TATA group wins the BDD chawls re-development bids

By Realty Quarter Bureau

“The Tata-led consortium is the successful L1 bidder for the Worli BDD Chawls project. They quoted a rate of Rs 49,617 per sq m of construction area, while a consortium led by ACC India and the Lebanon-based Arabian Construction Company Holding Ltd quoted Rs 53,810 per sq m,” a senior Mhada official said.

Also in the final fray was a consortium of China’s Construction Eighth Engineering, IL&FS Transportation Networks, and IL&FS Maritime. Mhada officials said the bid details would be presented before an empowered committee headed by state Chief Secretary DK Jain, which will give final clearance. The Worli project had not received any bids in two tenders in the past, while the third tender had attracted controversy when the Shapoorji Pallonji Group was not allowed to bid.

“The security clearance was received a week ago. The BDD Chawl redevelopment projects at Naigaon and NM Joshi Marg are going well, but the Worli project is the most prominent and most visible. The creation of new housing will have a significant impact on real estate prices in Central Mumbai. Once more supply comes into the market, we can expect prices to come down,” Mhada Vice President and Chief Executive officer Milind Mhaiskar told.

Mhada officials said the project involves the redevelopment of 121buildings spread over 54 acres and concerns the welfare of 9,680 eligible families. “The project will be implemented in six to seven phases, and the timeline is eight years. We plan to provide transit accommodation to the residents in Worli itself.

The BDD chawls were developed by the British in the 1920s as low-cost housing. There are 207 of these across 37 hectare in Worli, NM Joshi Marg, Naigaon and Sewri. More than 12,000 families reside in the 160-sq ft houses.