January 19, 2026: The Maharashtra government has approved a major urban infrastructure initiative aimed at addressing the long-standing housing shortage faced by the Mumbai Police, positioning the project as an investment in both public safety infrastructure and workforce welfare. The State Cabinet has cleared the Police Housing Township project, under which close to 45,000 residential units will be developed across Mumbai through the redevelopment of existing police colonies.
The project has been estimated at a cost of about Rs 20,000 crore and will be funded through a mix of budgetary support and institutional borrowings. As per the approved plan, the state government will contribute 30% of the total project cost, while the remaining 70% will be raised through loans. The Maharashtra State Infrastructure Development Corporation (MSIDC) has been appointed as the nodal agency to implement the project on behalf of the Public Works Department, with the completed housing stock to be handed over to the department.
The Cabinet’s approval followed the recommendations of a committee headed by the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), which reviewed the condition of existing police housing colonies in the city. Many of these colonies are located in British-era buildings that have deteriorated over time, with a large number reported to be structurally weak or declared unfit for occupation.
The proposed township is expected to cover nearly five crore square feet, enabling large-scale redevelopment and consolidation of residential facilities. To initiate preparatory work, the Cabinet has sanctioned an initial grant of Rs 100 crore to MSIDC. The funds will be used for technical evaluations, financial feasibility studies and other groundwork ahead of construction. The corporation has also been authorised to raise loans backed by a government guarantee to facilitate smooth execution.
Official data shows that while the Mumbai Police has a sanctioned strength of over 51,000 personnel, fewer than 23,000 service residences are currently available. Nearly 3,800 of these quarters have been classified as uninhabitable, even as 400 to 500 applications for accommodation are received every month.
The shortage has forced many police personnel to live far from their place of posting, resulting in long daily commutes under demanding work schedules. The government has underlined that housing close to duty locations is critical for effective policing, quicker emergency response and improved workforce well-being, with the redevelopment expected to support both living standards and operational efficiency.
