September 23, 2025: The Mumbai Congress has alleged that a prime municipal plot in Juhu is being handed over to a private builder close to the ruling party under the guise of a Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) project. Varsha Gaikwad, Mumbai Congress chief, claimed the move bypassed an existing redevelopment plan for municipal employees’ housing.
“The BMC had initially appointed a contractor to redevelop the plot, but suddenly decided to allocate it for a slum rehabilitation project managed by a builder with ties to the ruling party,” Gaikwad said. She added that the decision appeared to favour a particular private developer and bypassed due process.
The 48,407-square-foot plot, valued at approximately ₹800 crore, was originally reserved for a municipal employees’ colony. The appointed contractor had been tasked with rehabilitating families of sanitation workers. Following the change, the contractor has reportedly demanded compensation of Rs 77 crore or 29,211 square feet of land in the vicinity. The redevelopment scheme had previously received Standing Committee approval on May 5, 2021.
BMC commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, however, denied any wrongdoing, stating that no final decision had been made. “Whatever decision is taken, we will ensure there is no loss to the BMC,” he said.
The Congress leader noted that the BMC’s move follows a notification issued by the Urban Development Department on July 3, which amended development control rules to permit private builders to execute SRA projects on public and municipal land. Based on a representation submitted by the builder on April 8, 2025, a proposal for the project was put forward for approval.
According to a report from the BMC’s deputy chief engineer (improvements), the builder has offered to provide 561 tenements of 300 sq ft each with modern amenities, free of cost, alongside Rs 10.42 crore to the contractor and Rs 22 lakh in displacement allowances. Existing tenants are to receive ₹20,000 per month, with a 10 per cent annual increase, until new tenements are handed over.
Gaikwad has demanded a judicial probe into the matter, calling for transparency and adherence to the original redevelopment plan.
Source: Hindustan Times
