Maharashtra Cabinet Approves Redevelopment of 98 Housing Societies in Andheri’s SVP Nagar

The Maharashtra cabinet has cleared the redevelopment of 98 housing societies located in Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (SVP) Nagar, a MHADA colony in Andheri (West), paving the way for a large-scale integrated housing and township project.

Officials confirmed that the plan covers 4,973 flats across 498 plots, many of which were allotted more than three decades ago under a World Bank project. The redevelopment will be carried out through MHADA under Mumbai’s Development Control Rules (DCR), with an emphasis on modern amenities and sustainable infrastructure.

SVP Nagar was created in 1993 to provide housing to low-income and middle-income families through a lottery system. Over the years, the settlement grew to include 98 cooperative housing societies spread across plots ranging from 25 sq m to 100 sq m. A section of the land was also allocated for high-income group apartments.

Though the scheme was intended for affordable housing, the area has also attracted commercial activity, including several film production houses and a private acting school. Many of the buildings are now old and in need of redevelopment, with some structures already deemed dilapidated.

According to housing department officials, MHADA will undertake the redevelopment in an integrated manner. The project is expected to provide upgraded and more spacious flats for residents while introducing facilities such as green spaces, schools, healthcare centres, and commercial hubs.

The plan also includes recreational and community infrastructure—gymnasiums, swimming pools, clubhouses, auditoriums, and offices. Essential urban services such as water supply, sewage systems, and electricity networks will be modernized. Provisions for solar energy, rainwater harvesting, and waste management have been incorporated under green building norms.

A senior housing department official said the redevelopment will be structured similar to recent MHADA projects at Bandra Reclamation and Adarsh Nagar in Worli, which also adopted a township-style planning approach.

To speed up implementation, the state government will form a high-level committee under the housing secretary. This body will monitor progress, clear bottlenecks, and coordinate with stakeholders.

Of the 98 housing societies in SVP Nagar, seven have already completed redevelopment, while three are under construction and six have signed agreements with developers. The cabinet’s decision now brings 82 pending societies, covering around 2,666 families, under MHADA’s unified redevelopment plan.

In July this year, MHADA vice-president and CEO Sanjeev Jaiswal wrote to the housing department recommending redevelopment under Regulation 33(9) of DCR. He highlighted that joint redevelopment of such clusters would allow for efficient land use, better amenities, and long-term sustainability.

Resident Benefits and Urban Impact

Under the approved plan, residents will be allotted new flats with larger floor areas compared to their existing homes. For many families living in compact units of 25–40 sq m, this will mean a significant upgrade in living standards.

The integrated township model is also expected to increase green cover and provide common amenities that are currently lacking in the colony. Playgrounds, institutional spaces, and health facilities will be developed to improve quality of life.

Urban planners note that redeveloping old MHADA colonies like SVP Nagar has wider implications for Mumbai’s housing landscape. It not only addresses the problem of ageing infrastructure but also helps release underutilized land for more efficient urban development.

With cabinet approval secured, MHADA will begin the process of appointing construction and development agencies. Officials indicated that tenders would follow a phased approach, allowing societies to transition smoothly during reconstruction.

The state government is positioning the SVP Nagar redevelopment as part of a larger effort to revitalize older housing clusters across Mumbai. Similar initiatives are already underway in Motilal Nagar, Abhyudaya Nagar, and other areas where public housing was first built several decades ago.