Illegal slum settlements along Mumbai's railway tracks are obstructing the expansion of crucial fifth and sixth lines, a project estimated at Rs 2,500 crore. Over 30 hectares of railway land have been encroached upon by slums over six decades, impacting both Western and Central Railway corridors. While railway authorities cite these encroachments as a major impediment to infrastructure upgrades and maintenance, slum dwellers, some residing for decades, assert their right to remain and demand resettlement plans, highlighting a complex conflict over land use and housing rights.