Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, May 12: As Mumbai gears up for the approaching monsoon, the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) has identified 95 buildings that are structurally unsafe and require urgent redevelopment. These buildings have been categorized as C-1 structures—meaning they are unfit for habitation and pose a serious safety risk to residents.
Speaking to mid-day, MHADA CEO and Vice President Sanjeev Jaiswal (IAS) outlined the authority’s pre-monsoon strategy and efforts to safeguard residents living in aging and cessed properties across the city.
Inspections Nearing Completion
MHADA’s annual pre-monsoon inspection drive is in full swing, with 73% of the surveys completed as of May 5. Jaiswal confirmed that inspections of the remaining buildings are being fast-tracked to ensure timely action before heavy rains begin.
Out of the 555 total buildings surveyed, structural audit reports have been submitted for 540 structures. Among these, 411 buildings fall into the C2 category — deemed safe but in need of repairs. These are further split into:
• C2-A: Require major structural repairs, yet remain habitable.
• C2-B: Need only minor repairs, with no immediate risk.
95 Buildings Declared Dangerous
The focus remains on the 95 C-1 category buildings that have been marked as dangerous and in need of complete redevelopment. MHADA has initiated the statutory process under the amended Section 79a of the MHADA Act. Executive engineers are issuing evacuation notices and adhering to timelines outlined in the standard operating procedure (SOP) for relocation.
Resident Rehabilitation Plans
To facilitate smooth relocation, MHADA has partnered with consulting firm Ernst & Young LLP (EY), which is tasked with supporting residents through exit planning and rehabilitation. This includes helping them secure temporary accommodation or providing rent compensation, particularly for the 13,901 cessed buildings under redevelopment.
Redevelopment Proposals in Progress
Under Section 79a(1)(A), MHADA has received 93 redevelopment proposals. Of these, 26 projects have been granted no-objection certificates (NOCs), while 67 are currently being reviewed.
Separately, under Section 79a(1)(B), 58 proposals have been submitted — 7 have been forwarded to the government for acquisition, and 51 remain under evaluation.
MHADA’s Role in Redevelopment
While MHADA itself does not carry out reconstruction, it plays a key facilitation role. The authority has issued NOCs for 3,072 projects involving around 5,600 buildings. However, several pending projects face legal and procedural hurdles or disputes among stakeholders.
As monsoon clouds gather, the urgency to shift residents from aging and crumbling buildings grows. MHADA’s structured approach to inspections, redevelopment proposals, and resident rehabilitation marks a crucial step in protecting lives and rejuvenating Mumbai’s aging housing stock.