Nagpur, Dec 13 (NationPress) Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Urban Development and Housing, Eknath Shinde, announced on Saturday that the Slum Cluster Redevelopment initiative will be executed on land parcels exceeding 50 acres in Mumbai. The first phase of this ambitious scheme has identified 17 project locations.

This initiative is a significant stride towards realizing the vision of a slum-free Mumbai.

In a statement delivered in the Legislative Council, DCM Shinde elaborated that the slum redevelopment plan will now be conducted in a cluster format across private, government, and semi-government lands that are 50 acres or larger.

During the initial phase, 17 key areas throughout Mumbai have been earmarked for redevelopment. These sites include Antop Hill, Krishna Nagar, and Ketkipada in Borivali, Gopikrishna Nagar in Dahisar, Oshiwara, Govandi, Chita Camp in Trombay, Chembur, Tagore Nagar in Vikhroli, Vikhroli Parksite, and Bhandup, among others.

Shinde stated that the State Cabinet approved the groundbreaking Slum Cluster Redevelopment scheme on October 7, 2025, with a Government Resolution (GR) issued on November 13, 2025, outlining the implementation framework.

He revealed that the identified projects will be carried out through a joint venture with support from government entities like the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO), Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

The Deputy Chief Minister noted that additional projects will be addressed in the second phase of the scheme, as part of the government’s overarching strategy to expedite large-scale slum redevelopment in the city.

Furthermore, DCM Shinde announced an extension of the Abhay Yojana for slum rehabilitation programs until December 31, 2026. He explained that this scheme aims to assist citizens encountering technical challenges when buying or selling slum properties.

“Many slum residents had purchased, sold, or transferred their huts. However, the existing regulations did not permit the inclusion of these new occupants in the ‘Final Appendix-II’, which lists eligible slum dwellers. This has raised concerns that numerous impoverished families would be denied their right to a permanent residence. To alleviate this issue, the extension has been granted until December 31, 2026,” Shinde stated.

Additionally, the Deputy Chief Minister declared a one-year extension of the ongoing amnesty scheme related to Occupancy Certificates (OCs) by the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority.

He also announced an increase in the number of Apex Grievance Redressal Committees (AGRCs) tasked with addressing complaints associated with slum redevelopment projects. According to Shinde, there are currently 2,103 pending cases before these committees, and the government has resolved to enhance their number for more efficient grievance resolution.

Lastly, the Deputy Chief Minister revealed that directives have been issued to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to introduce a new initiative for houses built by BMC employees on plots leased from the municipal corporation.