A meeting was held on 9th October 2023 involving the Hon’ble Metropolitan Commissioner (MMRDA), Hon’ble MP, MSRTC, Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), and MMRDA officials to deliberate on the development of bus depot lands in the MMR and rehabilitation of slum-encroached government lands. Following this, the Municipal Commissioner and Administrator of TMC, through a letter dated 14/02/2024, submitted a proposal to MMRDA for taking necessary action. The proposal includes development of five TMT Bus Depots located in Kopari, Kavesar, Kolshet, Mumbra, and Khilkalli, covering a total area of approximately 8.74 hectares, along with slum rehabilitation on surrounding government lands measuring about 10.84 hectares that are currently encroached.

In response, MMRDA prepared and submitted a detailed proposal in its 156th Authority Meeting held in March 2024. The proposal sought in-principle approval for integrated development of the TMT Bus Depots and adjoining encroached lands through slum rehabilitation. It includes approval for appointing a consultant via e-tender to carry out site surveys, prepare a Detailed Feasibility Report (DFR), Detailed Project Report (DPR), and architectural designs. The proposal further seeks approval for implementing the rehabilitation through a Joint Venture with TMC and SRA as per Government GR dated 21/09/2023, along with revenue generation through the redevelopment of bus depot lands and handing over of reservations to TMC. The Metropolitan Commissioner has been authorised to undertake all related tasks for implementation.
 

Salient Features

The proposal aims to undertake and facilitate the development of modernized Thane Municipal Transport (TMT) Bus Depots along with the integrated development of adjoining government lands under public purpose reservations through slum rehabilitation within the Thane Municipal Corporation area. TMC envisions redeveloping slum-encroached government lands affected by reservations in its sanctioned Development Plan across 10 identified locations situated near the proposed TMT Bus Depots.

Following the initial meeting held at the MMRDA office on 9th October 2023 and subsequent correspondence received from Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) dated 14/02/2024 and 01/07/2024, the Joint Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA invited Architect Hafeez Contractor and his team to present the proposed development concept. During the presentation, the architect outlined a comprehensive plan to modernize the existing Thane Municipal Transport (TMT) depot lands by utilizing air rights above these depots to construct housing for the rehabilitation of slum dwellers currently residing on encumbered government land in the vicinity. Additionally, it was proposed that 5% of the housing units developed above the depots be reserved for service accommodations for TMT staff, including bus drivers, conductors, and maintenance personnel.

As part of the concept, once the slum dwellers are rehabilitated above the TMT depot lands, the vacated encumbered government lands would be made available for free-sale development, helping to offset the cost of the overall scheme.