Kothrud’s Ekta Society Residents Await Redevelopment as Building Crumbles

Kothrud, 4th July 2025: Residents of Ekta Society in Kothrud, a 30-year-old MHADA-constructed housing complex, are living in constant fear as the building has become dangerously dilapidated. Despite years of effort, their hopes of seeing their homes redeveloped during their lifetime remain unfulfilled.

The load-bearing structure of the society has significantly weakened over the years. Residents report leaking roofs, severely damp walls, and a foundation compromised by years of water seepage and rodent infestation. Rats have burrowed underneath, hollowing out the ground, creating a frighteningly unstable base. Crumbling window and staircase slabs, as well as frequent electric shocks due to damp walls, have made the building hazardous.

A total of 48 families, comprising approximately 250 people, are living under constant threat. “What if the building collapses?” one resident worried.

One of the residents explained that MHADA had granted the conveyance deed back in 2015. Over the past decade, feasibility studies and tender processes were completed, and in July 2023, in the presence of cooperative department officials and video documentation, a builder was finalized. However, even after two years, no formal redevelopment contract has been signed with the builder.

Residents are forced to endure unhealthy living conditions, leading to frequent illnesses. Many, including senior citizen Marutidada Jori, say they simply wish to see the new building come up in their lifetime. “I have crossed 75 years. I only hope to see the new building before my eyes close,” he said.

Another resident lamented, “I invested my life’s savings in this house, but now it feels like it will collapse on my head at any moment. Pieces of our ceiling slab keep falling. The cramped spaces make life extremely difficult. We cannot invite guests, and my child cannot even study properly.”

The residents have urged the authorities and the builder to expedite the redevelopment before a potential tragedy strikes.