Slum Rehabilitation Authority (Mumbai) Launches Tech-Driven Mapping of Slums by End of 2025

By Sana Khan
Editor, Realty Quarter

Mumbai : The Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) aims to map every slum structure in Mumbai by the end of December 2025 as part of a technology-driven reform initiative aimed at accelerating slum rehabilitation schemes, informed Mahendra Kalyankar, Chief Executive Officer of the authority.

The SRA has introduced a range of digital innovations, including a Standardization Testing and Quality Certification (STQC)-certified web portal in 25 languages, integrated online modules with role-specific access, blockchain-based file approvals, and chatbot-enabled consumer interfaces. These upgrades are designed to enable greater transparency, faster project approvals, and improved accountability in scheme execution.

Digital Integration and Industry Collaboration

In a joint meeting with real estate bodies — the Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (CREDAI) – Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry (MCHI), the National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO), the Brihanmumbai Developers Association (BDA), and the Practicing Engineers, Architects, and Town Planners Association (PEATA) — Kalyankar unveiled a suite of digital tools integrated into the SRA’s approval process.

Sukhraj Nahar, President of the Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India – Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry, said that “the integration of technology and the SRA’s positive, development-oriented mindset had changed his perspective, encouraging his company to consider undertaking slum rehabilitation projects.”

Rushi Mehta, Secretary of CREDAI-MCHI, noted that “the authority would be able to generate annexure-2s in a click of a button, which until now would take 6–9 months.”

Rajan Bandelkar, Vice Chairman of the National Real Estate Development Council, said, “The introduction of advanced digital systems and transparent processes will not only accelerate project approvals but also restore the confidence of developers in slum rehabilitation schemes.”

Vikram Mehta, President of the Brihanmumbai Developers Association, remarked that “the formation of a dedicated encroachment tracking cell which uses satellite data over a spectrum of years to show new encroachment every year as well as flag new construction for immediate action and demolition by the concerned land owning authority is a step in the right direction.”

Ensuring Beneficiary Authenticity

To ensure fair allocation and prevent fraudulent claims, the authority will link Aadhaar cards of slum dwellers to their permanent alternate accommodation, ensuring that only genuine beneficiaries receive flats and eliminating multiple claims.

Furthermore, a dedicated Encroachment Tracking Cell has been established. Using satellite data collected over several years, the cell will track and flag new encroachments for immediate action and demolition by the respective land-owning authorities.

A Step Toward Transparent Urban Development

With these reforms, the Slum Rehabilitation Authority aims to transform Mumbai’s rehabilitation landscape through digital governance, transparent operations, and efficient execution.
The combination of Aadhaar-linked beneficiary tracking, blockchain approvals, and real-time encroachment monitoring reflects a forward-looking approach to sustainable urban development.