July 19, 2025: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday reaffirmed his government’s commitment to transform Mumbai into a “modern, all-inclusive city” while ensuring it remains an integral part of Maharashtra. Speaking in the legislative assembly during a debate on the Opposition-sponsored ‘last week’s motion’, Fadnavis addressed a range of issues, from infrastructure development to social housing and public transport.
“There will be a chorus of claims in the coming months (ahead of civic elections) about attempts to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra. I want to tell everyone, no one, no matter who he is, can take Mumbai away from Maharashtra,” he asserted.
Highlighting major transport upgrades, Fadnavis said all suburban trains in Mumbai will soon be air-conditioned and fitted with automatic doors. “Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has informed me that an announcement about converting all suburban trains plying in the Mumbai region into air-conditioned trains fitted with doors will be made soon,” he shared.
On the Dharavi redevelopment project, Fadnavis rejected the Opposition’s claims regarding land being handed to the Adani group. “The land has been transferred to DRP (Dharavi Redevelopment Project), a special purpose vehicle (SPV) in which the state government is a partner,” he clarified. He emphasised that all eligible slum-dwellers will be rehabilitated in Dharavi itself, and the process will be completed in seven years.
“Dharavi is not just a slum sprawl but also an economic hub,” the CM added, announcing a five-year tax holiday for pottery and leather artisans. Those unable to be accommodated in Dharavi will be allotted homes elsewhere in the city under a rental housing scheme, with eventual ownership granted after 12 years of tenancy. “In all, 10 lakh people will get houses,” he said.
He also stated that trials for a unified public transport ticket are underway and that by 2030, 50% of the state’s electricity will be sourced from green energy.
Source: ET Infra
