Chembur's Suman Nagar families told to vacate homes by November 15

For hundreds of families in Chembur's Suman Nagar, worry about losing their homes has replaced festive cheer this year. People living in huts along the Harbour and Central Railway tracks fear they will be left homeless after the November 15 deadline. They have very little time to find another place.

Central Railway (CR) issued the notice on October 15. According to the notice, those living in huts on both sides of the tracks have been asked to vacate within a month. Railway officials have also begun demarcation work in the area.

Resident Anant Jadhav said, "They have only told us verbally that a car shed for trains will be built. No official reason has been given."

A CR officer said the action is being taken in line with court orders and that none of the families is eligible for rehabilitation. The officer said, "The process is going on as per the High Court orders. We are not doing anything against the law. No family is eligible for rehabilitation. In any case, whenever families have been eligible, they have always got homes. As per the court order, we will give them Rs 2,000 every month for the next six months."

Residents do not agree with the railway. They claim they have proof of eligibility and of living here for many years. They said they would show records of the 2001 and 2011 Census, voter IDs, Aadhaar cards, electricity bills and BMC water bills.

Jadhav said, "The 2001 and 2011 Census papers, voter IDs, Aadhaar cards, electricity bills, everything is at this address. The BMC water bills are also at this address. If we are illegal occupants, why have the municipal corporation and other government bodies been giving us these facilities for decades? At least 250-300 families have all the proof of eligibility." Residents ask how hundreds of families can find another home in a month.

Residents say the timing of the notice, which coincides with Diwali and children's examinations, has added to their distress. Shankar Tandel said, "It could not have been a worse time. Diwali is round the corner, and instead of preparing for the festival, we are thinking about where we will sleep after November 15. We have built our homes over many years and we have papers for our claims. How can we simply be told to leave?"

Swapnali Abnave said, "My child's exam is coming up, but when we do not even know whether we will have a roof over our heads in the coming days, it is impossible to concentrate on studies. We cannot even think of buying new clothes or celebrating Diwali. Our only worry is that our homes should be saved."

For many families, it is not just about the house. Their neighbourhood, livelihoods and the support they have built over the years are tied to this place. A resident named Benu said, "I was born here, have lived here all my life, got married here and now have two children. All this happened in this place. We are not asking for anything special. We only want the authorities to look at our papers and hear us before taking such a big step. There are hundreds of families here. Where do we go with our children and belongings?"

Advocate Sandesh Kadam said the residents are preparing to approach the court again. They will seek relief for families who claim to have papers proving their eligibility for rehabilitation.

Kadam said, "We have planned to file another, separate PIL next week, so that at least these 250-300 families, who have all the documents and proof, get justice. We had already given the papers to the railway, but they did not pay attention."

He also claimed that some residents have papers according to which the land the railway is claiming does not belong entirely to it, and that part of it belongs to Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers (RCF).