One of Mumbai’s older MHADA colonies, Ramkrishna Nagar in Khar West, is set to undergo cluster redevelopment after the Maharashtra government approved the appointment of a developer for the project.
The decision was taken at a state Cabinet meeting on September 22, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The redevelopment is aimed at replacing ageing structures and improving housing and neighbourhood infrastructure for residents.
“As some of the buildings have become dilapidated and structurally unsafe, approval has been granted for their cluster redevelopment to improve the living conditions of the residents,” said a press note from the government.
19 Buildings to Be Redeveloped
Constructed in 1985, Ramkrishna Nagar occupies a plot measuring approximately 25,523.9 sq m. The colony consists of 19 buildings, including 18 residential structures and one office building.
The colony is located close to Khar railway station, with convenient access to major roads such as Swami Vivekanand Road and Linking Road.
Under the cluster redevelopment model, multiple ageing structures within the layout will be developed together instead of being taken up independently. The approach is intended to provide eligible residents with safer and more spacious rehabilitation homes, along with upgraded civic infrastructure and amenities.
The colony currently has around 234 residential tenements, according to officials. Eligible occupants will receive rehabilitation units as part of the redevelopment.
MHADA to Receive Sale Housing Stock
The project will also generate housing stock for MHADA. The authority is expected to receive approximately 9,000 sq m of residential stock, which can subsequently be offered for sale to the wider public.
MHADA is also expected to receive a premium linked to the additional construction potential generated through the redevelopment project.
The plot occupied by the existing office building has been excluded from the cluster redevelopment, according to the government’s press note.
High-Powered Committee for Implementation
“To ensure speedy implementation of the project, approval has also been given to constitute a high-powered committee under the chairmanship of the secretary of the housing department,” the note added.
The committee is expected to facilitate coordination and expedite approvals and other administrative processes required to move the project forward.
Ramkrishna Nagar is among 56 MHADA colonies in Mumbai that were developed to provide affordable housing, particularly for middle- and lower-income groups. Many of these settlements date back several decades and are now being considered for redevelopment as structures age.
The latest approval places Ramkrishna Nagar among MHADA’s growing pipeline of cluster redevelopment projects across Mumbai, with the aim of combining housing rehabilitation, new residential supply and improved neighbourhood infrastructure within established urban areas.
Source: Hindustan Times
