Mumbai: A day after Western Railway (WR) completed the demolition of 500 illegal hutments and unauthorised upper floors at Garib Nagar slum in Bandra East, the railway authorities on Monday launched another demolition drive, this time along the Goregaon-Malad corridor, targeting encroachments close to the tracks. The operation, which began in the morning, was underway through the afternoon, with officials stating that around 1,500 square metres of railway land is being cleared.
According to WR officials, the drive involved removal of 36 hutments and 24 shanties located dangerously close to the railway line between Goregaon and Malad stations. By late afternoon, all hutments were demolished and the entire area was cleared, said Western Railway chief spokesperson Vineet Abhishek.
A sizable security and operational deployment was made to ensure the work proceeded without disruption. The city police deployed 150 personnel, while the Railway Protection Force (RPF) provided 20 staff members and the Government Railway Police (GRP) deployed 25 personnel. WR also pressed 65 departmental staff into service for coordination and on-ground execution. Heavy equipment included two JCB machines and three dumpers for debris removal and transportation. Abhishek said the action was being carried out in accordance with directions of the Bombay High Court, which has ordered removal of encroachments from railway land. Officials reiterated that the demolitions are aimed at improving safety and ensuring unobstructed railway operations, particularly in sections where structures have come up close to active tracks.
Sources said that clearing illegal structures allowed WR to reclaim highly valuable land (for example, reclaiming 5,200 sq m valued at Rs 600 crore in Bandra alone). This is vital for projects like the fifth and sixth railway lines, expanding Bandra Terminus, and introducing 50 new originating train services.
Sources added that illegal structures built right next to tracks caused a high volume of unauthorised trespassing. Removing them prevented accidents and eliminated track blockages, ensuring smoother, faster train operations and reliable monitoring.
Officials said that illegal hutments built near the tracks were often hotspots for stone-pelting and sabotage. Clearing these encroachments prevented such incidents, the officials added.
