Mumbai, September 2026 : The Maharashtra Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, approved a series of decisions concerning the allocation of developed plots to farmers affected by the Mumbai Metro car shed project, cluster redevelopment of MHADA buildings in Khar, a change in land reservation in Dhule’s development plan and a revised proposal for the Agriculture Department’s staffing structure.
Developed Plots for 198 Farmers Affected by Metro Car Shed
The Cabinet approved the allotment of developed plots on ownership basis to project-affected farmers from Survey No. 30 at Mogharpada village in Thane district, whose land was acquired for the integrated car shed depot for Mumbai Metro Lines 4, 4A and 10.
Under the decision, 198 project-affected farmers from Mogharpada will be allotted developed plots under the 22.5 per cent and 12.5 per cent developed plot schemes.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) had prepared a comprehensive Metro Rail plan to improve transportation infrastructure in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Mumbai Metro Line 4, connecting Wadala to Kasarvadavali in Thane, was approved as an urgent public project and an important urban transport project. The corridor was subsequently extended up to Gaimukh.
An integrated car shed depot for Metro Lines 4, 4A, 10 and 11 is being developed at Mogharpada in Thane district. Of the total 211.76 hectares of land in Survey No. 30, 174.01 hectares have been made available to the MMRDA.
The scheme for allotting developed plots equivalent to 22.5 per cent and 12.5 per cent to project-affected farmers had earlier been approved by the then Chief Minister in his capacity as Chairman of the MMRDA.
Accordingly, the Cabinet approved the allotment of developed plots on ownership basis, with land tenure classified as Class-I, to 167 project-affected farmers and 31 encroaching farmers associated with the land.
Cluster Redevelopment of MHADA Buildings in Khar
The Cabinet also approved the cluster redevelopment of MHADA buildings in Ramkrishna Nagar, Khar (West), Mumbai, along with the appointment of a developer for the project.
To provide affordable housing in Mumbai city and suburban areas, the government had created 56 colonies through the Mumbai Board of the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) for the middle-income and low-income groups between 1950 and 1960. These 56 colonies comprise 114 housing societies.
Ramkrishna Nagar, located at CTS Nos. 872-A/1 and 872-A/2 in Khar (West), is among these housing colonies. Some of the buildings have become old and structurally dilapidated. The Cabinet therefore approved cluster redevelopment to improve the living conditions of residents.
The Ramkrishna Nagar housing society occupies an area of 25,523.90 square metres and comprises 19 buildings, including 18 residential buildings and one office building. These buildings were constructed around 1985.
Among the 19 buildings, plots containing three buildings — Plot Nos. 5, 7 and 8 — had earlier been allotted by MHADA to the Ramkrishna Nagar Cooperative Housing Society on an ownership basis.
The Cabinet approved cluster redevelopment through MHADA by appointing a developer, excluding Plot No. 18 and the plot containing the office building (Building No. 1). The Cabinet also approved the formation of a high-powered committee headed by the Secretary of the Housing Department to ensure speedy implementation of the project.
Change in Land Reservation in Dhule Development Plan
The Cabinet approved the cancellation of reservations for a playground and garden on Survey No. 103 at Devpur village in Dhule taluka and their inclusion in the Public-Semi-Public use zone under the approved Dhule Development Plan.
The decision will facilitate construction of the office of the Sub-Regional Transport Officer, Dhule.
Under the existing development plan, part of Survey No. 103 at Devpur within the Dhule Municipal Corporation limits was reserved for a playground and garden. An area of 2 hectares and 885 square metres of this land is owned by the Sub-Regional Transport Officer, Dhule.
The Regional Transport Office currently uses the site for vehicle inspection, vehicle registration and driving licence tests. Construction of an inspection team facility and other buildings is already underway at the site, with around Rs 94.50 lakh having been spent on the work.
The Sub-Regional Transport Department had requested the municipal corporation to remove the playground and garden reservations and include the land in the Public-Semi-Public use zone.
The Cabinet approved the proposed modification in accordance with the provisions of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act.
Agriculture Department’s Revised Staffing Structure Cancelled
The Cabinet approved the cancellation of the revised staffing structure of the Agriculture Department that had been approved based on the department’s 2009 staffing pattern and permitted the department to submit a fresh proposal.
The Cabinet had earlier approved a revised staffing structure comprising 23,434 posts for the field offices of the Agriculture Commissionerate, based on the 2009 staffing structure of 27,502 posts.
However, officers, employees and various organisations in the Agriculture Department had raised objections to the implementation of the revised staffing structure.
The Agriculture Department subsequently proposed cancellation of the revised structure, citing the drought-like situation arising in the state against the backdrop of El Nino, the difficulties faced by farmers and the important responsibilities handled by the department at the field level.
As a result, the Agriculture Department’s approved 2009 staffing structure will remain in force for the time being.
The Cabinet also approved the submission of a fresh proposal for the department’s staffing structure. The new proposal will comprehensively assess the department’s current workload, available manpower, vacant posts, requirements of various cadres, facilities required for the field machinery, workload arising from farmer-centric schemes and future administrative requirements.
