More than five months after that Elphinstone Bridge closed for demolitionA key hurdle has been overcome in its replacement with the Sewri-Wadala connector. The 83 families living in Haji Noorani and Laxmi Niwas chawls, which fall within the alignment of the new bridge, have been allotted rehabilitation housing nearby or have accepted cash compensation. The two buildings are expected to be vacated next week, paving the way for future construction.
Located to the right of the 112-year-old Elphinstone Bridge at Prabhadevi, the two chawls are the only structures requiring demolition for the double-decker bridge that will replace it. Residents of these buildings, along with those of 17 others in Prabhadevi and Parel that are likely to be affected, blocked the first attempt to close the bridge in April 2025 over uncertainty over relocation. The bridge was finally closed in September under a heavy police presence.
With the demolition of the old bridge nearing completion, the Bombay The Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has completed the rehabilitation process.
On January 22, the MMRDA issued allotment notices to 78 residents, while five opted for cash compensation. According to the demands of the residents, the rehabilitation houses are located within a radius of 4 km in 16 MHADA buildings in Lower Parel, Byculla, Parel, Matunga, Mahim and Wadala.
“The MMRDA has spent more than Rs 90 crore on the MHADA houses for rehabilitation of the residents,” said an MMRDA official. “As decided, residents are provided free of charge houses of 405 sq ft or a minimum of 35 per cent additional fungible area over the size of their houses, whichever is greater. If the size of the allotted house does not meet this area, MMRDA is paying additional cash to the family, and if the house is larger than required, the resident will have to pay an additional amount – the ready calculation rate per extra sq ft decided by MHADA – to MMRDA.”
Most houses in chawls are 180 square feet or less, while some are as large as 400 square feet. All residents, including store owners, are entitled to a minimum 405 square foot home. Those with larger premises are entitled to 35 percent additional fungible area. Due to space limitations in MHADA’s available stock, compensation is paid or recovered for any shortfall or excess.
For example, a 133 sq ft shop has been allotted a 385 sq ft house worth around Rs 77 lakh, along with Rs 3 lakh as compensation for not meeting the minimum area. One of the larger homes, measuring about 580 square feet, is eligible for a 780-square-foot home; Since the assigned home is 480 square feet, the family will be paid the 300 square foot shortfall at the current rate.
Story continues below this ad.
Munaf Thakur, a resident and member of the Haji Noorani Chawl Residents Association, was allotted a 479 sq ft house. As this exceeds his entitlement by 74 sq ft, he has been asked to pay more than Rs 18.54 lakh “as per MHADA’s 110% ready calculation rate”, calculated at Rs 25,062 per sq ft. Residents are free to rent or sell their assigned homes.
Those who opted for cash compensation will receive between Rs 36 lakh and Rs 37 lakh, depending on the assessment.
Most residents welcomed the agreement. “Six generations of my family have lived in this 155 sq ft house. However, we are happy as they have given us a 385 sq ft house right here in Dadar and additional compensation,” said Shashi Sharma, a resident of Laxmi Niwas chawl.
Some residents of Haji Noorani chawl raised objections over the additional payments and the condition of the allotted buildings. Some were offered an alternative of 300-square-foot houses that would be ready within a year, along with rent for the interim period.
“We are willing to vacate our houses and move temporarily to the rehabilitation houses, but for the permanent houses, we would like to be allotted houses in the redevelopment cluster promised by the CM in the area with the other 17 buildings,” Thakur said. An MMRDA official said the decision taken was to allocate permanent rehabilitation housing.
Story continues below this ad.
While developers have approached residents of the remaining 17 buildings, the group’s redevelopment has not yet moved forward.