Mumbai | September 10, 2026
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority has transferred all 16 officials and employees working in its Social Development Branch, which handles rehabilitation and housing matters for project-affected people, after an inspection found procedural lapses and unauthorised persons on the unit’s premises.
The wholesale reshuffle followed a surprise inspection by MMRDA Metropolitan Commissioner Sanjay Mukherjee. The employees transferred include officials across the branch’s hierarchy, from the deputy collector to peons. The authority subsequently ordered a detailed review of the branch’s functioning and directed officials to strengthen administrative supervision and internal controls.
Following the review, MMRDA decided to restructure the branch’s administration and assign fresh responsibilities. The revised arrangements cover the handling of project-affected people’s cases, maintenance of records, scrutiny of applications and processing of files for further action.
The deputy collector responsible for matters related to project-affected people, including cases linked to Metro projects, has also been transferred as part of the restructuring. The branch processes applications and supporting documents from people affected by major infrastructure projects before allotment of rehabilitation housing and other measures are considered.
Rehabilitation administration is a key part of infrastructure development in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, where transport and other public projects can require the displacement or relocation of households. The branch’s work includes dealing with eligibility documentation and applications submitted by affected families before rehabilitation decisions are taken.
MMRDA has stressed that the process must remain transparent, properly documented and free from intermediaries. The discovery of unauthorised persons on the branch premises prompted the authority to tighten oversight of the unit and review how cases and records were being handled.
The administrative action changes the personnel responsible for a department that serves as a direct interface for project-affected families seeking rehabilitation benefits. The new assignments are expected to cover case processing, documentation, scrutiny and further administrative action within the branch.
The transfers were ordered after the review of the branch’s functioning. The authority’s stated next steps are to implement the new responsibilities and strengthen supervision and controls over the processing of project-affected people’s rehabilitation cases.
