15 years on, Bhoiwada Goathan tenants languish in transit camp, wait for flats
Fifteen years in a transit camp building when even the structural surety of these transit buildings has been completed, Bhoiwada Goathan tenants who have sohifted to transit buildings dream of a better future in their dream homes.
Swamini Gawand, a tenant who left her 800 sq.metre house with a huge veranda (open space in front of house) in the goathans of Bhoiwada, situated in the heart of the city, said, “(Mala Majha ghar pahije. Me majha ghar transit camp madhye rahnysathi nahi sodla hota.) I want my home. I did not leave my house to live my entire life in transit camp building. Today, I am living in a dilapidated transit camp with my family which can fall down any day. We left our old houses thinking that we would have a flat, and life would be much easier, but it’s the opposite. The transit camp ceiling which is made up of metal has rusted. In the monsoon, water falls from the ceiling. Someday it will fall down like a pack of cards and who would be held responsible for it?”
She added, “We pay rents to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation(BMC). It’s been 15 years for people who shifted to Bhoiwada transit camp and for Kurla and Mulund transit camp people it’s been almost 26 years, still no one has got the keys to their houses. Forget about keys not even the construction has been completed.”
A 20-storeyed under-construction building stands tall at the Bhoiwada signal of Parel showing the apathy of the civic body and the lethargic work pattern it adopts. Defending the allegations made against the civic body by the tenants regarding the inability to complete the Bhoiwada redevelopment project work Chandrashekar Chore, improvements Committee Deputy Municipal Commissioner stated that usually tenants stall the project. They fail to vacate the place early and the project gets delayed. He said it was the same with Bhoiwada redevelopment work. Yet, the tenants are residing in old houses over there.
He further added: “Earlier developer( Vig na hart ha) failed to complete the work on time. It was his responsiblity to vacate the plot and start the construction work. It was his inability that in 17 years he managed to construct only a single 20storeyed building that too incomplete, and hence a new tender has been floated now for completing the pending construction work. A bid of Rs110crore was floated as premium money to be paid to BMC for the developer who wishes to take up the incomplete project. We managed to get the highest bidder who is giving 100 per cent amount above the expected bidding price that is Rs220 crore. Also, the bidder is ready to give 11,600 sq. mt extra constructed area to the BMC means more flats for project affected people (PAP). This was earlier only 125.”
BMC has sued the developer for Rs28 crore. The developer moved the court and filed a plea that he would complete work within six months. However, the BMC has scrapped the deal with the developer. Chore said, “The Bombay HC allowed the floating of tenders. If the HC allows a new bidder the work order process will start after tabling the proposal in the BMC house.”
There are around 790 tenants who are awaiting for redevelopment project work to complete. Out of 790 tenants 300 are in Bhoiwada transit camp and others have been shifted to Kurla and Mulund transit building and many are still residing on the plot. Husband of Swamini, Swarup Gawand, stated that a committee has been formed to look after the redevelopment work but only slum tenants who occupied the small part of goathan were given committee membership. Another resident Durwas Thakur said that it has been 15 years since they shifted to transit camps.