Mumbai's original residents will not be evicted from the city: CM Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has assured that Mumbai's original residents will not be evicted from the city, and the government is committed to providing them with permanent and spacious housing in their current localities under various redevelopment projects. Addressing a function held at the Yashwant Rao Chavan Centre, the Chief Minister said that the government's objective is to provide dignified housing facilities in Mumbai to those who have played a prominent role in the city's social, cultural, and economic development. He stated that their connection with the city would be maintained by providing them with better houses equipped with modern amenities.

Mr. Fadnavis was addressing the ceremony for the handover of possession of 557 redevelopment flats in three buildings constructed under the first phase of the NM Joshi Marg, Lower Parel Dharavi redevelopment project. On this occasion, the Chief Minister, along with other dignitaries, symbolically handed over house keys and possession documents to 11 beneficiaries. He announced that a total of 15,804 houses under the three Dharavi redevelopment projects ongoing in Naigaon, NM Joshi Marg, Lower Parel, and Worli will be completed by December 2029.

The Chief Minister said that the decision to entrust the Dharavi redevelopment work to the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MAHADA) instead of a private construction firm was made after careful consideration, as the scale of the project and the complexities of its implementation are of an extraordinary nature. He clarified that the government's objective is not to make a profit through this project, but to provide quality housing and modern basic amenities to those families who have played a crucial role in preserving Mumbai's unique cultural identity. Referring to the historical significance of Dharavi, Fadnavis said that these residential areas have witnessed numerous political, labour, social, and cultural movements, including the United Maharashtra Movement. Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and Lokmanya Tilak were also associated with these historic localities as residents.

He said that the Dharavi redevelopment project remained stalled for several years despite the efforts of various construction agencies. Subsequently, the government decided to entrust MAHADA with the responsibility of implementing this massive project, after which construction work began in 2017-18. Despite various obstacles, the government continued the project and took steps to accelerate its pace. The Chief Minister said that in these old chawls, many families had been living for the past two to three generations in cramped 160-square-foot houses with a lack of basic amenities. Under the redevelopment scheme, eligible residents are now being provided with spacious 500-square-foot flats, which include a living room and two bedrooms. Modern amenities have also been provided in these houses so that families can enjoy a better quality of life.