Demolition of Haji Noorani Building Paves Way for Sewri–Worli Connector

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has made significant progress with the demolition of the Haji Noorani building in Prabhadevi, which has been the last remaining hurdle for the Sewri–Worli Elevated Connector project. Occupants of the building have been asked to vacate the premises, and demolition work is expected to begin shortly to facilitate pending construction activities.

The building houses a total of 23 occupants, including 17 residential families and six commercial units. Its presence had stalled the completion of key structural work, particularly the construction of pillars required for the elevated corridor. Contractors have already completed work on other stretches, but progress at this location remained delayed due to the structure not being vacated.

The nearby Laxmi Niwas building, which also fell within the project alignment, was demolished in the past week. This helped clear a major portion of the required land. However, the delay in vacating the Haji Noorani building continued due to concerns raised by residents over rehabilitation and relocation.

MMRDA had offered alternate housing to eligible occupants through MHADA. A total of around 78 residents from affected structures were allotted homes in areas such as Dadar, Prabhadevi, and Parel. Each eligible family was provided a 405 sq ft unit, and financial adjustments were made in cases where there was a difference in area entitlement. Officials indicated that most residents have accepted the rehabilitation plan, allowing the authority to proceed with final clearance.

The project alignment was revised earlier to reduce displacement and cost. Initially, close to 19 buildings were expected to be affected, but after redesign, only two structures—Laxmi Niwas and Haji Noorani—remained within the final plan. This change significantly reduced rehabilitation requirements and brought down the number of affected families to around 83.

The Sewri–Worli Elevated Connector is a 4.5 km infrastructure project aimed at improving east–west connectivity across Mumbai. It will serve as a key link between the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link and the western coastal corridor, including the Bandra–Worli Sea Link. The project is expected to ease congestion in central Mumbai and improve travel time between eastern and western parts of the city.

Work on related infrastructure has also been progressing alongside. This includes the dismantling of the Elphinstone bridge and the construction of a double-decker flyover, both of which are part of a broader plan to strengthen connectivity and streamline traffic movement in the area.

With land clearance now nearing completion, officials are focusing on accelerating the remaining construction work. The removal of the last structure is expected to help contractors complete pending sections and maintain the overall project timeline for September 2026.