The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) has officially appointed M/s. Keystone Realtors (Rustomjee Group) as the Construction & Development Agency for the redevelopment of 25 buildings housing Sindhi refugees in Guru Tegh Bahadur Nagar (GTB Nagar), Sion Koliwada. The Letter of Intent (LOI) was handed over to the developer on June 30, 2025, by Sanjeev Jaiswal, Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, MHADA, marking a significant step forward for the long-awaited project.
The handover ceremony took place at the MHADA headquarters in Bandra East. The event saw the presence of MLA Captain Tamil Selvan, Chief Officer of MHADA Mumbai Board Milind Borikar, Chairman and Managing Director of Keystone Realtors (Rustomjee Group) Boman Irani, Deputy Chief Engineer Bhushan Desai, and Rahul Vhatkar, alongside office bearers and residents from various GTB Nagar housing societies.
Project Details and Benefits
The redevelopment project encompasses approximately 11.20 acres and includes about 1200 residential units across 25 buildings. Under the plan, each of the 1200 residents will receive a 635 sq ft home free of cost. MHADA will also provide maintenance charges for five years following the redevelopment’s completion. During the construction period, affected residents will receive Rs 20,000 per month as rent until their new homes are ready.
The proposal approved by MHADA ensures a minimum Floor Space Index (FSI) of 4.5, including fungible FSI, under Development Control Regulation 33(9). MHADA is set to receive 25,700 square meters of housing stock from the project.
Historical Context of GTB Nagar
GTB Nagar, formerly part of Sion Koliwada, holds a unique place in Mumbai’s history. It was established as a colony for Sikh and Hindu refugees, including a significant number of Sindhi refugees, who migrated to India from Pakistan following the Partition of India in 1947. The 25 buildings now slated for redevelopment were constructed in 1958 to rehabilitate these migrants.
In 2020, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation declared these buildings dangerous, leading to their subsequent demolition and the relocation of residents. The redevelopment aims to provide modern, safe housing for these families.
Legal and Administrative Path
The decision to implement this private land redevelopment project through MHADA followed requests from residents. Under the guidance of Devendra Fadnavis, a policy was finalized for the MHADA Mumbai Housing and Area Development Board to execute the project.
The proposal for the redevelopment of the Sindhi refugee buildings in Sion Koliwada, by appointing a Construction & Development Agency under Regulation 33(9), received approval in a Cabinet meeting on February 14, 2024. Following this, MHADA was granted recognition as a Special Planning Authority for the project via a Government Resolution dated February 23, 2024, enabling it to initiate the tender process.
The project faced legal challenges from Lakhani Housing Developers, who claimed prior agreements with residents. However, the Bombay High Court dismissed their petition, upholding MHADA’s authority. The Supreme Court further affirmed this decision by dismissing an appeal from Lakhani Housing Corporation, clearing the legal path for MHADA to proceed.
Official Statements
Sanjeev Jaiswal, Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, MHADA, stated that the GTB Nagar Sion Koliwada Sindhi refugee buildings redevelopment project is the first of its kind to be implemented through a Construction & Development Agency, marking it as a pilot for redeveloping buildings on private land through MHADA. He directed the agency to prepare a master plan and assured close monitoring of the project’s progress, suggesting the formation of a 5 to 7-member committee from housing societies for periodic review. Jaiswal emphasized that the rehabilitation of the 1200 residents is a priority and confirmed MHADA’s full cooperation.
Milind Borikar, Chief Officer of the Mumbai Board, noted that this redevelopment project is being implemented under the guidance of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister and Housing Minister Eknath Shinde. He added that the Supreme Court’s judgment on petitions related to this project would benefit MHADA in future similar projects. Borikar also confirmed MHADA’s commitment to pay maintenance charges for five years post-redevelopment and a monthly rent of Rs 20,000 until the project is completed.
MLA Captain Tamil Selvan recalled his request to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for the rehabilitation of these residents to be on the lines of the BDD Chawl redevelopment project, leading to Fadnavis’s instruction for MHADA to implement the project. Selvan acknowledged Jaiswal’s positive steps in commencing the work.
Also Read: MHADA Awards Tender to Rustomjee to Redevelop GTB Nagar Sion Project
