Patrachawl rebuilding firm under govt scanner

The state government has initiated an inquiry against developer, Housing Development Infrastructure Limited (HDIL), for irregularities in the redevelopment project of Patrachawl. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday announced a probe into the project.

The Patrachawl redevelopment project at Goregaon has been delayed since 2008. Residents of Patrachawl had stopped receiving monthly rent from their developer, HDIL. The redevelopment project has been mired over controversies since 2008. According to the plan, over 670 residents were supposed to be rehabilitated. Also, the developer is supposed to provide rent until the residents are rehabilitated. However, some of the residents stopped receiving monthly rent. A resident revealed that the total amount of his rent has gone up to Rs 35 lakh.

The Free Press Journal had earlier reported that the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority has put up a proposal to issue stop work notice to the redevelopment project citing serious lapses in the project.

MHADA officials said that the developer has disappointed everyone by delaying the project. He added, “A massive housing stock was supposed to be generated from this redevelopment project, however, the developer has even failed to construct the redeveloped structures.”

The housing department had received numerous complaints from residents that the firm had given the developer’s sale component in the project to another developer. The transfer of the sale component was allegedly done without rehabilitating existing tenants. The developer was unavailable for a comment when tried contacting.