Overview
- Western Railway, which cleared about 1,500 sq m on Monday, demolished 36 permanent and 24 temporary structures between kilometre markers 28/3 and 28/6 on the Goregaon–Malad east side.
- The operation followed a Bombay High Court order from February 26 that found occupants had not established legal ownership or tenancy and allowed authorities to proceed with removals.
- A large security and operational deployment supported the exercise with city police, RPF, GRP, 80 railway staffers and heavy machinery including three excavators and three dumpers on site.
- Officials from Western Railway, MRVC and MMRDA told the court the land is needed for railway and other public infrastructure and they say planning is underway to rehabilitate families eligible for support.
- This action continues a wider campaign to reclaim scarce railway land in Mumbai after a recent large drive at Garib Nagar in Bandra and raises practical questions about how displaced households will be rehoused and how reclaimed parcels will be used.