Mumbai: The successor of Partition, who was displaced from his homes for the second time, is finally experiencing a modicum of relief. See a ray of hope with the approval of the redevelopment proposal in 2020, which were declared and demolished by BMC in 2020 in GTB Nagar near Sion. These 1,200 Punjabi and Sikh families came to India from Pakistan after partition.In 2020, he found himself suddenly without a roof. Today, five years later, soil tests are going on, and drone surveys are mapping their future homes.Residents remember that buildings had become unstable. Deep cracks across the walls, Kai claimed moist corners, and broken stairs weakened flats that were balanced on weak pillars. A sealing slab once gave way, sent pieces of concrete crash on the floor. Encroachments already pressed additional rooms on unstable structures, and every groan or crack warned that the structure could collapse completely.67 -year -old Satpal Duggal says, “We were like a huge family united by our temple and gurudwara. Everyone was scattered after the demolition.” He had to pay himself by shrinking saving or selling family heritage himself. Some were forced to go to Vashi, Thane, Panvel, Ulve or Kharghar. Meanwhile, private developers attempted redevelopment but then left the project. Paras Duggal, 44, says, “He gets 80% of consensus, then disappears. We feel helpless.” His children’s education and medical care of the elderly were interrupted. The field of community life for a stop. As refugees without a original place in India, he had to rely on kind friends in the middle of the Kovid -induced lockdown. Duggal explains, “In addition, around 900 of us tied our savings in Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative Bank (PMC), which was bust. Initially, we could only withdraw Rs 10,000, which is not enough to get.”In 2023, the residents formed their team and approached the government. With the support of MLA Captain Tamil Selvan and Mhada Vice President Sanjeev Jaiswal, he navigated legal hurdles – even a challenge in the Supreme Court – and the government’s approval for reconstruction on private land, which is an unprecedented success. Sunil Wig said at the age of 61, “None of us admitted that it will move so fast.Residents will be given new 635 square feet flats with a five -year maintenance covered by MHADA, and will be a monthly fare of Rs 20,000 by completion. “This is more than just a few buildings,” says 63 -year -old Balvinder Singh. “This is coming back our life together.”The construction of towers will be at least four years ago. “But at least we see a time outline,” they say. Paras Duggal sang it, “Soon, our community will go home again.”
