Elphinstone Families Still Face Housing Delays; Only a Few Settled

Nearly a month after the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) promised a solution over the concerns raised by the families of the project-affected Elphinstone area, some have settled with the available options. As many as 13 families of Haji Noorani, one of the two buildings from which residents were supposed to be relocated, have raised various concerns regarding the houses provided to them.

Haji Noorani building in Elphinstone, from where families have been relocated. FILE PIC/ASHISH RAJE

While some have asked to be given alternative homes in faraway places, but at least closer to their relatives, others have just accepted the ones that are offered. Only four families have been lucky to have a house at the desired locations through a lottery system, while at least five families are still waiting to hear from the authorities.

Sukhakarta building on Currey Road, included again in MMRDA’s fresh list despite residents earlier rejecting flats in the under-construction structure. FILE Pics/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

Voices

Virendra Kansara, one of the residents ‘We realised there was no point in waiting endlessly for authorities. Instead of wasting time, we decided to ask for houses in Kandivali, where my relatives stay. It is quite far from Prabhadevi, and it will force us to travel a lot more to our workplaces. But instead of living at an undesirable location, we felt this option was a better one.’

Manish Shirodkar, one of the residents ‘Ideally I could have put two names in that lottery system, as I have two houses in Haji Noorani. But to be fair with the others, I put only one name and told the officials to at least offer me a house in two adjacent buildings if not in the same one. But even that effort failed.’

Faisal SK, one of the residents ‘The Jacob Circle location is not a convenient one. None of the residents of our building were willing to accept a house there. Also, there are other problems with cramped lifts and cleanliness issues. The authorities seem to not bother at all. It’s been months that we have been being treated this way.’

Shivaji Davbhat, additional collector ‘We have been asking MHADA to allot houses and regularly following up. MHADA is responding but taking time. Recently, they told us that they can give houses only when they become available. They have not confirmed if they will give houses in Prabhadevi. They just said they will see when houses become available.’

13 Total number of families fighting 4 Number of families accepted settlement 5 Number of families waiting 4 Number of families selected in lottery