Decks cleared for redevelopment of Bandra MIG colony

The Bombay high court has paved the way for the redevelopment of the Middle Income Group (MIG) Co-operative Housing Society (CHS) in Bandra (East).

A division bench of chief justice Anil Dave and justice SC Dharmadhikari on Tuesday vacated an interim stay granted by a single judge bench on the redevelopment of the colony, which comprises 19 Mhada buildings.

“Even on the question of irreparable loss and injury, what we find from the record is that the buildings are fairly old and require immediate attention. The proposal of the society for redevelopment has been under consideration for a fairly long duration,” the judges said.

The society had first entered into an agreement for redevelopment in November 2006. However, the project was delayed due to a disagreement between two developing giants — Bombay Dyeing and Manufacturing Company and L&T Urban Infrastructure Ltd. The companies formed the L&T Bombay Developers Private Ltd.

The battle moved to court in 2009.

Representing the society, senior counsel Janak Dwarkadas, advocate Sanjay Jain and Lalit Jain argued that the stay granted by the single judge on the redevelopment has serious repercussions and prevents the redevelopment of the property.

Dwarkadas also said that grave loss, serious harm and injury could be caused as the buildings were in a dilapidated state.
Representing the developers, senior counsel SU Kamdar argued the stay on redevelopment order is ad-interim in nature and does not prejudice the society in any manner.