2 weeks ago
Mumbai BMC clears 30-year Century Mill land lease despite protests
Every city needs people to make decisions about its land and buildings.
In Mumbai, a group called the BMC decides these things.
Recently, the BMC said a company called Peddar Realty may use a very big piece of land called Century Mill in Lower Parel for 30 years, with a chance to extend it for 30 more.
Some city leaders were very angry about this choice.
They think the land should be used for public places like parks, or that the bidding process was unfair.
They also worried that families of old mill workers would not be protected.
The BMC leaders say renting the land will earn lots of money for the city.
They also promised to help mill workers' families find homes at the same location.
Angry leaders even tore up the papers with the plan in protest.
The BMC Improvement Committee approved a 30-year lease of 23,822 sq m of Century Mill land in Lower Parel to Peddar Realty Ltd, with an option to extend it for another 30 years.
Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress corporators protested the decision, questioning why the plot was not reserved for a public amenity and why more bidders were not invited.
Corporators Vishakha Raut and Sachin Padwal alleged the proposal failed to protect mill workers' families and that bidding terms may have been tailored to benefit a particular developer.
Committee chairperson Sandhya Doshi defended the lease as a BMC revenue booster and said efforts would be made to give mill workers' families, particularly Marathi families, homes or space at the same location.
The committee also approved replacing a sports complex/stadium in Mulund East with a petrol pump and merging nearly 9,000 sq m of BMC land in Lower Parel with an SRA project for 189 rehabilitation flats and a 25 per cent land premium.
- Who
- The BMC Improvement Committee, chaired by Sandhya Doshi, made the decision; opposition came from Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress corporators, including Vishakha Raut, Sachin Padwal and Vitthal Lokre.
- What
- Approved a 30-year lease of 23,822 sq m of Century Mill land in Lower Parel to Peddar Realty Ltd, with an option for a 30-year extension.
- Where
- Mumbai, India (BMC meeting; leased land in Lower Parel; related proposals in Mulund East).
- When
- August 14, 2026 (Friday).
- Why
- To boost BMC revenue, according to the committee; the opposition argued the land should be reserved for public amenity and to protect mill workers' families.
Opposition Corporators (Shiv Sena UBT and Congress)
BMC Improvement Committee
Use of reclaimed mill land
Opposition Corporators (Shiv Sena UBT and Congress)
The valuable reclaimed plot should have been reserved for a public amenity; the BMC is short-changing itself on the lease.
BMC Improvement Committee
The lease would boost BMC revenue, making it a worthwhile financial move for the civic body.
Protection of mill workers' families
Opposition Corporators (Shiv Sena UBT and Congress)
The proposal fails to adequately protect mill workers' families, who could be left without housing or benefits.
BMC Improvement Committee
Efforts will be made to give mill workers' families, particularly Marathi families, homes or space at the same location.
Transparency of bidding process
Opposition Corporators (Shiv Sena UBT and Congress)
The process lacked transparency; terms may have been tailored to benefit a particular developer, and more bidders should have been invited.
BMC Improvement Committee
The committee defended the decision, insisting the lease would boost BMC revenue, with no direct response to the transparency allegations reported.
Key facts
- Decision
- 30-year lease of Century Mill land approved with optional 30-year extension
- Land
- 23,822 sq m of Century Mill land, Lower Parel, Mumbai
- Lessee
- Peddar Realty Ltd
- Approving body
- BMC Improvement Committee, chaired by Sandhya Doshi
- Opposition
- Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress corporators
- Other approvals
- Mulund East sports complex replaced with petrol pump; nearly 9,000 sq m Lower Parel BMC land merged with SRA project
- SRA deal terms
- 189 rehabilitation flats and 25 per cent land premium
- Date
- August 14, 2026
Sources
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