Mumbai Makeover: MMRDA And SRA To Redevelop Ghatkopar Slums, Also Paving Way For Eastern Freeway Extension Till Thane

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) will come together to redevelop slum settlements located in Ghatkopar's Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar and Kamraj Nagar areas.

On Tuesday (6 March 2024), Chief Minister Eknath Shinde approved the slum redevelopment project, aimed at rehabilitating more than 15,000 slums.

This will be the first slum redevelopment project undertaken by MMRDA. Previously, it had implemented a rental housing project in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) by granting high Floor Space Index to builders, with the housing stock then allocated to project-affected people, reports Times of India.  

This redevelopment together, will be the largest after the Dharavi Redevelopment Project, as per officials.

The project will redevelop the slum areas situated between the eastern freeway and the western expressway.

This will also clear the land for extending the eastern freeway from Mankhurd to Thane, MMRDA commissioner Sanjay Mukherjee said.  

As per MMRDA, it plans to redevelop 33.15 hectares to relocate 16,575 slum residents from the Ramabai Nagar area. This initiative aims to grant rightful ownership of houses to these residents, potentially enhancing their living conditions.

Additionally, MMRDA will cover the rent for these beneficiaries for the initial three years after the rehabilitation project commences.

Mukherjee said, once the land clearing task, scheduled for the next six months, is finished, both the slum redevelopment and freeway extension projects will proceed simultaneously.

The redevelopment will progress through a joint venture, with the SRA handling survey work, annexure preparation, obtaining consent from slum dwellers, and assisting in site clearance.

MMRDA will oversee the rehabilitation process by constructing redeveloped buildings and extending the eastern freeway.