October 21, 2025: Nearly a year after its groundbreaking, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) plan to construct residential quarters for conservancy workers at Cochin Street, Fort, remains on hold due to pending lease formalities with the Mumbai Port Authority (MbPA). The Solid Waste Management (SWM) department had sought clearance under the Development Control and Promotion Regulation (DCPR) 2034 to provide improved living conditions for essential sanitation staff.
The project, initiated under the Ashray Yojana scheme in October 2024, is estimated at Rs 17 crore and envisages 54 houses of 238 sq ft each. The 1,892.15 sq m plot is partially owned by civic authorities (1,403 sq m) and partly by the Mumbai Port Trust (489.13 sq m). However, as per BMC’s 1991 Development Plan, only 878.23 sq m is approved for housing construction, necessitating lease revisions.
Addressing the issue, Deputy Municipal Commissioner (in-charge SWM) Kiran Dighavkar stated in a letter to the MbPT on October 7, “The proposed 1,804 sq m built-up area is essential to rehabilitate all conservancy staff and existing occupants.” With the old lease expired, BMC has requested MbPT to draft a new agreement under DP 2034 regulations, enabling the construction of additional flats. Upon completion, housing will be allotted to lower-income conservancy workers through a lottery, ensuring tenure-long accommodation.
Political intervention has also been sought. Former BJP corporator from Colaba, Makarand Narwekar, wrote to the MbPA stressing that conservancy workers are part of the broader MbPT sanitation workforce, for whom a 2024 redevelopment tender was planned. He requested an urgent meeting with Dr. M. Angamuthu, Chairperson of MbPA, and BMC officials through Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Adv. Rahul Narvekar to secure the necessary NOC and expedite the project.
Source: The Free Press Journal