Relief at Last: Displaced Jogeshwari Caves Chawl Families to Get PAP Homes on Deputy CM’s Orders

Mumbai | July 19, 2025: In a major breakthrough for residents long displaced by stalled redevelopment near the historic Jogeshwari Caves, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Urban Development Minister Eknath Shinde has ordered the immediate allotment of Project Affected Persons (PAP) homes to the affected families of Jayant and Jamuna chawls. The directive comes as a special case, bringing long-awaited relief to dozens of families left homeless for over 18 years.

The decision was made during a high-level meeting held on July 14, 2025, at Vidhan Bhavan, attended by Mumbai North West MP Ravindra Waikar and senior officials from key state departments. The meeting aimed to resolve lingering civic and rehabilitation challenges in the constituency, particularly those related to the Jogeshwari Caves redevelopment.

The Jogeshwari Caves, a Grade I heritage monument protected by the Archaeological Survey of India, have been surrounded by dense residential settlements for over five decades. Redevelopment in the area began in the early 2000s but was halted following a 2004 public interest litigation (PIL No. 2445), which resulted in a High Court order prohibiting any construction within 100 meters of the protected site.

Due to this legal hurdle, redevelopment work at Jayant and Jamuna chawls was abandoned midway—after initial demolition and partial construction—leaving many families in limbo. MP Waikar highlighted that 26 structures in Jayant Chawl (14 residential, 9 non-residential) and 19 in Jamuna Chawl (15 residential, 4 non-residential) were affected. Though a four-storey structure under Jamuna Chawl was built, it remains unoccupied due to the lack of an occupancy certificate from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), denying residents access to basic amenities.

Acknowledging the prolonged suffering of the displaced families, Deputy CM Shinde instructed Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) officials to allot PAP homes on priority, calling it a matter of humanitarian concern.

“This is a unique and unfortunate situation. These families have waited far too long. We are treating it as a special case to ensure they are not left without shelter any longer,” said Shinde after the meeting.

Key officials present included Urban Development Principal Secretary Asim Gupta, MHADA Managing Director Sanjeev Jaiswal, BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, SRA CEO Mahendra Kalyankar, and MMRDA Commissioner Sanjay Mukherjee.

This landmark decision is expected to finally bring justice and stability to families who have lived in uncertainty for nearly two decades, as the government begins the process of identifying and allotting suitable PAP homes.