The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) has floated a tender for the long-awaited cluster redevelopment of Kamathipura in South Mumbai. The project will be undertaken through MHADA’s Mumbai Building Repairs and Reconstruction Board.

The selected developer will receive rights to develop approximately 5.67 lakh square metres (6.1 million square feet) of free-sale area. As part of the agreement, the bidder must also construct rehabilitation units for existing tenants and hand over 44,000 square metres of land to MHADA to expand its affordable housing stock.

The 34-acre land parcel houses 8,001 residential and commercial tenants, many of whom reside in ageing, dilapidated “cess buildings.” In addition to housing, the redevelopment plan includes commercial spaces and recreational facilities.

After delays stemming from compensation issues for the area’s roughly 800 private landowners, the state government approved a finalised compensation scheme in July 2024. Under this, landowners with 50 square metres of land will be allotted a 500 sq ft flat, with additional units allocated for larger holdings.

Property market sources indicate that the area’s prevailing rates range from Rs 40,000 to Rs 45,000 per sq ft. Based on this, the free-sale component of the project could generate up to Rs 30,000 crore in revenue.

While the project may attract large, equity-backed developers, challenges remain. These include the need to relocate commercial activities, the permanent nature of most existing structures, and the social impact of tenant displacement. Additionally, the area’s limited infrastructure and road width could pose logistical difficulties, despite improved metro connectivity expected in the coming years.

News source: Money Control