Sewri-Worli Elevated Corridor project: Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority to extend Haji Noorani Chawl eviction deadline by 7-10 days to address rehabilitation issues

Mumbai: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is set to grant residents of Haji Noorani Chawl in Prabhadevi an extension of about seven to 10 days to vacate their premises, with officials citing pending readiness of rehabilitation flats and financial adjustments as key reasons.The chawl is the last remaining structure obstructing the alignment of the 4.5-km double-decker Sewri-Worli Elevated Corridor near the Elphinstone Bridge area. While eviction notices earlier directed residents to vacate by Friday, officials said the timeline will be relaxed to resolve outstanding issues linked to the allotted rehabilitation units.According to MMRDA officials, several of the newly allotted flats require basic finishing work before residents can shift in. "Painting work is underway, electricity metres are yet to be installed in some units, and minor repairs are being carried out," an official said.Engineers from the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) have been asked to address complaints related to fixtures and leakages in certain flats to ensure they are fully habitable before possession. In addition, a few residents have sought more time to arrange payments for the differential cost arising from allotment of larger flats than their original tenements. Officials said these financial issues are also being considered as part of the extension."All pending concerns — including finishing work, utility connections and payment-related matters — are expected to be resolved within 7 to 10 days, after which residents will be required to vacate," an MMRDA official said.The clearance of Haji Noorani Chawl is critical for completing the final stretch of the Sewri-Worli Elevated Corridor project. Once the site is vacated, demolition will be taken up, enabling contractors to proceed with approach works in the Elphinstone Bridge area.The project involves reconstruction of Elphinstone Bridge as a 27m-high double-decker flyover connecting Senapati Bapat Road with Dr B R Ambedkar Road, with further links towards the Bandra-Worli Sea Link and the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link at Sewri. Officials have indicated that girder launching over railway tracks is targeted by July, with parallel progress on road infrastructure components.Haji Noorani Chawl houses nine tenants, all of whom have now been allotted rehabilitation units in the Prabhadevi area following earlier resistance over relocation to Wadala. The brief extension is expected to smoothen the transition and clear the last bottleneck for the corridor project.