If the state government introduces its controversial amendment to the existing Maharashtra Rent Control Act, 1999, to get rid of the unauthorised pagadi system, then an exodus of the non-elite class from South Mumbai is guaranteed.

The amendment means that tenants occupying residential units above 847 sq ft will have to pay 250 times the existing rent. Similarly, the rent for a commercial unit measuring 540 sq ft will shoot up by a whopping 500 times.