October 7, 2025: The Maharashtra government has approved the reclassification of two salt pan land parcels in Wadala, paving the way for their development into a gymkhana for civil servants and dedicated warehouses for electronic voting machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) units.
Previously designated as natural areas (NA) under Mumbai’s Development Plan 2034 (DP-2034), the plots have now been reclassified as part of the residential zone (R Zone), enabling construction and institutional use. The decision, issued under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966, invites public suggestions and objections before final approval.
The total area being reclassified spans 20,318.82 square metres — with 13,843.82 sq. m earmarked for the IAS Officers Association gymkhana and 6,475 sq. m for the EVM and VVPAT storage facilities. Officials confirmed that the land is not environmentally sensitive, lacking hills or mangroves, and was temporarily used by the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL), making it suitable for development.
The newly classified plots were previously reserved for various public purposes, including rehabilitation of project-affected persons, BEST depots, and preservation as natural zones. The shift to the R Zone marks a significant change in land-use priorities, reflecting the city’s evolving civic and institutional needs.
The dedicated EVM warehouses aim to improve security and logistics for election equipment, which has so far been stored in temporary locations such as foodgrain depots, railway offices, and schools. The Chief Electoral Officer’s office has already built similar warehouses in 21 districts across Maharashtra.
Officials said the reclassification aligns with broader efforts to optimise underutilised urban land while maintaining environmental safeguards. Once completed, the new facilities are expected to enhance civic infrastructure and serve long-term administrative and public purposes.
Source: The Realty Today
