Mumbai: The Bandra (East) govt colony redevelopment has finally taken off. A brand new 20-storey high-rise will come up on a part of the plot to house Class 2 and 3 category state govt employees. The state public works department (PWD) floated tenders for a Rs 300 crore contract for the new building. Once the contract is awarded, the new high-rise, which will have service quarters, will take 24 months to complete. It will have a stilt, two podiums, a deck and 20 floors.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Anil Parab, who has been advocating for the local residents of the govt colony, said the state govt was forcing the Class 2 and 3 category employees to go and live in accommodation built for Class 4 employees. “Notices are being issued to residents who are Class 2 and 3 employees. They were asked to shift to the 12 buildings constructed for Class 4 employees. The govt must give them accommodation meant for Class 3 and 4 category. Their accommodation must not be downgraded,” Parab said.
The total constructed area will be 87,000 square metres, officials said. More buildings will come up on the rest of the plot. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 296 crore.
In 2022, the then chief minister Eknath Shinde directed to check the potential of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) area available in the govt colony in Bandra (East) and prepare and submit a detailed plan for redevelopment at that place. Shinde said after studying the SRA site in the colony, its capacity, and all other technical aspects, including the funnel zone, and obtaining the detailed plan, a decision on redevelopment will be taken.
The Bandra (East) colony stands on an around 90-acre govt plot. The colony was constructed between 1958 and 1973. There are 4,782 flats for first- to fourth-class officers and employees of the state govt. “Out of these, 169 buildings are dangerous and 68 are super-dangerous. The remaining 101 buildings will be vacated, and service accommodation will be given to the employees through a lottery. The construction of 12 buildings is in progress in this colony, out of which 4 buildings are completed. One of the 12 buildings will be given to Savitribai Phule Government Hostel,” an official said.
Officials said around 30 acres of land will be earmarked in the govt colony in Bandra (East) for the new Bombay High Court complex.
“The state govt has given the most prime plot to the HC, and the residents are moved to buildings that will come up in a corner of the plot facing Bharat Nagar. This is one of the costliest plots in the country, but the residents are getting a very poor deal. Our MVA govt also passed a resolution in its last cabinet that we all give permanent flats to these govt employees. The Mahayuti govt also made a similar promise, but nothing has been done in this regard,” Parab said.
In Sept, the then Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud laid the foundation stone of HC’s new building complex in Bandra (East), where 4.3 acres of the 30 acres of the land was already handed over to HC.
