Residents living in Mumbai’s ageing cessed buildings have opposed the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA)’s proposal to offer monthly rent compensation instead of immediate rehabilitation housing, raising concerns over uncertainty surrounding redevelopment timelines and permanent resettlement.
The issue has gained attention as the annual pre-monsoon structural audit of dangerous buildings nears completion. The Mumbai Building Repairs and Reconstruction Board is expected to release its latest list of highly unsafe structures next week, after which authorities will begin the process of vacating residents from hazardous buildings.
At present, the board reportedly has only around 500 transit camp units available for temporary relocation. However, the number of families requiring rehabilitation is expected to be significantly higher. Officials have indicated that once transit accommodations are exhausted, residents may be offered monthly rent assistance of Rs 20,000 instead.
Residents, however, have strongly objected to the proposal, saying there is no clarity on how long the financial support will continue or when they will eventually receive permanent homes.
Many occupants fear that vacating their old buildings without legally binding redevelopment assurances could leave them stranded in rented accommodation indefinitely.
South Mumbai alone has nearly 13,000 cessed buildings, many of which are in severely dilapidated condition. Every year, civic authorities identify dangerous structures before the monsoon and attempt to shift residents to safer accommodation. However, relocation efforts frequently face resistance due to delays in rehabilitation and redevelopment projects.
According to residents, several families have already spent decades in transit camps without receiving permanent housing, further deepening mistrust towards the rehabilitation process.
MHADA officials said the Rs 20,000 monthly rent assistance plan would be implemented after all available transit units are occupied. However, they admitted that no resident has agreed to the proposal so far.
Residents also argued that the proposed rent amount is inadequate considering current rental rates in South Mumbai, where even small one-room apartments often cost around Rs 30,000 per month.
Resident representatives have maintained that without a clear redevelopment roadmap, legal guarantees and fixed timelines for rehabilitation, convincing people to vacate dangerous buildings will remain a major challenge for authorities this monsoon season as well.
