The redevelopment of Nargis Dutt Nagar, the largest slum enclave in Bandra (W), has emerged as a highly lucrative opportunity worth billions for developers. According to property market sources, the potential sale component of approximately 10 lakh sq ft alone is valued at around Rs 100 billion.

Omkar is responsible for the rehabilitation of over 1,500 slum families, offering them free housing on a portion of the land, while its partner, Godrej Properties, will construct the luxury residential project that will form the free-sale component. A spokesperson for Omkar clarified that the developer had no involvement in the viral video circulated among the slum dwellers.

On December 9, representatives from Omkar, Godrej, and some slum residents met with BJP Bandra MLA Ashish Shelar to discuss the progress of the redevelopment project. The spokesperson explained that the total rehabilitation construction area would be around 5.4 lakh sq ft. Godrej, the developer handling the sale component, plans to build multi-storey sales towers offering 3- and 4-BHK apartments. The total sales potential is approximately 10 lakh sq ft (carpet area). Additionally, the developer will construct and hand over a D P Road adjoining the project, which is currently encroached, improving traffic movement for Nargis Dutt Nagar residents. As per SRA norms, the project will also include Balwadis, welfare centres, healthcare centres, libraries, society offices, community halls, and religious structures.

Nehal Khan, a resident of the slum, expressed concerns that they had been kept in the dark about the project. He mentioned that the administrator appointed by the competent authority had been making decisions for over five years, and despite multiple complaints, no elections had been held to form a new society. Khan also alleged that the annexure 2 list (a survey of legitimate slum dwellers) had not been prepared, and many families feared they would be displaced instead of being rehabilitated.

However, the developer's spokesperson stated that the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) had issued a revised letter of intent on September 13, 2024, listing 1,515 tenants according to the latest annexure 2, dated August 23, 2023. After completing the necessary scrutiny and compliance checks, 851 of these tenants were found eligible for rehabilitation. Roshni Developers was assigned the responsibility of reviewing the remaining tenants' applications in accordance with SRA rules. The spokesperson assured that Roshni Developers had been adhering to all prescribed norms for project development, including rent payments to eligible tenants and a regulatory corpus of Rs 40,000 per tenant, which will be allocated by SRA for society maintenance.