Western Railway (WR) on Monday, May 19, launched a 5-day demolition drive to remove unauthorised structures in the Garib Nagar slum area near Bandra Railway Station in Mumbai. The railway administration said encroachments spread across nearly 5,000 square metres of railway land in Bandra East are being cleared following a prolonged legal process that continued for several years.
According to officials, around 409 illegal concrete structures had been built within the railway boundary adjacent to the station. The action was initiated under the Public Premises Act, 1971, after authorities established that the land belonged to the railways.
Although the railway administration had attempted to remove the encroachments multiple times in the past, the process was delayed after residents approached the court and received political support. While the matter remains sub judice, railway authorities said the demolition drive was necessary from the perspective of passenger safety and infrastructure planning.
The latest orders of the Bombay High Court dated April 29, 2026, subsequently upheld in further proceedings as well as before the Hon’ble Supreme Court, have permitted removal of unauthorized encroachments, while protecting identified eligible structures.
Officials said the settlement had become a major concern for railway operations and safety. Household waste, sewage and industrial waste from small unauthorised units were allegedly being dumped on railway tracks, leading to unhygienic conditions in the Bandra station area. Railway authorities also pointed to repeated fire incidents in the locality, which they said had disrupted rail traffic and posed risks to passengers. Several unauthorised small-scale industries had reportedly emerged in the area over the years.
Ahead of the demolition drive, many residents began vacating their homes after receiving advance notices from the railway administration. Household items, including refrigerators, coolers and furniture, were seen being shifted out of the area on Monday. The operation has raised concerns among residents who have been living in the locality for years and now face displacement.
A heavy police deployment has been made in the area to prevent any untoward incident. Personnel from the local police and the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) have been deployed during the operation. Meanwhile, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya visited the site during the demolition drive to review the situation. However, some local residents reportedly opposed his visit and raised slogans at the spot.
"The Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena, along with Rahul Gandhi (Congress), the AIMIM, and the Muslim League, all of whom subscribe to the concepts of 'Land Jihad,' 'Vote Jihad,' and 'Love Jihad,' have been taught a lesson," BJP leader Kirit Somaiya.
Congress leader Husain Dalwai said, "Extremely poor people reside in Garib Nagar. Lacking any other place to live, people are compelled to erect shanties and settle wherever they can. Was a survey conducted in the area prior to this operation? How can demolition be carried out without a proper survey? The Court, too, has mandated that a survey must be conducted first."