Mumbai: A day after the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) began demolishing the decades-old cessed building Ruby Hill 47 on Walkeshwar Road, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator and minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha wrote to the Mumbai city collector seeking Rs 5 crore from the MLA fund for immediate construction of a new retaining wall at Teen Batti.
The move follows the partial collapse of the existing wall on Monday due to heavy rainfall, raising concerns about the stability of the hill and safety of high-profile residences nearby. The collapsed section lies along the route leading to official residences of the chief minister, deputy chief minister, governor and municipal commissioner.
Though no injuries or property damage were reported, the incident has triggered calls for immediate action. MHADA has already appointed a structural consultant to assess the hill’s stability, with the survey conducted on Tuesday.
Lodha Warns Of Further Risks In Letter To Collector
In his letter, Lodha urged the collector to swiftly sanction the Rs 5 crore, warning that further delays could pose serious risks, as reported by the Times of India. On Wednesday, he also visited displaced tenants of Ruby Hill, who have now been offered temporary accommodation in Ghodapdeo in Byculla. However, many residents voiced strong concerns about the relocation, fearing it may become permanent.
“We have rent receipts from the 1950s. We’re being shifted far away, and fear we may never be allowed to return,” said one tenant, as quoted by TOI. MHADA, however, insisted that the aging building posed serious structural risks, leaving demolition as the only viable option. As a precautionary measure, mobile antennas atop other structures in Ruby Hill were also removed to reduce structural load.
Malabar Hill Residents Demand Geological Survey After Compound Wall Collapse
Meanwhile, residents of the upscale Malabar Hill area have demanded a comprehensive geological survey of the region to prevent further landslides. Monday’s collapse, attributed to intense rainfall, sparked concerns about unchecked construction and its impact on the hill’s integrity.
Locals stated that the area is home to key government buildings and VIP residences, and hence deserves priority safety measures. “If the government wills it, the survey can be done immediately. It is necessary for everyone’s safety,” they added.
This is not the first instance of resident dissatisfaction. Locals had earlier objected to the construction of a 14-storey building with three basements at the Teen Batti junction, near Raj Bhavan. That project has since been halted after the BMC issued a Stop-Work notice last month amid growing concerns over overdevelopment.
