Shinde orders BDD Chawl rehabilitation homes built to same standard as sale homes

Deputy Chief Minister and Housing Minister Eknath Shinde has directed the agencies concerned to complete the BDD Chawl redevelopment within the set time and to a high standard. He made it clear that there would be no compromise on the quality of the rehabilitation flats or the amenities to be given to residents. Shinde said the rehabilitation homes must be of the same quality, and have all amenities, like the homes built for sale.

Shinde said cluster redevelopment would give residents not only a home of their own but also a locality with all facilities. He said 23 types of amenities would be provided, including open spaces, gardens, gymnasiums and playgrounds for children.

Cases had been registered against youths during the BDD Chawl redevelopment agitation on N. M. Joshi Marg. Shinde said the state government would take steps to withdraw them. He said the common citizen is at the centre of the government's development policy, and appealed to MHADA and other government agencies to complete the project on time and further strengthen people's trust.

Shinde said necessary changes were made to the Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations with the aim of making Mumbai slum-free. As a result, stalled projects of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority and MHADA have moved forward. Many redevelopment projects had earlier remained stuck for years. He said the government is playing an active role in such projects and efforts are on to ensure people get their pending rent along with a home of their own.

To give Mumbaikars more open space and better public amenities, there is a plan to create a world-class open park on nearly 300 acres, comprising 125 acres at the Racecourse and about 150 acres alongside the Coastal Road. Shinde also noted that the government is focused on the all-round development of Mumbai by balancing urban infrastructure, housing and open spaces.

Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar said that on the eve of Dhanteras and Diwali, 557 families in the BDD Chawls would be able to move into their new homes, a moment of double joy. She said the day would be remembered by these families throughout their lives. She also recalled the key distribution event held at the BDD Chawl last year and the late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

Sunetra Pawar said it is necessary to consider the living conditions of the workers, labourers, middle-class residents, police personnel and common citizens who contribute to Mumbai's development. She urged families moving into the new homes to give priority to their children's education and health, and especially to girls' education. She said the BDD Chawls have a long history in Mumbai's social, cultural and labour movements. People of different languages, regions and cultures lived there together and preserved social harmony. She expressed the hope that the warmth of the chawl, the spirit of helping one another and the tradition of celebrating festivals together would be kept alive in the new buildings too.

Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council Sachin Ahir thanked Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for speeding up the project. He said it had become an ambitious MHADA project and had dispelled people's doubts about the quality of MHADA construction. He added that the experience from this project would also help the redevelopment of Kamathipura and Umarkhadi.

Ahir said the growing population in the Worli area is straining water supply and roads, so infrastructure there will have to be speeded up. He said a flyover linking the Famous Studio area to N. M. Joshi Marg would spare Worli residents the detour around Saat Rasta and Arthur Road Naka. He asked the Mumbai Municipal Corporation to cooperate on this proposal. He also expressed the hope that problems of water supply, roads and other civic facilities in the inner parts of Worli would be resolved on priority.

Minister Ashish Shelar, Minister of State for Housing Dr Pankaj Bhoyar, MLAs Sunil Shinde and Manisha Kayande, Shaina NC, and MHADA Vice President and Chief Executive Officer Sanjeev Jaiswal, along with other officials and public representatives, were present at the event.