Mumbai News: Kamathipura Set for Major Overhaul as MHADA Launches Long-Awaited Redevelopment Plan
Mumbai News: Kamathipura Set for Major Overhaul as MHADA Launches Long-Awaited Redevelopment Plan
After decades of uncertainty and repeated delays, one of Mumbai’s oldest and most densely populated neighbourhoods, Kamathipura, is finally poised for a long-overdue transformation. The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) has officially initiated the redevelopment process by inviting tenders for the integrated reconstruction of the 28-acre area located in South Mumbai.
The tender, issued on June 12 by the Mumbai Building Repairs and Reconstruction Board (MBRRB), marks a significant milestone for the locality, historically known for its ageing infrastructure and socio-economic challenges. The deadline for developers to submit their bids is July 28, and the project will be carried out under Development Control and Promotion Regulation (DCPR) 2034, specifically Regulation 33(9), which governs the redevelopment of cessed buildings.
Kamathipura’s redevelopment has been in discussion since the 1980s, but efforts to implement change never materialised. In 2005, private developers made unsuccessful attempts, and it wasn’t until 2020, during the tenure of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, that renewed momentum was seen. Then-housing minister Jitendra Awhad visited the area, and a Development Project Report (DPR) was subsequently prepared, with MHADA appointed as the nodal agency. Congress MLA Ameen Patel, who first raised the issue in 2007 when he served as a corporator from the area, has been a vocal advocate of the project ever since.
“This has been pending for far too long. Now that tenders are out, we need to move quickly to ensure that this opportunity doesn’t slip through our hands again,” Patel said. He also emphasized that the redevelopment would drastically alter the skyline and improve living conditions for thousands.
The plan includes the cluster redevelopment of 943 cessed and 349 non-cessed buildings across lanes 1 to 15, covering a total net plot area of approximately 73,145 square metres. The aging structures, many over a century old, currently house around 6,625 residential and 1,376 non-residential tenants—roughly 8,001 residents in all. The area also comprises 800 landowners, 14 religious structures, two schools, and four reserved plots.
As per MHADA’s redevelopment model, tenants will be provided with 500 sq ft homes at no cost. Landowners with plots of up to 50 sq metres will also receive one 500 sq ft unit. Those with larger plots will be allotted multiple flats based on a sliding scale: two units for plots between 51 and 100 sq metres, three units for 101 to 150 sq metres, four units for 151 to 200 sq metres, and one additional unit for every 50 sq metres beyond 200.
Beyond just housing, the redevelopment will also focus on creating commercial zones and recreational spaces. Developers selected through the tendering process will be granted development rights amounting to 5.67 lakh sq metres, paving the way for the construction of approximately 4,500 new housing units. Additionally, around 44,000 sq metres of land will be handed back to MHADA, significantly boosting its housing stock.
For builders, the project presents a financially viable opportunity, as they will not be required to purchase land or pay compensation to landlords. Both tenants and landowners are to be accommodated within the project’s structure, making it a win-win model for all stakeholders involved.
