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Residents of gaothans in several districts of Maharashtra have protested a recent survey drive linked to Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) redevelopment planning, saying the exercise was being conducted without adequate consultation or clarity on rehabilitation terms. The gaothans traditional village settlements now surrounded by urban growth have seen growing involvement in redevelopment discussions as the state updates land use norms to address ageing stock and housing shortages. Protesters said survey teams entered residential areas seeking to map plots and structures without informing occupants on rights, entitlements and future plans, fuelling distrust. Local leaders have demanded that redevelopment proposals be shared publicly and that compensation or relocation options be clearly outlined before surveys proceed. Government officials said the mapping was intended to support planning for infrastructure and formalisation, but acknowledged the need for better communication with residents to ease concerns.
Residents of several gaothans traditional village settlements now enveloped by urban expansion in Maharashtra have registered opposition to a Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) survey drive recently undertaken in parts of the state, saying the exercise has been carried out without sufficient prior consultation or explanation of implications for redevelopment. Advertisement
The drive, which local authorities said was aimed at mapping existing structures, land parcels and infrastructure within gaothan areas, is part of broader planning efforts linked to the state's redevelopment agenda, including updates to land use frameworks and rehabilitation policy. However, residents and local leaders said survey teams had entered residential clusters and taken measurements without adequately informing occupants about the purpose of the exercise, the rights they would have under future redevelopment, or details of entitlements and relocation options.
In several districts, community representatives said that the lack of transparent communication had fuelled mistrust and concern among gaothan dwellers, many of whom have lived in the settlements for generations and are wary of displacement or loss of property rights. Protesters urged authorities to halt the survey until a more comprehensive public engagement process was initiated, including forums where residents could ask questions and understand how redevelopment proposals might impact housing security and compensation.
According to residents, the surveys appeared to focus on plot sizes and structural mapping but lacked clear documentation on tenure, title verification or long-term planning frameworks. People want to understand what these surveys will mean for their homes and families, a local representative told reporters. There needs to be clarity on rehabilitation benefits, housing alternatives and legal protections before any detailed mapping proceeds.
State officials acknowledged the concerns and said the surveys were undertaken primarily to support planning and infrastructure assessments, including preparation of redevelopment layouts and integration with broader urban renewal targets. Authorities emphasised that the data collected would inform long-term strategies for upgrading gaothan areas and could support entitlement frameworks under the SRA or other programmes.
Officials also said they were open to increasing community engagement and communication to explain the purpose and outcomes of the surveys, and that feedback from residents would be considered in refining the process. They reiterated that redevelopment planning was intended to balance heritage and community stability with the need to address inadequate infrastructure and ageing housing stock within gaothans.
Urban planning experts said that while data collection is essential for effective redevelopment, it must be paired with transparent stakeholder engagement to build trust and avoid delays. Aligning survey exercises with clear communication on rights, entitlements and timelines is seen as crucial to ensuring that redevelopment planning proceeds without exacerbating social tensions.
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