Maharashtra Reduces Lease Timeline To 60 Days For Slum Redevelopment In Nagpur
The Maharashtra Government has implemented a significant policy change for Nagpur, drastically cutting the slum lease allotment timeline from 180 days to just 60 days. This move is expected to fast-track redevelopment in 430 slum settlements across the city, providing major relief to over 2.3 lakh slum dwellers and fostering more inclusive and equitable urban living conditions.
The amended Slum Rehabilitation Bill now facilitates lease processing and redevelopment not only on government land but also on private plots, Nazul land, and forest buffer areas. This critical change provides long-awaited legal recognition to informal settlements in localities such as Ajni, Gittikhadan, Narendra Nagar, and Nandanvan, laying a foundation for secure housing and better urban planning for these communities.
A Central Nagpur MLA welcomed the reform but emphasized the necessity for city-specific planning. He noted that Nagpur’s land rates, ranging between ₹800 to ₹1,100 per sq.ft, make Mumbai-style redevelopment rules commercially unviable. He advocated for tailored policies, including a dedicated cluster redevelopment framework for Vidarbha cities, citing the successful Bangladesh Naik Talao case where slum dwellers received leases with minimal stamp duty and relaxed income tax conditions.
With over 300 slums situated on government-owned land, the new 60-day deadline introduces urgency to the redevelopment process. However, the MLA cautioned that effective coordination among agencies like NMC, NIT, and NMRDA is paramount. Without such integrated effort, the policy’s objectives for comprehensive, sustainable urban development and secure housing for the urban poor will remain unfulfilled.
This policy revision marks a crucial step toward equitable urban development. Swift execution and inter-agency cooperation are now key to delivering secure housing and improved living standards for Nagpur’s vulnerable populations, ensuring their integration into a more sustainable city.
