Mumbai Citizens Protest 'Sale of City's Future' as Government Monetises Land
Prominent citizens and activists in Mumbai are urging the government to halt the monetisation of vast tracts of public land, warning of the irreversible consequences of privatising the city’s future.
MumbaiLand MonetisationPrivatisationPublic AssetsUrban PlanningReal Estate MumbaiNov 14, 2025
In a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar on Wednesday, urban planners, senior (retd) IAS, IPS and naval officers, environmentalists, and activists have warned against the “irreversible transfer of public assets into private hands”.
Titled “Citizens’ concerns against privatisation of public land”, the letter refers to the unlocking of land owned by both the central and state governments for development and massive redevelopment projects. This virtual garage sale of government land by government agencies such as MHADA, SRA, MMRDA, and MbPA was highlighted by Hindustan Times in a report on September 11, 2025, titled “18% of city’s real estate opened up by govt for development”.
These lands were originally reserved to serve the people of Mumbai — for housing, open spaces, amenities, transport, and public infrastructure. Instead, they are being steadily diverted to private interests in the name of ‘revenue generation’, with no coherent policy, no transparency, and no accountability to the citizens who are the real stakeholders, the letter states.
The outcome is visible: the loss of affordable housing, displacement of long-settled communities, shrinking open spaces, and irreversible transfer of public assets into private hands. The so-called ‘monetisation’ of public land is, in effect, the privatisation of the city’s future, the letter adds.
Among the signatories to the letter are former Mumbai police commissioner Julio Ribeiro; former chief of naval staff admiral Vishnu Bhagwat (Retd); former central information commissioner Shailesh Gandhi; environmentalists Debi Goenka and Stalin Dayanand; Anuradha Parmar of the Urban Design Research Institute (UDRI); and RTI activist Bhaskar Prabhu.
Some of the organisations that have endorsed the letter are the Mumbai Vikas Samiti, Bombay Catholic Sabha, Amchi Mumbai Amchi BEST, Moneylife Foundation, NGO Alliance for Governance and Renewal (NAGAR), and Centre for Democratic Rights.
Rejecting the idea of utilising public land as a financial resource to fill fiscal gaps or fund projects, they point out that land held by public bodies once alienated can never be recovered. They state that public land must be placed in a public trust and should be taken off the market. The government must prioritise housing, open spaces, education, healthcare, and transportation over commercial gains. It must also offer full disclosure and subject itself to an independent review before decisions are taken on public land.
During the course of their careers, these prominent citizens have crusaded to safeguard public assets, demanded transparency in governance, and never hesitated to use legal means to wrest back for citizens what is rightfully theirs.
To restore integrity and accountability, they are now demanding that the state government issue a white paper detailing all public land transactions, leases, and monetisation proposals in Mumbai. They are demanding that the government formulate a unified public land policy covering all state and central agencies operating in Mumbai, with clear disclosure norms and public consultation procedures.
In the letter, they have also demanded that the state suspend all ongoing or proposed monetisation initiatives and legislate protection, ensuring that all public land remains reserved for genuine public purposes, based on measurable per-capita requirements for housing, open spaces, and amenities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main concern of the citizens regarding the monetisation of public land in Mumbai?
The main concern is that the monetisation of public land will lead to the privatisation of the city's future, resulting in the loss of affordable housing, displacement of communities, and the shrinking of open spaces.
Who are some of the prominent citizens and organisations that have signed the letter to the government?
Prominent signatories include former Mumbai police commissioner Julio Ribeiro, former chief of naval staff admiral Vishnu Bhagwat (Retd), and environmentalists Debi Goenka and Stalin Dayanand. Organisations like the Mumbai Vikas Samiti and Moneylife Foundation have also endorsed the letter.
What are the demands made by the citizens in their letter to the government?
The citizens are demanding that the state government issue a white paper detailing all public land transactions, formulate a unified public land policy, and suspend all ongoing or proposed monetisation initiatives to ensure that public land remains reserved for genuine public purposes.
Why do the citizens believe that public land should be placed in a public trust?
They believe that placing public land in a trust will ensure that it is not alienated and remains available for public purposes such as housing, open spaces, education, healthcare, and transportation.
What are the potential consequences of the government's decision to monetise public land?
The potential consequences include the loss of affordable housing, displacement of long-settled communities, shrinking open spaces, and the irreversible transfer of public assets into private hands, which could undermine the city's future development.
Related News Articles
Arkade Developers' IPO Sees Overwhelming Response, Subscribed 5.79 Times on Day 1
Arkade Developers' initial public offering (IPO) has received an overwhelming response, with the issue getting subscribed 5.79 times on the first day of the share sale. The IPO, which aims to raise Rs 410 crore, saw strong demand from retail individual in
MMRDA Allocates Prime 5500 sq m Plot to NSE in Mumbai's BKC for ₹758 Crore
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has leased a prime plot of 5500 square meters to the National Stock Exchange (NSE) in the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) for a staggering ₹758 crore. This 80-year lease marks a significant development in Mumbai’s real estate sector and the financial hub of BKC.
Mumbai's Air Quality Plummets, Causing Rise in Respiratory Illnesses
Mumbai has seen a sharp increase in respiratory issues as the city's air quality continues to deteriorate. Factors such as construction pollution and vehicular emissions are contributing to this alarming trend. Health experts are urging residents to take