Maharashtra
Illegal Constructions In Mumbai’s Dharavi Under Scrutiny: Drone Survey To Serve As Benchmark
Mumbai: All illegal constructions in Dharavi must stop immediately, a DRP official has said. A 2023 drone survey will serve as benchmark to identify existing tenements and vacant land within the Dharavi Notified Area (DNA). Any new structures or extensions built after this survey will be flagged as illegal and may not qualify for redevelopment benefits.
These illegal setups include any new upper floors, retrofitted tenements and new constructions on any vacant land in DNA to secure homes under the Dharavi redevelopment scheme. “Coordinated action will be taken by DRP & Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). If needed, DRP will consider seriously the possibility of debarring such tenements from rehabilitation package and benefits thereof,” DRP CEO SVR Srinivas said.
After decades of failed attempts, the long-awaited redevelopment of Asia’s largest and India’s most unique slum has finally begun. However, the greed of a few residents and influence of the land mafia have fuelled unauthorised constructions leading to unchecked encroachments and worsening living conditions in Dharavi.
In 2019, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had undertaken a massive demolition drive in Dharavi. The then Assistant Municipal Commissioner of G-North Ward, Kiran Dighavkar, had said that unauthorised construction was a “recurring problem”, and the BMC would identify the perpetrators as “mafia”. “We will identify them as mafia who aid in illegal construction and the police will take action against them under the Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities (MPDA) Act,” he had said.
In December 2023, the BMC had written to the Collector’s office requesting action against such encroachments. While notices were issued, only a few structures were demolished, highlighting the extent of the challenge.
However, real Dharavikars are eager to get on with the redevelopment and are rooting for progress. They fear that without immediate intervention like the ongoing redevelopment, Dharavi will become more unmanageable, with public health and infrastructure deteriorating further. Dharavikars are glad that the redevelopment project has finally begun.
Under provisions of current tender:
• Ground floor residents who settled in Dharavi before Jan 1, 2000, will receive 350 sq ft homes within Dharavi, free of cost.
• Ground floor residents, who settled between Jan 1, 2000, and Jan 1, 2011, will receive 300 sq ft houses outside Dharavi, at a nominal cost of Rs 2.5 lakh, under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).
• All upper floor structures up to Nov 15, 2022, and ground floor tenements constructed between Jan 1, 2011, and Nov 15, 2022, will be offered rented accommodation with an option of hire-purchase outside Dharavi. They will be entitled to 300 sq ft houses.
• All new townships for ineligible Dharavikars will be built within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
“The government’s door-to-door survey, which recently crossed 50,000 tenements, marks a significant step in identifying eligible beneficiaries and ensuring a planned rehabilitation for all Dharavikars. The project’s numbers are visible now and it gives us hope,” said a Dharavi resident on condition of anonymity. “Illegal structures have made life unbearable, but proper redevelopment like this will bring order and improve our living conditions,” he added.
Residents, whether housed within Dharavi or resettled outside, will be accommodated in modern integrated townships. The goal of this massive human-centric redevelopment is based on an array of social, environmental and economic objectives with Dharavikars at its core. Officials and residents are optimistic that with structured planning and strict enforcement, the Dharavi Redevelopment Project will put an end to illegal constructions and transform today’s slum into a world-class living space.
Crime
Thief arrested for stealing gas cylinders in Mumbai, major operation by Powai Police, 45 cylinders and three motorcycles recovered from Navi Mumbai and Mumbai

Mumbai: Powai police have arrested a thief who stole cylinders to take advantage of the oil shortage and shortage of gas cylinders due to the Israel-Iran war. The thief had stolen several cylinders from Navi Mumbai and Mumbai. Mumbai Powai Police has arrested a gas cylinder thief who had stolen 45 cylinders from Navi Mumbai and Mumbai city. According to the details, a Suzuki Burgman was stolen from Powai area and the accused used to steal gas cylinders from several places in Navi Mumbai and Mumbai. During the Israel-Iran war, there was a gas cylinder crisis, due to which there was a fear of creating an artificial shortage of cylinders, so the police have arrested him.
The police received a secret information and laid a trap and arrested Chandrakant Kamble, 45, from Vartak Nagar police station and the stolen cylinders stolen from Mumbai and Navi Mumbai have been seized from his possession. In this work, an accused who helped the accused in hiding the stolen cylinders has been identified. When the accused was interrogated, 10 cases of theft were found registered against him. Powai Police has seized three motorcycles, 45 cylinders. This operation was carried out on the instructions of Mumbai Police Commissioner Devin Bharti, DCP Dutta Nalavode has done it.
Crime
Mumbai: Gang that robbed Zaifa’s jewelry in Saki Naka exposed, 3 arrested, 13 new cases reported

Mumbai’s Sakinaka Police have claimed to have busted a gang that targeted the elderly. In the limits of Sakinaka Police Station, a poor woman was fooled by the accused by saying that her Seth Malik was born here and he was distributing sarees to the poor, so she can also get a saree. For this, he removed the gold ornaments from the poor woman’s neck and then fled with it.
In this case, the complainant filed a complaint. The accused fled with her ornaments worth more than two lakh rupees. Sakinaka Police formed a team to find the accused and then accused number one Santosh Gangar Umm Chure, 55, was arrested from Kalyan. After that, he was interrogated and he named accused number two Balaji Rohidas Pawar, 25, who is a resident of Parbhani. During his interrogation, Laxman Rohidas Pawar, 22, came to light. The police arrested all three of them. Four people were arrested in Worli, Ghat Six in Kopar, three in MIDC, three in Kanjurmarg, one in Vakola, one in Dandu Shi, Malad, Govind, Bhandup, Kherwadi and Dadar. A total of 26 cases are registered against the accused. Accused number two Balaji Rohidas has a criminal record in Dadar, Ghatkopar Kamote. Accused number three Laxman Rohidas has a case registered in Dadar, Ghatkopar Byculla, MN Joshi Marg, Dandu Shi, Juhu, Srinagar Police Station, Sanpara, 2 Saki Naka in Dandu Shi.
After the arrest of these three accused, 13 cases have been revealed and the police have started further investigation in this case. The police have so far recovered gold ornaments worth more than Rs 15 lakh from the possession of the accused.
Crime
Mumbai: Conspiracy to carry out terrorist attacks in the country… Mashid Ahmed arrested from Kalyan, Imran from Odisha was also in contact with suspected ISIS operatives

Mumbai: In an NIA case from Kalyan area of Mumbai, Delhi Special Cell and ATS have claimed to have arrested a suspected ISIS member and social media activist Mashid Ahmed from Kalyan. According to details, Mashid Ahmed had hatched a conspiracy against the country. The accused in NIA case No. 84/2026 BNS Section 61 was produced in Kalyan Court and has been sent to Delhi for investigation. Kalyan Judicial Magistrate 5th Court Kalyan, Special Cell Delhi and ATS team officers produced Mashid Ahmed alias Sonu alias Kalam Iftikhar Ahmed Sheikh, aged 32, resident of Room No. 13, Azmi Chawl, Near Amara Park, Khadoli West, Taluka Kalyan, District Thane. Investigating Officer Bhojraj Singh and Police Inspector Manoj Kumar of Special Cell Delhi team have identified a person named Kalam who is active on social media in Mumbai area and was in touch with his extremist (ISIS inspired) associates through secret messages.
His associate named Imran, a resident of Odisha, is also a member of the group and during investigation it was revealed that he visited Delhi in December and patrolled the Red Fort and other important places. Thus, since the social media group was about to carry out terrorist acts across the country, the NIA registered a case under Section 61 of the BNS under Case No. 84/2026. During the investigation Meanwhile, Mashid Ahmed alias Sonu alias Kalam Iftikhar Ahmed Sheikh, age 32, resident of Khadoli under the limits of Tatwala police station, Room No. 13, Azmi Chol, Amara Park, Khadoli West Taluka, Kalyan District, was arrested and produced before the court where the court has sent him on three days transit remand. Since the investigation of the said case is going on in Delhi, he was first produced in the Kalyan Court and a request for 05 days transit remand was made to produce him in the Delhi court but the court has granted him 03 days time.
Therefore, the said accused has been taken to Delhi for further investigation after registering the station diary at Tatwala police station of Thane Rural limits.
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