July 17, 2025: Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray on Wednesday raised serious concerns over alleged irregularities in the redevelopment of the Subhedar Ramji Ambedkar Nagar slum in Worli, urging the Maharashtra government to take corrective measures. His remarks, made in the state legislative assembly, were based on longstanding issues surrounding the stalled project, which has faced multiple delays and controversies for over 15 years.
According to Thackeray, several developers withdrew from the project in the past due to problems linked to land allotment, missing documentation, and potential financial losses to the state. Although construction has now commenced, he alleged that several discrepancies have surfaced.
He claimed that rent payments to project-affected residents have been withheld for the past six months. “The original layout plan presented to slum dwellers has been altered without consent or official approval. While rehabilitation work remains incomplete, construction of saleable flats and even bungalows has already begun,” Thackeray said.
He further highlighted that nearly 70 per cent of the land has not yet been handed over to the government and called for clarity on the status of public land involved. Thackeray demanded that pending rent be disbursed immediately and that the redevelopment proceed according to the original approved plan—with commercial shops at the front and saleable flats at the rear.
Meanwhile, in a related discussion, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Varun Sardesai criticised delays in obtaining Central government clearance for redevelopment of 9,483 shanties on Bandra’s 42-acre defence land. In response, state minister Shambhuraj Desai noted that CM Eknath Shinde had sent four letters to the Centre but also criticised the previous MVA government for inaction between 2019 and 2022—a remark that sparked sharp rebuttals from opposition MLAs.
Source:Mid- day
