The Pain and Promise of Redevelopment
- Toughcons Nirman
- Oct 30
- 2 min read
The Pain and Promise of Redevelopment
Mumbai doesn’t grow — it renews.
Every few lanes, there’s a building wrapped in green netting, half gone, half waiting.
And inside that dust lies a story of hope, chaos, patience, and heartbreak.
The Pain Nobody Talks About
The Waiting Game:
• Society members dream of moving into a brand-new flat “in 3 years.”
• Reality? The kid who shifted to a rented house for 2 years returns as an adult for possession.
The Approval Maze:
• One NOC from Fire,
• another from Environment,
• another from Sewerage…
• By the time all permissions arrive, the circulars have changed — and the project has to start from scratch.
Promises vs Possession:
• The glossy brochure showed gyms, decks, and pools.
• The agreement showed “subject to approval.”
• The site shows silence.
Developer Drama:
• Members go from “our builder is family” to “our builder doesn’t pick calls.”
• Some projects shine, others stall.
• The difference? One good decision — or one careless signature.
• The Financial Strain Nobody Counts:
• Rent cheques delayed, - extra EMIs for temporary houses, legal fees, and sleepless nights.
• Everyone forgets: - redevelopment doesn’t just rebuild homes; it drains savings and emotions.
Society Conflicts:
• Every meeting turns into a courtroom.
• “He got more area,”
• “they didn’t pay rent,”
• “we should have gone with the other builder.”
• In redevelopment, mistrust spreads faster than cement.
And Yet… We Still Believe
Because Old Buildings Are Ticking Time Bombs:
• Each monsoon feels riskier. The staircase shakes, the plaster falls, and hearts skip a beat.
• Redevelopment isn’t greed — it’s survival.
• Because the Dream Is Real:
• A life where elevators work, rainwater doesn’t leak, cars have shelter, and homes have sunlight.
• For many Mumbaikars, that’s not luxury — that’s justice.
Because Some Do It Right:
• A transparent PMC, a capable builder, and a united committee — and magic happens.
• Delays reduce, trust increases, and the same members who once fought now celebrate together on the new terrace.
The Reality Check
• There are thousands of societies stuck mid-way.
• Some because of greed.
• Some because of confusion.
• Most because the system still treats every project as an experiment.
• For every successful tower rising, there are ten waiting for an approval, a payment, or simply — a decision.
• The data says over 1.6 lakh old buildings still wait to be reborn.
• But inside each building are families waiting for something else — certainty.
A Final Thought
• Redevelopment isn’t about FSI or rent.
• It’s about trust versus time.
• It’s the story of Mumbai’s middle class trying to rise — literally — above the cracks.
• And someday soon, when those cranes finally leave, and your old neighbour knocks on your new door,
you’ll forget the fights, the files, the false starts —
and remember only one thing:
“We waited long, but we didn’t give up.”
By Nayan Dedhia,
Managing Director & Redevelopment Coach
Toughcons Nirman Pvt Ltd
Nayan bhai,
Jai Jinendra
Very informative and you have put the reality of present time with courage.
Please also post about the measure Members have to take for Successful and Smooth REVELOPMENT.
Thanks for your Post.