Shinde seeks DPR on rehabilitation of Kurla-Trombay railway track slum dwellers

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has directed the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for the rehabilitation of people living in huts along the railway tracks in Mumbai's Kurla-Trombay area, according to a government statement.

The statement said Shinde also contacted Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and asked him to intervene. The direction follows concern over notices that the railway administration has sent to people who have lived in these settlements for many years.

A review meeting was held at Sahyadri Guest House on Thursday, November 5. It reviewed pending issues of rehabilitation, redevelopment and civic amenities in the Chembur, Kurla and Chandivali Assembly constituencies. The issue came up at this meeting.

The rehabilitation case concerns people living along the tracks in Kurla-Trombay, from Chikhalwadi and RCF-Priyadarshini to Mahul. Shinde said the railway notices had caused panic among people who have lived here for years. He asked the SRA to coordinate with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and other agencies concerned and to present a detailed project report on their rehabilitation. Shinde also said the administration should ensure that no action creates a law-and-order problem.

The meeting also discussed the colony at Khardev Nagar, which has low-rise, tin-roofed houses for municipal employees. A proposal to redevelop it is being routed through the SRA. Redevelopment of residential co-operative housing societies of BMC employees in the Chembur constituency was also discussed. Shinde said the government would consider a new policy on the premium levied on redevelopment of municipal employees' housing societies.

The issue of retired BMC employees was also raised, whose financial benefits and pensions have been withheld because they did not vacate government quarters after retirement. Shinde said it was not right to withhold the entire amount due to retired employees. He said some employees cannot vacate their homes immediately because their children have been given jobs in the BMC on compassionate grounds. He asked officials to look at such cases with sympathy and send proposals on priority.

Sewage pipeline problems in the MHADA colonies of the Kurla constituency, namely Nehru Nagar, Tilak Nagar, Sahakar Nagar and New Tilak Nagar, were also placed before the meeting. Shinde asked the agencies concerned to coordinate and act to relieve residents' hardship. The rehabilitation of hutment dwellers living along the railway tracks at Sable Nagar, Kranti Nagar and Santoshi Mata Nagar was also discussed. The question of rehabilitating residents affected by a railway project along the Burma Shell line was also raised.

Chandivali MLA Dilip Lande raised several pending civic issues of his constituency. These include handing over a BMC-reserved plot for the new Sakinaka police station building, resettling people from hazardous settlements on hills and at their foot in a safe place, and including the green belt in the Sakinaka area in the residential zone. Shinde told officials to work towards lasting solutions to these issues, keeping people's safety in mind.

Former MPs Prakash Ambedkar and Rahul Shewale, MLAs Tukaram Kate, Dilip Lande and Mangesh Kudalkar, and Sujat Ambedkar were present at the meeting.