December 15, 2025: A major land unlock in north Mumbai is on the horizon with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) set to relocate its high-frequency radar from Dahisar to Gorai, a move expected to free up nearly 1,000 acres for affordable housing and redevelopment. Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said on Sunday that the relocation would ease long-standing height restrictions that have stalled construction projects across Dahisar and surrounding areas, according to PTI.
Naidu said the civil aviation ministry would seek cabinet approval for the relocation so that housing construction can begin at the earliest. The decision followed a high-level meeting involving the Union Civil Aviation Ministry, the Maharashtra government and key stakeholders. At present, radar installations at Dahisar and Juhu impose strict height curbs, significantly constraining urban development and redevelopment efforts.
Explaining the housing impact, Naidu said, “The issue was impacting the urban development projects in North Mumbai. Due to this, some lakh people were being forced to live in old, dilapidated buildings,” as per PTI. He added that the shift would help meet housing aspirations in Dahisar and said “some 1,000 acres of land spread over 6 km will be released for housing projects for the people of Dahisar,” while ensuring aviation safety.
The Maharashtra government has committed strong support to the plan. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told the legislative assembly that the state has agreed to shift high-frequency radar centres from Dahisar and Juhu to technically suitable alternative locations. According to PTI, Fadnavis said Maharashtra is willing to bear the relocation cost and provide alternative land, adding that the Gorai land will be transferred free of cost to the Centre. He also stated that 40% of the AAI land at Dahisar will be reserved for public purposes.
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said the move could enable the construction or redevelopment of nearly 50,000 homes over the next five years, generating employment and accelerating stalled projects. Meanwhile, the government has proposed an alternative site for the Juhu radar, which will undergo technical evaluation before the approval process begins. Once relocated, redevelopment in Dahisar and the Juhu (DN Nagar) area is expected to become feasible, officials said.
Source: Money Control
