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Mumbai's Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) has set a target of building 500,000 new homes for slum dwellers in the next five years, aiming to double what it achieved in nearly three decades since 1996. The authority has already accelerated delivery with more than 16,000 homes completed in just 100 days and close to 17,000 in the past year. New measures such as drone surveys, biometric verification, and stronger laws against defaulting developers are driving this shift. By restarting stalled projects and enforcing overdue rent recovery, SRA is moving faster than ever before.
Mumba's Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) has drawn up plans to deliver 500,000 new homes for slum residents within the next five years, a figure that would outpace the 275,000 homes constructed in the nearly three decades since the authority was established in 1996. This marks the most ambitious target set by the agency so far. Advertisement
In recent months, the SRA has accelerated its pace of construction, completing more than 16,000 homes in just 100 days and delivering 16,673 units last year. Officials said that new technologies such as drone mapping and biometric surveys are being used to identify eligible households and streamline approvals. A dedicated project implementation unit has also been created to ensure timelines are met and projects are monitored closely.
At the policy level, the Maharashtra government recently amended the slum areas redevelopment act, granting the SRA greater enforcement powers. Under the revised law, unpaid rent to slum dwellers is now treated as land revenue, enabling the authority to recover dues by seizing builder assets or even personal property of directors. This measure is intended to curb the long-standing problem of developers defaulting on rent payments to residents awaiting their new homes.
The agency has also taken steps to address stalled projects. In several cases, defaulting developers have been replaced, with 86 projects recently reassigned to new builders. Authorities estimate that rent arrears amounting to INR 279 crore remain outstanding, while SRA has managed to collect INR 1,386 crore from builders over the past three years.
These actions come against the backdrop of high-profile projects like the Dharavi redevelopment, which after years of legal hurdles, was revived through a public-private partnership led by an Adani consortium. The renewed push highlights how slum rehabilitation in Mumbai is entering a phase of stricter accountability, technology-backed tracking, and more ambitious delivery targets.
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