired over 80 MHADA housing units for displaced residents. These homes were subsequently allotted to families from the two buildings.
Lakshmi Niwas, an approximately 100-year-old structure, posed additional challenges during demolition due to its age and construction material. Officials stated that the demolition process took around 25 days and was carried out under strict pollution-control guidelines. Since the structure was built using clay-based material, continuous water spraying was required to minimise dust emissions.
Authorities indicated that a similar demolition approach will now be followed for Haji Noorani Chawl.
While Lakshmi Niwas had already been vacated earlier, authorities struggled for nearly two weeks to relocate residents from Haji Noorani Chawl. Officials said discussions and follow-ups continued over unresolved concerns before the building was finally vacated on Tuesday and Wednesday.
MMRDA is now targeting completion and commissioning of the Worli–Shivdi elevated road project by September 2026. Officials expressed confidence that with both structures now cleared, work on the Prabhadevi double-decker bridge and the larger corridor project will gather pace in the coming months.
Source: Loksatta
