Aaditya Thackeray alleges that the government’s new ‘pagdi’ policy aims to evict tenants from the city and benefit builders and landlords ahead of BMC polls. Referring to the banners proclaiming a “pagdi-mukt Mumbai”, the MLA said, “They want to drive them (occupants of these buildings) out of Mumbai”
Shiv Sena (UBT) legislator Aaditya Thackeray. File pic
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Monday alleged that the Maharashtra Government’s real intention behind introducing a regulatory framework for old “pagdi” system buildings is to evict their occupants from Mumbai and benefit landlords and builders, news agency PTI reported. He demanded that all tenants living in these structures be declared legal occupants and granted protection.
“There have been instances where buildings are in a dilapidated condition and they are trying to throw the occupants out. The announcement by the housing minister was made for landowners and builders,” Thackeray said at a press conference, adding, “They want to drive away lakhs of Mumbaikars living in these pagdi houses out of the city.”
Referring to the banners proclaiming a “pagdi-mukt Mumbai”, the Worli Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) said, “They want to drive them (occupants of these buildings) out of Mumbai.”
He questioned the new policy, which states that occupants will receive the same carpet area after redevelopment, PTI reported.
“Why should they not get more space if the building or residential premises get redeveloped?” he asked.
Thackeray also criticised the government, saying, “This is not a people’s government,” and labelled the BJP as the “builder janta party.”
'High-frequency defence radars in Mumbai be shifted to facilitate redevelopment'
He further demanded that high-frequency defence radars in Mumbai be shifted to facilitate redevelopment of surrounding areas, noting that existing norms were hampering growth.
Last week, Deputy Chief Minister and Housing Minister Eknath Shinde had announced the new regulatory framework for redeveloping buildings under the “pagdi” system, calling it a “historic decision” aimed at eventually making Mumbai free of such properties. Shinde had said some structures had already been redeveloped, while several collapsed, and nearly 13,000 are awaiting reconstruction.
Tenants in these buildings enjoy protection under the Maharashtra Rent Control Act, while landlords claim they do not get fair compensation due to tenants’ extensive rights, Shinde had noted.
The announcement, made ahead of the crucial BMC elections, is expected to benefit thousands of tenants. The pagdi system—a rent control arrangement—has shaped housing in much of south and central Mumbai for decades. Under this model, tenants are partial owners who pay nominal rent, can sublet or sell the property, and enjoy near-lifelong occupancy in exchange for an upfront payment. However, the system has been criticised for opacity and bureaucratic hurdles that stalled redevelopment of these structures.
(With PTI inputs)
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