MUMBAI: Residents of Worli’s Sagar Darshan and Chaitanya Sai Janata Colony SRA Housing Societies protested on Sunday against the Slum Rehabilitation Authority’s (SRA) decision to terminate the current developer. This decision comes just over a year after the issuance of a Letter of Intent (LoI) and amid attempts to appoint a new developer.
According to slum tenants, the termination of the LoI granted to Chintaharni Chintpurni Realtors in October 2024 threatens the livelihoods of 2,500 families. Some residents warned that if the SRA proceeds with its plan, they would boycott the upcoming BMC elections. These two slum projects fall within BMC’s Ward No. 193. Earlier this month, the SRA sent notices to the developer, and a hearing is set for December 24.
SRA representatives clarified that the LoI for Sagar Darshan was issued in October 2023, but the builder hasn’t completed work up to the plinth level. As for Chaitanya Sai Janata Colony, the project was approved in February 2023, yet the builder has failed to resolve ongoing litigation and make significant progress. The SRA noted that reviewing stalled projects is standard procedure, and all parties will receive a fair hearing before any final decision is rendered.
“We anticipated the project would be completed in 2-3 years, but progress has been minimal. The builder has only obtained the LoI but has not advanced the work. It was expected that litigation would be settled within two years for Chaitanya Sai Janata Colony, which has not occurred. Reviewing stalled projects is a routine process overseen by the CEDO in a quasi-judicial capacity, ensuring fairness,” stated an SRA official.
Advocate Nilesh Haldankar, representing the Chaitanya Sai Janata Housing Society, expressed concern over administrative decisions by the SRA affecting a project that had finally gained momentum after three decades. After thorough evaluation, the SRA had given formal construction approval in October 2024, but a sudden notice seeking to remove the developer has stalled the project once more, jeopardizing thousands of families.
Residents held a symbolic protest at Koli Samaj Bhavan in Worli to express their dissatisfaction. “This situation is not an isolated case. In a nearby SRA project with 2,054 families involved, similar actions have been taken under Section 13(2). This raises concerns that the SRA is undermining due process and the authority of the High Court,” remarked Rajesh Dhawan, Chief Promoter of Sagar Darshan Society. “The developer is fully capable and supported by the residents. Why is the SRA obstructing a project intended to provide homes for eligible slum dwellers?”
Shekhar Keer, chief promoter of the Chaitanya Sai Janata Colony Society, emphasized their straightforward demand: “justice and our homes.”
Worli residents have vowed to initiate a large-scale public protest against what they characterize as the SRA’s anti-people actions.
