A redevelopment dispute has emerged over a six-acre sea-facing property in Worli, with residents of MIG Adarsh Nagar CHSL approaching the Bombay High Court against a tender floated by the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA).
Residents, many of whose families purchased flats from MHADA in 1965, fear the proposed redevelopment could shift them away from the portion of the layout they have occupied for decades, potentially leaving the prime waterfront section available for the developer’s sale component.
The project covers 224 existing flat owners, who are expected to receive larger rehabilitation homes. However, residents contend that the proposal does not guarantee rehabilitation on the same portion of the land currently occupied by them. According to the society, families living in 24 buildings could be relocated elsewhere within the layout, freeing the sea-facing section for commercial development.
“The developer will surely want to grab it to fetch the best price for his sale component at our expense,” lamented a resident.
Society Challenges MHADA Tender
The housing society filed a petition before the Bombay High Court on May 2, seeking cancellation of MHADA’s tender process. Residents argue that existing sub-lease agreements give the society redevelopment rights and allow it to appoint a developer independently.
They maintain that the land is owned by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), leased to MHADA and subsequently sub-leased to the society.
A senior society member said, “The land belongs to the BMC. MHADA is the lessee and we are the sub-lessee.”
Residents further argued, “If the Government wanted to displace us for a public infrastructure project such as a flyover or railway line, it would have been understandable. There is no such project here. Our society has the right to utilise available FSI and carry out redevelopment as per the sub-lease deeds signed by MHADA itself.”
The society also alleged that it had sought an NOC from MHADA for redevelopment on October 27, 2023, but received neither approval nor a request for clarification.
Affordable Housing Provision Questioned
Residents have additionally challenged a tender provision allowing developers to pay MHADA a premium instead of providing affordable housing stock.
“A major objective of the government is to provide affordable housing. But the tender gives the developer an option to pay a premium to MHADA if it does not want to provide affordable housing stock. As a result, the government’s own objective is defeated, and the project boils down to a commercial exercise, enabling the developer to create a larger high-end sale component and earn more money,” said another resident, requesting anonymity.
The society has also raised concerns about the quality of rehabilitation homes and proposed amenities.
MHADA did not respond to calls and messages seeking its comments.
The dispute places the future of a valuable Worli waterfront property at the centre of a larger debate over redevelopment rights, rehabilitation, land ownership and the balance between public housing objectives and commercial development.
Source: Mumbai Mirror
