July 17, 2025: In a major step toward improving housing conditions in Mumbai, the Maharashtra government has announced the redevelopment of 11 dangerously dilapidated buildings in Mayur Nagar, Aarey Colony, under the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) scheme.
The decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister and Urban Development Minister Eknath Shinde on July 14, 2025. Also present was Mumbai North West MP Ravindra Waikar, who raised concerns about the deteriorating state of the buildings.
Deputy CM Shinde directed the SRA’s Chief Executive Officer to prepare a comprehensive redevelopment proposal for Mayur Nagar. He further instructed officials to take immediate action under Clause 3(C) for the adjoining slum area of Adarsh Nagar. The meeting aimed to address long-standing issues in the Mumbai North West Lok Sabha constituency and was attended by top officials from MMRDA, BMC, MHADA, SRA, and the Urban Development Department.
The redevelopment comes after years of neglect in the Royal Palms region of Aarey, where a developer had acquired 240 acres from the Wadia Trust. Though 117 out of 751 slum dwellers were resettled, 634 families—despite being included in Annexure 2—remain without proper housing. Originally part of the now-defunct SRD scheme, 12 buildings were constructed, of which 10 remain: three are stuck in litigation and seven are dangerously uninhabitable due to poor construction, structural cracks, and lack of basic amenities.
Deputy CM Shinde also announced a city-wide survey to identify other unsafe SRA structures. The government reaffirmed its commitment to providing secure and dignified housing to slum dwellers, bringing long-awaited relief to the residents of Mayur Nagar and Adarsh Nagar.
Source: The Free Press Journal
