Mumbai’s Kamathipura Nears the End of a Long Wait: Mhada Selects AATK Constructions for the 34-Acre Redevelopment Project; Over 800 Crumbling Buildings to Make Way for 57-Storey Rehab Towers Once State Cabinet Approves

After years of delay, AATK Constructions has officially won the bid for the ambitious redevelopment of Kamathipura, one of central Mumbai’s oldest and most congested neighbourhoods. The project, overseen by the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada) through its Mumbai Building Repairs and Reconstruction Board (MBRRB), marks a major milestone in urban renewal efforts aimed at transforming the city’s historic quarters into safer, modern living spaces.

The tendering process for Kamathipura’s redevelopment drew two contenders — AATK Constructions and J Kumar Infraprojects. After several extensions and procedural delays due to a lack of initial participation, the final bids were evaluated on both technical competence and financial viability. Following this evaluation, Mhada selected AATK as the most suitable developer and forwarded the proposal to the High-Power Committee (HPC) for scrutiny. Once approved, the plan will proceed to the Maharashtra state cabinet for final clearance.

he Kamathipura redevelopment is being hailed as a historic urban renewal initiative, given the complexities of balancing interests between tenants, landlords, and government agencies. Local MLA Amin Patel, who has been advocating for this project for over a decade, described it as a “historic” moment that took years of negotiations to achieve consensus. Even former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had acknowledged Patel’s persistent efforts in the assembly for improving living conditions in Kamathipura.

A comprehensive Mhada survey revealed that Kamathipura is home to nearly 800 dilapidated buildings across 34 acres, many of which are over 100 years old and beyond repair. Most plots are privately owned, and several landlords lack the financial resources to initiate redevelopment independently. This reality prompted the state government to assign the Redevelopment Project to Mhada’s Repair and Reconstruction Board, ensuring that the work is done under a structured, state-supervised framework.

To ensure efficiency and accountability, Mhada opted for the Construction and Development (C&D) model, where a private developer executes the project under Mhada’s supervision. The tender process, initially delayed due to limited interest, was reissued multiple times. Finally, in September, AATK Constructions and J Kumar Infraprojects submitted bids. After assessing the technical and financial components, AATK’s proposal was found most favourable, securing it the contract.

The redevelopment plan ensures fair entitlements for landowners based on plot size — one flat for up to 50 sq m, two for 51–100 sq m, three for 101–150 sq m, and four for 151–200 sq m, with an extra flat for every additional 50 sq m. This structure promotes equity and prevents disputes among owners.

Under the proposed rehabilitation scheme, eligible residential tenants will receive 500 sq ft carpet area flats, while eligible non-residential occupants—including small shopkeepers—will be allotted 225 sq ft carpet area commercial units. The project ensures that all existing residents and businesses are rehoused within the redeveloped layout, promoting social stability and minimizing displacement.

The architectural design of the project envisions a modern transformation of Kamathipura’s skyline. The rehabilitation buildings are planned to rise up to 57 storeys, while the sale buildings—which will help finance the redevelopment—will reach 78 storeys. This vertical expansion marks a significant shift from the area’s low-rise, congested tenements to a new era of high-rise urban living in central Mumbai.

The redevelopment covers 943 cessed buildings, encompassing 1,376 commercial tenements and 6,625 residential tenements, with a total of over 8,000 occupants to be rehabilitated. Spread across 34 acres, the project aims to create a self-sustained mixed-use community, combining residential, commercial, and social infrastructure in a single master plan.

With Mhada’s internal evaluations complete and the bid awarded to AATK Constructions, the proposal is now under consideration by the High-Power Committee (HPC). Upon approval, it will be submitted to the Maharashtra Cabinet for final authorization. Once cleared, the Kamathipura project will become one of Mumbai’s largest state-backed redevelopment initiatives, symbolizing a crucial step toward revitalizing the city’s heritage core and improving the lives of thousands of residents.