For nearly 20 years, 24 families of Chembur’s Tilak Safalya Co-operative Housing Society have demonstrated how unity and persistence can overcome prolonged delays, legal disputes and uncertainty to rebuild their lives on their own terms.
What began in 2007 as a redevelopment promise has now evolved into a rare example of resident-led transformation. Recently, actual construction work, including drilling for a new residential tower, has commenced on the site, marking a major milestone in the long-pending project.
The journey began when a private developer was appointed to redevelop the society’s 200 sq ft MHADA tenements. Although the original building was demolished in 2010, reconstruction never moved forward, leaving residents in limbo. After years of hardship and litigation that reached the Arbitral Tribunal, the Bombay High Court and finally the Supreme Court, the 24 families regained redevelopment rights in 2018.
Following this legal victory, the society opted for a self-redevelopment model, taking full responsibility for approvals, funding and project execution without relying on an external developer. Architects, engineers and contractors are now working under the society’s direct supervision, with construction progressing steadily.
The redevelopment is also being shaped around sustainability principles. Plans include centralised air-conditioning, solar energy systems, rainwater harvesting and green building certification. Residents say the project reflects both environmental responsibility and constitutional values such as the right to a clean environment and the duty to protect nature. A sprinkler system has also been installed at the site to help control air quality during construction.
Residents shared emotional accounts of their long struggle. One resident, Adv Selvam Rajan, said, “We vacated our building in 2007, but the previous developer let us down. My two children and I struggled. I went into depression, paid high rent, and worried about their education. Yet, we stayed united. Today, standing on our own plot, we see a new home rising. After so many years of hardship, this self-redevelopment project gives us hope. Our new flats will be four times larger than the original 208 sq ft MHADA house.”
Another resident, Shobha Shetty, added, “After 19 years of legal battles and paying high rents, I am finally happy and satisfied. We faced many hardships, took loans, and sacrificed for our children’s future. Self-redevelopment has given us hope, a good home, and a fresh start.”
From a stalled project to a self-driven revival, the society’s journey now stands as a model of resident empowerment and urban resilience.
Source: Mid-day
