The Maharashtra government is advancing plans to allocate approximately 180 acres of land in Madh Island, near Malad (West), as part of its strategy for the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP), led by the Adani Group. Out of this, 140 acres have already been approved by the state cabinet for resettling Dharavi residents who do not qualify for free housing under the redevelopment scheme. A section of this land will also be earmarked for projects including a hospital proposed by the Aditya Birla Group, a singing academy led by Kailash Kher, a temple trust, and an MLA housing society.

This allotment is part of a broader plan that includes 100 acres set aside for the housing department and 80 acres that will remain under the revenue department. Portions of the latter will be allocated to the other applicants based on formal applications and a scrutiny process. The MLA housing society was initially planned for Versova, but Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) restrictions prevented its development there, prompting the shift to Madh Island.

Madh Island is currently a No-Development Zone (NDZ), with construction highly regulated due to environmental concerns, but recent permissions from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) have allowed for some development in the area, including IT parks. The construction of affordable rental housing for Dharavi residents is a key focus, and this project is expected to benefit from improved infrastructure as the Mumbai Coastal Road expansion reaches Versova, driving real estate development in the region. Currently, real estate prices in Madh Island range between INR 2,000 and INR 2,600 per square foot, but these values can drop by 40% in CRZ zones, bringing them closer to INR 1,000 per square foot. Out of the 180 acres under discussion, roughly 100 acres will be allocated to the housing department for the DRP, while the remaining 80 acres will remain with the revenue department.

In a related decision, the state has also approved the acquisition of 255 acres of salt-pan land in Kanjurmarg and Mulund for rental housing under the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP). This land will be used to build affordable homes for those displaced by urban development projects. Additional land parcels, including the now-defunct Deonar dumping ground, are also under consideration for the housing initiative.

The political fallout from these decisions has been significant, with opposition leaders accusing the government of using the Dharavi redevelopment as a means to transfer valuable land to private corporations, especially the Adani Group. Both Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi and Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad have been vocal critics, labelling these land transfers as a "land grab" designed to serve corporate interests under the guise of public welfare.

Additionally, the Maharashtra Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has also cleared land for the construction of homes for state government employees in the Bandra East government colony. Built in 1959, the colony houses over 4,700 flats for various classes of government employees. However, approximately 35 acres of the original 125-acre land have been encroached upon, and the colony is now under evaluation for potential redevelopment. The cabinet's plans include addressing dangerous and under-construction buildings and vacating these areas as part of the larger redevelopment.

Land for the Dharavi Redevelopment Project has also been cleared in Borivali, continuing the state's strategy to allocate additional land parcels to housing projects aimed at improving the living conditions for Mumbai's slum dwellers. This latest round of land approvals is in line with previous cabinet decisions to allocate salt-pan lands for slum rehabilitation projects, emphasising the government's ongoing commitment to improving Mumbai's housing infrastructure.

Alongside these housing initiatives, the cabinet has cleared several other projects, including irrigation schemes across Maharashtra, and has approved the establishment of new educational institutions, as well as amendments to the Maharashtra Public Libraries Act. These decisions reflect the government's broader urban and rural development strategy, with an emphasis on infrastructure, education, and housing reform.

In conclusion, while the government pushes forward with land allocations for projects like the DRP and others, it faces criticism over the balance between corporate interests and public welfare. The coming months will reveal how these developments shape Mumbai's urban landscape, particularly in terms of housing availability and environmental impact.