51 mins ago
Mumbai Clears Encroachment, Restores Access to Historic Plague-Era Cemetery
A shop was blocking the entrance to an old cemetery in Amboli, Mumbai.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation removed the structure to clear the way.
The cemetery belongs to St Blaise Church and has about 100 graves, mostly of children.
People used the site for burials during the plague epidemic in 1904.
The church and local residents had been asking for access to be restored for years.
The cleared space can now be used to build a small road to the cemetery.
The church hopes to use the land for future burials because its other cemetery is running out of room.
Some families have had to travel to Oshiwara for burials.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation removed a shop blocking the entrance to St Blaise Church’s cemetery in Amboli, Andheri West.
The church had complained in December 2017 that shop and shed operators had extended structures about five metres into its land.
The cemetery has around 100 graves, mostly of children, and was used for burials during the 1904 plague epidemic.
The cleared area will allow construction of an access road eight feet wide and 20 feet long.
St Blaise Church hopes to use the plot for future burials because its existing cemetery is running out of space.
- Who
- The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation removed the shop; the cemetery belongs to St Blaise Church.
- What
- A structure blocking access to the cemetery was removed, clearing space for an access road.
- Where
- Amboli, Andheri West, Mumbai.
- When
- Thursday, October 8, 2026, according to the article dated October 9, 2026.
- Why
- The structure encroached on church property and blocked access to the cemetery; road widening provided an opportunity to clear it.
Key facts
- Cemetery owner
- St Blaise Church
- Cemetery area
- 327 square metres
- Approximate number of graves
- Around 100, mostly of children
- Historical use
- Burials during the 1904 plague epidemic
- Planned access road
- Eight feet wide and 20 feet long
- Municipal ward
- BMC K (West) ward
- Earlier church complaint
- December 2017
Quotes
Senior BMC K (West) ward official
A senior municipal official involved in the structure’s removal.
“It was a demand of the local church and the Christian community that this access should be cleared, and I have been trying to resolve this for the last six to seven years. Finally, we have been able to do so as part of the S V Road widening process. After a lot of effort, we have been able to restore access.”
freepressjournal.in
“We issued a notice directing them to remove unauthorised structures encroaching upon historic church property and blocking public access. On Thursday, we removed the structure with police protection.”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
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