Around 17,000 slum dwellers will get free homes as redevelopment of Mata Ramabai Nagar in Mumbai`s Ghatkopar area kicked off on Tuesday.
An official ceremony (Bhoomipujan) for the redevelopment of Mata Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar and Kamaraj Nagar was conducted on Tuesday, marking the start of 4,345 new homes under Phase 1 of a major slum rehabilitation project in city.
The event was attended by Maharashtra`s Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, and other senior ministers and officials from Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA).
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis called it a historic day and said this was not just a promise but real development.
He said, “No one will be left out, even if legal issues exist. This is Ambedkar’s vision in action.”
This is the first time in MMRDA’s 50-year history that it is taking on a redevelopment project as a developer. The project aims to rehabilitate 17,000 slum-dwelling families, transforming their living conditions from slums into modern, well-equipped homes, an official statement said.
According to the MMRDA, in just three and a half months, the MMRDA has finalised development agreements with nearly 10,000 families, cleared 3,662 slum structures, arranged Rs 1,500 crore in funding from a nationalised bank, completed tendering for construction, appointed architects and consultants and paid Rs 137.5 crore in advance rent to eligible families.
It said that all was completed between June and October 2025.
Deputy CM Eknath Shinde said, “After 40 years of waiting, people will finally have dignified homes. A memorial to Mata Ramabai Ambedkar and a commercial unit for the family of martyr Murali Naik will also be built.”
The total project area is 31.82 hectares and includes both residential and commercial development. Out of this, 15.63 hectares of government and PWD land have already been handed over to MMRDA, the statement said.
It said that the scheme includes a free 1 BHK homes (300 sq ft carpet area) for all eligible families, commercial hubs to support employment and women`s empowerment, post-construction 10-year maintenance by the contractor.
Deputy CM Ajit Pawar added, “This project stands for dignity, justice, and inclusive growth. I have requested that the quality matches that of the BDD Chawl Redevelopment.”
The project will have modern amenities like parks, gyms, playgrounds, libraries, health centres, and community halls and will also have facilities like sewage and water treatment plants, solar panels, and rainwater harvesting, the officials said.
They said that each home will be equipped with vitrified tile flooring, granite kitchen counters, modern bathrooms, and adequate ventilation and sunlight. The estimated construction cost of Phase 1 is Rs 1,299 crore, and the completion time is 36 months.
MMRDA Commissioner Dr Sanjay Mukherjee said this marks a turning point in Mumbai’s urban future.
He said, “We are building more than homes. We are building hope, dignity, and opportunity.”
