Unified Industry Voice Gains Momentum

Under President Nahar, CREDAI-MCHI has strengthened its partnership with government bodies by forming a joint platform that brings together CREDAI-MCHI, NAREDCO, PEATA, and BDA.
This unified structure—created on the guidance of the Chief Minister—allows the industry to present collective issues before authorities for quicker, more coordinated resolutions.

A convergence meeting was held at Four Seasons Hotel, followed by a joint review session with BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani (IAS). The minutes of this meeting were officially signed at the AGM, marking a milestone in structured engagement between the real estate sector and the civic administration.

Ease of Doing Business 2.0: A Push for Faster, Transparent Approvals

CREDAI-MCHI unveiled Ease of Doing Business 2.0, a revamped framework aimed at streamlining construction approvals, enabling time-bound decisions, and improving transparency across regulatory bodies.
Monthly review mechanisms with the BMC and SRA are now being institutionalised to track real-time progress and break operational bottlenecks.

Industry Steps Up for Social Responsibility

During the recent Maharashtra floods, CREDAI-MCHI members collectively contributed ₹5.5 crore to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund within hours—demonstrating rapid, coordinated social response.

BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani praised the unified industry approach, calling it a “benchmark for effective industry-government engagement.” He also urged developers to strictly follow construction safety and pollution-control guidelines amid rising AQI levels in Mumbai.

Leadership Voices: A Collaborative Path Forward

Sukhraj Nahar, President, CREDAI-MCHI

“Our focus has been on unifying industry voices and ensuring time-bound approvals through regular reviews with BMC and SRA. These steps, backed by transparent processes and responsible development, aim to make MMR one of India’s most efficient real estate ecosystems.”

Rushi Mehta, Secretary, CREDAI-MCHI

“We celebrate not just our longevity but our impact—from litigation that unlocked 700+ schemes to advocating the transformative 10:10:80 premium policy. Collective action drives real change.”

Jitendra Mehta, Senior Vice President

“We continue to strengthen collaboration between developers and the administration. Our goal remains a transparent and fast approval ecosystem that supports timely project execution.”

Fireside Chats Highlight Industry Vision

The AGM also featured two Fireside Chats with top industry leaders:

• Parag Shah & Manan Shah (MICL Group) – sharing their philosophy of building generational landmarks
• Shahid Balwa (DB Realty Ltd.) – highlighting innovation and bold vision in real estate

These conversations offered deep insights into Mumbai’s future development trajectory.

CREDAI-MCHI’s Forward Agenda

• Ease of Doing Business 2.0: Regular structured reviews with BMC, SRA, MHADA, and MahaRERA
• Unified Industry Representation: Strengthened collaboration among CREDAI-MCHI, NAREDCO, PEATA, and BDA
• Policy Engagement: Continued dialogue with UDD and civic bodies for regulatory streamlining
• Supporting New City Development: Participation in planning two upcoming cities under the Chief Minister’s vision
• Accountability: Monthly reviews and published minutes for transparent progress tracking

Conclusion

The 43rd AGM reaffirmed CREDAI-MCHI’s role as the central industry-government platform for MMR’s real estate ecosystem—driving faster approvals, unified representation, and responsible urban growth.

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More than 50% of Mumbai’s population continues to live in slums or unstructured housing — a reality that defines both the city’s urban challenge and its development potential. The Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA), established to transform this landscape, has now launched a technology-driven reform agenda aimed at fast-tracking redevelopment projects, improving transparency, and restoring confidence among developers and slum dwellers alike.

According to official estimates, Mumbai has more than 2,000 notified slum clusters spread across nearly 9,000 acres, with over 10 lakh slum structures. The scale and complexity of rehabilitation make this digital transformation a major step toward creating a slum-free Mumbai.

Tech-powered transformation of SRA

Under the leadership of Dr. Mahendra Kalyankar, CEO of SRA, the authority unveiled a series of digital initiatives designed to make project approvals faster, transparent, and data-secure.

Among the highlights:

• A Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification (STQC)-approved multilingual website, accessible in over 25 languages, for easier access to information.
• An integrated online module with multiple access layers for different users — officers, architects, developers, and the general public — ensuring accountability.
• Blockchain technology to store and secure approval records, making tampering nearly impossible.
• Chatbots and digital dashboards to help slum residents and developers track applications in real time.
• A goal to map every slum structure in Mumbai by end-2025, creating a unified digital database.

Dr. Kalyankar said his team is also implementing Auto-DCR (Digital Construction Permissions) and time-bound eviction programs to remove non-cooperative structures within 45 days. “We are driven by one mission — to make Mumbai slum-free through transparency, technology, and teamwork,” he said.

Developer bodies surprised by SRA’s digital strides

The meeting, attended by senior representatives from CREDAI-MCHI, NAREDCO, BDA, and PEATA, began as a request for “ease of doing business” but turned into what several termed “a pleasant surprise.”

Sukhraj Nahar, President, CREDAI-MCHI, said:

“My company had never ventured into slum rehabilitation projects before, largely because of doubts about their viability. But after today’s presentation, I have a completely different perspective. The level of digitisation and the positive, development-oriented approach of SRA have created the right environment for slum redevelopment to succeed.”

Rushi Mehta, Secretary, CREDAI-MCHI, called the data-integration plan “a game changer.”

“By collating Aadhaar, PAN, electoral rolls, and electricity bills under one software, SRA can now generate Annexure-2 approvals in a single click — a process that earlier took 6 to 9 months. Linking Aadhaar to each family’s permanent home ensures only genuine beneficiaries receive homes and prevents multiple claims,” he said.

Rajan Bandelkar, Vice Chairman, NAREDCO, praised the SRA’s proactive approach:

“Under Dr. Mahendra Kalyankar’s leadership, the SRA is setting a new benchmark in governance and efficiency. These advanced digital systems will accelerate project approvals and restore developers’ confidence in slum rehabilitation schemes. With renewed momentum and accountability, Mumbai can truly move toward a slum-free future.”

Abhay Chandak, Vice President, NAREDCO Maharashtra, commended the new SOPs that allow demolition of non-cooperative structures within 45 days.

“In Worli, around 1,000 illegal structures were cleared within a month — actual demolition in just three days. This shows SRA’s renewed determination to create an environment where developers can execute projects without obstruction,” he said.

Vikram Mehta, President, Builders’ Association of India (BDA), said that the reforms also tackle new encroachments:

“It’s equally important to stop new slum constructions as it is to rehabilitate existing ones. The new encroachment-tracking cell uses satellite data to detect and flag new structures for immediate action. That’s a huge leap forward.”

Why these reforms matter

• For slum residents: Faster, more transparent approvals mean quicker movement from unsafe informal settlements to formal homes. Linking data ensures fairness and prevents fraud.
• For developers: The new digital ecosystem cuts paperwork, increases predictability, and reduces risk — encouraging more developers to take up rehabilitation projects.
• For Mumbai: Clearing and rebuilding slum clusters will improve infrastructure, reduce disaster risk, and bring large swathes of urban land into productive use.

Dr. Kalyankar emphasized that the reforms are not just about technology but about trust.

“SRA 2.0 is about speed, transparency, and accountability. We want every slum dweller to feel that their home, dignity, and future are at the heart of what we do,” he said.

Toward a slum-free Mumbai

For years, the SRA has faced criticism over slow progress — only a fraction of approved schemes have reached completion. But with the integration of digital processes, real-time monitoring, and strict timelines, stakeholders believe this could mark a genuine turning point.

The collaboration between SRA and major real-estate bodies signals a shared intent to transform the slum landscape of Mumbai into a more equitable, sustainable, and efficient urban environment. As NAREDCO’s Rajan Bandelkar summed it up — “With this digital leap, we are not just building houses; we are rebuilding trust.”

Also Read: Financial Institutions To Redevelop Stuck SRA projects

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