Patra Chawl Re-development Project Hits Hurdles as Residents Refuse to Move In
written by : Brena Soni
Mumbai : After a wait of approximately 17 years, residents of Patra Chawl at Goregaon are finally set to receive their redeveloped homes. However, the allotment process, which was scheduled to take place through a lottery system, has hit a roadblock. Residents are refusing to move into their new homes due to pending work on the project.
On Friday, an officer from the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) visited the site to inspect the completion of the work. However, residents claim that the officer was only shown select completed flats, while other amenities and infrastructure work remain incomplete. “They only showed us a few completed flats, but what about the other amenities and infrastructure?” asked a resident.
Residents are upset with MHADA and the developer for not completing the work on time. “We were promised a fully developed complex, but what we got is incomplete work,” said Suresh Vyas, a resident. “MHADA only wants to advertise their future projects, but we demand completion of work before we move in.”
Sanjay Chandorkar, another resident, pointed out that the architect’s work completion report is still pending. “We were told that the report will be submitted in the next two months. How can we move in without knowing if the work is complete?” he asked. Residents are also concerned about the fate of 14 additional flats in the complex, which MHADA is considering selling to outsiders.
Sameer Malgaonkar, a resident, expressed his frustration with the developer and MHADA. “We were promised rent of Rs 40,000 per month, but we only received Rs 25,000 per month from 2022. Now, they want us to move into incomplete houses without proper documents and occupancy certificates, just so they can avoid paying us rent.”
Naresh Sawant, another resident, highlighted the discrepancies in the redevelopment plan. “We were told that the complex would be built on 40 acres of land, but it turned out to be 47 acres. We are only getting 13 acres and 18 gunthas of land for the people who gave their land for redevelopment. The development work is not complete, and we don’t have basic amenities like electricity meters, water, gas connections, and concrete roads.”
The residents are demanding that MHADA and the developer complete the pending work before they move into their new homes. They are also seeking transparency and accountability in the redevelopment process.
