Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel today said houses would be provided to those living in 90,000 shanties in Mumbai airport area.
"There are 90,000 shanties near the airport and we have decided to provide them houses," Patel said, addressing a gathering of NCP Mumbai unit workers here.
The first lot of 20,000 homes would be handed over in June-July, Patel, who attended the meeting for a brief time, said.
The party should take benefit of this decision for expanding its base in Mumbai, the NCP leader said.
Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said the time has come for beginning ground work for BMC polls by identifying candidates.
"We always speak of alliance with Congress but last-minute problems always crop up," he said.
