Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Jul 17: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who also heads the Urban Development and Housing Departments, announced a sweeping transformation plan for Mumbai aimed at fulfilling the dream of home ownership for Marathi citizens and creating a slum-free city through large-scale redevelopment projects and policy reforms.

Addressing the state Assembly on Thursday during a discussion under Rule 293, Shinde stated that the government is actively working to reverse the outmigration of Marathi families from Mumbai by removing hurdles and providing affordable housing solutions. He said the state’s Mahayuti government is executing the most significant development wave in Mumbai since Independence, claiming that the ongoing projects will radically reshape the lives of residents in the country’s financial capital.

Shinde highlighted key redevelopment efforts that are underway, including stalled projects that are now being revived. He cited the appointment of developers for cluster redevelopment in Motilal Nagar (Goregaon) and GTP Nagar, which will provide homes to 4,900 residents. In Kamathipura’s Abhyudaya Nagar, the bidding process is in progress and expected to conclude by September 2025, with the project set to benefit over 11,400 tenants. Similar redevelopment plans are in motion for Adarsh Nagar (Worli) and Bandra Reclamation, covering an additional 2,010 residents.

One of the most ambitious undertakings is the BDD chawl redevelopment project in Worli, Naigaon, and N.M. Joshi Marg, where 15,600 tenants are to be rehabilitated. Shinde announced that 556 flats in Worli will be ready for allocation by August 15, and 25% of the total flats will be handed over by December 2025.

Another key project is the rehabilitation of the Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar slum, where 6,144 residents are being resettled in the first phase. The adjoining road expansion is being implemented by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which has already floated tenders for the work.

The Deputy Chief Minister also revealed that a new state housing policy has been drafted, targeting the construction of 35 lakh affordable homes with a planned investment of Rs 70,000 crore. These homes, he said, will be not only economical but also environmentally sustainable. Shinde added that legislative changes made during his previous tenure as Chief Minister to the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation Act have paved the way for completing long-pending redevelopment projects more efficiently.

He further asserted that stalled Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) schemes are now being expedited through government intervention, in line with the vision of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray.

Responding to opposition criticism over Mumbai’s poor road conditions, Shinde pointed to the ongoing city-wide concretisation drive. He said zone-specific agencies have been appointed to address complaints and complete pending work. He added that the annual cost of pothole repairs has been cut in half this year. An online portal for pothole grievances is now operational, and the government has partnered with IIT Bombay for third-party road inspections.

Framing the transformation as a global makeover of Mumbai, Shinde reiterated that the city's development is being executed with unprecedented speed and scale, and will restore pride among its original residents while making the metropolis more livable for future generations.