Legislative approval clears a key legal hurdle, paving the way for safer housing and faster urban renewal.

MHADA Amendment Revives Hope for Redevelopment of 13,000 Ageing Mumbai Buildings.

The Maharashtra Legislature has passed an amendment to the MHADA Act, reviving Section 79A and removing a major legal obstacle to the redevelopment of over 13,000 ageing cessed buildings in Mumbai. The amendment clarifies MHADA officials’ authority, addressing the legal ambiguity that led the Bombay High Court to stay its implementation last year. Once it receives the Governor’s assent, the amendment is expected to strengthen the state’s case before the Supreme Court, where the validity of Sections 79A and 79B is under review. Introduced to accelerate the redevelopment of dangerous buildings, the provisions allow MHADA to intervene when landlords fail to act and enable tenants, with support from at least 51% of occupants, to undertake redevelopment. The move follows decades of delays and several fatal building collapses, offering renewed hope for lakhs of families living in unsafe structures and advancing one of Mumbai’s most significant urban renewal initiatives.