BMC plan to auction prime plots stalled as two govt bodies want to procure them

Mumbai: Eight months after BMC floated tenders to auction three prime land parcels in Mumbai—at Malabar Hill, Worli, and near Crawford market in Fort—the fate of the proposed sale remains uncertain.The move had marked the first time the civic body opted to auction its own plots, indicating a shift in its strategy to monetise real estate assets and generate long-term revenue. However, the auction process faced multiple hurdles.The plan to auction the Malabar Hill plot was scrapped early on following objections from BEST as the land has high-tension transmission lines running through it. Additionally, over 60 residents from the area raised objections, pointing out that the property card of the plot classifies it as a BMC-owned space designated for a public garden.The civic body then proceeded with plans to auction the remaining two plots. These vacant land parcels are to be leased for 30 years, with a provision for renewal for another 30 years, and are expected to bring in substantial revenue for BMC.However, an official said, Central Railway requested a portion of the plot near Crawford market—for free—to construct a passenger outlet from CSMT via a proposed skywalk. “Since the entire plot was listed for auction, carving out a part of it may not be viable,” said a civic official.

A high-level meeting on the matter was recently held with the chief secretary, the official added.As for the Worli plot, RBI approached BMC independently, although it did not participate in the bidding process. TOI reached out to RBI for comments but got no response.BMC officials confirmed that while bids were received for the Worli land, the responses are still under review.In Oct last year, when the tender was issued a few days before the model code of conduct for the assembly elections kicked in, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and MLA Aaditya Thackeray opposed the auctions, claiming that BMC is gradually losing control of vital land resources, which could otherwise be used for public infrastructure or amenities.