Eknath Shinde Unveils Comprehensive Roadmap to Transform Mumbai's Aging Housing Infrastructure Through Human-Centric Redevelopment

Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister and Housing Minister Eknath Shinde has articulated a comprehensive vision for reshaping Mumbai through human-first redevelopment initiatives that aim to protect lives, preserve heritage, and restore dignity to urban living. The state government, working alongside the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), has embarked on an ambitious transformation of the city's aging housing infrastructure.

The Scale of Mumbai's Housing Crisis

Shinde highlighted that Mumbai, beyond being India's financial capital, faces a critical housing challenge with over 13,000 privately owned cessed buildings in South Mumbai alone. Many of these structures date back to the colonial era and have become vulnerable to collapse, making them unsuitable for modern urban life. Thousands of families continue to reside in buildings with decaying infrastructure, including deteriorating staircases, leaking roofs, and unsafe wooden beams that were never designed for today's urban density or climate conditions.

The minister emphasized that Mumbai's redevelopment drive presents new opportunities amid these urban challenges. The problem becomes particularly acute during monsoon seasons, significantly increasing the risk of building collapses and loss of life.

Immediate Relief Measures Announced

To provide urgent support to affected residents, MHADA has introduced immediate relief provisions, according to Shinde. The authority now offers ₹20,000 per month as interim rent support or provides transit housing for those living in structurally dangerous buildings. This initiative ensures that families are not left without support while redevelopment plans are being executed.

Exit Policy Framework for Unsafe Structures

The Deputy Chief Minister explained that MHADA's exit policy for cessed buildings represents a comprehensive response to the housing crisis. The policy recognizes the emotional and physical stress experienced by residents in dangerous buildings and offers a clear, time-bound path to redevelopment while balancing modern safety standards with heritage conservation requirements.

New Legislative Tools Introduced

Shinde detailed the introduction of new legislative mechanisms to facilitate redevelopment. Section 79(A) of the MHADA Act now enables redevelopment of buildings declared dangerous under Section 354 of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (MMC) Act. Additionally, Section 79(1)(b) empowers tenants to propose redevelopment if landowners delay for more than six months, requiring only 51 percent tenant consent.

Public Agency Takeover of Stalled Projects

To ensure that stalled slum redevelopment projects are not abandoned, the state government has assigned their execution to trusted public agencies, the minister announced. These include MHADA, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO), Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), and Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC). This approach guarantees accountability, transparency, and timely handover to beneficiaries.

The MMRDA has already invited bids for major slum redevelopment projects, demonstrating the government's commitment to this initiative.

Cluster-Based Urban Transformation

Shinde outlined the government's shift from scattered redevelopment to cluster-based urban planning. This approach, he explained, allows for wider roads, open spaces, modern infrastructure, and in-situ rehabilitation that enables people to remain in their own neighborhoods.

Flagship Redevelopment Projects

The minister highlighted several major initiatives, including the Kamathipura redevelopment spanning 27.59 acres, which will transform living conditions for 8,001 residents currently housed in 943 cessed buildings. These structures will be replaced with modern towers equipped with contemporary amenities.

Motilal Nagar in Goregaon, covering 143 acres, will include 3,372 homes, 1,600 slum units, and a five-acre park. The Pradhan Mantri Gramin Parisar (PMGP) project in Jogeshwari will provide 984 new flats to replace deteriorated structures from the 1990s. Other major urban renewal projects are underway in Abhyudaya Nagar, Adarsh Nagar in Worli, Bandra Reclamation, Aaram Nagar, and SVP Nagar.

Recent success stories include 640 families returning to redeveloped Patra Chawl after a 15-year wait, demonstrating the tangible impact of these initiatives.

Special Amnesty for Older Redevelopment Projects

To ease the burden on residents of older redeveloped buildings without Occupation Certificates, Shinde announced the launch of a Special Amnesty Scheme. This applies to projects under Development Control Regulations (DCR) 1991 with permissions granted before November 12, 2018.

The scheme offers simplified approvals, reduced penalties, lower water and property taxes, legal occupancy status, and the freedom to sell or transfer property without restrictions.

Simplified Self-Redevelopment Regulations

Recognizing the potential of cooperative housing societies to undertake their own redevelopment, the state has eased several rules, the minister stated. Interest on MHADA premiums has been waived, the premium payment term has been extended from three to five years allowing for ten installments, and commercial unit premiums have been reduced to actual zonal rates rather than the previous 1.5 times residential rates.

These measures are designed to empower housing societies across Maharashtra to take charge of their redevelopment with greater financial ease.

PMAY Urban: Delivering Homes at Scale

Shinde reported significant progress under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), with 4.5 lakh homes approved across Maharashtra. Raynagar in Solapur stands as the country's largest PMAY project, comprising 30,000 houses, of which 15,000 units were handed over in January 2024.

Under PMAY 2.0, the government is working to cover the urban homeless through Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP), the AHP-PPP model, and Beneficiary-Led Construction (BLC). The achievement aligns with Maharashtra becoming the first state to deliver 30 lakh homes under PMAY.

Housing Policy 2025: Inclusive and Future-Ready

The Deputy Chief Minister announced that the newly unveiled Housing Policy 2025 replaces the 2007 policy with a strong focus on inclusive development. The policy emphasizes affordable housing for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and Low Income Groups (LIG), along with dedicated provisions for working women's hostels, old age homes, student hostels, industrial workers' housing, and rental housing with MHADA serving as the nodal agency.

Shinde stated that stakeholder consultations will shape the final rules to ensure inclusive and practical outcomes. The ambitious plans to create 45,000 new homes will significantly transform Mumbai's housing landscape.

Fulfilling Promises to Mill Workers

A special drive conducted during 2023-24 verified over one lakh applications from mill workers, the minister revealed. Certified by the Labour Department, these applicants will now be allotted housing either on government land by MHADA or on private land through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. This initiative fulfills a long-standing promise to Mumbai's industrial working class.

Vision Beyond Brick and Mortar

Concluding his statement, Shinde emphasized that these efforts extend far beyond urban development, representing a human-centric approach to city building. Every policy initiative, from rent support to cluster redevelopment, aims to protect lives, preserve community identity, and foster trust between citizens and government.

The minister stated that the government is not merely constructing taller towers but reshaping lives, restoring dignity, and renewing faith in governance. With MHADA targeting 8 lakh homes over five years, the scale of transformation promises to be unprecedented in the city's history.

Disclaimer: This news article is based on a statement by Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister and Housing Minister. Readers are advised to verify specific schemes, eligibility criteria, and application procedures through official MHADA and government channels before making any housing-related decisions. Policies and timelines mentioned are subject to change based on government notifications.