The Congress has, this year, taken its age-old 'roti, kapda, makaan' theme one step ahead. After party head Rahul Gandhi's promise of delivering 500 sq ft homes to slum-dwellers, a battery of workers has been formed to approach slum pockets in Mumbai explaining to them how their life can change substantially if the Congress is voted to power. The party is promising amendments to SRA rules to ensure one BHK homes for slum-dwellers instead of the existing 269 sq ft ones.

According to a party worker, a redeveloped slum unit is currently pegged around Rs 40 lakh, although the sale of such flats is not allowed. However, raising the area of the flat to 500 sq ft will take the value up to Rs 75 lakh to Rs 1 crore, depending on the location.