The Goregaon–Mulund Link Road (GMLR) is a 12.20-km east–west corridor that includes twin tunnels (4.7 km each) under Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) connecting Mumbai’s Western and Eastern Express Highways. In 2024, Habalepada residents blocked GMLR road surveys, alleging the project would affect their farmlands and homes and that they are protected under the Forest Rights Act (FRA).
Environmentalists raised concerns over the diversion of 19.43 hectares of reserved forest land from SGNP for tunnel construction. On 2 January 2024, the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate (MoEF&CC) granted in-principle (Stage I) approval under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, for the forest land diversion. Despite civil society objections, the project continued with proponents claiming it would cut travel time from 75–90 minutes to about 25 minutes and require less tree felling than alternative alignments.
Stage II clearance granted in 2025
On July 1–2, 2025, the MoEF&CC granted the Stage II clearance for the diversion of 19.43 ha of SGNP forest land to the corporation. After the Stage II clearance in July, the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) assembly and other preparatory work for the tunnel began in the latter half of 2025. As part of rehabilitation planning, the BMC had conducted a survey in 2022 that identified 276 eligible residential and commercial structures for rehabilitation and 89 others as ineligible. Government officials stated that those who were declared ineligible in the annexure draft were given opportunities to challenge the findings before the final list was released.
Rehabilitation complex constructed
By March 2026, the corporation had constructed a 906-flat rehabilitation complex in Kanjurmarg West (Runwal Forest), with 252 flats reserved for initial handover to GMLR project-affected families. On 31 May 2026, the BMC demolished around 150 unauthorised residential and commercial structures in Amar Nagar and Khindipada. On June 4 and 5, 2026, the BMC carried out a second demolition drive, clearing the remaining 234 structures, thereby completing the clearance of all 384 identified encroachments. According to the BMC, the phased demolition was to facilitate TBM assembly and allow underground tunnel excavation to commence in June, just before the arrival of the monsoon.
Rehabilitation, demolition, and project investment
The Municipal Corporation claimed to have provided rehabilitation to 250 eligible families in the Kanjurmarg West colony, with 252 flats to be handed over at the end of June. Many residents alleged that documentation errors, procedural irregularities, and survey lapses had led to wrongful elimination from the eligibility list. Some residents said they had lived in the area since the 1980s–1990s, but were not counted or were removed from eligibility lists. Even among those declared eligible, some could not take possession because they could not pay the ₹40,000 required for the flat handover.
Residents claimed that the eviction during the monsoon violated the Maharashtra government’s monsoon eviction ban, which prohibits demolition of any unauthorised structures during the period of June to September. The tunnel component is estimated to cost ₹6,300 crore out of the project’s total estimated cost, including all 4 phases, which is ₹14,000 crore. The first flyover (Dindoshi–SGNP) was expected to open by May 2026, with the twin tunnels targeted for completion by October 2028 and full project operationalisation by 2029.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand for rehabilitation
Complaint against procedural violations
Opposition against environmental degradation
Demand for legal recognition of land rights
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Region Classification
Urban
Type of Land
Common and Private
Forest and Non-Forest, Non-Forest (Other than Grazing Land)
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Project underway despite protests
Original Project Deadline
2029
Whether the Project has been Delayed
No
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Dwelling/habitation use
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
4770
Type of investment:
Cost of Project
Year of Estimation
2020
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Other, Forest and Scheduled Area Governance Laws, Forest and Scheduled Area Governance Laws, Forest and Scheduled Area Governance Laws
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
Yes
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Forced evictions/dispossession of land
Lack of legal protection over land rights
Non-rehabilitation of displaced people
Legal Status:
Out of Court
Status of Case In Court
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
No
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Case Number
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of Maharashtra, Maharashtra Urban Development Department (UDD)
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
No
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
Shubham is a housing rights activist based in Mumbai. He has a post graduate from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai in urban policy and governance.
