The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday demolished an fourteen ground plus one structures of a chawl which was adjacent to SV Road near JP Road Junction in Andheri West. This has made travelling from Jogeshwari to Vileparle convenient for the commuters travelling through the erstwhile Gokhale road. For widening of the road near the JP Road junction of SV Road, a chawl obstructing the traffic was demolished.
“Citizens reside here both in residential and commercial areas. Based on the Kurar pattern, we will accommodate commercial establishments in nearby municipal markets and those who are completely affected will be given alternative accommodation,” said a civic official from K West division to Hindustan Times.
The section of SV Road, where the chawl was demolished, will be widened by 25 feet to make a full 90 feet road. The demolition process was complicated and the municipality had been serving notices for the past one and a half years.
“We verified the documents and followed due process of law. This road widening was long overdue,” the official said.
Local MLA Amit Satam said one of the demolished structures - Crasto Chawl - had been there for years and the owners of the commercial buildings there had approached the municipality a year and a half ago.
“The municipality prepared a list of eligible and ineligible constructions and demolished them accordingly. SV Road is going to be widened now. On the way to Goregaon, take a left turn on JP Road near Police Beat Chowki. This is where the construction was demolished,” said Satam.