Slum-dwellers fight with railway authorities over eviction notices

The slum-dwellers residing along the rail tracks are rushing to railway offices to show relevant documents after the rail authorities have issued notices to demolish their structures. These slums have been built illegally on rail land though now they are asking for alternative accommodation. As on February this year, there were around 24500 unauthorized structures on 57 hectares of railway land on both Central and Western Railways.

On March 31, several slum dwellers staying on railway land, came to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) hoping to meet the Central Railway officials. The authorities have asked them to furnish relevant papers to prove that they have been residing on these lands since a stipulated time.

“Covid has already affected our lives with no jobs and pay cuts. I am trying to meet ends by doing odd jobs. And now the railways have sent us notices to vacate our homes. If not cleared, will demolish it using bull dozers,” said Ghulam Kadir Khan, who is staying on encroached rail land in Kurla.

There are 13839 structures occupying 37 hectares of CR land while 10,572 structures have encroached 20 hectares of WR land.

“Every election we have been voting based on valid documents. Prior to the elections, politicians make tall promises. However, all of a sudden we have been tagged as encroachers although we are staying here for years together,” said Aatish Lokhande from Dombivali.

The railway officials claim that the Indian Railways do not have any policy to rehabilitate these encroachers on rail land. Hence, they have been served eviction notices. Only the slums that fall under a project undertaken under Mumbai Urban Transport Project, are entitled to get alternative land only if they manage to show relevant documents to the authorities; explained a railway official.

Last month, Union minister of state for railways, Raosaheb Danve had stated that rehabilitation of these families residing illegally is the state government’s responsibility. In December 2021, during hearing of the encroachment issue, the Supreme Court directed the Railways to evacuate the encroached railway land across the country on priority basis.