SRA Recovers INR 700 Crore in Transit Rent

MUMBAI: The Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) has made significant strides in managing its Slum Rehabilitation Scheme, particularly in the recovery of transit rent arrears. As part of its ongoing efforts to streamline slum rehabilitation, the SRA has successfully recovered over INR 700 crore from developers, aimed at alleviating the financial burden on slum dwellers displaced by redevelopment projects.

The recovery initiative is supported by the appointment of 25 dedicated nodal officers, who are tasked with overseeing arrears recovery within specific jurisdictions. This move follows the SRA’s directive dated 25 July 2023, which outlines the responsibilities and contact details of these officers to enhance accountability. In a bid to further mitigate transit rent complaints, the SRA has also introduced Circular No. 210 on 1 August 2023, mandating developers to make advance payments for transit rent.

Developers are now required to deposit two years’ worth of rent in advance via Demand Draft (DD) and cover the third year with Post-Dated Cheques (PDC). The proactive measures have yielded positive results, with developers depositing substantial amounts towards transit rent payments up to July 2024. This development has enabled the SRA to disburse funds to slum dwellers more efficiently, leading to a noticeable decrease in rent-related grievances.

In addition to these financial adjustments, the SRA has initiated legal action under Section 13(2) of the Maharashtra Slum Areas (Improvement, Clearance & Redevelopment) Act, 1971, against developers who have failed to meet their transit rent obligations. Defaulter developers will not be eligible to submit new schemes, reinforcing the SRA’s stance on compliance. To further streamline the resolution of rent issues, the SRA has launched an online complaint system through its website (sra.gov.in), allowing slum residents to easily report grievances. An Authorised Account Officer has also been appointed to visit slum societies and address pending rent concerns directly.