Union Commerce and Industry Minister and North Mumbai MP, Piyush Goyal, sent a strong message to the real estate sector, warning that builders who delay slum rehabilitation projects, stop rent payments, or deliver substandard construction will face blacklisting — and in serious cases, imprisonment. He further asserted that government officials colluding with such builders would also be held accountable.
Speaking at the key handover ceremony of the Jai Santoshi Maa Housing Society in Kandivali, where 149 families received new homes under the SRA (Slum Rehabilitation Authority) scheme, Goyal emphasized that real development is about giving every citizen a safe and dignified home, not just chasing economic growth figures.
“Builders who abandon projects, fail to pay rents to displaced slum dwellers, or deliver poor-quality homes will not be spared. They will be blacklisted, and in serious violations, they may even face jail time,” Goyal said. “At the same time, I demand action against government officers who protect or collude with such builders. The nexus of corruption must be broken if we want true progress.”
The Minister stressed that transparency must become the foundation of SRA redevelopment. He insisted that slum residents must have the right to choose their developers, without political or administrative interference. This move, he said, would ensure that redevelopment projects genuinely serve the interests of the people rather than a select few.
Highlighting the government’s larger housing mission, Goyal reaffirmed the national goal under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership:
“In the next five years, three crore families will be provided free pucca homes. Our vision for a developed, self-reliant India leaves no citizen behind.”
Goyal praised the timely completion of the Jai Santoshi Maa Housing project but made it clear that examples of good work must become the norm, not the exception. He pointed out that abandoned or delayed projects not only cause financial loss to homebuyers but rob them of years of stability and dignity.
The event was attended by MLA Yogesh Sagar, developer Rashmin Rugani, chief promoter Amit Yadav, and senior SRA official Swapna Deshpande.
In a separate but strongly worded statement, Goyal also addressed the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam. He said that those responsible would face such severe justice that “no enemy will dare look at Bharat with evil intent again.” He criticized individuals allegedly offering shelter to anti-national elements and stated that India’s 1.4 billion citizens stand united in the fight against terrorism.
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