Residents were moved into new buildings directly from slum neighborhoods nine and a half years ago when their homes became the site of the nearby Eastern Freeway and bridge infrastructure project. Several different communities in the path of the project were relocated to this site. Unlike other “slum rehab” projects, residents did not move to a transit camp first. The development was carried out by the Mumbai Municipal Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) which hired a private developer. The experience of different communities in this development seems to vary widely: some residents are much happier here and feel their homes and services are of good quality, yet residents on the other side of the same development felt the quality of construction and lack of amenities has been very problematic and the move has destroyed their livelihoods.
Photos: Kate Cahill