Why Section 79-A Was Introduced

Cessed buildings — old rent-controlled structures mostly built before 1969 — have been a ticking time bomb in Mumbai for decades. Despite repeated incentives and policies, redevelopment remained painfully slow. Landlords often lacked funds or incentive because of frozen rents, while tenants were completely dependent on owners to initiate projects. MHADA could step in only after lengthy acquisition proceedings.

To break this deadlock, the Maharashtra government inserted Section 79-A into the MHADA Act in December 2022. The provision creates a strict time-bound compulsory redevelopment mechanism:

• Landlords/owners get 3 + 6 months to submit a redevelopment proposal with at least 51% tenant consent.
• If they fail, tenants get the next six months to propose redevelopment themselves.
• Only if both fail does MHADA step in as the last resort.

The clear objective was to save lives by fast-tracking reconstruction of dilapidated structures that have caused hundreds of deaths and injuries over the years through partial or full collapses.

Why the Bombay High Court Stayed the Notices

In July 2025, the High Court, while hearing a batch of writ petitions (lead case WP(L) No. 34771 of 2024), stayed 935 notices issued by MHADA’s Executive Engineers under Section 79-A. The court described the mass issuance as a “colossal misuse of authority”. Key concerns:

• Executive Engineers were not the “competent authority” under the MHADA Act or the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act to unilaterally declare buildings dangerous.
• Many notices were issued based only on visual inspections, without mandatory structural audits.
• The Vice-President’s Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of December 5, 2024, was questioned for lacking proper legal backing.

The court ordered 46 notices withdrawn immediately, kept the rest in abeyance, and constituted the two-member committee headed by former Bombay High Court judge Justice J.P. Devadhar and former Principal District Judge Shri Vilas Dongre to investigate the notices, withdrawals, officials’ roles, and the legality of the SOP.

What the Devadhar-Dongre Committee Found

After extensive hearings with MHADA officials, landlords, tenants, site visits to dilapidated buildings, and scrutiny of records, the committee’s 90-page report (Opinion section: pages 64–90) reaches several clear conclusions:

• The crisis is extremely serious: As of December 2025, Mumbai still has 12,552 cessed buildings (10,558 Category A built before 1940). Only a fraction have been structurally audited; 178 are already classified as C-1 (critically unsafe and unfit for habitation).
• MHADA’s intent in issuing the notices and the SOP was bona fide. Officials were responding to legislative pressure and trying to implement the new law to prevent further loss of life.
• The Vice-President had the authority to issue the SOPs (President’s post has been vacant for years). The SOPs actually improved the process by mandating structural audits, forming a Technical Advisory Committee, and giving fair hearing to all parties.
• Withdrawals of some notices were justified (technical errors, existing proposals, heritage issues, etc.).
• The real villain is systemic delay and administrative vacuum at MHADA and the Mumbai Repairs & Reconstruction Board.

The panel explicitly warns that at the current pace, it will take decades to redevelop all buildings — and more collapses are inevitable.

What Next?

The ball is now firmly in the Bombay High Court’s court. The committee’s report has effectively cleared most procedural and motive-related objections raised in July 2025. Legal experts believe the High Court is likely to:

• Accept the committee’s findings and lift or substantially modify the stay on the 79-A process.
• Allow redevelopment to proceed on buildings where structural audits confirm danger and 51%+ tenant consent exists (as the court had already permitted in some cases in December 2025).
• Direct MHADA to follow the improved SOP safeguards strictly.

For the lakhs of families living in these death-trap buildings, this could finally mean faster reconstruction, better homes, and an end to the constant fear of collapse — especially ahead of the monsoon season.

The report has put Mumbai’s 13,000+ unsafe cessed buildings at a decisive crossroads. If the High Court acts swiftly on the committee’s recommendations, Section 79-A could finally deliver the urgent redevelopment it was designed for.

The lives of four lakh Mumbaikars may depend on how quickly the court moves.

Also Read: MHADA Floats Tender for Kamathipura Redevelopment

The post MHADA 79-A Path Almost Clear: Faster Redevelopment for 12,552 Cessed Buildings appeared first on Square Feat India.

The order—issued under Section 91(A) and Section 93(1) of the Act—empowers MHADA to take over the distressed project after the private developer failed to deliver redevelopment or rehabilitate tenants for over 25 years.

The property, located on Survey Nos. 181 and 186, Building Nos. 62/63, T.J. Road, Parel, spans 9,592.93 sq. m, and has remained stuck despite repeated promises, rent defaults, and no on-ground rehabilitation.

Government Steps In After Decades of Inaction

According to the GR, MHADA had issued a notice to the developer on 28 November 2023, citing failure to complete the project and non-compliance with redevelopment obligations.

With no progress thereafter, MHADA submitted a proposal seeking government approval to acquire the land and surrounding structures so that the stalled redevelopment could be completed through MHADA directly.

The government has now granted approval with conditions.

Key Directives Issued in the Government Order

1. Third-Party Rights and Financial Liabilities Under Scrutiny

The state clarified that information regarding:

• third-party rights created by the developer,
• loans or mortgages taken,
• liabilities on the project

was not available at the government level.
MHADA has been instructed to independently verify all such details and resubmit them to the government for prior approval.

2. Developer to Face Strict Action

The GR directs MHADA and the BMC to:

• Blacklist the defaulting developer/owner,
• Inform all relevant departments,
• Register criminal cases against them for abandoning the project and failing to rehabilitate tenants.

3. Immediate Action Required by Repair & Reconstruction Board

For all matters requiring prior state approval under the 2023 guidelines, the Mumbai Building Repairs & Reconstruction Board must:

• seek state approval promptly,
• begin acquisition formalities immediately,
• initiate all redevelopment processes without delay.

Why This Order Matters

The decision marks one of the strongest signals yet from the Maharashtra government in cracking down on stalled redevelopment projects—a chronic issue affecting thousands of tenants in Mumbai’s aging housing stock.

By invoking Sections 91(A) and 93 of the MHADA Act, the government is effectively declaring that long-pending projects can and will be taken over, ensuring occupants are finally shifted to safe and permanent homes.

The GR also aligns with the broader reforms introduced through the 2022 amendments to the MHADA Act, designed to fast-track redevelopment of:

• cessed buildings,
• dilapidated structures,
• dangerous chawls,
• delayed or abandoned projects.

Impact on Tenants of K.K. Modi Wani Chawl

For the residents who have waited decades:

• No redevelopment has happened,
• No permanent housing was constructed,
• Rehabilitation was delayed indefinitely,

This decision finally clears the biggest barrier — control of the land — paving the way for MHADA to execute redevelopment and shift tenants into new homes.

Also Read: Redevelopment in Mumbai Reinventing Maximum City

The post Govt Approves Land Acquisition for Parel’s K.K. Modi Wani Chawl Redevelopment After 25-Year Delay appeared first on Square Feat India.

Mumbai is often described as India’s financial capital, the city of dreams, and the beating heart of the nation’s economy. Yet, for millions of its citizens, Mumbai is also the city of broken promises. For decades, the city has been systematically failed — by its politicians, by its administrators, and most consistently, by its own civic body, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

The Paradox of the Richest, Yet Poorest in Service

The BMC is the richest municipal corporation in the country, its budget larger than some Indian states. But this wealth has not translated into quality of life for Mumbaikars. Roads disintegrate within days of being patched. Even a few millimeters of rain choke the city. Potholes kill people every monsoon. Slums emerge overnight and become permanent fixtures under political protection. Garbage management remains erratic.

This paradox is not about money; it is about governance — or rather, the lack of it.

Politicians and Administrators: A Legacy of Neglect

For years, successive governments treated Mumbai as a revenue cow, extracting from it without reinvesting meaningfully. Bureaucrats and civic officials, shielded by corruption and political patronage, turned inefficiency into an art form.

The rot was most visible during the tenure of the UBT-led government. Metro projects that could have significantly eased the burden on commuters were stalled under the guise of “environmental concerns.” Meanwhile, the ambitious BDD Chawl Redevelopment project, floated in 2017 to give over 15,500 families new homes, ground to a halt. In 2020, Larsen & Toubro (L&T), one of the main contractors, threatened to pull out altogether, citing slow progress and administrative hurdles. Thousands of families waiting for dignified housing were left stranded.

This was not governance; it was paralysis.

The Fadnavis Intervention

Contrast this with Devendra Fadnavis’s tenure, where for the first time in decades, Mumbai saw a serious attempt to modernize.

• Coastal Road: A transformative project to ease traffic congestion.
• Atal Setu: Seamless connectivity between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.
• Metro Expansion: The maximum number of metro projects were pushed during his government, offering a real alternative to the city’s overburdened transport.

On housing, his interventions were equally significant. Instead of appointing private developers with questionable motives, Fadnavis placed MHADA in charge of the BDD Chawl Redevelopment, ensuring top-tier contractors were brought in. He also floated global tenders for Dharavi’s redevelopment — Asia’s largest slum — and for GTN Nagar, one of Mumbai’s oldest refugee camps. Crucially, the vision was not displacement, but in-situ rehabilitation, at no cost to original residents.

This marked a rare moment in Mumbai’s history: a government thinking of ordinary Mumbaikars before builders.

The Present Pain and the Path Forward

Yes, today the city is under stress. Traffic jams have worsened, construction disrupts daily life, and patience is wearing thin. But this disruption is the result of decades of neglect finally being confronted. Mumbai is undergoing surgery after years of misdiagnosis. The pain is real, but so is the prospect of healing.

Yet one problem persists: while Fadnavis pushes relentlessly, the city’s administrative machinery does not. The BMC remains riddled with corruption. Civic officials are unaccountable. Police often dismiss the everyday grievances of citizens. Bureaucrats resist change, dragging their feet despite political will.

If Mumbai’s transformation is to succeed, the Chief Minister must now direct his attention towards the city’s officials — tightening the noose around corrupt systems and demanding accountability at every level.

Conclusion: Hope Amidst Betrayal

Mumbai has been failed repeatedly — by politicians who stalled projects, by administrators who obstructed, and by a civic body that squanders its wealth. The UBT government stalled infrastructure and allowed critical projects like BDD Chawl redevelopment to languish.

But under Fadnavis, the city is finally seeing a blueprint for change — roads, bridges, metros, and housing for those who built Mumbai with their sweat.

The frustration today is real. But unlike in the past, so is the hope. Because for the first time in a long time, there is leadership that dares to dream, and more importantly, has the track record to deliver. The battle ahead is not just against potholes or floods, but against the entrenched culture of corruption and apathy that has long defined Mumbai’s governance.

And that is a battle Mumbai cannot afford to lose.

Also Read: Devendra Fadnavis Puts Dharavi Redevelopment back on track

The post What and Who Failed Mumbai? appeared first on Square Feat India.

The occasion marked the change of guard at CREDAI-MCHI, with Sukhraj Nahar taking over as President from Dominic Romell. Fadnavis, who attended as the Chief Guest, used his address to call out what he described as the sector’s broken promises.

‘We Fulfilled Your Demands… Yet Prices Still Went Up’

Fadnavis recalled that over the last decade, developers repeatedly approached the government seeking policy concessions — especially reductions in premiums — claiming this would make homes in Mumbai affordable.

“We reduced premiums, fulfilled every demand. I even expected prices to drop after the Coastal Road was developed. But instead of lowering prices, you raised them,” he said, drawing sharp attention from the audience of leading developers.

A Public Accountability Moment for the Sector

The Chief Minister’s remarks highlight a rare public confrontation between the state and Mumbai’s powerful real estate sector. While government concessions were aimed at reducing input costs, housing prices in the city have continued to climb, putting home ownership out of reach for many middle-class buyers.

CREDAI-MCHI Leadership Transition

The evening was also about leadership change, with Sukhraj Nahar stepping in as the new President of CREDAI-MCHI, one of India’s most influential real estate bodies. Outgoing president Dominic Romell was acknowledged for his tenure, while the incoming leadership pledged to work closely with the government on housing issues.

Also Read: CREDAI-MCHI Launches Exhibition to Streamline Redevelopment in Mumbai

The post ‘We Cut Costs, You Raised Prices’: CM Fadnavis Slams Builders at CREDAI-MCHI Event appeared first on Square Feat India.

The decision was formally announced by Sanjeev Jaiswal, IAS, Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, MHADA, as part of a two-pronged interim relief package aimed at safeguarding lives during the monsoon.

 Temporary Transit Housing Also in the Works

In addition to direct rent support, MBRRB has been instructed to lease 400 transit tenements through external agencies. These units, measuring between 180 and 250 sq ft, will be rented for a period of three years to house residents from these highly dangerous buildings.

Currently, the Board has only 786 vacant transit tenements, making it insufficient to accommodate the estimated 2,400 residents of the 96 structures. To bridge this gap urgently, MHADA has greenlit the leasing of additional units and plans to issue a public advertisement inviting proposals from eligible agencies.

 Costs to Be Recovered from Developers

MHADA has clarified that all expenses — including the ₹20,000 monthly rent disbursed and costs associated with leasing and maintaining transit units — will be recovered from private developers or cooperative housing societiesthat are undertaking the redevelopment of these properties.

This cost-recovery clause will be applicable from the date rental assistance is disbursed or the transit tenements are occupied, ensuring the financial burden does not fall on the state.

 Cessed Buildings in Mumbai – A Snapshot

As per MHADA records:

• Total cessed buildings in island city: 13,091
• Transit tenements currently managed by the Board: 20,591
• Transit tenements available as of now: 786

These tenements are typically used to house residents evacuated due to:

• Dangerous building conditions
• Structural repairs
• Redevelopment of narrow plots
• Road widening demolitions

 Monsoon Risk Prompted Swift Action

With the onset of Mumbai’s monsoon season and rising concerns over structural safety, the decision aims to offer immediate relief while safeguarding lives. Jaiswal emphasized that protecting residents remains the top priority and that MHADA is committed to ensuring temporary shelter or compensation reaches all affected tenants promptly.

Also Read: MHADA Announces New Lottery Date for Mumbai

The post MHADA to Offer ₹20,000 Monthly Rent for Residents of 96 Most Dangerous Cessed Buildings appeared first on Square Feat India.

Dharavi Redevelopment: A New Era for Asia’s Largest Slum

Scope of the Project: Dharavi, known as one of Asia’s largest informal settlements, is undergoing a monumental redevelopment. The initiative aims to replace the current informal housing with modern, high-rise residential buildings, commercial spaces, and enhanced infrastructure.

Objectives and Vision: The redevelopment seeks to elevate living conditions by improving sanitation, housing quality, and overall amenities. It also aims to create a more organized commercial environment, contributing to the area’s economic upliftment. Residents will be temporarily relocated to facilitate this extensive redevelopment.

Progress and Key Players: The Adani Group has been awarded the contract for the redevelopment of Dharavi. It is expected from Adani that they will transform the area into a modern, integrated urban environment.

Challenges Faced: The project is grappling with substantial investment requirements, logistical complexities related to relocating thousands of residents, and the intricate task of upgrading infrastructure while preserving the community’s social structure.

Also Read: Dharavi Redevelopment Construction Set to Begin Within Six Months

Kamathipura Redevelopment: Revitalizing a Historic Area

Scope of the Project: Kamathipura, known as one of Mumbai’s oldest and most notorious red-light districts, is undergoing a significant redevelopment effort. This project focuses on transforming the area into a mixed-use development featuring modern residential buildings, commercial spaces, and community facilities.

Objectives and Vision: The redevelopment aims to improve living conditions and safety for the area’s current residents while providing new housing and amenities. The project also seeks to revitalize the area’s economic potential and integrate it more seamlessly into the broader urban fabric of Mumbai.

Upcoming Plans: The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) is planning to float a tender soon for the redevelopment of Kamathipura. This move is expected to attract developers and investment, setting the stage for a major transformation of the area.

Challenges Faced: Redeveloping Kamathipura presents challenges including addressing the socio-economic issues tied to its history, managing the relocation of existing residents, and ensuring that the new developments foster community well-being and economic opportunity without displacing vulnerable populations.

Also Read: Kamathipura Redevelopment Again On The Block.

BDD Chawl Redevelopment: Preserving Heritage While Modernizing

Scope of the Project: The redevelopment of BDD Chawls (Bombay Development Directorate Chawls), historic housing complexes built in the 1920s and 1930s, is now underway. This project aims to replace the aging structures with new, modern residential buildings while preserving the historical essence of the area.

Objectives and Vision: The redevelopment seeks to improve living conditions for the current residents by providing modern amenities and better infrastructure. The project also aims to balance the need for new housing with the preservation of the architectural and historical significance of the BDD Chawls.

Key Player: MHADA is spearheading the redevelopment of the BDD Chawls. The authority’s involvement ensures that the project aligns with both contemporary urban standards and the preservation of the historical character of the chawls.

Challenges Faced: The redevelopment faces challenges such as balancing modernization with heritage preservation. Ensuring that the new development respects the historical character while meeting current urban standards is a complex task.

Also Read: MHADA to Provide 11 Months’ Rent in One Installment to Eligible Tenants in BDD Chawl Redevelopment Project

Broader Implications for Mumbai’s Urban Landscape

Economic Growth and Investment Opportunities: The influx of redevelopment projects is stimulating economic growth by drawing substantial investments from real estate developers and financial institutions. This surge is creating job opportunities and potentially setting new real estate trends in Mumbai and other major Indian cities.

Enhancements in Urban Infrastructure: Redevelopment efforts are focused on upgrading essential urban infrastructure, including roads, sewage systems, and public transportation facilities. These improvements are expected to enhance the overall quality of life and connectivity within the city.

Social and Cultural Impact: While redevelopment promises improved living conditions, it also raises concerns about community displacement. Addressing these social issues through adequate compensation and resettlement options is crucial. Additionally, the transformation of historic and culturally significant areas may alter the social fabric and cultural dynamics, highlighting the need to balance modernization with heritage preservation.

Conclusion: Mumbai’s redevelopment projects represent a significant step towards modernizing the city and meeting the needs of its expanding population. However, the success of these initiatives will hinge on effective planning, resource management, and the careful consideration of social and environmental impacts associated with such large-scale urban transformations.

The post Will These Three Major Redevelopment Projects Change Mumbai’s Fortune? appeared first on Square Feat India.