September 11, 2025: Just ahead of last year’s assembly elections, former chief minister Eknath Shinde had pledged to make Mumbai slum-free. Months earlier, his government had cleared a plan to redevelop nearly 32 hectares of land in Ghatkopar , which Shinde described as merely “a trailer” of what lay ahead.
That “trailer” has now turned into an unprecedented redevelopment drive, with the state opening vast tracts of prime land for housing and renewal projects. Data indicates that of Mumbai’s 34,000 acres of habitable land, 6,021 acres , nearly 18% have been unlocked by central and state authorities for redevelopment. Of this, around 2,069 acres are earmarked for Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) schemes in partnership with seven government agencies and the Adani-led Dharavi project.
The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada) has released nearly 691 acres for redevelopment, including major projects in Motilal Nagar, Kamathipura and Abhyudaya Nagar. Together, SRA and Mhada are handling almost half of all government land identified for affordable housing and slum rehabilitation.
Officials say more than 200 schemes are already underway, with plans to rehouse over two lakh slum-dwellers. Civic agencies, including the BMC and MMRDA, are also contributing large land parcels to the effort. The state has rolled out incentives such as increased Floor Space Index, reduced premiums and tax relaxations to accelerate approvals and attract private developers.
While real estate players are hailing the reforms as “once-in-a-generation”, urban planners warn of pitfalls. Architect and planner Chandrashekhar Prabhu cautioned that such massive land unlocking could fuel corruption, push property prices upwards and deepen gentrification. “It is like selling family gold,” he said.
Despite concerns, officials argue the integrated redevelopment model will fast-track stalled projects, create affordable homes, and reshape Mumbai’s housing landscape for decades to come.
Source: Hindustan Times
