A Faster Path to Redevelopment: How IAS Sanjeev Jaiswal Is Using Digital Reform to Fix Mumbai’s Housing Bottlenecks

Urban redevelopment fails not because of intent, but because of friction. Files move slowly, approvals multiply, and residents wait endlessly. Under the leadership of IAS Sanjeev Jaiswal, Vice President and CEO of MHADA, that friction is now being addressed through a focused digital intervention: a new online portal designed to accelerate redevelopment approvals for Mumbai’s dilapidated buildings.

South Mumbai alone has thousands of cessed and aging structures, many of them well past their structural lifespan. For residents, redevelopment is not a luxury but a safety necessity. Yet delays in approvals, unclear processes, and repeated office visits have historically slowed progress. MHADA’s new portal is an attempt to solve the process problem, not just the housing problem.

Why Process Reform Matters in Redevelopment

Mumbai’s redevelopment ecosystem involves multiple stakeholders: residents, developers, MHADA, municipal bodies, and courts. When approvals are fragmented across departments, timelines stretch unpredictably. According to housing policy estimates, redevelopment approvals in older precincts can take anywhere between 3 to 7 years before construction even begins.

The new MHADA portal aims to centralise this process. By digitising applications, tracking timelines, and providing status updates, the authority is reducing administrative opacity, which is often the biggest source of resident anxiety.

What the New MHADA Portal Changes

The proposed portal introduces three structural shifts:

First, it replaces physical follow-ups with online submission and tracking. Residents and societies will no longer need repeated office visits to understand the status of their proposals.

Second, it introduces time-bound approvals. Files that once moved without deadlines will now operate within defined timelines, improving accountability within the system.

Third, it creates special grievance-resolution cells. Redevelopment disputes, often caused by miscommunication or procedural confusion, can now be flagged and resolved faster.

Importantly, while the process becomes easier, compliance remains strict. Developers must continue to follow all legal, financial, and regulatory norms. Speed is being added without diluting scrutiny.

Leadership Focus: IAS Sanjeev Jaiswal’s Governance Approach

What stands out under IAS Sanjeev Jaiswal’s leadership is the emphasis on systems, not shortcuts. The portal does not promise instant approvals. It promises predictable approvals.

This distinction matters. Predictability allows residents to plan finances, developers to commit capital, and authorities to monitor risk. It also aligns with judicial expectations, as courts have repeatedly stressed the need for faster yet lawful redevelopment of unsafe buildings.

By aligning MHADA’s internal processes with digital governance principles, Jaiswal is positioning the authority as a facilitator rather than a bottleneck.

Relief for Residents, Clarity for Developers

For residents living in unsafe buildings, delays are costly. Extended rent payments, stalled temporary accommodation, and uncertainty about timelines create real economic stress. The portal directly addresses this by making the process visible and trackable.

For developers, clarity reduces disputes. When approval stages and requirements are clearly laid out, misunderstandings decline. This also improves trust between residents and developers, a relationship that often collapses due to procedural ambiguity rather than intent.

Legal Alignment and Institutional Credibility

MHADA’s move also aligns with observations made by the High Court regarding redevelopment delays. Courts have consistently emphasised that unsafe buildings cannot be left in limbo due to administrative inertia.

By creating a transparent, documented, and digital approval trail, MHADA strengthens institutional credibility. Decisions become easier to audit, justify, and defend, reducing litigation risk in the long run.

Why Official Information Still Matters

MHADA has reiterated that residents must rely only on official channels for redevelopment-related information. In the absence of verified communication, misinformation spreads quickly, often leading to conflict and unrealistic expectations.

The new portal becomes a single source of truth, reducing dependence on informal intermediaries and unofficial claims.

Conclusion

Mumbai’s redevelopment challenge is not just about construction. It is about coordination. With the launch of a dedicated redevelopment portal, MHADA is addressing the hidden inefficiency that slows down housing renewal.

Under IAS Sanjeev Jaiswal’s leadership, this digital reform signals a shift from file-based governance to outcome-based governance. It may not solve every redevelopment issue overnight, but it removes the biggest obstacle of all: uncertainty.

And in a city built on time, certainty is everything.