It has been 18 years that 24 residents of Shankar Chhaya Cooperative Housing Society in Tilak Nagar have been waiting to reclaim their homes as part of a redevelopment project. | Representational Image
Mumbai: It has been 18 years that 24 residents of Shankar Chhaya Cooperative Housing Society in Tilak Nagar have been waiting to reclaim their homes as part of a redevelopment project. One of them, Arvind Budhkar, is 74 years old now.
Budhkar and the others pointed out that under the society’s development agreement dated October 23, 2007, and its supplementary documents, the 15-floor building should have been completed within three years of vacating their flats. Nearly two decades later, only 11 floors have been completed, with no construction activity seen in the past two years.
The chairman of the housing society has written a strongly worded letter to the developer, Shruti Raj Enterprise, demanding immediate possession. As per the letter, each member is now owed Rs20 lakh in pending rent, brokerage, transportation costs, and corpus fund.
The letter, addressed to the developer’s managing director Chinnaiah E Gowda, slams the firm for failing to meet the latest ultimatum of March 31.
The letter states, “Many of us are living in rented accommodations. A few members have already passed away.” The residents have warned that the RERA deadline expires on December 25, 2025, and categorically stated they will not extend the agreement any further.
Budhkar’s personal battle is emblematic of the broader suffering. In 2010, he vacated his 325 sq ft flat with the promise of receiving a new 550 sq ft flat and monthly rent in return. But that promise remains unfulfilled.
After years of delays, Budhkar approached the Maharashtra State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, which ruled in his favour and directed the developer to hand over the flat, pay compensation for the delay, and clear all dues.
However, the developer challenged the ruling before the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), where the case has remained pending for the last three years.
