Razing of Mumbai's Garib Nagar slums ‘almost 100% complete,’ 100 structures protected by HC order to stay

MUMBAI: Western Railway (WR) has completed nearly 100% demolition of hutments at Garib Nagar slum adjacent to Bandra railway station. In a three-day drive, around 500 structures were removed and 5,200 sq metres of land opened up. For the operation, among WR’s largest recent encroachment-clearance exercises, over 1,200 personnel were deployed, including demolition teams, Railway Protection Force, Government Railway Police and other staff to manage security, coordination and on-ground execution. WR chief spokesperson Vineet Abhishek said structures marked for complete removalhave been “almost 100% demolished”. Action on the remaining structures is being carried out strictly according to Bombay high court’s directions, the railways said. Underthe court order, around 100 structures are not to be demolished. In such cases, wherever applicable, the ground floor is being retained and only upper floors—first to fourth—are being dismantled. Officials said the upper-floor demolition is being done manually, with teams working overnight to ensure controlled dismantling and adherence to safety protocols so that no one is injured. Around 50% of this planned work has been completed, with the balance targeted by early Saturday.Sources indicated the railways may approach the state govt regarding rehabilitation for the 100 hutments that remain to enable integrated development for suburban and long-distance operations under Mumbai’s capacity augmentation plans at Bandra.