CM Fadnavis, Dy CM Shinde launch SRA coffee table book in Mumbai
Synopsis
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde released 'From Transparency to Transformation', a coffee table book by the Slum Rehabilitation Authority Brihanmumbai, in Mumbai on 31 July 2026, documenting SRA projects and working methods.
Key Takeaways
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde jointly released the book in Mumbai on 31 July 2026 .
The book is titled 'Pardarshakatekadun Parivartnankade' — 'From Transparency to Transformation' — and was prepared by the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA), Brihanmumbai .
It documents the SRA's various projects and working procedures.
The SRA was established in 1995 under the Maharashtra Slum Areas Act to execute slum rehabilitation through public-private partnerships.
The release reflects Maharashtra's recurring effort to publicly document SRA progress amid long-standing criticism of project delays and transparency gaps.
A glossy volume on one of Mumbai's most scrutinised agencies landed on the table of Maharashtra's top leadership on Friday, 31 July 2026. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde jointly released a coffee table book titled 'Pardarshakatekadun Parivartnankade' ('From Transparency to Transformation') in Mumbai, marking a public-facing moment for the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA), Brihanmumbai.
What the book documents
Prepared by the SRA, Brihanmumbai, the volume compiles information on the authority's various projects and working methods. The title — 'From Transparency to Transformation' — signals the state's framing: that SRA's procedures are now open enough to be showcased, and that the results on the ground justify a formal record. The release was attended by a cross-section of ruling coalition leaders, with multiple state ministers and legislators tagged in the official post.
SRA's three-decade mandate in Mumbai's slums
The Slum Rehabilitation Authority was established in 1995 under the Maharashtra Slum Areas Act to implement rehabilitation schemes through public-private partnerships, replacing earlier programmes from the 1980s and early 1990s. Its mandate covers Mumbai's vast informal settlements — home to hundreds of thousands of families — making it one of the most consequential, and most contested, urban housing bodies in India. Maharashtra governments across administrations have periodically published reports on SRA functioning, often in response to persistent criticism over project delays and opaque land dealings.
Fadnavis, Shinde and the coalition's urban pitch
Devendra Fadnavis, who served as Chief Minister from 2014 to 2019 before returning to the post, has consistently positioned urban infrastructure and governance reform as signature priorities. Eknath Shinde, the Shiv Sena leader and Deputy CM, brings a strong Mumbai-roots constituency to the coalition's urban agenda. A coffee table book release — a format that is simultaneously archival and promotional — fits the broader pattern of the ruling alliance seeking to put documented proof of governance behind its urban housing narrative ahead of future budget and policy cycles.
Whether the volume translates into accelerated rehabilitation targets or renewed scrutiny of pending SRA projects will become clear in upcoming urban development reviews — but the state has now set the benchmark in print.
Point of View
It serves a dual purpose: reassuring slum dwellers and developers that the authority is accountable, while building a documented legacy ahead of the next urban budget cycle. Maharashtra governments have historically used such publications to pre-empt criticism rather than respond to it, suggesting this is as much about managing the SRA's image as celebrating its achievements. The real test will be whether the transparency framing in the title is matched by measurable acceleration in pending rehabilitation projects.
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SRA coffee table book released by CM Fadnavis?
It is a book titled 'From Transparency to Transformation' prepared by the Slum Rehabilitation Authority, Brihanmumbai, documenting the agency's projects and working methods. It was released by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde in Mumbai on 31 July 2026.
What is the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) in Mumbai?
The SRA is a statutory body established in 1995 under the Maharashtra Slum Areas Act to implement slum rehabilitation schemes in Mumbai through public-private partnerships, replacing earlier programmes from the 1980s and 1990s.
Who attended the SRA book launch in Mumbai?
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde led the release. Several other state ministers and legislators from the ruling coalition were also present at the event.
Why does Maharashtra release documents on SRA functioning?
Maharashtra governments have periodically published reports and books on SRA to address recurring public criticism over project delays and lack of transparency in Mumbai's slum redevelopment process.
What does 'From Transparency to Transformation' mean in the SRA book title?
The title signals the state government's framing that SRA's procedures are now open and documented, and that the results on the ground — in terms of slum rehabilitation — justify formal recognition and a public record.
