November 04, 2025: In a strong push to accelerate urban housing development and safeguard citizen rights, Union Minister for Commerce & Industry and North Mumbai MP Piyush Goyal has directed key city agencies — BMC, SRA, MMRDA, and MHADA — to fast-track pending housing and slum rehabilitation projects. Goyal has instructed the authorities to blacklist developers and builders who have delayed projects or failed to obtain Occupancy Certificates (OCs) for completed developments.
Emphasizing the need for greater inter-agency coordination, Goyal directed that all four departments create a common platform to share data and ensure that no blacklisted developer receives new contracts through any other agency. The directive follows a growing number of complaints about stalled slum rehabilitation and affordable housing projects in North Mumbai, which have left many residents in limbo.
“The failure to complete projects on time or to secure OCs is causing undue hardship to residents in North Mumbai. It is essential that developers who do not fulfill their commitments are held accountable, and future contracts are awarded only to those who meet strict performance standards,” said Goyal.
The directive applies broadly to SRA and affordable housing schemes across the constituency. It also mandates that builders delaying handovers to slum dwellers be barred from future tenders.
During the review meeting, Goyal also addressed infrastructure and environmental priorities — urging faster work on the Madh-Versova Bridge, Borivali-Thane tunnel, and measures to decongest the Western Express Highway. He further directed agencies to act against mangrove destruction, illegal dumping, and encroachments, and announced the rejuvenation of ten lakes through public-private partnerships.
This initiative underscores Goyal’s intent to foster a more accountable, sustainable, and citizen-centric approach to Mumbai’s urban development.
Source: The Free Press Journal
