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The Bombay High Court recently heard a petition regarding the redevelopment of Ratilal Mansion at Parekh Street in Girgaum, Mumbai, which had been stalled for a decade. The project was originally being carried out by Orbit Corporation, which went into liquidation, leading to the incomplete structure on the site today. The 44 residents of Ratilal Mansion have not been able to live in their homes since 2009 and have not received transit rent since 2013.
The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) submitted a structural audit report on March 16, stating that the building can be repaired and need not be demolished. MHADA expressed its willingness to take over the project under a 2020 amendment to the MHADA Act, which allows it to take over incomplete redevelopment projects and complete them.
However, the residents have decided to appoint a new developer to complete the project, rather than rely on MHADA. The society is currently in talks with two developers and has unanimously decided to go ahead with a third-party developer. The judges advised the society to be "extremely cautious" and "suspicious" and to make an "informed decision" so that history is not repeated. They also suggested that the society consult with advocates of MHADA and BMC to work out any administrative hurdles it may face.
The Bombay High Court judges are hearing several redevelopment-related cases and have expressed concern about the "horrible situation" of "huge demands for unpaid transit rents" and people being put in "deteriorating accommodation". They advised caution before the society proceeds with the appointment of the developer, noting that "it is happening with deafening regularity" and that the situation may have been made worse by Covid.
In January, the court took suo motu cognizance of similar cases to Ratilal Mansion, noting that "societies like Ratilal Mansion exist throughout the city". The redevelopment of old buildings in Mumbai has been a contentious issue, with several projects stalled due to disputes between residents, developers, and authorities. The Ratilal Mansion case is just one example of the challenges faced by residents and authorities in completing these projects. The appointment of a new developer may provide a way forward, but caution must be exercised to avoid further delays and complications.
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