13 May 2025

Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL) has joined forces with United Way Mumbai to carry out daily beach clean-up and waste management activities in Mumbai. This initiative, aimed at promoting sustainable waste management practices, involves the deployment of Safai Sathis at Mahim Reti Bunder and Mahim Causeway. Over a six-month period, from October 2024 to March 2025, the project successfully collected 1,12,097.37 kgs of waste, which was processed at a Material Recovery Centre (MRC). IHCL's collaboration underscores the importance of public-private partnerships in addressing environmental challenges while contributing to a cleaner Mumbai.Read more

13 May 2025

CREDAI-MCHI hosted a seminar earlier this week at its Mumbai office to shed light on the implications of the recent Bombay High Court ruling concerning GST relief for homeowners in redevelopment projects. The panel featured industry experts, including Mr. Sunny Bijlani, Joint Secretary of CREDAI-MCHI, Mr. Rohit Jain, Deputy Managing Partner at Economic Laws Practice (ELP), and Mr. Harsh Shah, Partner at ELP. The court ruled that GST is not applicable where developers are appointed for redevelopment without the sale or transfer of development rights (TDR) or Floor Space Index (FSI). The judgement quashed a tax demand under Entry 5B of the relevant GST notification, emphasising that redevelopment agreements limited to construction do not involve the transfer of TDR or FSI under Maharashtra's Unified DCPR.Read more

13 May 2025

Amazon has renewed its five-year lease for over 94,000 sq ft of office space at Godrej Two in Vikhroli, Mumbai, with a 48-month lock-in period and monthly rent of INR 1.73 crore. The lease covers four Amazon entities and includes 60 parking spaces. Located in the premium 'The Trees' mixed-use development by Godrej Properties and Godrej Fund Management, the office space spans four units on the 7th floor. This renewal highlights Amazon's ongoing expansion in Mumbai and reinforces Vikhroli's rise as a key commercial hub. It also reflects the growing preference for sustainable, well-connected office spaces among global corporations in India.Read more

13 May 2025

To tackle rising traffic congestion in Mumbai's Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), especially after the Sion bridge closure, the MMRDA has approved a strategic traffic management plan. With around 2 lakh employees and 4 lakh visitors daily, BKC faces severe vehicular pressure, worsened by heavy transport inflows. The plan includes converting underused cycle tracks into vehicle lanes, expanding road capacity to accommodate 600-900 extra vehicles per lane. A one-way system will also be introduced in high-traffic zones. These changes are expected to reduce peak travel times by 40% and cut emissions by 30%. The initiative reflects MMRDA's focus on sustainable, efficient urban mobility.Read more

12 May 2025

Bollywood star Ajay Devgn has leased a 2,545 square foot office space for INR 5.47 lakh a month in Andheri West, Mumbai. The five-year lease, registered earlier this month, involves a security deposit of INR 16.42 lakh. The rental agreement includes a clause for an increase to INR 6.29 lakh per month after three years. This transaction is part of Devgn's broader investment in commercial real estate, having acquired five office units in the Signature by Lotus building for INR 45.09 crore in April 2023. The current lease is with Bombay Design Centre Pvt Ltd.Read more

12 May 2025

The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) is set to launch a lottery for approximately 5,200 affordable homes in Mumbai around Diwali 2025. These homes will be available across various income categories, including Economically Weaker Section (EWS), Lower Income Group (LIG), Middle Income Group (MIG), and High Income Group (HIG). The application process will be entirely online, with further details regarding pricing, locations, and schedules to be announced in the coming months.Read more

12 May 2025

Mumbai Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has filed an FIR against 13 individuals-including five contractors, three middlemen, and five current or former BMC officials-in a desilting scam involving fake documents and inflated bills worth INR 66.5 crore. The accused allegedly submitted forged MoUs and agreements to falsely claim silt dumping at sites that were either unsuitable or non-existent, some even signed by deceased individuals. The scam, spanning February 2021 to December 2023, resulted in civic funds being misused. The case underscores serious lapses in municipal oversight, prompting calls for stricter audits and real-time verification in public infrastructure contracts. Further arrests are expected.Read more

09 May 2025

The Uttan-Virar Sea Link (UVSL) Phase-1, spearheaded by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), is progressing rapidly with a revised layout that promises to revolutionise northern Mumbai's infrastructure. Originally conceptualised as the Versova-Virar Sea Link, the project was reorganised into phases after being handed over from MSRDC to MMRDA in late 2022. The first phase, connecting Uttan to Virar, was approved for implementation earlier this week, while the second phase awaits feasibility clearance. With modern engineering features, international funding, and socio-economic benefits spanning connectivity, investment, safety, and sustainability, UVSL is poised to become a transformative link in the region.Read more

09 May 2025

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) recently conducted an anti-encroachment drive in Durgamata Nagar, Sector-08, Belapur, removing 64 illegal huts built on government land. Led by Commissioner Dr Kailas Shinde and supported by senior officials, the operation involved heavy machinery, 22 workers, and police personnel. This action is part of NMMC's ongoing campaign to curb unauthorised constructions and protect urban planning norms. Officials have pledged to intensify such efforts in the future, underscoring their commitment to preventing the spread of illegal structures and maintaining orderly city development.Read more

08 May 2025

Singer and TV personality Rahul Vaidya, along with his parents, has sold two residential apartments in Mumbai's Oshiwara area for a total of INR 5 crore. The flats, located in the Samartha Aangan project near Lokhandwala, were registered in April 2025. One unit measuring 1,102 sq. ft. sold for INR 3 crore, while the second, at 743 sq. ft., fetched INR 2 crore. Both deals included standard stamp duty and registration charges. Vaidya, known for his music career and reality TV appearances like Indian Idol and Bigg Boss 14, continues to maintain a notable presence in the entertainment industry.Read more

08 May 2025

Savarkar Sadan, the historic residence of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar near Shivaji Park in Mumbai, is likely to be demolished and redeveloped. Built in 1938, the structure has deteriorated due to internal damage, prompting residents-some of whom have already sold their units to a developer-to support redevelopment. The bungalow holds deep historical significance, having hosted figures like Subhas Chandra Bose and Nathuram Godse. Over time, it was expanded under the TDR scheme. Currently, a small museum run by the Savarkar Trust operates on the ground floor. The Trust aims to retain and expand the museum in the new building while preserving the legacy by retaining the name 'Savarkar Sadan'.Read more

08 May 2025

Following public outcry over the narrowing and lowering of Walkeshwar Road in Malabar Hill, the BMC has issued a stop-work notice to developer Dilip Chunilal Chandan and architect Preeti Kashyap Barai. The April 26, 2025 notice cites unauthorized construction at a site on CS 156, which reportedly lacks proper approvals as per amended building plans. The BMC has halted all work until the City-I Building Proposal Department reviews concerns about the altered road level and reduced width. The developer has been given 24 hours to present valid permissions or face demolition and removal of materials. Local police have been instructed to enforce the order immediately.Read more

08 May 2025

The Panvel City Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has issued eviction notices to all 96 flat owners of Pioneer Co-operative Housing Society (CHS) for lacking an Occupancy Certificate (OC), rendering the building illegal for residence. Occupied since 2017, the 12-storey building failed to secure necessary approvals like TDR and met with repeated non-compliance despite prior notices. PCMC has also incurred a loss of INR 18.54 lakh by supplying free water tankers since 2023, reportedly under political pressure, despite the society defaulting on water tax payments. While residents face eviction, no action has yet been taken against the builders or architects responsible for the violations.Read more

07 May 2025

Sohail Khan has leased his commercial property in Bandra's Gasper Enclave to The Irish House for five years, earning an estimated rental income of INR 10.3 crore. The 1,290.57 sq. ft. unit commands a monthly rent of INR 16.89 lakh for the first three years, rising to INR 17.73 lakh for the final two. The agreement includes a security deposit of INR 60 lakh and attracted a stamp duty of INR 2.67 lakh. Originally purchased in 2009 for INR 3.11 crore, the property reflects strong asset appreciation in Bandra-a prime location increasingly leveraged by celebrities amid booming real estate demand.Read more

07 May 2025

The BMC has penalized a contractor INR 75 lakh after substandard materials and poor curing were found on Khar West's 34th Road during a surprise inspection. The contractor had falsely certified the road as complete, with further investigation revealing weak concrete, undersized aggregates, and missing compaction tests. Additional Municipal Commissioner Abhijit Bangar called the failure systemic, fining not just the contractor but also the quality monitoring agency and municipal staff. The incident raises questions about the enforcement of BMC's quality checks, especially as the city aims to concrete 400 km of roads by May 31 under a high-profile infrastructure drive.Read more

07 May 2025

The Konkan Housing and Area Development Board, under MHADA, has launched a new digital platform called 'Book My Home,' enabling buyers to directly select from 13,395 unsold flats across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region under the First Come, First Serve (FCFS) scheme. Flats located in Virar, Khoni, Shirgaon, Gothivare, and Bhandarli, priced between INR 17 lakh and INR 30 lakh, can now be booked in real-time with floor and unit selection. The Aadhaar and PAN-based registration process is fully online and digitally verified. The initiative aims to improve transparency, reduce delays, and activate dormant inventory amid growing demand for affordable housing in peripheral Mumbai.Read more