MUMBAI: State housing board Mhada and the SRA (Slum Rehabilitation Authority) will expedite work on 17 slum redevelopment projects involving 25,000 homes being undertaken in joint partnership. They will coordinate efforts on slum dweller eligibility verification, administrative approvals and the tendering process. Malvani Malad is the largest, covering 14,000 slum dwellers.
Of these 17, eight projects have already undergone action under Section 13(2) of the Slum Rehabilitation Act, resulting in their withdrawal from the original developers. These include 12 projects in Goregaon, two in Bandra, five in Kurla and two in Borivali-Dahisar. Feasibility assessments are currently under way for five more projects. All these projects are located on Mhada-owned land.
Through these projects, Mhada plans to generate approximately 25,000 housing units. A review was also conducted to assess the number of homes that will be constructed for project-affected residents.
Mhada’s VP and CEO Sanjeev Jaiswal directed officials to conduct a biometric survey of all residents and deploy additional manpower for the task. He urged for swift removal of ineligible slum dwellers from these projects.
For project sites that lack proper access roads, Mhada and SRA will ensure connectivity. A timeline has been mandated for conducting biometric surveys of slum dwellers living on Mhada land to streamline the redevelopment process.
