Eknath Shinde: 30 lakh new homes for Mumbai-Thane region in 15-20 years

The Maharashtra government has taken a major decision to ensure people in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) get homes of their own and to find a lasting solution to the problem of unauthorised and dangerous buildings. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said around 30 lakh new homes will be built in the Mumbai-MMR region over the next 15 to 20 years. He made the announcement at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Thane Municipal Corporation's Siddheshwar Nagar and Ramabai Nagar cluster redevelopment scheme.

Speaking on the occasion, Shinde said it is the government's clear policy to speed up cluster redevelopment schemes not just in Mumbai and Thane but also in cities such as Mira-Bhayandar, Bhiwandi, Kalyan-Dombivli and Ulhasnagar. He said major changes made in the Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations (UDCPR) have given a strong push to cluster and Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) projects.

The mega cluster project, to be built on around 20 hectares, or 50 acres, in Thane, will give 6,000 families in Thane a safe, good quality home of their own. The scheme is being planned not merely as four walls but as a fully integrated township, with 23 facilities in all, including wide roads, adequate water supply, modern sewage and waste management, green gardens, playgrounds, community halls, a gym, a yoga centre, indoor games, a digital library, a day care centre and a recreation centre for senior citizens.

The entire area is being developed on the city within a city concept. The project will also include commercial development in keeping with the walk to work idea, of being able to reach one's workplace on foot from home, which will also create new local employment opportunities.

Recalling the long history of accidents in dilapidated and dangerous buildings in Thane, Shinde said this cluster project has become reality after a 20 year struggle. He said that after several incidents, including the Sai Raj building accident in Kisannagar, he went on repeated hunger strikes, led marches and raised the issue in the state assembly. He expressed satisfaction at having cleared policy hurdles and completed this project while serving as urban development minister and as chief minister. He said work on the first phase in Kisannagar is nearing completion and keys to the homes will be handed over to residents soon.

Responding positively to residents' demands, Shinde also spoke of a corpus fund, providing an additional 100 square feet of space at an affordable price, and the rehabilitation of small shopkeepers. He gave developers a clear instruction: "Developers may earn a little less, but there should be no compromise or cut in the quality of people's homes." He referred to Harivansh Rai Bachchan's famous lines, "those who keep trying never lose," to underline the importance of this project.

He said projects such as the metro, an internal metro, the coastal road and the Thane-Borivali underground road will give a fresh shine to Thane's infrastructure, and expressed hope that the cluster buildings would be equally modern and distinctive.