Mumbai:Â The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) has taken over 17 stalled slum redevelopment projects across Mumbai in a significant move to revive long-delayed rehabilitation efforts. Acting on state government directives, MHADA has stepped in to accelerate the projects, with tenders set to be floated soon to appoint contractors and restart construction work.
Among these, the Sai Baba Housing Society in Jogeshwari has already received a Letter of Intent (LOI), signaling the first step toward its redevelopment. The remaining projects are in the documentation phase and will progress once all necessary approvals are in place, said MHADA vice-president and CEO Sanjeev Jaiswal.
MHADA, in collaboration with the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA), is working to rehabilitate thousands of slum dwellers who have been waiting for their homes due to stalled projects. Eight of these projects were withdrawn from their original developers under Section 13(2) of the Slum Rehabilitation Act due to significant delays and non-compliance. The affected projects include 12 in Goregaon, two in Bandra, five in Kurla, and two in the Borivali-Dahisar region. Additionally, five more projects situated on MHADA-owned land are currently under feasibility assessment. Through these efforts, MHADA aims to create approximately 25,000 additional housing units, providing much-needed homes for displaced residents and reducing the city’s housing backlog.
One of the largest projects among the 17 is the redevelopment of Malvani Malad, which will impact nearly 14,000 slum dwellers. Recognizing the scale and urgency of the project, Jaiswal has directed officials to expedite the redevelopment process by conducting a biometric survey of all affected residents and deploying additional manpower. One of the primary obstacles at the Malvani Malad site is the lack of proper access roads, which has slowed construction efforts. MHADA is working to improve infrastructure at the site to ensure better connectivity, which will help accelerate redevelopment.
To ensure an efficient and transparent allocation process, MHADA has also initiated biometric surveys for all residents of slum projects on its land. These surveys will help in identifying legitimate beneficiaries and streamlining the process of housing allocation. Additionally, officials are working on improving infrastructure such as drainage systems and roads to facilitate construction.
To further accelerate redevelopment, MHADA will soon invite tenders for the first project, with tenders for the remaining projects to follow. The agency is focused on appointing contractors quickly to ensure that work begins without further delays. With Mumbai’s housing demand growing rapidly, MHADA’s intervention in stalled SRA projects is expected to bring relief to thousands of slum dwellers who have been waiting for proper housing.
The initiative aligns with the state government’s broader vision of improving urban infrastructure and providing sustainable housing solutions. As work begins on these 17 projects, the success of MHADA’s efforts will be crucial in addressing Mumbai’s housing crisis and ensuring that slum redevelopment progresses in a timely and efficient manner.
