Western Railway launched a four-day [1] anti-encroachment drive on Tuesday to demolish unauthorized structures in Garib Nagar, Bandra East.
The operation represents a significant escalation in efforts to reclaim railway land, impacting the housing security of hundreds of low-income residents in one of Mumbai's most densely populated areas.
The drive follows a Bombay High Court order issued on May 5, 2024 [4], which permitted Western Railway to clear illegal structures. The court also ordered that protection be provided for eligible slum dwellers during the process [4]. This action aligns with broader directives from both the High Court and the Supreme Court to enforce anti-encroachment laws on railway property [5].
Authorities deployed bulldozers to clear the area, resulting in the demolition of hundreds of houses and shops [2]. Residents said they received only 24 hours [5] of notice to retrieve their personal belongings before the machinery arrived. The scale of the operation has left hundreds of people homeless [3], facing uncertainty and extreme heat.
The demolitions sparked volatility in the neighborhood. Reports indicate violence occurred during the removal of an unauthorized mosque structure, leading to clashes between residents and police [2].
Western Railway said the drive is necessary to ensure the safety and legality of railway land. The agency is operating under the mandate to remove all non-permitted structures that obstruct railway operations or violate land-use laws.
“The operation represents a significant escalation in efforts to reclaim railway land.”
This demolition drive highlights the ongoing tension between urban infrastructure requirements and the housing needs of Mumbai's slum populations. While the legal framework favors the reclamation of government land, the speed of execution and the minimal notice period increase the risk of social unrest and humanitarian crises for displaced residents.
