December 15, 2025: The Airports Authority of India’s (AAI) high-frequency radar at Dahisar in Mumbai is set to be relocated to Gorai, a move expected to free up nearly 1,000 acres of land for affordable housing and redevelopment projects, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said. The decision follows extensive consultations involving the Civil Aviation Ministry, the Maharashtra government, AAI, and other stakeholders.
Speaking virtually on Sunday, Naidu said the ministry would seek Cabinet approval for the radar relocation to ensure construction on housing projects can commence at the earliest. “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. Now with this decision, the dream of the people of Dahisar to have a house of their own is going to be fulfilled,” he said.
Radar installations at Dahisar and Juhu currently impose strict building height restrictions, hampering redevelopment and new construction across large areas of north Mumbai. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told the legislative assembly that the state government had agreed to shift the radar centres to technically suitable alternative sites, with the Centre, Civil Aviation Ministry, and AAI also consenting. The state will bear relocation costs and provide alternative land.
Fadnavis added that the Gorai land will be transferred free of cost to the Centre, while 40% of the Dahisar site will be used for public purposes. An alternative site at Juhu has also been proposed to AAI for technical evaluation, after which the relocation process will begin.
Naidu highlighted that approximately 1,000 acres of land over six kilometres will be released for housing once the radar is shifted, paving the way for large-scale affordable housing. He added, “This decision balances housing needs with aviation safety. It will bring relief to thousands of families and accelerate economic development in the region.”
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, representing North Mumbai, said over the next five years, around 50,000 homes could be constructed or redeveloped, providing quality housing and generating substantial employment. He credited close coordination between the central and state governments for making the historic decision possible, ensuring stalled projects can now move forward rapidly.
Source: Upstox
