What is even more amazing, though, is the support from local residents whose homes have been demolished as well as the 110 industrial units whose buildings and property have been usurped. Still swept up in the euphoria following the state government's decision to support Municipal Commissioner T S Chandrashekhar, every one of them has willingly surrendered their property and structures which violate the Development Plan - one woman, who lost her home last week, even performed the bhoomi pooja of a road in Lokmanya Nagar!

Phase-II of the Integrated Road Development Project (IRDP) envisages widening of 35 roads in Thane city spanning 45 km at a cost of Rs 54 crore. The project commenced on December 25, with the demolition of 400 structures on the Thane-Ghodbunder Road. The four-km stretch will bewidened from the existing 60-80 feet to 130 feet.

Of the 400 structures razed since Friday, about 150 are residential premises, 110 are industrial units and the rest are shops and commercial establishments.

Owners of structures which have been demolished by more than half will be relocated or provided alternative land and accommodation elsewhere. In cases where destruction is less than 50 per cent, they will be accommodated in the vicinity.

Residents who will be relocated elsewhere will be accommodated at Saket, Kasarvadavali, Kharegaon in Kalwa, civic officials say. For the time being, they have been put up in transit camps and civic schools.

Sunanda Dalvi, a resident of Lokmanya Nagar whose house in the Runwal Plaza-Laxmi Park area fell to bulldozers last week, proudly says she personally performed the bhoomi pooja of the project that has taken away her home. ``I know the demolition is being undertaken for a cause and if it means beautification of this city, there should be no obstacles - even myown house, for that matter.''

In another instance, the Tathvagnyan Vidyapeeth founded by scholar Pandurang Shastri Athavale has surrendered 30 feet of its property. However, the 110 industrial units have collectively given up 50 acres for the project.

According to the chairperson of the Thane Manufacturers' Association, Kumar Ahuja, the association met the municipal commissioner about a month ago to work out moralities. All the affected units, which are represented by the association, have been promised Transfer of Developmental Rights (TDR) as compensation for their land. These include Bombay Chemicals Pvt Ltd, Bombay Wire Ropes Ltd, Wellman (Hindustan) Ltd, Goodlass-Nerolac Paints Ltd, Swastik Castings and Techno-Links Engineers.

Says Ahuja: ``Thane has undergone a sea-change under Chandrashekhar. Now, the city actually has long and beautiful roads, pavements, street-lights and a drainage system that works. We should be happy and extend our full support.''

Chandrashekhar, who faced opposition fromlocal politicians supporting residents and businessmen during Phase-I, told Express Newsline: ``The road widening project is extremely difficult, especially when you are exhausted with building a planned city from an existing disorganised township. It involves a lot of conviction.''

Phase-I of the IRDP, which commenced in November 1997, was completed only in September 1998. Soon after it was inaugurated, however, it came up against hurdles from local politicians acting in connivance with builders whose unauthorised constructions had literally blocked the project. The series of problems that ensued also delayed Phase-II by more than three months.

For instance, during the demolition at Castle Mill at Meenatai Thackeray Chowk, where several commercial establishments faced the brunt, shop-owners defied the bulldozers. An equally adamant municipal commissioner had told them he would give them an hour to vacate before he sent the bulldozers in. Finally, the shop-owners were relocated at the Anand DigheVyapari Sankool. Now, civic officials hope to perform the bhoomi pooja of all the roads under Phase-II by January 4, 1999.