SRA officials in Mumbai state that relocation for the Anna Bhau Sathe memorial in Chirag Nagar will be voluntary, with residents’ consent required, amid ongoing protests and redevelopment plans
Voluntary Relocation for Anna Bhau Sathe Memorial in Ghatkopar
Plans for a memorial and public institute in Chirag Nagar, Ghatkopar, are moving forward. However, Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) officials state that they will not forcibly evict residents protesting the project. Relocation will only happen with consent, even as redevelopment remains stalled and uncertainty continues in the neighborhood.
Details of the Redevelopment Project
Information obtained by mid-day reveals the full scope of the redevelopment project. Classified as a Vital Project under the SRA, it is backed by a government resolution for funding. The project is ready for execution once residents vacate the plot.
| Project Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Memorial | Walk-through memorial dedicated to Anna Bhau Sathe |
| Research Institute | Sahitya Ratna Anna Bhau Sathe Research and Training Institute |
| Coaching | Free coaching for competitive exams for local children |
| Library | Digital library accessible to the public |
Chirag Nagar residents will be completely relocated for two major projects developed in phases. The first project is a memorial for Anna Bhau Sathe, a writer and social activist who lived in the area.
Challenges in Development
An SRA official, who wished to remain anonymous, stated that large-scale vertical development is not feasible due to the area’s strategic location. “High-rise construction is not possible because the Navy depot lies across Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg and the area also falls within the funnel zone of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport,” the official explained.
The plan includes preserving the writer’s house and developing a memorial with a landscaped garden around it. On the side facing LBS Marg, authorities plan to build the research institute.
Residents’ Opposition
Residents oppose the relocation, despite being offered permanent rehabilitation homes nearby. Only families on the ground floor of structures in Chirag Nagar are eligible for rehabilitation housing. Families on the first or second floors are classified as illegal occupants and will not receive homes. SRA officials believe this eligibility criterion contributes to the resistance.
Concerns have arisen among residents that once they vacate the land, it may be handed over to private contractors instead of being used for the memorial.
Land Litigation and Compensation
Regarding ongoing land litigation, SRA officials stated that any compensation from land acquisition would be deposited with the court until the case is resolved. Afterward, the amount would be released to the successful party.
While residents claim they do not want to move, SRA officials assert that nearly 90 percent of families are willing to relocate but hesitate to express this publicly due to pressure from others in the settlement.
