In an effort to regain control over abandoned redevelopment projects on their lands, the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) has sent out about 1,200 letters to different Mumbai developers and housing societies. This action is in response to a 1976 amendment to the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Act (MHADA) that gave MHADA the power to independently supervise redevelopment on its plots in the event that developers and residents fail to submit any plans for the redevelopment of residential buildings, regardless of the reasons behind the failure, including disagreements or pending legal actions.
Sanjeev Jaiswal, Vice President and CEO of the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), underscored the importance of redevelopment initiatives during his speech at the CREDAI-MCHI Redeveloping Mumbai exhibition held at the Bandra Kurla Complex. He reported that MHADA has issued approximately 850 notifications under Section 79(A), around 300 notices under Section 79(B), and an additional 70 to 80 notices under Section 91(A) since the policy changes were implemented.
Under Section 79(A), owners or landlords of cessed buildings are notified by MHADA and required to submit a redevelopment proposal with at least 51% resident support within six months of receiving the notification. If the owner fails to submit a proposal, tenants or occupants are mandated to submit their own redevelopment proposal within the same timeframe under Section 79(B). Furthermore, Section 91(A) addresses projects that are either not initiated, delayed, or incomplete within three years of obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC).
Jaiswal also cautioned the real estate sector against undermining redevelopment efforts by enticing residents with incentives that exceed those offered by project developers. He pointed out that housing societies have frequently opted for developers who provide larger carpet areas and higher corpus funds, leading to conflicts with current developers. This situation often results in legal disputes, further deteriorating the structure and ultimately harming residents by delaying project completion.
Research indicates that there are over 14,000 cessed buildings in South Mumbai alone, with an additional 13,000 awaiting rehabilitation. The state government has granted NOCs for about 4,000 of these buildings. To accelerate the redevelopment process, the government encourages residents to consider cluster redevelopment rather than pursuing individual projects. This strategy aims to facilitate more comprehensive and efficient rehabilitation efforts, ultimately benefiting residents and improving Mumbai's overall housing situation.
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