Mumbai: MHADA amendment offers hope for redevelopment of 13,000 ageing buildings

A pagdi building in the Chira Bazar area that crashed due to negligence. File pic/Ashish Raje

In a major relief for lakhs of residents living in Mumbai's ageing and unsafe cessed buildings, the state has introduced a correction amendment to the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) Act to revive the stalled implementation of Section 79A - a key provision aimed at expediting redevelopment of dilapidated structures.

Repairs stalled

Mumbai has over 13,000 cessed buildings, many built before 1940, where redevelopment has remained stalled for decades due to landlord-tenant disputes, prolonged litigation, and rufusal by some landlords to undertake reconstruction.

345 incidents in 5 years

The urgency is reflected in official data. RTI information obtained by activist Jeetendra Ghadge shows that Mumbai witnessed 345 incidents of full or partial building collapses between 2021 and August 2025, resulting in eight deaths.

The way ahead

The amendment, which has been passed by both Houses of the state legislature and is awaiting the governor's assent, authorises officers empowered by MHADA to exercise powers under Section 79A. It replaces the earlier reference to a "competent authority", the ambiguity over which had prompted the HC to stay nearly 935 notices issued under the provision last year.

Building collapses led to change

Sections 79A and 79B were introduced in 2020 after a series of fatal building collapses. The provisions empowered MHADA to step in where landlords failed to redevelop dangerous buildings and allowed tenants, with majority consent, to undertake redevelopment.

OfficialSpeak

A MHADA official, ‘Our special committee report submitted to the Bombay HC was self-explanatory, and we have proven how MHADA and the Building and Repairs Department [of MHADA] are the competent authorities. We hope the Supreme Court will also take the right decision'

ActivistSpeak

Jeetendra Ghadge, The Young Whistleblowers Foundation
‘This amendment is an important step towards protecting the lives of lakhs of tenants living in dangerous buildings. We hope that the Supreme Court permits implementation of the scheme so that redevelopment can finally begin'