Parel-Lalbaug-Sewri: High-rises rise, flooding and encroachments remain

Known as the heart of Mumbai's mill culture, the F/South ward-covering Parel, Lalbaug, Sewri, and parts of Dadar Eastembodies a strong Marathi working-class identity.

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Even as mills and chawls give way to high-rises and corporate offices, chronic civic issues persist. Annual waterlogging at Hindmata, ageing chawls awaiting redevelopment, encroached footpaths, acute parking shortages, and traffic congestion continue to disrupt daily life for residents.Major civic issues

In 2021, the BMC spent around Rs 140 crore on underground rainwater holding tanks at Dadar East to prevent flooding at Hindmata. Despite this, the problem persists. On August 19 this year, Hindmata and other chronic flooding spots were once again inundated following heavy rainfall. Older residential areas of Parel-such as the BDD chawls, railway chawls, and the Kohinoor Mills compound-lie in Mumbai's lowlying central belt, making them especially vulnerable to recurrent waterlogging.