Mumbai Congress president and MP Varsha Gaikwad has questioned the appointment of a firm as developer for a 38-acre Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) project in Juhu Gully, alleging it is linked to a BJP leader.
In a post on X, Gaikwad named the company as Shiv Infra Vision Properties Pvt Ltd and asked Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CM and Housing Minister Eknath Shinde, and SRA CEO Mahendra Kalyankar to clarify whether due process was followed before awarding the multi-crore project.
She alleged that nearly 6,500 slum dwellers were kept in the dark about the change of developer, claiming many residents now feared displacement and denial of in-situ rehabilitation. The Congress MP further charged that the SRA had become a “den of corruption,” siding with politically connected builders.
Gaikwad also flagged complaints from slum residents in other parts of her Mumbai North-Central constituency, including Bandra (E), where she said sudden changes of developers and violations of rules were reported. She further accused her detractors of trying to “intimidate” her by dragging her husband’s name into the Patra Chawl redevelopment project, calling the claims false.
Meanwhile, BJP leader and businessman Mohit Kamboj, reacting to speculation that Gaikwad was referring to him, denied reports that he had retired from active politics or bagged multiple SRA projects.
In a statement, Kamboj said, “I have never declared retirement from politics. Reports suggesting this are baseless. I have also seen claims that the government has given me 30 SRA projects. These allegations are absolutely false.”
Challenging Gaikwad to provide proof, he added, “Let her name even five projects given to me. If she fails, she must resign for making false claims.”
SRA projects involve redeveloping slum areas into permanent housing for dwellers, with developers typically allotted rights to construct additional commercial or residential units as part of the deal.
(With PTI inputs)
