Faster Slum Redevelopment Under 'Cluster Model' in Mumbai's Malwani: CM Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed the implementation of a 'Cluster Model' for the redevelopment of slums in the Malwani area in Mumbai, an official statement said on Saturday. This innovative approach is expected to accelerate the redevelopment process and transform the area into a slum-free zone.

He stated that surveys of slums in Ambujwadi, Dadasaheb Gaikwad Nagar, and Rajiv Gandhi Nagar should be completed as soon as possible. The 'Cluster Model' involves the consolidation of multiple small slum areas into larger, manageable clusters, which can then be redeveloped more efficiently.

State Housing Minister Dr. Pankaj Bhoyar and MLA Aslam Shaikh attended the meeting, along with senior officials from MHADA, the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA), and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The meeting included a presentation by MHADA Vice President Sanjeev Jaiswal, the statement said.

CM Fadnavis emphasized that MHADA and the Slum Rehabilitation Authority should complete surveys of slums under their respective jurisdictions and submit a consolidated report. Areas facing legal issues will be handled separately, while redevelopment-ready locations will be prioritized. He added that using the 'Cluster Model' will ensure faster completion of redevelopment projects across the Malwani region.

The Malwani redevelopment scheme includes a total area of 641 acres (state, MHADA, municipal, and private land), a slum area of 565.98 acres, an open land area of 75.02 acres, and an estimated 14,000 slum dwellings. Post-redevelopment, Malwani will become slum-free, the officials said.

Shiv Sena MLA Manisha Kayande praised Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in the Legislative Council for his role in housing reforms. She said, 'Just as Devendra Fadnavis is known as the 'Metro Man,' Eknath Shinde is the 'Housing Man' of Maharashtra for solving housing issues in the state.'

MLA Kayande highlighted Shinde's initiatives, including the redevelopment of pagdi and cess buildings, solutions to the long-standing funnel zone issue, promotion of cluster development in Mumbai, and making CIDCO homes more affordable. She said that these measures have helped resolve housing problems for lakhs of people across the state.

Eknath Shinde had also announced a separate set of rules for pagdi buildings, an integrated slum redevelopment scheme for 50-acre or larger land parcels, and steps to expedite stalled building projects due to funnel zones. These measures aim to provide long-awaited housing solutions for lakhs of residents across Mumbai.