Mumbai Jains urge Gujarat govt to address illegal property sales

27 Nov 2024 CW Team

Mumbai’s Jain community has appealed to the Gujarat government for protection of their ancestral properties in the state, alleging widespread illegal sales and encroachments. The community, many of whom migrated from Gujarat to Mumbai over time, continues to own homes, agricultural lands, and other properties in their native villages. The Vagad Oswal sub-community from Kutch’s Vagad region has raised concerns over properties being sold by miscreants without the owners' knowledge. Team Vagad Charitable Trust, representing the sub-community, has formally written to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi, demanding stricter measures to safeguard these assets and prosecute those involved in such fraudulent activities. The letter highlights media reports of property-related crimes targeting the Mumbai-based Jain community, which has caused significant distress among members. The community has warned that if the illegal activities persist, they may withdraw investments from the region, potentially affecting the local economy. According to Laxmichand Charla, Chairman Trustee of Team Vagad, skyrocketing land prices driven by the Narmada canal, renewable energy projects, and industrial developments have led to opportunistic land grabs. “Our community has been in the Kutch-Vagad region for over 400 years. If these illegal sales don’t stop, we will have no choice but to sell off all our properties,” he stated. The Trust has urged the Gujarat government to take swift action to restore confidence among the community and prevent further exploitation. (FPJ)

Infrastructure Transport

15 Oct 2025

BMC Gets CRZ Nod For Rs 40 Million Gorai Bridge Rebuild

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has secured Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance for the reconstruction of the Poisar River bridge in Gorai, located in Mumbai’s western suburbs. However, the proposed demolition of the existing 100-metre bridge has sparked opposition from local residents, who claim it serves as the only direct access route between the Lower and Upper Koliwada areas. The three-decade-old bridge, situated within the CRZ buffer zone, was recently declared structurally unsafe following a civic audit. The BMC has sanctioned its reconstruction at an estimated cost ..

NHAI Completes Rs 15.9 Billion Four-Lane Stretch On ECR

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has completed the four-laning of the 38 km Puducherry–Poondiyankuppam stretch, ending near Cuddalore, in a development that will cut travel time by up to two hours, according to a report by The New Indian Express. The upgraded section, built at a cost of Rs 15.9 billion under the Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase I, marks a major milestone in the ongoing East Coast Road (ECR) widening programme. The project promises a smoother, faster drive for motorists travelling towards Cuddalore, Chidambaram, Sirkazhi, and Nagapattinam. With this completion, 22..

Encroachments Delay Rs 1 Billion Ghatkopar Bridge Project

The construction of a new cable-stayed rail overbridge at Ghatkopar and the widening of the Andheri–Ghatkopar Link Road (AGLR) have been delayed due to the presence of nearly 250 encroached structures on both sides of the road. In response, Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani has directed officials to carry out a structural audit of the existing bridge over the railway line and enforce temporary restrictions on heavy vehicles to ensure public safety. The bridge, which starts at the Golibar Road junction near LBS Marg and extends up to the Eastern Express Highway (EEH), serves as a critic..