Mumbai civic body clears 234 illegal structures for Goregaon-Mulund Link Road project

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC on Friday carried out a major demolition drive at Amar Nagar and Khindipada in Mulund removing 234 unauthorised residential and commercial structures that were obstructing the construction of the ambitious GoregaonMulund Link Road GMLR projectThe action was undertaken by the encroachment removal squad of the T Ward as part of efforts to expedite work on the 1220kmlong corridor which is expected to significantly improve eastwest connectivity across MumbaiThe project includes the construction of roads underground tunnels flyovers and other supporting infrastructure and is being executed in four phases384 structures identified as obstaclesAccording to civic officials around 384 structures in Amar Nagar and Khindipada had been identified as hindrances to the project Of these nearly 150 residential and commercial structures were removed during a demolition drive conducted last weekThe remaining 234 structures were cleared on FridayLargescale operation with heavy machineryThe operation was conducted under the supervision of the Deputy Municipal Commissioner Zone 6 and led by Assistant Commissioner Yogita Kolhe A large team comprising 10 municipal engineers 100 BMC personnel and 150 private workers participated in the driveTo facilitate the demolition the civic body deployed two Poclain excavators four JCB machines and 10 dumpers Security arrangements were made with the assistance of 50 police personnel from Mulund Police Station led by Senior Police Inspector Ajay JoshiProject expected to improve eastwest connectivityBMC officials said the removal of the encroachments will help accelerate work on the GoregaonMulund Link Road one of Mumbais key infrastructure projects aimed at easing traffic congestion and reducing travel time between the citys eastern and western suburbsThe 1220km corridor is expected to play a crucial role in enhancing connectivity and reducing pressure on existing road networks once completedBandrarsquos Garib Nagar demolitionWestern Railway WR has drawn up a plan to fence and secure the approximately 5300 sq m of land at Garib Nagar in Bandra East at the end of the fiveday demolition period so that there are no further encroachmentsThe plans include building an integrated station complex over the coming years in the east for Bandra Terminus station with more platforms shifting the maintenance facilities undertaking more capacity augmentation and building more infrastructureThe action is being undertaken primarily in the railway safety zone adjacent to active railway tracks where unauthorised habitation poses serious risks to human life and train operationsThis railway area stretch is operationally critical to augment rail capacity Removal of encroachments is essential for railway safety operational flexibility and future infrastructure expansion including additional train servicesThe proposed works are linked to the enhancement of carrying capacity on one of the busiest rail corridors in the country and will facilitate the introduction of additional longdistance train services for passengers across IndiaRailway land cannot remain perpetually encroached be it anywhere and more so in safetysensitive operational areas The railway administration is acting strictly within the framework of law and court directions