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In a significant move to protect occupants of structurally unsafe buildings in Mumbai, the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) has introduced a monthly rental support of INR 20,000 for tenants residing in 96 cessed buildings declared critically dangerous. The decision, announced earlier this week, comes amid growing concern over safety risks with the monsoon approaching. The authority also plans to lease 400 temporary tenements through third-party agencies to house displaced residents. This initiative attempts to bridge a stark gap in available transit accommodation, with over 2,400 residents in need but fewer than 800 units presently ready for occupation.
The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) has initiated a rental assistance programme offering INR 20,000 per month to tenants of 96 cessed buildings across Mumbai that have been classified as "extremely dangerous" following a pre-monsoon structural audit carried out by the Mumbai Building Repairs and Reconstruction Board (MBRRB). These buildings, found to pose immediate safety threats, are set to be evacuated as early as possible. Advertisement
This measure was introduced earlier this week in response to early monsoon forecasts and the increased risk of collapse associated with deteriorated building structures. MHADA has made it clear that the monthly rent amount is intended to enable affected families to secure alternative housing independently until more permanent solutions are in place.
In addition to rental support, MHADA is in the process of procuring 400 transit tenements on lease from private third-party agencies. These temporary units, sized between 180 and 250 square feet, will be rented for a period of three years and allocated to displaced residents. However, this provision is expected to fall short of demand, as approximately 2,400 individuals are anticipated to require immediate relocation. At present, MHADA has only 786 vacant transit accommodations under its management.
To resolve the deficit, MHADA's Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, Sanjeev Jaiswal, has instructed the MBRRB to issue a public advertisement inviting tenders from private players willing to lease out suitable tenements. The proposal covers not just rent but also ongoing maintenance of the premises.
In a parallel move to ensure financial sustainability, MHADA will recover all associated costs-including rent and maintenance of transit homes-from the developers or cooperative housing societies engaged in the redevelopment of these dangerous structures. This approach aims to distribute the financial responsibility between the public authority and private stakeholders.
Currently, MHADA oversees more than 20,500 transit tenements, which are typically used to temporarily accommodate occupants displaced due to building collapses, major repairs, or redevelopment projects. These include families from both old cessed buildings and non-cessed properties declared uninhabitable by civic authorities or courts.
Mumbai is home to over 13,000 cessed buildings, many of which are more than 70 years old and in critical need of redevelopment. Despite repeated warnings and incentives for redevelopment, progress has been sluggish, leaving thousands vulnerable to structural risks. In recent years, building collapses during the monsoon have resulted in fatalities and injuries, reinforcing the urgency of such preventive interventions.
The INR 20,000 rent assistance scheme not only seeks to ensure safety but also to compel residents and developers to expedite redevelopment efforts by vacating buildings before tragedy strikes.
While this intervention provides short-term relief, it reinforces the importance of sustained collaboration between the state, private developers, and housing societies to address Mumbai's ageing building stock. The real estate sector will now be watching closely to see whether this urgency translates into lasting structural reform.
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