The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) Improvement Committee will review a proposal on Tuesday seeking an amendment to the Development Plan (DP) 2034 to remove the existing garden reservation on a 305 sq metre plot within the Patra Chawl redevelopment project area in Goregaon West.
The proposal aims to change the land-use classification of the reserved plot from a garden zone to a residential zone, allowing the land to be utilised for housing purposes. If approved, the amendment will modify the current DP reservation applicable to the land parcel located within the redevelopment site.
The move comes amid ongoing concerns surrounding the Patra Chawl redevelopment project, which has faced delays and disputes involving rehabilitation housing for residents.
Earlier in April, several residents, including women, senior citizens and teenagers, refused to move into the rehabilitation flats allotted to them by the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), claiming that the buildings were unsafe, incomplete and affected by unresolved legal issues.
The residents had staged a 50-day indefinite chain hunger strike, demanding repairs, completion of pending agreements and assurances regarding the safety of their homes. The protest began even as MHADA initiated the process of handing over rehabilitation flats from March 10 after receiving approval from the Bombay High Court.
Mumbai North West MP Ravindra Waikar had also raised concerns with MHADA CEO Sanjeev Jaiswal, highlighting issues such as alleged violations of the tripartite agreement, pending execution of Development Agreements (DA) and Permanent Alternate Accommodation Agreements (PAAA), lack of basic amenities including parking, and delays in rent compensation since 2014.
Waikar had urged authorities to undertake immediate repairs and take action against those responsible for the lapses.
Following the residents’ agitation, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde assured action on the long-pending issues. After a high-level meeting chaired by Shinde at Mantralaya, residents who had been protesting for 50 days agreed to withdraw their hunger strike and shift to the rehabilitation flats.
The decision was taken following assurances from the state government and directions issued by the Bombay High Court. MHADA will oversee repair works and address concerns raised by residents regarding the condition of the rehabilitation buildings.
Source: Mid-day
