The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) has decided to undertake the group redevelopment of its ageing transit camp at Pratiksha Nagar in Shiv, Mumbai, bringing 95 buildings under a single redevelopment plan.
The project will be implemented through the MHADA Mumbai Board, which has chosen to execute the redevelopment itself by appointing a contractor instead of adopting the Construction and Development (C&D) model. A proposal is currently being prepared and is expected to be submitted to the state government for approval within a month.
95 Buildings to Be Rebuilt
The Pratiksha Nagar transit camp comprises 95 buildings, which have deteriorated over the years and are considered to require redevelopment. Around 6,387 transit-camp residents currently occupy these structures.
Under the proposed plan, new rehabilitation homes will be constructed for all eligible occupants. The redevelopment will cover residents belonging to A, B and C categories, with their rights determined according to their respective status.
A-class occupants, considered the original tenants, are expected to receive permanent ownership rights in the redeveloped properties. B- and C-class occupants, comprising people who have purchased or occupied units through subsequent transactions as well as encroachers, will receive homes temporarily, subject to the outcome of ongoing legal proceedings concerning their permanent rehabilitation rights.
MHADA officials said further action for these categories will be taken in accordance with court decisions.
Part of Wider MHADA Redevelopment Programme
The Pratiksha Nagar initiative follows MHADA’s broader policy of undertaking cluster redevelopment of old cessed buildings and ageing MHADA colonies across Mumbai.
The authority has identified more than 900 acres for 11 major redevelopment projects, which are expected to rehabilitate around 65,000 residents. Projects include Motilal Nagar, Abhyudaya Nagar, Adarsh Nagar, Kamathipura, Gorai and Borivali.
While most of these schemes are planned under the C&D model, MHADA has opted to directly execute the Pratiksha Nagar and Umarkhadi redevelopments.
Additional Housing for MHADA
Apart from rehabilitation units, the Pratiksha Nagar project is also expected to generate additional housing stock for MHADA. Officials said the exact number of additional homes will become clear during the tendering process.
The immediate next step is to obtain state government approval for the redevelopment proposal. Once clearance is secured, MHADA will prepare the detailed project plan, invite tenders and begin the implementation process.
The proposed redevelopment is expected to replace the ageing transit structures with new rehabilitation housing while bringing the entire Pratiksha Nagar camp under a coordinated redevelopment framework.
Source: Loksatta
