Kamathipura is changing. So is its red light trade

Mumbai's red light district, Kamathipura, is undergoing a major transformation. The 34-acre redevelopment plan, recently unveiled, is set to replace the narrow lanes and cramped rooms with high rises, 500 sq ft homes, and open spaces. However, the women who have been a part of Kamathipura for decades are being forced out of the area.

For them, the redevelopment is not just about finding a new home, but also about their livelihood and ability to seek help if needed. A 50-year-old sex worker, who has lived in Kamathipura for two decades with her two children, expressed her concern about having nowhere to go now that the redevelopment plan is in place. The neighbourhood, once known for its concentration of sex work, is witnessing a decline in brothels and an increasing move of sex workers to hotels, lodges, and other scattered locations across the city.

This shift in the trade does not mean the end of exploitation, as the need for a fixed red light area has diminished, leading to an increase in raids by the police. NGOs like Prerana are struggling to keep track of the women, as they no longer reside in the same area and move between different regions.