India, Sept. 6 -- The residents of Lokmanya Nagar in Sadashiv Peth have come out in stiff opposition to the state government's decision to stay the ongoing redevelopment of their dilapidated housing colony. The project which had finally begun after years of delay, was put on hold after local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Hemant Rasane requested chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to bring it under an integrated cluster redevelopment plan.

Activist Suhas Satpute, who heads the Lokmanya Nagar Bachav Kruti Samiti, expressed deep frustration. "We waited for years and finally, redevelopment started showing progress. Families vacated their homes and are now living in rented accommodations with the hope of returning soon. But the government has...