MUMBAI: Thousands of families residing in homes constructed in Ulhasnagar before 2011 may soon gain legal ownership rights, as the Maharashtra government has kick-started a significant regularisation process for longstanding residential encroachments. This initiative aims to tackle one of the most persistent housing issues in the city. A special review committee has been established for the 141 Ulhasnagar assembly constituency, with MLA Kumar Ailani appointed as chair.
This decision provides much-needed relief to numerous lower- and middle-income families who have lived in uncertainty for decades. Many residents in Ulhasnagar’s old settlements and slums have faced challenges in obtaining legal property status and access to civic amenities and redevelopment benefits because their homes were deemed unauthorized.
The government has decided to regularise residential structures in place before January 1, 2011, under the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966. This policy aims to grant long-awaited legal recognition to economically disadvantaged citizens living in these homes.
A critical meeting took place on April 27 at the Thane District Planning Committee Hall, convened by Deputy Chief Minister and Thane Guardian Minister Eknath Shinde. Officials agreed to form constituency-level review committees to expedite the evaluation and implementation of the regularisation proposals.
According to the resolution, the committee will include the Ulhasnagar tehsildar, the city survey officer, an assistant commissioner from the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation, and a deputy engineer from the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited. Sub-Divisional Officer Vijayanand Sharma will serve as the member secretary.
Ailani expressed that this initiative would deliver much-needed relief to families facing hardships in the city.
“Many families in Ulhasnagar have spent their entire lives in these homes yet remained without legal protection. This decision represents a humanitarian effort to ensure dignity and security for impoverished citizens. Our committee is committed to delivering justice transparently to deserving residents,” Ailani stated.
Officials have indicated that the review committee will meet quarterly and provide comprehensive reports to the guardian minister and the Thane district collector. The panel will verify whether structures existed prior to the 2011 cutoff and work alongside various departments before making recommendations for regularisation.
Residents across Ulhasnagar have welcomed the news, optimistic that it may finally alleviate years of anxiety and uncertainty regarding their homes.
“For years, we lived in fear of demolition despite paying taxes and utility bills. Gaining legal status for our homes would change the future for our children,” remarked a resident from one of the city’s older settlements. Another resident added that the decision could enhance access to loans, redevelopment opportunities, and civic amenities. “We have been labeled as illegal occupants for decades even though generations have thrived here. Legal recognition will provide families with stability and respect,” he mentioned.
This development is set to primarily benefit residents of longstanding unauthorised residential areas and slum clusters throughout Ulhasnagar. Citizens believe the regularisation process may lead to proper property documentation, legal civic connections, and future redevelopment advantages.
For many, the government’s decision signifies not just an administrative measure but also an acknowledgment of communities built through years of struggle and perseverance.
