"No one would have dared touch us if Sunil Dutt was alive”: Garib Nagar residents shattered after Bandra demolition drive

Residents allege lack of notice

Residents of Garib Nagar near Bandra East railway station expressed anger, helplessness and betrayal on Tuesday as a large-scale demolition drive continued in the slum area adjoining railway land.

Several residents alleged they were either not given prior notice or were left uncertain about rehabilitation despite living in the locality for decades.

"If Sunil Dutt was here…"

"Today if Sunil Dutt was here, no one would have been able to touch or move us from here," one resident said during the operation, adding that he has been living in Garib Nagar since 1981.

Residents question political promises

Another resident claimed that no notice was received before the demolition began and questioned the lack of surveys before the action.

"During elections, Bandra MLA Varun Sardesai told us that if residents of Garib Nagar faced any problem, we should come to him and he would solve it. We have Aadhaar cards, PAN cards and voter IDs, yet the demolition happened without any survey. Who are we supposed to go to for help now?" the resident said.

"For votes we become authorised"

A teacher who works with children in the slum area criticised political leaders for approaching residents only during elections.

"When they come to us for votes, we the ‘unauthorised' people become authorised. Every politician, MP and MLA used to come here seeking votes, but now that we are being pushed out of our homes, no one is here to help," the teacher told Mid-day.

300 people left homeless

A woman resident also questioned the rehabilitation process, alleging that only a limited number of families were being accommodated.

"The government is providing homes to only 100 people while leaving nearly 300 others homeless. Around 400 residents live here. How can they make us homeless in a single day? How is this fair?" she said.

Demolition drive linked to railway expansion plans

The demolition drive is connected to Western Railway's long-pending project to expand the fifth and sixth railway lines on the Santacruz-Mumbai Central corridor, aimed at easing congestion on Mumbai's suburban rail network.

Officials said the cleared land will help facilitate nearly 50 new originating trains from Mumbai and support the expansion of Bandra Terminus.

The additional space will further be used to connect Bandra suburban station with Bandra Terminus and segregate suburban and long-distance rail operations for smoother train movement.

RLDA redevelopment plans

The land is also strategically significant for future commercial redevelopment. The Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) had recently auctioned nearby prime railway land to private developers for modernisation projects.

High court directions on rehabilitation

The Bombay High Court had permitted railway authorities to remove unauthorised encroachments on railway land, observing that settlements and waste accumulation were affecting railway infrastructure and track safety.

However, the court also directed authorities to protect the rights of eligible slum dwellers identified during official baseline surveys. It stated that residents entitled to rehabilitation cannot be evicted without being provided alternative accommodation by the state government.

Officials said around 100 legal residents identified under rehabilitation norms have already been provided accommodation, while action will be taken against the remaining unauthorised occupants.

Massive civic operation underway

The operation involves coordination between railway authorities, civic agencies, and law enforcement personnel, highlighting the scale of Mumbai's ongoing infrastructure and urban redevelopment push.

(With inputs from Manali Bhavsar, Rajendra B Aklekar, Atul Kamble)