November 10, 2025: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has identified 51,582 huts built on its reserved plots across Mumbai and its suburbs, with redevelopment efforts stalled for years, similar to slum rehabilitation delays on private land. Despite multiple attempts, the civic body has struggled to attract developers for these projects.
In the first phase, tenders were floated for the redevelopment of 26 plots, but the response was unsatisfactory. Even after the tender deadline was extended twice, participation remained limited, prompting the BMC to extend it a third time until November 11. Officials said developers are hesitant due to the dense slum clusters, encroachments, and socio-economic challenges—particularly in the eastern suburbs—which make these projects financially unviable. To address this, the civic administration is exploring redevelopment under the Cluster Development Scheme.
Out of 64 municipal plots identified for slum redevelopment, 17 are currently embroiled in court cases, halting progress due to legal and technical complications. For the remaining 47, tenders were invited, and while the city and western suburbs received a fair response, areas like Deonar and Govandi saw minimal interest from developers.
Nearly 60% of Mumbai’s land area is occupied by slums, spread across private, government, and municipal plots. Many informal settlements also exist on forest land and hilly regions under the collector’s jurisdiction. Recently, the state government permitted the BMC to redevelop slums located on its own plots, paving the way for civic-led redevelopment of 64 locations.
Officials said the move could streamline the city’s slum rehabilitation process, but success will depend on resolving land ownership disputes and attracting viable development partners willing to work in challenging areas like the eastern suburbs.
Source: Lokshahi
