By Sidhant Shekhar Jha
Amidst the rapid acceleration of Mumbai’s redevelopment wave, veteran real estate leader Niranjan Hiranandani has issued a stark warning: if infrastructure development does not keep pace with the city’s housing surge, significant backlash could follow.
At the “Redevelopment Conference and Investors Meet” organised by MHADA at MIG Cricket Club, top industry figures and policymakers gathered to address the immense prospects and serious challenges tied to Mumbai’s urban renewal ambitions. Discussions revolved around the urgent need for infrastructure upgrades, regulatory overhauls, robust rental housing frameworks, and strengthened public-private sector collaboration.
“We have seen Ghodbunder Road transform from a 4-lane stretch to a 14-lane motorway with multiple flyovers, attracting developers from 12 to 42 along that corridor. Similarly, in Mumbai, the Eastern Motorway, East-West connectivity, and metro networks must be fast-tracked. Otherwise, we will face severe backlash from activists and citizens if infrastructure does not keep pace with redevelopment,” warned Niranjan Hiranandani.
While lauding MHADA’s recent measures — including lower premiums and quicker project approvals — Hiranandani emphasised the pressing need for further reforms to enhance the “ease of doing business” and sustain the current redevelopment momentum. Drawing on his advisory experience in Delhi’s housing reforms; he applauded the government’s progressive approach but cautioned that without scalable solutions like rental housing, Mumbai risked losing businesses and talent to competitors like Bangalore and Hyderabad.
Underlining the sector’s economic significance, Hiranandani pointed out that real estate is already India’s second-largest employment generator after agriculture and a key GDP contributor. “With the right support, MMR alone can aim to generate 20% of India’s GDP,” he said, also highlighting the urgent need to invest in skill development initiatives to meet rising workforce demands in construction and housing.
Urban land scarcity remained a dominant theme throughout the conference, with speakers, including Hiranandani, stressing that brownfield redevelopment — particularly of cessed, non-cessed, and dilapidated structures — represents Mumbai’s primary redevelopment avenue. He also urged for a more dynamic partnership between private developers and MHADA, cautioning that if private players delay, MHADA would move independently to fast-track redevelopment projects and achieve housing targets.
Adding further momentum to the discussions, Sanjeev Jaiswal, Vice President and CEO of MHADA, highlighted the vast scale of redevelopment challenges facing the city.
“There are 13,000 cessed buildings in South Mumbai alone and 114 MHADA layouts — accounting for around 2.25 lakh units — awaiting redevelopment. If administrative hurdles are minimised, we can exceed the target of delivering 0.8 million homes,” he said.
Jaiswal also outlined a series of crucial regulatory proposals, including eliminating the 120 sqm cap on maximum rehabilitation area, granting higher FSI, relaxing premium structures, and streamlining GST and stamp duty processes. He shared that Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had, in principle, agreed to grant additional built-up area concessions for redeveloping RT buildings, with a formal notification expected soon.
As Mumbai aims to evolve into a truly global, inclusive urban centre, the conference reinforced a vital truth: without aggressive infrastructure investment and forward-looking policies, the city’s grand redevelopment vision risks faltering under its own weight.
