Netaji Nagar residents clear way for Santacruz-Chembur Link Road

The residents of Kurla's Netaji Nagar, who have been opposing the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR) construction for the past several years, have started vacating their premises and handing over properties for demolition. Nodal agency Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is finally looking to put the project on fast track.

After razing the two MHADA buildings at Netaji Nagar, the authorities will demolish the Halav Pul bridge at Kurla besides a mosque. "The biggest hurdle now is the permission of the Central Railway to build a bridge over the tracks at Kurla. We have sent the final designs for their approval," Metropolitan Commissioner Rahul Asthana said. An engineer with implementing agency Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) said around 20 families of the 64 Netaji Nagar residents had handed over their apartments for demolition so far. "There is absolutely no opposition from us anymore. Almost 80 per cent of us are in the process of moving out," said Sudhir Pandhare, a resident.

The MSRDC has also started preparing for the demolition of buildings by arranging police protection from November 8 and ensuring that those who had not shifted vacate their premises by November 6, as per the Bombay High Court's directive. The court had initially ordered the residents to vacate premises by October 10 and accept the permanent accommodation at Bharat Nagar, Bandra (East). It had extended the date to November 6 later after residents sought more time to vacate.

"It will take at least 10-15 days to raze the two buildings," MMRDA planner P H Warawadekar said.

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