After a wait of nearly two months, the rehabilitation of eligible residents of Bandra East’s Garib Nagar has finally begun, with the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) handing over the first set of house keys to seven families. The move marks the beginning of the relocation process for the 100 families declared eligible for rehabilitation by the Bombay High Court, with officials assuring that all beneficiaries will receive their homes by Independence Day this year.

According to MMRDA officials, 84 eligible families will be rehabilitated in Kurla, while the remaining 16 will be accommodated at another rehabilitation site. While the eligible residents told mid-day that temporary tin shelters had been constructed by the railway officials, a Western Railway official said, “In accordance with Bombay High Court orders, 500 out of 600 unauthorised structures were demolished at Garib Nagar in the biggest ever demolition drive undertaken by Western Railway. However, the high court had ordered that 100 structures were to be protected for project-affected people and were not to be removed. As some damage happened to them during the demolition drive, the high court had given strict instructions to repair them immediately. This is the court-ordered repair work that is seen here. It is requested to kindly ask people not to spread incorrect rumours as it causes unnecessary confusion and creates a law and order problem.”