Around 174 families will be rehabilitated as work on the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority's (MMRDA) pod taxi project progresses. The rehabilitation will make way for terminal stations and related infrastructure at Bandra and Kurla.
A ground survey conducted by MMRDA identified 128 structures on a plot next to Bandra railway station, where the Bandra terminal is proposed. Most of the structures are slum homes, while five are commercial establishments. In Kurla, 46 structures, including chawls and slum homes, have been identified between Kurla railway station and the police housing colony, where the terminal station and a skywalk connecting it to the railway station are proposed. Officials said additional structures could be affected if space is required for an escalator because the survey is still being finalised.
A joint verification of the survey is being carried out by MMRDA's transport, survey and social development departments. An MMRDA official said that after verification is completed, an annexure of the affected structures will be prepared and rehabilitation tenements will be allotted through a lottery after they are identified. Officials said all structures that existed during the baseline survey will be eligible for rehabilitation under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project II. Eligible families will receive rehabilitation tenements measuring 269 sq ft. MMRDA is exploring rehabilitation options in the western suburbs following requests from residents, although some families are likely to be rehabilitated in Kurla.
Construction has begun at some locations, while land acquisition for the two terminal stations remains underway. The Bandra terminal is proposed on a 4,000 sq m plot owned by the Rail Land Development Authority next to Bandra railway station. Although in-principle approval for the land transfer was granted in March, the agreement has not yet been signed. The Kurla terminal is planned on the existing police housing colony near Bhabha Hospital. The proposal includes redevelopment of the site, with the station on the lower floors and new police housing above it. While the police department has agreed to the proposal, the required government resolution is yet to be issued.
The first phase of the project, covering 3.36 km and eight stations, is expected to be completed by the end of 2028. Initially, the Bandra and Kurla sections will operate independently before being connected as part of the complete 8.85 km network across Bandra Kurla Complex.
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