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
