Mumbai: Raising concerns over housing and infrastructure planning in the city, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Sunil Shinde on Wednesday urged Maharashtra government to reconsider allowing extremely tall Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) buildings, arguing that they may not serve the interests of rehabilitated residents.Speaking during a discussion on housing and infrastructure in the state legislative council, Shinde said several SRA projects along Dr Annie Besant Road in Worli have received approvals for towers as high as 50 to 60 storeys. He questioned whether authorities had considered the mindset and lifestyle of slum residents, many of whom are not accustomed to living at such heights.He pointed out that residents in several existing 42-storey SRA buildings already face frequent lift-related problems. “The government should consider restricting the height of SRA buildings. Otherwise, are we encouraging residents to rent out or sell their homes?” he asked, adding that while developers earn substantial profits from such projects, the government must prioritise the welfare of beneficiaries.Shinde also called for a comprehensive road master plan, instead of focusing primarily on Metro expansion. He said poor first-mile connectivity often discourages commuters from using Metro services. Citing an example, he said travelling from Worli to Vidhan Bhavan takes around 20 minutes by road, while reaching a Metro station itself can take up to 45 minutes.The MLC also criticised the poor response to recent Mhada housing lotteries, saying applicants often back out after prices are announced because the flats are perceived as unaffordable. He urged authorities to address pricing concerns to make housing schemes more attractive.
