New Delhi, Dec 16: In a move expected to transform the urban landscape of North Mumbai the Airports Authority of India’s (AAI) high-frequency radar at Dahisar will be relocated to Gorai freeing up hundreds of acres of land for large scale affordable housing projects Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu said.
The decision was taken following a meeting involving the Civil Aviation Ministry the Maharashtra government and other stakeholders. Naidu said the ministry will seek Cabinet approval for the relocation to ensure that construction work on housing projects can begin at the earliest.
At present, radar installations at Dahisar and Juhu impose restrictions on building heights significantly hampering redevelopment and urban growth in North Mumbai. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told the State Assembly that the high frequency radar centres at both Dahisar and Juhu will be shifted to technically suitable alternative sites.
“The issue was impacting the urban development projects in North Mumbai. Due to this, some lakh people were being forced to live in old, dilapidated buildings. Now with this decision, the dream of the people of Dahisar to have a house of their own is going to be fulfilled,” Naidu said.
The State government has agreed to bear the cost of relocation and provide alternative land for the radar installations. The relocation of the Dahisar radar alone is expected to unlock around 1,000 acres of land over a 6-km stretch paving the way for affordable housing for lakhs of residents.
Naidu said the move would strike a balance between development and safety. “This decision balances housing needs with aviation safety. It will bring relief to thousands of families and accelerate economic development in the region,” he said, adding that the relocation also lays the foundation for affordable housing in Dahisar.
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, who represents the North Mumbai constituency and has been closely involved in the matter said the decision was the result of sustained efforts and coordination between the Centre and the State.
“After many years of consistent follow-up, this historic decision has become possible through close coordination between the central and state governments” Goyal said. He added that over the next five years around 50,000 houses are expected to be constructed or redeveloped, generating large-scale employment and providing pakka homes with basic amenities.
Goyal also said the move would redefine North Mumbai’s growth trajectory. “The tag of Dahisar being the ‘last suburb’ will be erased, and it will emerge as a fast-developing growth hub with a better quality of life,” he said.
As per the plan land at Gorai will be transferred free of cost to the Centre while 40 per cent of the AAI land at Dahisar will be utilised for public purposes. An alternative site at Juhu has also been proposed for technical evaluation after which the approval process for shifting the Juhu radar will commence.
Officials said that once the radar centres are relocated large scale redevelopment of buildings in Dahisar and the Juhu DN Nagar areas will become feasible unlocking long pending housing and infrastructure projects in North Mumbai.
