The State Cabinet approved acquiring 283 acres of Mumbai's salt pan land from the Union Government for the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP), to be managed by Adani Realty. This move aims to provide rental housing for ineligible slum dwellers. A separate proposal will be submitted for utilising salt pan lands in Dharavi residents' rehabilitation. The market value will be recovered from the project's special purpose vehicle. Previously contested for a Metro car depot, the land transfer will facilitate Dharavi's redevelopment, benefiting around 3.5-4 lakh people with rental and affordable housing solutions.Read more

DLF, a major real estate player, is set to make its mark in Mumbai's property market with its first project in Andheri. The company, in collaboration with the Trident Group, is embarking on a Slum Rehabilitation Authority project with tentative pricing for apartments ranging from INR 5.5 crore to INR 7.5 crore. With a planned investment of INR 400 crore, DLF aims to achieve a saleable area of 3 million to 3.5 million square feet in the first phase, anticipating substantial demand across various segments.Read more

The Bombay High Court has asserted the protection of fundamental rights for senior citizens facing housing redevelopment delays. The court's comments were made during a plea filed by a 65-year-old woman, Jayashree Dholi, who claimed to be "homeless" due to a stalled redevelopment project in Mulund. The court emphasised that seniors in their "twilight years" should not suffer due to redevelopment delays and issued notices to authorities, including the Maharashtra Government and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, seeking responses to address the petitioner's fundamental rights violation.Read more

The Bombay High Court has dismissed a plea by the Air India Colony staff association to maintain the status quo for two weeks until the Supreme Court addresses the matter on February 13. The association sought to preserve the current state pending further judicial review. However, the court rejected their request, indicating a swift decision on the issue of demolition of vacant buildings. This development points to the legal proceedings progressing quickly, potentially leading to imminent action regarding the disputed buildings.Read more

Adivasi communities residing in Aarey's Film City, Mumbai, are facing uncertainty following the BMC's dismissal of their land claims under the Forest Rights Act. The Adivasi Habale Pada Mandal has expressed discontent through a formal letter to the civic authority, challenging the decision and requesting compensation. The municipal corporation, however, has rebuffed these claims, asserting that a forest rights committee must be established before reaching a resolution. Meanwhile, surveys for the planned Goregaon Mulund Link Road (GMLR) are underway to evaluate its potential impact on Adivasi-held lands.Read more

The Bombay High Court has approved the reconstruction of the seven-storeyed Govinda Tower in Kherwadi, Bandra (E), which tragically collapsed over 25 years ago. Justices Gautam Patel and Kamal Khata highlighted the severity of the incident, which resulted in numerous injuries and fatalities. Originally built on a MHADA-leased plot, the building's reconstruction efforts by previous developers failed. Following residents' pleas, the court permitted the appointment of a new developer in August 2023. Despite opposition from the resolution professional involved in insolvency proceedings against the previous developer, the court directed BMC and MHADA to process the society's development proposal, marking a crucial step towards reconstruction and bringing hope to the residents of Kherwadi.Read more

Vamsiram Builders, a prominent real estate firm based in Hyderabad, has lodged a complaint with the registrar of companies (ROC) and the ministry of corporate affairs, alleging misconduct in two Mumbai redevelopment projects worth INR 3,000 crore. The complaint accuses a Mumbai-based entity of fraudulently exploiting Vamsiram Builders' identity, including its name, logo, and project details, to execute these ventures in affluent areas like Khar West and Prabhadevi. Specifically naming Vamsiram Realty Pvt Ltd and its directors, the complaint cites instances of identity theft, urging swift regulatory action to rectify the breach and protect the company's reputation and interests.Read more

A Bombay High Court Bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Arif S Doctor have instructed the BMC to submit details of the inquiry into construction lapses concerning the Lalbaug flyover within six weeks. The directive is related to disclosing the findings of the enquiry conducted by the Statutory Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) regarding any lapses or breaches by the contractor in the construction of the flyover. The High Court's decision underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in construction projects, emphasizing the need for thorough investigations into potential shortcomings in the infrastructure development process.Read more

MMRDA is seeking a INR 4,000 crore loan for the redevelopment of Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar, a 75-acre slum in Ghatkopar. With an "expression of interest" published, the authority aims to address every aspect of rehabilitation. Terms will be disclosed this week, with a 15-year repayment plan expected. The project targets 16,575 slum-dwellers and acquisition of 5,000 tenements, overseen by the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA). This marks MMRDA's inaugural venture into slum redevelopment, aiming to generate revenues of INR 1,073 crore if managed internally, or INR 2,918 crore if outsourced. Amid financial constraints, MMRDA seeks assistance from the Union Government and BMC, affirming its commitment to broader infrastructure projects.Read more

The Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) members have approved the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) proposal to transform part of the Mahalaxmi Racecourse into a theme park. Out of 708 members who voted, 540 supported the proposal, while 168 opposed it. The BMC's plan involves extending the lease of the racecourse, with the condition that 120 acres of the 211-acre property be handed over to the BMC for creating an open green space. The proposal includes pathways, walkways, sitting areas, and an underground subway connecting to the Mumbai Coastal Road Project's green open space.Read more

Ambika Chauhan Aibara, of Parle Products fame, recently acquired two lavish sea-view apartments in Mahalaxmi, Mumbai. Valued at over Rs 47.3 crore, these expansive units, spanning a combined 6,180 sq ft on the 24th and 25th floors of Raheja Modern Vivarea, reflect her confidence in the city's property market. This landmark development, covering a staggering 1 million sq ft and priced at approximately Rs 90,000 per sq ft, promises a top-tier living experience. The development, situated on reclaimed textile mill land, caters to Mumbai's affluent circles, adjacent to the renowned Raheja Vivarea.Read more

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has raised objections to the Maharashtra government's proposal that 40% of all Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) used in construction projects in Mumbai must come from the Dharavi redevelopment project (DRP). The BMC expressed concerns about the feasibility of implementing the Development Plan (DP-2034) and potential challenges in acquiring reserved land if conditions on Dharavi TDR utilization are imposed. The BMC emphasized that the imposition of utilizing Dharavi TDR first could result in no takers for its TDR allocated for land acquired for roads and public amenities. Additionally, the BMC opposed the proposal to eliminate indexation for DRP TDR, urging the government to consider the unique circumstances and challenges associated with the Dharavi redevelopment project.Read more

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has invited bids for constructing a depot for Metro 9 in Dongri village, Bhayander, on a 59.7-hectare government-owned plot. Costing around INR 626 crore, the depot will take 52 months to complete with 40 stabling lines and will serve Metro 7A as well. Challenges in acquiring land led to relocating the depot from Morva, Raimurdhe, and Murdhe villages. Dongri's government-owned land eliminates acquisition costs but requires an additional expense of INR 250-300 crore to extend Metro 9 and add stations. Despite challenges, MMRDA is fast-tracking depot construction amid space constraints in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.Read more

The Mumbai Urban Transport Projects (MUTP) secures a substantial allocation of INR 1,600 crores for rail initiatives in the interim budget, part of the INR 15,500 crore for Maharashtra by Indian Railways. Executed by the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation, the funds cover projects in various phases, including new rail lines and station upgrades. Additionally, Western and Central Railways receive significant allocations for speed enhancement, bridge restructuring, and customer amenities. The National High Speed Rail Corporation is granted INR 25,000 crore for India's first Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor, demonstrating a commitment to advancing rail infrastructure in the region.Read more

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Mumbai has arrested prominent builder Lalit Tekchandani over allegations of cheating and forgery in connection with Supreme Constructions' Taloja project. The case involves accusations that Tekchandani and other directors accepted payments from homebuyers but failed to deliver on promises, leading to an FIR with charges of cheating and forgery. The FIR mentions an estimated cheating amount of INR 73 lakh. A lookout circular was issued, and the case was transferred to EOW for further investigation. Homebuyers, including Hera Jadhwani, disclosed promises unfulfilled since 2016, prompting authorities to uncover the extent of the alleged fraud.Read more