In a landmark move to revitalise Mumbai’s ageing residential infrastructure, the Maharashtra government has approved the large-scale redevelopment of two major housing colonies—Bandra Reclamation and Adarsh Nagar in Worli. An official notification issued on Friday brings both projects under the ambit of Development Control Regulation (DCR) 33(5), specifically tailored for Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) buildings.
The redevelopment will be undertaken as a single, consolidated project, with one developer selected via a competitive tendering process. A Floor Space Index (FSI) of 4 has been granted for each site, enabling significant vertical expansion. In a major boost to implementation speed, developers will only need consent from 51% of the residents, easing the approval burden.
These colonies, constructed in the 1950s and 1960s to house middle- and low-income groups, have long suffered from structural decay. While buildings facing main roads were often redeveloped individually, those within internal lanes lagged behind. To address this imbalance, the state has decided to halt permissions for standalone redevelopments, though societies with prior approvals will be exempt from the new unified plan.
Under the approved FSI, a portion will be earmarked for MHADA’s new housing stock. The rest will be used to provide current residents with larger homes, rent compensation during construction, a corpus fund, and enhanced facilities. Societies’ existing sinking and maintenance funds will be distributed among residents, and developers will be required to match these amounts post-redevelopment.
To ensure smooth execution, a five-member high-powered committee will be formed, chaired by the Additional Chief Secretary (Housing), and will include senior officials from MHADA, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), and the housing department.
This redevelopment marks one of the most ambitious urban housing revamps in Mumbai’s recent history.
Source: Mumbai Live
