Thane cluster project gets ground-breaking, to give 6,000 families pucca homes

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has announced that 30 lakh homes will be built in the Mumbai-MMR area over the next 15 to 20 years. He was speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony of the Thane Municipal Corporation's Siddheshwar Nagar and Ramabai Nagar cluster scheme.

Shinde said it is government policy to promote the cluster scheme in cities beyond Thane as well, including Mira-Bhayander, Bhiwandi, Kalyan-Dombivli and Ulhasnagar. He said changes made under the Unified DCPR have given momentum to cluster and SRA projects.

This cluster will give 6,000 families in Thane safe, good-quality homes. He also spoke of his intention to lay the foundation of a new Thane by providing 23 civic amenities, employment opportunities and a planned township. The cluster will be built on about 20 hectares, or 50 acres, and will offer a number of facilities.

The plan covers not just residential buildings but wide roads, a full water supply, a sewage system, waste management, gardens, playgrounds, community halls, gyms, yoga centres, indoor games facilities, a digital library, day-care centres, recreation centres for senior citizens, a primary health centre, a women's empowerment centre and smart street lighting. Shinde said this development would follow the concept of a "city within the city".

Referring to accidents in dangerous buildings in Thane, Shinde said the cluster scheme has arrived after a 20-year struggle. Following several accidents, including the Sairaj building collapse in Kisannagar, fasts, marches and repeated demands were raised in the state assembly over the issue of dangerous buildings. He said that as urban development minister and as chief minister, he removed policy hurdles and turned the cluster scheme into reality. Work on the first phase in Kisannagar is nearing completion and residents will soon be handed the keys to their homes.

Shinde stressed commercial development and the creation of local jobs alongside residential construction in the cluster. "Step out of your home and go to work nearby" - he expressed hope that this "walk to work" concept would bring employment to local youth. He also said the Siddheshwar lake area would be redeveloped, cleaned and beautified, giving the lake room to breathe.

On residents' demands, he indicated the government would consider a corpus fund, providing an additional 100 square feet at affordable rates, and the resettlement of small shopkeepers. Giving developers a clear instruction, he said, "It is fine if your profit is a little less, but do not compromise on the quality of citizens' homes." He also assured the necessary support from the state government and the municipal corporation.

Noting that projects such as the metro, internal metro, coastal road and Thane-Borivali tunnel would give a new direction to Thane's infrastructure, he expressed hope that the cluster's buildings would also be of good quality and have a distinct identity. He said there is a provision of additional FSI as an incentive for iconic buildings.

Stressing that a cluster means not just housing but good homes, good facilities, employment and a changed standard of living, Shinde quoted Harivansh Rai Bachchan's lines "Koshish karne walon ki kabhi haar nahi hoti" (those who keep trying never face defeat). He ended by jokingly suggesting to developers that, besides handing over homes on time with good facilities, they should also gift residents a large television.