Bandra's Garib Nagar sees 90% of illegal structures demolished in 3-day drive
Western Railway’s anti-encroachment drive at Garib Nagar in Bandra East has entered its third day. The operation, carried out under court orders, aims to reclaim nearly 5,200 square metres of railway land valued at around Rs 600 crore. Security remains tight as authorities push forward with demolitions and clearances. By Thursday evening, nearly 90 per cent of the illegal structures in Garib Nagar had been demolished. Workers used 14 machines alongside manual labour to clear close to 100 metric tonnes of debris over the past two days. Only the unauthorised upper floors of buildings were removed, while ground floors were left standing temporarily.
Around 100 legal structures will stay in place until the rehabilitation process finishes. This phase is expected to take about four months. Meanwhile, two to three religious structures near Bandra Terminus were also demolished as part of the court-directed exercise. Security was heavy, with over 500 police personnel deployed to prevent unrest or further encroachment attempts. On Wednesday, a suspect was arrested for allegedly throwing a stone block at officials during the operation.
The demolition drive continues under strict court supervision, with most illegal constructions already removed. Authorities are now focusing on clearing debris and ensuring the area remains secure. Rehabilitation for affected residents is set to begin within the coming months.
