Mumbai: PAP homeless as BMC clears path to Gokhale

The demolition was needed to move construction machinery

The BMC on Wednesday morning demolished the structures obstructing the movement of machinery for the construction of Gokhale bridge. However, the four residents eligible for alternative accommodation have alleged that they hadn't got any place till the time their homes were demolished and that civic officials kept them running from pillar to post.

There were around 30 structures which needed to be removed for manoeuvring machinery for the construction of Gokhale bridge and on Wednesday, the BMC demolished 28 of these - 13 residential and 15 commercial - to make way.

"On Tuesday they gave us a random address of PAP houses on Pandit M Kulkarni Road, in Borivli. We went there, confirmed the homes and told the BMC officials about our decision. But we were then told that the houses were not available. They started the demolition around 10.30 am without giving us alternative accommodation," said Navina Bane, daughter of Sakhubai Kangne, 60, who is eligible for accommodation. Last month, the BMC had offered them homes in Jogeshwari, which they declined.

"The BMC officials gave us two wrong addresses in Borivli. We searched for two hours to get to the right location. We didn't have much energy and were ready to shift to the first location we got. But then the official said that the houses get booked online by other wards," said Haji, son of Aaisha Sherif. He added that on Wednesday, they were asked to collect the keys to the Borivli West PAP accommodations at 3.30 pm. "We didn't visit the site but were ready to accept the accommodation as they already demolished our houses. But then they delayed again and asked us to come at 5.30 pm… we are still on the roads."

When mid-day visited the site on August 29, Sakhubai said civic officials demolished a part of her home in July saying they would provide an alternative home. "But we have been kept waiting for six months after the notice was served in March. The wall of my house collapsed after a huge machine came in contact with it a week ago," she said.

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Another resident, Husaina Sherif also alleged that the BMC wasn't ready to provide alternative homes. Manish Valanju, assistant commissioner, K-East ward, said the process of allotment of PAP houses in Borivli is ongoing and it will be completed shortly. At 8.30 pm Navina Bane said they still hadn't received any house keys and that BMC officials were now pressuring them to take a home at Oshiwra.

Locals set deadline for completion of work

The BMC closed the Gokhale bridge near Andheri railway station in the first week of November 2022 and claimed that it would open at least two lanes before the monsoon. However, the deadline has been getting pushed further since then. The BMC razed a few structures partially in mid-July. But the work of construction was halted after part of one structure collapsed during the movement of a huge crane.

Now, local residents have started an online 90-day deadline starting Wednesday (September 6) for the completion of two lanes and requested local MLA Ameet Satam to conduct fortnightly visits to the site and ensure there are no more delays.

Dhaval Shah, founder of Andheri Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizens Association, said, "The BMC gave us a timeline of 90 days including around 30 days for assembly of girders, around 15 days for shifting, launching and lowering the girders, and approximately 40 days for the construction of cement concrete road surface before opening it for traffic. Considering external issues like Railway block the deadline of November end doesn't seem achievable."

28
No of structures demolished