However, real estate developers of around 150 slum rehabilitation projects in Mumbai owe ₹525 crore in rent to tenants who vacated their homes for slum rehabilitation projects, according to the state government data. 

The Maharashtra government has said owing to the outstanding amount, developers involved in these projects will not be given any new slum rehabilitation projects. The data on outstanding rent was tabled in the ongoing budget session of Maharashtra.

The reply, by Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and housing minister, was tabled in the assembly on March 17 over a question by MLC, Prasad Lad. Fadnavis said, “In slum rehabilitation authority, a total of ₹647 crore rental amount was due for 150 projects.”

Fadnavis further added, “Of the ₹647 crore, ₹122 crore was collected from the developers of these 150 projects, and now there is outstanding of ₹525 crore. Due to this, no new projects will be given to real estate developers involved in these 150 slum rehabilitation projects.”

According to the Maharashtra Economic Survey 2022-23, since inception (1995) up to December 2022, 2,231 projects have been completed and 2,45,295 families residing in slums have been rehabilitated in these tenements.

Also Read: Slum Dwellers not cooperating in Redevelopment will be removed by this Govt Body

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In the last year’s state budget women homebuyers were allowed to avail a concession of 1% stamp duty. So in Mumbai the stamp duty which is at 6% during a home sale registration, a women homebuyer would pay only 5%. But this concession was subject to certain terms and condition.

On Thursday, Devendra Fadnavis delivered the budget of the state and made a very important announcement that will benefit the women homebuyers.

The budget speech of Fadnavis stated that, women will be given 50 per cent. discount on ticket fares in State Transport Corporation buses. Also a woman buyer has been given a one per cent concession in stamp duty for the purchase of a residential unit. As per the existing condition, a woman cannot sell a residential unit to a male buyer for a period of 15 years. The government has said that this condition will be relaxed.

This will enable more women to buy homes as, many earlier feared that if they bought a home availing this discount they would not be able to sell the homes for a decade and half.

However, now this condition has been relaxed and from April 1, women homebuyers can avail the discount and at the same time not fear that they will not be able to sell their own homes when they need to.

Also Read: Rs 45-90 Lakh ‘Sweet Spot’ for 36% Women Homebuyers

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By Varun Singh

Asia’s biggest slum Dharavi is all set for redevelopment, three developers have shown their interest in redeveloping this slum. Which has been waiting for a redevelopment for close to two decades.

The Global tender for redevelopment of Dharavi was floated by Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis Government on October 1, 2022. This after Uddhav Thackeray led MVA government’s cabinet in 2020 decided to cancel the tender for Dharavi Redevelopment that was floated by Devendra Fadnavis led government in 2018. Post which the MVA had even claimed that it shall float fresh tenders, but nothing much moved in that direction.

The tender floated by Devendra Fadnavis government in 2019 was the third time the tenders were floated for Dharavi Redevelopment. The first two times the tender was floated when Congress-NCP were in power.

In August 2020, the Committee of Secretaries (CoS) met to take a call on the Dharavi Redevelopment tender. The committee suggested cancelling the tender, and they proposed the same to the state government which finally took a call on it.

The CoS had relied its suggestion on the advice by the Advocate General (AG), who advised for fresh tenders. After floating the tender and receiving bids, the state government acquired 46 acres of land for Rs 800 crore from the Railway. Post acquiring this land and making it a part of the Redevelopment Project, the advice from the AG was sought, who advised for fresh tenders.
Global tenders were floated in November 2018, for the Dharavi Redeveloper Project.

Now coming to the three bidders, the three bidder for redevelopment of Dharavi are Adani, DLF and Naman. SVR Srinivas, the head of Dharavi Redevelopment Project, confirmed the same to SquareFeatIndia.

Envelope A has been opened, this envelope contains the names of the bidders, the technical bid, in envelope B will be open and those who pass this scrutiny, then envelope C which is the financial bid will be opened and the successful bidder fulfilling all the criteria will be declared as the winner.

Dharavi is spread over 240 hectare of land and is centrally located. It is close to Bandra Kurla Complex, the financial hub of Mumbai.

In January 2019, Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP) had received two tenders of which Seclink group was the frontrunner for the redevelopment of Dharavi which, according to reports, had quoted Rs 7,200 crore. The total project cost was estimated to be above Rs 27,000 crore.

The post One of these Three Developers will Redevelop Dharavi appeared first on Square Feat India.

By Varun Singh

BJP MLA Kirti Kumar (Bunty) Bhangdiya from Chimur constituency in Vidarbha’s Chandrapur district has bought an expensive flat in Mumbai.

Kirti Kumar (Bunty) bought the flat along with his younger brother Shrikant and father Mitesh Bhangdiya a former BJP MLC.

According to realty sources the flat cost the BJP MLA and his family members Rs 42.5 crore.

The apartment is located on the 26th floor of the Tower B of Three Sixty West building in Worli. Realty sources and the MLA confirmed that the documentation was carried out on September 29, 2020.

Total area of the flat bought by the BJP leader measures 7,530 square foot. He also got three car parks along with the flat.

When contacted MLA Kirti Kumar (Bunty) Bhangdiya he confirmed the purchase.

“The flat is a family owned property, it is on the name of my father, myself and my younger brother.”

BJP MLA Kirtikumar (Bunty) Bhangdiya

Kirti Kumar (Bunty) also stated that they availed a bank loan for the purchase of the property. He said, “The deal dates back 2017-18, we carried out the paper work now. The lowering of stamp was another reason behind the documentation now.”

The buyers paid Rs 85 lakh as stamp duty, which is 2% of the total value of the flat, the stamp duty earlier was 5%.

According to a report, in the 2014 Maharashtra assembly polls, Kirti Kumar (Bunty) was the richest candidate from Vidarbha.

In the 2019 assembly elections he contested again on the BJP ticket and defeated, Congress’ Satish Varjurakar.

Meanwhile, earlier this month a flat in the same building was sold for Rs 50 crore.

A real estate broker from Worli said, “This building has The Who’s Who of the business community and other notable sectors. Apartments always here demand a premium.”

Veteran banker Romesh Sobti along with his wife bought an apartment for Rs 76 crore in Worli’s Three Sixty West in June this year.

In 2018 Niraj Bajaj bought a 16,000-sq ft apartment here for Rs 120 crore.

Again in 2018, Shahid Kapoor had bought an apartment in the same building for Rs 55.60 crore.

Also Read: Slowdown? He paid Rs 76 crore for two flats in Worli

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By Varun Singh

Tender for Redevelopment of Dharavi one of the biggest slums in the continent could be cancelled soon.

On Thursday according to sources, the Committee of Secretaries (CoS) met to take a call on the Dharavi Redevelopment tender. The committee’s suggestion is to cancel the tender, they will propose this to the state government which shall finally take a call on it.

The CoS has relied its suggestion on the advice by the Advocate General (AG), who advised for fresh tenders.

After floating the tender and receiving bids, the state government acquired 46 acres of land for Rs 800 crore from the Railway.

Post acquiring this land and making it a part of the Dharavi Redevelopment Project, the advice from the AG was sought, who advised for fresh tenders. Sources say the CoS has gone ahead with the same advice. Now, the state government will be deciding on the future of the tender.

Global tenders were floated in November 2018, for Dharavi Redeveloper Project

Hiten Shah of Seclink Group, which was the highest bidder in the last tender stated that, even he has heard from sources the same, though no official confirmation has reached either him yet.

Dharavi is spread over 240 hectare of land and is centrally located. It is close to Bandra Kurla Complex, the financial hub of Mumbai.

In January 2019, DRP had received two tenders of which Seclink group was the frontrunner for the redevelopment of Dharavi which, according to reports had quoted Rs 7,200 crore. 

The redevelopment of Dharavi has been planned upon since over one and half decade, and till date not much has moved here.

A detailed message sent to housing secretary SVR Srinivas and Chief Secretary, Sanjay Kumar, Urban Development Secretary Bhushan Gagrani got us no response.

Also Read: Dharavi Residents To Oppose Fresh Bids For Redevelopment.

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By Varun Singh

Yuvraj Walmiki was part of the hockey team that defeated Pakistan in 2011. Yuvraj shot to fame when he scored a crucial tie-break goal against Pakistan in the final of the 2011 Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in China.

Post his return to Mumbai, after the historic win, he received a grand welcome at the Mumbai Airport.

From the airport he was taken to Matoshree where he even met, late Shiv Sena Supremo Balasaheb Thackeray.

The same evening he received a call from the Chief Minister’s office for meeting and felicitation.

Yuvraj met Prithviraj Chavan, the then Chief Minister and even Ajit Pawar. He was promised a home then but till now he hasn’t received it.

He back in 2017 had taken to twitter to remind the government that the promise be fulfilled. But nothing worked.

In 2018, Yuvraj and his brother both International hockey players had even applied for a house in the MHADA lottery but failed to win.

Meanwhile, Yuvraj has hopes from this government especially from Aaditya Thackeray.

Yuvraj’s and Aaditya’s relation dates back to 2010, when Aaditya Thackeray’s Yuva Sena had helped Yuvraj to retain local players for an inter-university hockey tournament.

 Currently Yuvraj stays in a 100 sq ft room, at Marine Lines, which till 2011 didn’t even have electricity.

The small house is insufficient to accommodate his large family comprising his mother, father, him, and three brothers.

After the government change in 2014, he was invited for the swearing-in ceremony of Devendra Fadanvis government at Wankhede.

He raised the matter with the Fadnavis government, and various ministers including Vinod Tawde then. However, it still didn’t work.

Now with the change in guard at the state, he’s expecting that the unfulfilled promise will be fulfilled.

“Aaditya Thackeray has helped me a lot, from my college days till now. Even in the previous government he spoke to various authorities and ministers to help me. I am hopeful that with he being a cabinet minister my problem will be solved,” said Yuvraj Walmiki in an exclusive chat with Square Feat India.

According to Yuvraj in almost all the other states his fellow international hockey players have been given a post of Deputy Superintendent of Police, he also be accommodated the same way.

“If that is done, all my problems will be resolved. I am expecting that the government gives me accommodation somewhere close to the grounds, so that my practice doesn’t get affected.”

Yuvraj has made us proud at International level, now it is time that the government wakes up and fulfills the promise.

Also Read: Ranveer Singh Rents An Apartment In Deepika Padukone’s Prabhadevi Building.

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By Varun Singh

Dharavi residents have made their mind. They want a speedy redevelopment and hence, if there’s a fresh bid by the government, they say they will oppose it.

On Wednesday afternoon, a group of residents under the banner of Dharavi Redevelopment Committee (DRC) met and announced that, they have high hopes from Chief Minister, Uddhav Thackeray. They want redevelopment to be carried out and want government to go ahead with the previous bids instead of inviting new ones.

The Devendra Fadanvis led government had formed a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for the redevelopment of Dharavi, where government would also be part of it. Fadanvis government had announced that it will float a Special Purpose Vehicle for the redevelopment of Dharavi where the lead partner, when forms the SPV, will have 80% equity (Rs 400 crore) while the government will hold 20% equity (Rs 100 crore).

There were tenders floated and while Seclink group became a front runner, quoting Rs 7,200 crore, the second bidder was Adani who had bid Rs 4,500 crore. However, since January 2019 no decision has been taken yet on who to award the tender.

However, according to media reports, the advocate general for the state, Ashutosh Kumbhakoni has opined that the state should cancel the bids received and call for fresh bids.

Rajendra Korde, President of DRC says, the opinion of advocate general isn’t binding on the Chief Minister. “If fresh bids are invited then there will be a further delay. We have already waited for 16 years and cannot wait further. Entire redevelopment of Dharavi is stuck and if there’s a fresh tender floated we will oppose it,” said Korde.

According to Korde, since 2004 there has been no redevelopment in Dharavi, because of the ambitious Dharavi Redevelopment Project. He also blames officials sitting at the Mantralaya for the delay in the redevelopment.

Meanwhile, Seclink Group’s Hiten Shah on the issue of re-inviting tenders for Dharavi said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take time to establish a transparent proper system in this country for inviting proper investors.”

Shah further added, “He (PM) has other national issues to address on priority. Rehabilitation and welfare of Dharavi may come on his agenda after few years.”

Dharavi is spread over 240 acres of land in Central Mumbai and is one of the biggest slums in the continent. It has around 12,000 commercial establishments and over 67,000 residents.

Dharavi comprises of mult-storeyed shanties, chawls and some small buildings too. The demands of the Dharavi residents are as follows

As Dharavi Rehabilitation Project (DRP) is a vital public project, there should not be compulsion of the cut off date and every slum dweller must get a house for a house.

Every slum dweller should get a tenement of 400 sq ft and the residents of chawls of estate department and building should get a tenement admeasuring 753 sq ft.

Proper and special plan fro the rehabilitation of various industries running in Dharavi be made. The slum dwellers adjacent to railway lines and under Tata high tension power line also should be rehabilitated.

The residents also demand that the finding of survey and list of the eligible slum dwellers in the form of Annexure II, conducted by Mashal must be published y the government.

At the meeting of the Dharavi residents, they had the slogan ‘Hich Ti Vel’ printed, which means “this is the time’. Ironically this was the same slogan that was used by Shiv Sena during the Maharashtra state elections. Korde says if government wants to float fresh tenders it is better they allow Dharavi residents to go for redevelopment on their own as residents have lost their patience after waiting for 16-years.

Also Read: Dharavi Residents Want Neighbour CM Thackeray To Speed Redevelopment.

The post Dharavi Residents To Oppose Fresh Bids For Redevelopment. appeared first on Square Feat India.

By Varun Singh

Dharavi, one of the World’s biggest slum pocket located in the heart of India’s financial capital Mumbai is hoping that Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray who is also their neighbour will help them redevelop Dharavi. The residents say they will meet Thackeray between January 20-25.

Uddhav Thackeray’s residence Matoshreeis in Bandra’s Kala Nagar, which is next to Dharavi and hence the residents of Dharavi say he is their neighbour. A bunch of Dharavi residents had visited Nagpur and met the chief minister during the winter session.

They even handed him a letter seeking his help and remaining him his promise about Dharavi redevelopment. Now they plan to meet the CM in the coming 10-15 days as Thackeray had asked them to visit him at Mantralaya.

Hariram Dilliwala, general secretary of People’s Responsible Organisation of United Dharavi (PROUD) said, “We had gone to meet the CM at Nagpur and reminded him his promise that he had given us before he became the chief minister that he will help Dharavi redevelop.”

“Now when he is the chief minister we expect that he will help us and fulfill his promise. We will be meeting the chief minister between January 20-25 with or demands,” said Dilliwala. Dilliwala along with other organizations is holding a press conference on Dharavi Redevelopment and meeting with CM on January 15.

Dharavi for a long time has been a struggling for redevelopment. The Devendra Fadanvis led government had formed a Special Purpose Vehicle for the redevelopment, where government would also part of it. Fadanvis government had announced that it will float a Special Purpose Vehicle for the redevelopment of Dharavi where the lead partner, when forms the SPV, will have 80% equity (Rs 400 crore) while the government will hold 20% equity (Rs 100 crore). 

There were tenders floated and while Seclink group became a frontrunner, quoting Rs 7,200 crore, the second bidder was Adani who had bid Rs 4,500 crore. However, since January 2019 no decision has been taken yet on who to award the tender. 

Dharavi redevelopment is a big political scheme that many governments have tried their hands in the past too. The redevelopment which will fall under a special authority called Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP) hasn’t started yet.

Except for one sector that is sector V where MHADA did redevelop some portion, none of the previous government’s ambitious Dharavi Redevelopment ever took wings.

Dharavi is spread over 240 acres of land in Central Mumbai and is one of the biggest slums in the continent.

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