After years of delays, one of Mumbai’s largest urban renewal projects is set to take off. The long-awaited redevelopment of Mata Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar and Kamraj Nagar in Ghatkopar officially begins Tuesday, marking a major milestone in the city’s slum rehabilitation drive. Nearly 17,000 slum tenements, spread across 31.82 hectares near the Eastern Express Highway, will be transformed into modern housing over the next three years.

The project, jointly executed by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA), represents the first time a government agency has partnered directly with the SRA to redevelop slum clusters. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawarare expected to attend the groundbreaking ceremony this evening, officials confirmed.

Project background and timeline

The redevelopment project has been on the anvil for years, with multiple proposals and delays owing to political, financial, and logistical challenges. In September 2023, the state housing department granted the SRA permission to enter into joint ventures with other government bodies to expedite stalled projects. Following this, in December 2023, the MMRDA formally approved the rehabilitation of Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar and Kamraj Nagar, declaring itself the developer. A joint venture agreement between the MMRDA and SRA was signed in February 2024, and the state housing department approved it by July 2024.

With monsoon restrictions lifted, groundwork for the project will begin immediately, officials said. “We floated a tender for the redevelopment project in May and appointed a contractor to erect rehabilitation buildings. With the monsoon now over, groundwork for the project will begin,” an MMRDA official told Hindustan Times.

Scale and scope of redevelopment

The project aims to rehabilitate 17,000 slum dwellers who have lived for decades in precarious conditions without access to adequate sanitation, open spaces, or community amenities. The redevelopment will occur in two phases—the first focusing on immediate relocation and construction, and the second on completing the full rehabilitation plan.

In May 2025, the MMRDA secured a ₹1,500 crore loan from the Bank of Maharashtra to fund the first phase. This phase will see the construction of 4,345 residential units, each measuring 300 square feet of carpet area, housed across 12 residential towers. These towers, each 70 metres tall, will include modern amenities such as elevators that can accommodate stretchers, anganwadis, libraries, youth centres, and gymnasiums.

The contract for the project’s first phase, valued at ₹1,299 crore, was awarded to BG Shirke Construction Technology Pvt. Ltd., a firm with experience in large-scale housing developments.

Implementation strategy and phased relocation

Officials said the redevelopment will follow an incremental approach to minimize displacement and disruption for residents. “We will first clear some hutments, construct towers in their place and hand them over to eligible residents, and only then move on to clear another set of hutments,” the MMRDA official explained.

The first phase is expected to be completed in three years, following which the second and final phase will begin. This strategy, officials said, ensures that residents are not forced into long-term temporary accommodations and can move directly into permanent homes.

Political context and civic timing

The project’s launch comes just three months before the 2026 Mumbai civic polls, drawing comparisons to earlier politically timed initiatives. Observers noted that the timing mirrors events from 2024, when rental cheques were distributed to slum dwellers displaced by infrastructure projects ahead of the assembly elections.

While political motivations may shape the timing, the redevelopment holds significant implications for the urban renewal agenda of Mumbai. The transformation of the densely populated Ghatkopar slums into planned residential complexes is seen as both a social welfare measure and a political statement, underscoring the state government’s commitment to housing for the underprivileged.

Integration with larger infrastructure plans

The redevelopment of Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar also has a key infrastructural dimension—it clears the way for the long-delayed Eastern Freeway extension to Thane. The freeway, which currently terminates at Shivaji Nagar in Govandi, was originally intended to merge with the Eastern Express Highway near Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar. However, progress was stalled due to the displacement concerns of slum dwellers in the project area.

With the rehabilitation project now underway, officials said the Eastern Freeway-Thane extension—expected to decongest central Mumbai and reduce travel times to the suburbs—can finally move forward.

Social and urban impact

For residents, the redevelopment promises a complete transformation of living conditions. Currently, the slums of Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar and Kamraj Nagar suffer from narrow lanes, poor drainage, and inadequate waste management. Overcrowding and health issues have long been a challenge in these settlements.

Each of the new units will be self-contained and built to modern standards, offering families access to reliable water supply, electricity, sanitation, and community spaces. The inclusion of anganwadis and libraries is aimed at fostering education and social development within the community, while youth centres and gyms are expected to support recreational and wellness activities.

Urban planners view the project as a test case for public-sector-led slum rehabilitation. By partnering the SRA with a major state agency like the MMRDA, the government aims to demonstrate that slum redevelopment can be managed transparently and efficiently without full dependence on private developers—who have often been accused of delays and profiteering in similar projects.

Challenges ahead

Despite the optimism surrounding the launch, the project faces several logistical and social challenges. Ensuring accurate eligibility verification for all 17,000 households will be critical, as disputes over inclusion or exclusion have derailed previous slum rehabilitation efforts. The MMRDA will also need to coordinate with various civic departments to provide infrastructure for sewage, power, and transport connectivity once the new complexes are operational.

Experts also caution that while the project’s design looks promising on paper, its success will depend on execution quality and long-term maintenance. Many past rehabilitation schemes in Mumbai have suffered from poor construction standards, inadequate upkeep, and the emergence of new informal settlements nearby.

An emblem of urban renewal

For Mumbai, the redevelopment of Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar and Kamraj Nagar represents more than just a housing project—it is emblematic of the city’s ongoing struggle to balance modernization with inclusivity. Situated alongside one of Mumbai’s busiest transport arteries, the area’s transformation from a sprawling informal settlement into a planned housing complex could serve as a blueprint for similar projects across the metropolitan region.

If implemented successfully, the project will not only provide secure homes for thousands of low-income families but also catalyse infrastructure development across eastern Mumbai, including the extension of key transport corridors and utilities.

The coming months will determine whether the ambitious plan can live up to its promise—or become yet another stalled chapter in Mumbai’s long history of unfulfilled redevelopment dreams.