Fadnavis Unveils ‘Housing for All’ Ahead of BMC Polls
Deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde also made an important announcement in the Legislative Council in connection with a new scheme
Nagpur: Ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday announced a major urban housing push aimed at resolving long-pending redevelopment hurdles in Mumbai. Launching a “Housing for All” scheme, he said redevelopment would now be permitted in areas affected by regulatory and security-related restrictions, including the Funnel Zone, the Juhu Military Transmission Station, the Kandivali–Malad Central Ordnance Depot (COD) complex and land adjoining defence establishments.
A key announcement was the proposed relocation of High-Frequency Radar Centres at Dahisar and Juhu, a move expected to remove height restrictions that have stalled redevelopment in densely populated areas for decades.
Deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde also made an important announcement in the Legislative Council in connection with a new scheme. He said the new scheme would revive thousands of stalled redevelopment projects in Mumbai.
The BMC election is likely to be announced within the next 72 hours, with the BJP-led Mahayuti stepping up outreach efforts in Mumbai.
Addressing the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Fadnavis said the scheme would provide free FSI of up to 300 sq ft for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) component and free reconstruction of tenements up to 600 sq ft for the Lower Income Group (LIG). Incentive FSI will be granted without affecting the basic FSI rights of original landowners. Unconsumed FSI will be made available as Transferable Development Rights (TDR) to help raise redevelopment funds, while existing incentives and premiums will continue.
“This scheme will make previously unviable redevelopment projects feasible, including those near the Juhu Military complex and the Kandivali–Malad COD,” Mr. Fadnavis said, adding that residents in these areas would receive long-awaited relief.
On radar relocation, the Chief Minister said the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) had agreed to shift the Dahisar radar to Gorai, with the state bearing the cost and providing alternate land free of charge. In return, 50 per cent of the AAI land in Dahisar will be developed as a public garden. An alternate site for the Juhu radar has also been proposed, and technical inspections are underway.
Mr. Shinde said redevelopment near the Mumbai airport had remained stalled due to funnel zone restrictions and technical constraints. The new scheme, aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Housing for All” policy, seeks to ensure optimal utilisation of permissible FSI and faster redevelopment.
Separately, Mr. Fadnavis directed officials to adopt a cluster model for slum redevelopment in Malvani and complete pending surveys in Ambujwadi, Dadasaheb Gaikwad Nagar and Rajiv Gandhi Nagar. He asked MHADA and the Slum Rehabilitation Authority to complete surveys within their jurisdictions and submit a consolidated report, prioritising areas free of legal hurdles.
