Mumbai: After 14 Years, Bawla Compound Cleared Way For Redevelopment

Mumbai, 18th April 2023: After 14 years, the residents of Bawla Compound in Chinchpokli have finally cleared the way for redevelopment. Under the Group Redevelopment Scheme, the Building and Repair Board of MHADA has accepted the proposal, and the redevelopment will be implemented only through private developers. The residents will receive a house of 550 square feet.

In 1977, MHADA acquired the plot of Bawla Compound for redevelopment. At that time, 280 families were living there. In 2005, MHADA razed two out of four chawls. These tenants were shifted by MHADA to transit camps at Vikhroli and Pratikshanagar. MHADA rehabilitated only 93 families by constructing a new building at the site.

The remaining 187 families, however, were left to await rehabilitation. So the residents came together and decided to redevelop through a private developer in 2009, as per the Group Development Policy. A ‘no-objection’ certificate was also obtained from MHADA by filing the required consent of more than 70% of the residents. But MHADA asked the residents to approach the High Authority Committee.

MHADA canceled the no-objection certificate on the grounds that the rules had changed in just one year. Therefore, the residents approached the High Court. In 2015, the High Court quashed the decision to cancel the ‘no objection’ certificate, and the way for the redevelopment of the residents was once again paved. But MHADA approached the Supreme Court against this decision and again put a stop to the redevelopment. Now, withdrawing that petition, MHADA has given final approval for the redevelopment after almost 14 years.

This redevelopment proposal has been approved by the Municipal Corporation, and the necessary permits have been issued. Bawla Compound Co-operative Housing Association President Vishwas Chaugule and Secretary Prasanna Rane have expressed the opinion that this redevelopment was possible only because they stayed together with the residents throughout this period. MHADA created barriers to redevelopment. Pritesh Jain of Darshan Properties thanked the residents for still trusting them.