The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority's (MHADA) Mumbai board has proposed to construct 26,959 houses in Aarey Milk Colony, to rehabilitate tribals and slum dwellers from National Park. While this will eat into 90 acres of Aarey land, the houses are expected to cost Rs 3,500 crore. Activists fear the human settlement will eventually involve heavy infrastructure and commercial development on this space in the near future.

The trigger for the trepidation was an advertisement calling for bids from developers for the construction of these houses. Instead of monetary benefits, the developer will be given development rights, which can be used anywhere in the city except Aarey, said MHADA officials.