Since former Chief Minister Eknath Shinde gave out rental checks to locals more than three months ago, not much has changed in the reconstruction of Mata Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar and Kamgar Nagar, which are located along the Eastern Express Highway in Ghatkopar East. One major reason for the project’s delay, according to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which is working on it with the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA), is that they have yet to take control of the 33.15-hectare plot of land.
The Chief Secretary is in charge of a government body that is responsible for valuing the land and paying its owner, according to the Slum Rehabilitation Authority. Officials from the SRA stated that they have no authority over land ownership; they are solely in charge of planning.
The project, which was assigned in early 2024 as part of a larger drive to make Mumbai slum-free, represents the MMRDA’s first foray into slum rehabilitation. According to a survey that was carried out starting in March, 16,575 households qualified for rehabilitation. The government promised tenants earlier this year that within two years after their departure, new apartments with carpeting areas of 300 square feet would be supplied.
MMRDA officials voiced their annoyance, pointing to the allocation of portfolios, assembly elections, and delays in government formation as reasons for the stopped development. They promised that tenants would be able to leave the plot quickly after the land was turned over because they had already received two years’ worth of advance rental payments.
In addition to creating an extra 5,000 housing units and 75 lakh square feet of commercial space, the initiative intends to rehabilitate the locals. This is anticipated to generate Rs 10,000 crore for MMRDA, providing a substantial financial boost to the planning body.
The Ghatkopar East slums’ reconstruction is presently in limbo despite its ambitious scale and early enthusiasm, which reflects the difficulties in coordinating across multiple governmental bodies. The project has the potential to improve the lives of thousands of people and make a substantial contribution to Mumbai’s housing and business development scene if it is successfully completed. However, the prompt resolution of outstanding administrative obstacles is necessary to realise this ambition.
Source: Prop News Time
