Mumbai: CM Fadnavis promises rehab plan for Elphinstone residents within week

Demolition work on the bridge has begun. Pic/Ashish Raje

Stepping in to calm the anxiety among hundreds of residents of Elphinstone after closure of the century-old Elphinstone Bridge on September 12, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had said over a call with MLA Kalidas Kholambkar that a meeting would be scheduled within a week's time to come up with a solution for the rehabilitation of the residents of all 19 buildings.

A week later, however, no such meeting has taken place, leaving residents again grappling with uncertainty about their future.

"We were promised that within seven days a clear solution would be drawn up for all the 19 buildings. But nothing has happened. We are back to square one, still waiting for someone to hear us," said Naresh Yadav, 64, of Divera House, one of the affected buildings. "The bridge may be gone, but what about our homes? Where do we go when demolition teams arrive here next?"

Residents say the ongoing demolition works have already disrupted their daily lives, with debris, dust, and blocked access roads becoming routine. But beyond these immediate inconveniences, it is the looming fear of displacement without clarity on rehabilitation that has left families sleepless.

"Every time we are told something, the deadlines keep shifting. We just want a transparent plan in writing," said Dilip Kambli, 72, a resident of Veera Building.
For now, residents continue to worry that promises may once again not materialise. "The bridge has fallen, but our struggle has just begun," said Ramesh Vaikul, 77, of Paawala Building.

19
Number of buildings affected