BMC Unveils Master Plan to Overhaul Mahul PAP Township Near Chembur

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has formulated a master plan to overhaul its Project Affected Persons township in Mahul, near Chembur, aiming to improve living conditions for the 3,800 families currently residing in the industrial area.

The civic body presented the plan to its standing committee on July 4 following an inspection of the complex on May 6. The standing committee has asked the local civic ward to submit revisions to the proposal.

Under the proposed blueprint, the civic administration plans to rationalise scattered occupancy across the township, which contains 72 buildings and 17,205 tenements constructed between 2006 and 2009. Currently, only 53 buildings are occupied. The BMC plans to shift residents from 33 partially occupied buildings into 20 primary residential blocks where maintenance and civic amenities will be concentrated.

Shankar Bhosale, assistant municipal commissioner of M-West Ward, stated that the BMC will complete the formation of cooperative housing societies for the 20 occupied buildings by December. A consultant and a community development officer will be appointed to assist residents with registration formalities.

The master plan also includes carrying out one-time structural repairs before handing over the buildings to housing societies, establishing a local mini-ward office to handle civic grievances, and improving waste management and drainage systems.

To enhance security, the BMC plans to request the Mumbai Police to set up a beat office under the RCF police station within the complex, which currently relies on 28 security guards working across two shifts for 48 buildings.

The Mahul complex has faced long-standing scrutiny over toxic air and water pollution from surrounding oil refineries, chemical plants, and fertilizer units. In September 2019, following a Bombay High Court ruling concerning displaced families from the Tansa water pipeline in Kurla, 1,600 families were shifted to Kurla, while 3,800 families remained. As part of its latest initiative, the BMC also plans to conduct a fresh air quality assessment to submit to the Supreme Court, where proceedings remain pending.