Mumbai: In a renewed political push, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction) leaders on Tuesday lashed out at the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) over its financial compensation plan for slum dwellers facing displacement due to the Sewri-Worli Connector Bridge project.
More than 100 families residing in informal settlements across Hanuman Nagar, Ekatmata Phule Vasahat, and Sena Nagar in the Shivdi area are slated to be evicted as part of the massive infrastructure upgrade. The issue has now taken center stage, with local leaders demanding that the affected residents be granted in-situ rehabilitation rather than monetary compensation.
At a meeting held at MMRDA headquarters in Bandra, MLA Ajay Chaudhary and former corporator Sachin Padwal led a delegation that opposed the current compensation framework, which they claim undervalues the land and aims to drive residents out of Mumbai.
“In today’s real estate market, buying a home in Mumbai for Rs 25 lakh is virtually impossible,” said Padwal. “The compensation package is insufficient and unfair. We are demanding that houses be given in the same locality under the Slum Rehabilitation Authority's 33(10) scheme, just like the redevelopment plan for the Elphinstone project under Section 33(9).”
The Shiv Sena leaders cited Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s recent commitment to redevelop 19 buildings affected by the Elphinstone Bridge project, assuring homes at the same location. They argued that similar treatment must be extended to the 130 families facing eviction in Shivdi.
MLA Ajay Chaudhary's Statement
MLA Ajay Chaudhary said, “If the CM has announced in-situ homes for Elphinstone residents, why should Shivdi locals be treated differently? We will not allow double standards.”
Earlier this month, Sena leaders and residents staged a protest at Sewri Naka, demanding clarity and fairness in the rehabilitation process. Youth leader Aaditya Thackeray also took a firm stance, stating that the Elphinstone Bridge demolition should only proceed once the rehabilitation of all affected residents is secured.
Meanwhile, the MMRDA is moving ahead under the CM’s directive to expedite the 4.5-km-long Sewri-Worli Elevated Connector — a critical link between Atal Setu, the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, and the Mumbai Coastal Road Project. The project also involves dismantling the century-old Prabhadevi railway overbridge to make way for a double-decker replacement to handle rising traffic volumes.
As the conflict intensifies, Sena UBT leaders say they will continue to mount pressure until the demands of local residents are addressed.
