The NAREDCO Maharashtra’s flagship ‘Real Estate Forum 2023’ held in Mumbai today had distinguished speakers who gave their valuable insights on the growth curve for Mumbai. Speaking on making Mumbai slum-free Valsa Nair Singh IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Housing Department, Govt. of Maharashtra, said that cluster-based development would be favourable to improve housing stock in the city.“The ambitious Dharavi slum redevelopment project, the largest renewal initiative in Asia, will serve as a model for several other clusters that are planned across Mumbai. We will soon announce a new cluster development policy after taking all stakeholders into confidence,” she said.Speaking on the new housing policy, she said that innovation in smarter homes and technology would be a part of the policy. In addition, homes for senior citizens, and students housing will be given priority. These two sectors should be incentivised in the new housing policy, once the draft goes into the public domain.She went on to add, “An ideal housing policy is one that promotes affordable housing, walk to work concept and offers a better work-life balance. A skilled labour force and skilling of all agents in the real estate sector is crucial for its proper growth and development.”“Mumbai and the MMR are growing exponentially with a number of infrastructure projects like MTHL, Navi Mumbai International Airport, the Coastal Road and the Worli Sea connector all set to be completed within the next three to four years that will merge Mumbai with the mainland, reducing travel time across the harbour to just 30 minutes,” said Dr Sanjay Mukherjee IAS, Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA.Speaking on sustainable development, Shri Pravin Darade IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Environment and Climate Change, Govt. of Maharashtra, said that development and environment should go hand in hand and that the general perception that development destroys the environment is a misnomer. Infrastructure development in fact reduces carbon footprint. There are a growing number of projects that are sustainable and green projects that are LEED and GRIHA certified.