22 January,2026 11:05 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Former BMC chief Iqbal Singh Chahal appointed as Mumbai Police Housing Chairman chairman. File pic
In a significant move to improve living conditions of the city's police force, the Maharashtra government on Wednesday appointed senior IAS officer and former BMC Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal as Chairman of the Mumbai Police Housing Township Project.
As reported by news agency IANS, the appointment of Iqbal Singh Chahal was announced through an official notification dated January 21, 2026. The order also stated that it will take effect from February 1, immediately after Chahal's retirement from active service on January 31.
Reportedly Iqbal was one of the frontrunners for the post of state chief secretary but missed the opportunity following the appointment of Rajesh Agarwal, as per IANS.
Chahal, a 1989-batch IAS officer currently serving as Additional Chief Secretary (Home), has been selected for his "proven administrative competence" and "extensive experience in project management."
He is widely recognised for his leadership as the BMC Commissioner during the Covid-19 pandemic, where his "Mumbai Model" earned international acclaim.
The Mumbai Police Housing Township Project is an ambitious initiative aimed at constructing nearly 45,000 residential units for police personnel and their families.
The project, with an estimated cost of Rs 20,000 crore, has been designed to address a chronic shortage of affordable and quality housing for the police personnel. While Iqbal Singh Chahal has been appointed as the chief of the concerned project, the state Cabinet at its meeting last week cleared the project, as per IANS.
According to the notification issued by the Maharashtra Cabinet, Chahal's tenure as Chairman will be for five years. His rank and status will be equivalent to that of a minister of state, reported IANS.
Furthermore, the Chairman will function under the direct administrative control of the Chief Minister through the Home Department.
He will also receive a consolidated monthly honorarium calculated as his âlast pay drawn minus the pension amount', along with allowances applicable to an Additional Chief Secretary-grade officer.
The township project seeks to modernise living conditions of the Mumbai Police, many of whom currently reside in dilapidated British-era quarters. The project involves the development of around 50 million square feet of land, as per IANS.
The plan includes 40,000 homes for constabulary personnel and 5,000 for sub-inspectors and senior officers. The state will provide 30 per cent of the funds, with the remaining 70 per cent raised through institutional loans.
The government noted that the project involves complex large-scale planning, land acquisition and coordination with multiple agencies, necessitating a leader with Chahal's "impeccable record of public service spanning over 36 years."
(With inputs from IANS)
