Mumbai Residents Of Six Parel Societies Move Court To Save Public Land

Residents of six housing societies in Parel-Bhoiwada have approached the Bombay High Court, alleging that a developer has encroached upon over 16,000 square metres of land reserved for public amenities, including a playground and civic school. The petition claims that the encroachment occurred with the support of officials from multiple city and state departments.

The contested parcel  spread across approximately 11 acres  forms part of the city’s officially designated Recreation Grounds (RGs) under the Development Plans of 1991 and 2034. According to residents, large-scale excavation and construction have been undertaken on land meant to serve the local community. The matter has now become a touchstone for citizen-led environmental action in Mumbai, where public open spaces continue to shrink amid rapid redevelopment.
The petitioners, representing housing societies including Crescent Bay, Veda Cooperative Housing Society, and Matoshree CHS, allege that the developer exceeded permissible construction limits by expanding the number of rehabilitation units and the for-sale area beyond approved norms. They argue that the minimum 35 per cent open space required under the Slum Rehabilitation Authority’s (SRA) regulations has been reduced to barely 8–9 per cent, drastically limiting access to communal areas.

A petitioner, who has lived in Bhoiwada for over seven decades, said the project’s expansion has “robbed residents of the green lungs they were promised.” The group has accused the builder of profiteering by falsely citing the need for additional rehabilitation tenements while using the surplus to develop premium saleable apartments.Legal representatives for the residents said they had repeatedly filed Right to Information (RTI) applications, written to the SRA, and even obtained a temporary stay in 2017 through an NGO. However, construction allegedly resumed despite ongoing correspondence and official complaints.

“This case symbolises the growing tension between urban redevelopment and ecological equity,” said an urban development expert familiar with the matter.
The Bombay High Court has in previous judgements directed that all SRA projects maintain a minimum 35 per cent RG area to ensure liveability standards. If proven, the reduction of open land in this project could raise broader questions about regulatory oversight in Mumbai’s redevelopment sector.As Mumbai’s vertical growth continues, citizens’ movements such as this reflect a deeper concern: the erosion of shared, breathable spaces in dense neighbourhoods. The residents’ collective legal action could set a precedent for civic accountability and equitable urban planning in the city’s future developments.

Mumbai Residents Of Six Parel Societies Move Court To Save Public Land