The railwaymen are a worried lot. They fear their social status is at stake if slum dwellers become their next door neighbours once land on railway residential colonies at Bandra (E and W), Mahim and Matunga Road are handed over for Dharavi Redevelopment Scheme. In all, 45 acres of railway land will be used for the Rs 26000-crore Dharavi redevelopment project.
On June 22, a letter to the Western Railway on this issue, written by JG Mahurkar, general secretary of Western Railway Mazdoor Sangh (WRMS), states that "there is widespread resentment among railwaymen since the administration has taken an arbitrary decision to lease prime railway properties...Any move to rehabilitate such slum dwellers alongside railwaymen or their colonies is likely to seriously dampen the social status and safe living condition of our employees".
The railway staff, on condition of anonymity, said that over the past few years and since the upgrade in pay and emoluments; the lifestyle and economic condition of rail staff have improved and their children now get much better education. But if they share colonies with those residing in Dharavi, then it will have an overall impact on their status and safety.
RAILWAY PROPERTIES HANDED OVER TO RLDA
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- Bandra (W): 50000 sq metres
- Bandra (E): 35818 sq metres
- Matunga Road: 29848 sq metres
- Mahim: 42396 sq metres
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The Railway Land Development Authority (RLDA) is undertaking this project on behalf of the railways. The railways will transfer 45 acres of their land (28.56 acres on CR and 16.44 acres on WR) to the Maharashtra government at a cost of Rs 800 crore or so. There are over 1200-odd tenants residing in these railway colonies.
The biggest hurdle for Indian Railways and Maharashtra government is counting the number of tenements, slums, commercial and industrial units; which will be rehabilitated from Dharavi that is spread across 400 acres.
The move to give away 45 acres of railway land to Maharashtra government will open up land space of nearly 350 acres in Dharavi for commercial development. This will be the first time that Indian Railways are sharing their land for slum redevelopment.
