Around 95 shop owners awaiting new commercial premises at Mahavir Compound on Bhandarkar Road, near Kabutar Khana in Matunga, face further uncertainty after the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) issued a stop-work notice to the redevelopment project.
The Mumbai Building Repair and Reconstruction Board (MBRRB) issued the notice on October 9, citing the developer’s alleged failure to meet rehabilitation-related conditions. These include providing a 544.98 sq. ft. carpet-area flat to tenant Pratibha Doshi and clearing her outstanding rent dues, along with applicable penalties and interest.
The developer has maintained that a smaller, completed flat is available for Doshi. However, she is seeking either the originally promised area or compensation for the shortfall based on prevailing market rates.
The redevelopment began in 2016 and comprises two 22-storey residential rehabilitation towers and a separate commercial structure. The residential component, comprising 164 units and known as Mahavir Ville CHS, was completed in 2023 and received a partial occupation certificate. However, construction of the commercial building remains incomplete.
Dhirendra Thakkar, owner of Madhu Book Depot within the compound, said, “The project began in 2016-17 and since then we are waiting for our new shops. The previous developer has construction commercial units below the residential towers, which is against the CC issued by the BMC. They are illegal.”
The original developer was Satra Property Developers, while Firstwave Developers has since taken over the project. However, MHADA records continue to identify Satra as the official developer pending approval of Firstwave’s appointment.
A senior MHADA official said, “The stop work notice is addressed to Satra Property Developers since the file regarding Firstwave’s appointment as a new developer is still with the Chief Officer for final clearance. Thus on MHADA’s official records Satra is still the official developer. The further communication will be served to new developer after the file is cleared.”
Firstwave representative Pranav Mehta said, “We are working towards revocation of stop work. We want to start the work at the earliest and complete the project. The earlier plan was different. We now propose a five floored commercial building, including the rehabilitation of earlier shop owners and some saleable units. We have submitted revised plan and waiting for it to be approved.”
Source: The Free Press Journal
