Swadeshi Market Redevelopment Stalled: Kalbadevi Residents Protest As BMC Demolishes Parts Of Rooftops Over Safety Concerns

Mumbai: In south Mumbai’s Kalbadevi area, the redevelopment of the 130-year-old Swadeshi Market building has come to a halt, triggering protests by residents and tenants. The delay, reportedly caused by certain members of the traders' association has forced the building’s residents to take to streets in a protest on Friday.

In response to the dangerous state of the building, the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) has issued notices to disconnect electricity and water supplies. On Friday, the civic body also demolished parts of the rooftops of a few houses to signal the urgency of evacuation.

The Swadeshi Market, which played a key role during the independence struggle, currently houses 50 flat owners and 670 tenants, many of whom joined hands on Friday to protest the delay in redevelopment and to demand immediate action. They allege that the traders' association is creating obstacles to safeguard their own businesses, ignoring the risk to human lives.

“Some traders are only worried about their businesses, not about the lives of residents or customers,” said Mukesh More, a long-time resident. “The building is dangerous. Please don’t play with people’s lives.”

Despite progress, redevelopment was stalled when 12 shopkeepers filed a petition with NCLT (National Company Law Tribunal), successfully obtaining a stay on the project. These shopkeepers continue to run their businesses from the building, even as its structure deteriorates.

Residents and many traders believe that only dialogue between the administration, shopkeepers, and building management can break the deadlock and move the redevelopment forward.

Rupam Bhatiya, a small trader in the market, noted that when MHADA demolished residents’ homes, not a single trader came to their aid. He questioned the reason for opposing redevelopment after parts of the building have already been partially demolished. He cautioned against endangering many lives due to the stubbornness of a few traders.

“This redevelopment is in the public interest,” said Bhatiya. “We urge the authorities to ensure that no individual interest is allowed to jeopardize the safety and future of hundreds of residents and customers.”