The roaring soil testing machines at the JN type (a type of building structure) apartments at Vashi's sector 9 have come to a grinding halt after angry residents objected to the same and complained to civic authorities. Soil testing was started in the Gulmohar Society compound as part of a sinister plan to demolish JN2 type buildings for redevelopment, which is being opposed by several residents as the plan lacks transparency, alleged resident Kiran Sawant. Mid-day, on September 23, had highlighted the plight of the residents. Groups of citizens under the banner of Gulmohar Mitra Mandal had approached civic authorities to clarify if the soil testing has been approved. When the officials responded in the negative, the groups asked for the noisy work to be stopped.

"Some people, obviously at the behest of unknown builders, tried to bully us around and continue with the work, which we collectively resisted," said another resident Nirmala Thorat. Gulmohar and Ashirwad societies, victims of water and power cuts since June, have been resisting redevelopment attempts by some of their office-bearers due to lack of transparency and authorisation. The society office-bearers were not democratically elected, residents say. "There have been no elections for the past several years and we have been complaining to the registrar of societies," said Sumesh George of Ashirwad society.