Mumbai: In 1984-85, the rumble of construction swept the emerald inexperienced mangroves and marshland of Andheri West, giving rise to an advanced housing colony within the western suburbs. Forty-one years later, Lokhandwala Advanced is undergoing a wave of redevelopment, partly because of the necessity, partly FOMO (Effort of Lacking Out).Lokhandwala Advanced is split into four parallel wrong lanes. The self-contained township has hundreds of retailers which offer food, necessities and luxury goods.
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Now the skyline is determined to commerce. From Svati constructing, where the noxious Lokhandwala shootout occurred in 1991, to Apna Ghar societies honest up to Lennie on the discontinuance of the complex, demolition and reconstruction is deciding on scuttle. Signboards proclaiming the new developer or project administration consultant are seen.The genesis started four many years ago. Conventional-time residents recall driving camels to behold flats in Lokhandwala in 1983-1984 since there comprise been no pucca roads. Young middle-class families procured loans and received the homes of their dreams. Now they’re senior citizens, and just a few of them could well possible also have to sell and switch if their very comprise new apartments change into unaffordable. Property tax will possible be payable by the ready reckoner payment prevalent on the time final touch, and maintenance charges will rise exponentially.
In round one, builders care for Lokhandwala, Hiranandani and Walawalkar had constructed these homes in 1984-85, even when the locality’s title derives from the most famous developer. Spherical two sees DLH, DGS, Bharat, Rishabhraj, Ajmera, Kalpataru, Puravankara, Rustomjee and Mahindra Lifespaces having secured a portion of the pie. Societies comprise bagged a spectrum of offers ranging from 35% to 110% extra space.Inbuilt 1983, Hrushikesh Society in Apna Ghar-1 had 290 flats spread over eight structures.
These were razed mid-2025. Its committee members restful meet each day within the makeshift place of work. “The construction quality by Walawalkar was good. But the floods of June 2005 inundated our ground-floor homes and destroyed our belongings. That was a wake-up call. Moreover, repeated repair costs are exorbitant. Our buildings did not even have lifts so senior citizens found it difficult to climb three or four storeys.
Now we have secured 52% extra space plus a corpus of Rs 15-16 lakh in our redevelopment project and the buildings will be constructed in three-and-a-half years,” they said.Lane 2 in Lokhandwala onwards has the larger crust societies spanning 7-14 storeys. Right here the jam is between “need versus greed”. “As families grow, people feel that an extra room would be a good idea. Conversely, the original buyers of the 1980s are now senior citizens—some with limited resources, some retired, others with children living abroad,” said Dhaval Shah of residents’ association LOCA.
“They will consider selling their flats. After all, larger houses will attract property tax, more electricity costs and higher wages to domestic help.
Amenities like swimming pool, clubhouse, gym, even festival celebration, will involve higher maintenance bills— plus GST. Monthly maintenance may increase five times, say from Rs 2,000 to Rs 10,000.”Shah linked TOI with residents whose homes are under reconstruction.Priyam Gangrade of Sheetal Chhaya blamed the shoddy construction that necessitated redevelopment. “Our work is progressing briskly. But we secured a raw deal,” she said.In Dec, Sweeta Choitramani vacated her home of 27 years in Svati constructing. She said, “I married and came here, my daughter was born here, so redevelopment is painful.”Property broker Arun Lillaney said Lokhandwala will change into the “next Lower Parel”.
“Redevelopment is the need of the hour. The buildings are 40-45 years old. And the govt has sanctioned good FSI so good builders are coming. Each individual deal depends on location but they all get something extra.” Broker Jaideep Mandal, whose comprise constructing in Lane 2 is within the pipeline, said retired and senior persons with younger other folks out of the country will possible be unable to endure the five-fold costlier outgoings.Dhaval Shah said an influx of residents in new towers will call for wider roads, parking, drainage and water amenities. Rajesh Makhija of Landmark Estate Agency has seen the space remodel since 1983. “There were no roads, so no rickshaws or buses, no water supply, sanitation or drainage. In fact Sun Swept had installed septic tanks. Lokhandwala Complex rose from scratch. But amenities were installed then so they will be rebuilt now. After all the city can only grow vertically.” He cautions other folks to determine for a reputed developer after checking his financial credentials.
Patients at a health care provider’s sanatorium in Apna Ghar were debating the future. One said, “I am on the managing committee. At every meeting 90% members eagerly ask, ‘Building kab tootegi?’ All for one room extra.”
