12 December,2025 08:45 AM IST | Mumbai | Ritika Gondhalekar
Views of the Kannamwar Nagar from the 24th floor of Rang Rekha building in Vikhroli East on December 11
Kannamwar Nagar in the central suburbs' Vikhroli area has been undergoing redevelopment for the past few years. The locality, considered as one of the biggest housing colonies in Asia, is grappling with a complex web of civic problems that residents say authorities have failed to address for years. Locals also mentioned that despite repeated complaints to the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and ward-level officials, most grievances go unanswered or receive only temporary fixes that do little to resolve root causes.
While the BMC provides most utility services, such as water connections, the land on which Kannamwar Nagar's buildings stand belongs to MHADA. Locals said that after a particular structure's redevelopment is completed and the society of that building has received a âno-dues' certificate from MHADA, the building receives water bills from both the BMC and MHADA.
Suresh Sarnobat, a resident of Sai Dham Co-operative Housing Society Ltd, said, "We regularly pay the water bill that comes from the BMC, which is based on readings of water meters installed by the civic body.
Scores of two-wheelers are parked on a footpath. PICS/SATEJ SHINDE
However, we also get water bills from MHADA. If we have already received a no-dues certificate, how and why are we being billed in arrears regarding water and sewage charges from April 2021 till the current billing month? The amount mentioned in the bill for October that our building received from MHADA is R31,60,320. On the other hand, we have already paid the full amount that was mentioned on the BMC's bill and have received the payment receipt for the same. Why is there no coordination between MHADA and BMC, despite us complaining about it multiple times?"
Suresh Sarnobat, resident of Sai Dham Co-operative Housing Society; (Right) Prakash Sonmale, resident of Samadhan Co-operative Housing Society. Pics/By Special Arrangement
Residents also complained about insufficient water supply. "Before redevelopment, the area did not even have 10,000 homes. Now, there are approximately 22,000 houses. Kannamwar Nagar has six water tanks, which were constructed in 1968 when the housing society was established. Neither has MHADA taken the responsibility to increase the number of these water tanks, nor has the BMC. How can it be expected that water tanks that were sufficient for 10 houses will suffice for 50 houses?" stated Sanjay Mayekar, a resident of Rang Rekha building.
As per the 2011 census, the population of Kannamwar Nagar is 85,000, which by now has definitely increased massively, considering the fast-paced redevelopment that is ongoing. However, the area neither has a vegetable and or fish market, nor a civic hospital.
(From left) Subhash Bhosale and Sanjay Mayekar, residents of Rang Rekha. PICS/SATEJ SHINDE
Prakash Sonmale, a resident of Samadhan Co-operative Housing Society, said, "A few years after the housing colony was constructed, a shopping complex was built, and some shops were established and given to a few small-scale businessmen. However, there were norms restricting these businessmen from selling off their galas (shops). Thus, eventually, all of them sold off their respective shops at quite high prices, and then the buyers began running businesses of their choice rather than catering to the needs of residents.
Today, we are completely dependent on vegetable hawkers every day. And we either have to go to Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar or Sion Hospital or rely on expensive private practitioners when facing health problems. After many years of delay, a proposed multi-speciality hospital has, fortunately, started taking shape, but it still needs at least five years to start and at least seven years to be fully functional. For now, there is a small gynaecology hospital with OPD run by the civic department, but this, obviously, is not sufficient." The residents have long demanded a BMC-run vegetable and fish market and an Apla Dawakhana, but have received no response from the authorities.
According to residents, the sheer volume of vehicles being parked on the roads is creating a host of issues. "We had 32 houses before redevelopment. Now, we have 116. But there is no sufficient parking space, which has forced us to park our vehicles on roads, causing vehicular traffic to increase. We had approached the BMC, requesting that a multi-storey parking facility be constructed. But we haven't received a response yet," said Subhash Bhosale, another resident of Rang Rekha.
Road conditions are also quite poor in the area, and residents allege that the funds are being wrongly used for unnecessary purposes. "MLA funds are being used to develop the internal amenities of a few buildings. Why can't they be utilised for the betterment of facilities availed of by the general public, such as roads?" questioned Vikram Sonawne, a resident of Rahul Bhavan.
Sarnobat said, "As much as Rs 26,000 crore were sanctioned for a big project to be undertaken just to ensure that the foul smell emanating from the Kanjurmarg dumping ground would vanish. Recently, a contractor was even fined for the same. However, the problem persists and has led to multiple health issues. Where did the money go? This is public money."
Harish Kachuwa, junior engineer, MHADA, said, "We are aware of the double-billing problem and are working on it. Though BMC supplies water, its connections and pipes are only to the exterior of each building. MHADA pumps water from outside to inside each flat. So, we charge for maintenance of the pumps and for providing water from outside to inside. However, the rectifications are in process, and those who haven't used water will not be charged."
