Real Estate News
Mumbai Buildings Get Higher FSI Boost for Fitness Spaces
The Maharashtra government has approved changes to Mumbai’s Development Control and Promotion Regulations (DCPR)-2034, including a bigger floor space index (FSI) exemption for exercise, meditation, and recreational amenities in residential and commercial buildings.
The new guidelines raise the FSI-free built-up area allotment for such amenities from 2% to 4% of the total built-up area (BUA) of buildings.
On May 6, the Urban Development Department issued a notification to amend Regulations 31(1)(xvii) and 37(28) under Section 37(2) of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966.
Previously, only a fitness center or Yogalaya for cooperative housing societies and apartment owners’ associations were eligible for FSI exemption. The modified regulation broadens the scope to include meditation centers and recreational activity areas.
Furthermore, the new laws will now apply not just to cooperative housing societies and apartment owners’ organizations, but also to condos, commercial cooperative societies, and commercial property owners’ groups.
The notification follows a proposal presented by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation in December 2025 in response to submissions from industry associations PEATA and CREDAI calling for broader amenity provisions in residential and commercial developments.
Under the modified regulation, covered swimming pools can be authorized free of FSI under the 4% cap if they are part of fitness center services. Any built-up area above the permitted limit will be considered in FSI calculations.
New provisions for commercial buildings.
The state government has also added a new sub-clause, Regulation 37(28A), which allows yoga studios, fitness centers, meditation spaces, and recreational amenities in office and commercial buildings.
Such facilities in commercial buildings will be granted free of FSI up to 4% of total built-up area in exchange for a premium equal to 100% of the land rate as per the Annual Statement of Rates (ASR). Additional built-up area beyond the 4% level will incur FSI charges.
The notification states that these amenities must be utilized exclusively by members or owners of the relevant society, condominium, or commercial association and cannot be used for any other commercial reasons.
The government has also set a minimum area of 30 square metres for such facilities.
In bigger layouts where a clubhouse already exists under Regulation 27, additional fitness or recreational facilities within individual buildings will only be eligible for FSI exemption after calculating the clubhouse’s built-up area against the 4% permitted cap.
The amendments take effect from the date the notification is published in the official gazette.
Real Estate News
Home Sales Rise 19%; Navi Mumbai Leads Housing Growth
Housing sales in India’s top nine cities increased 19% year on year (YoY) to 112,458 units in Q2 2026, compared to 94,864 units the previous year. According to a PropEquity research, Navi Mumbai, Chennai, and Hyderabad experienced the largest increases in housing sales. According to the data, sales surged due to a multi-quarter increase in housing supply of 117,609 units, up 43% year on year, untouched by geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East.
According to the data, sales increased by 14% quarter on quarter while supply increased by 27% in Q2 2026.
According to the research, Navi Mumbai saw the biggest YoY rise in sales, at 54%, followed by Chennai at 33%, Hyderabad at 25%, and Bengaluru at 20%.
On the other side, Pune experienced a 16% growth, Mumbai 15%, and Thane 3%. While seven of the top nine cities saw an increase in property sales, Delhi NCR and Kolkata experienced a 17% and 12% decrease, respectively.
Supply-side scenario.
On the supply front, Navi Mumbai led with 116% year-on-year increase at 9902 units, followed by Mumbai at 111% at 10,438 units, Hyderabad at 75% at 18,407 units, and Bengaluru at 71% at 24,340 units. In markets such as Chennai, Pune, and Thane, supply increased by 6% to 41 percent.
Hyderabad has emerged as the second largest home supply market after Bengaluru, displacing Pune, Thane, and Delhi-NCR.
Delhi-NCR witnessed a 6% decrease in housing supply, totaling 12977 units, while Kolkata saw a 2% decrease of 2608 units.
Real Estate News
Pune Developer Refunds Full Booking Amount to Buyer
A Pune-based real estate developer has claimed that he refunded the entire amount paid by a homebuyer who allegedly disappeared just days before taking possession of his flat after suffering heavy gambling losses.
According to Rahul Ajmera of Vasupujya Corporation, the buyer had booked the home in 2022, completed the flat registration, and paid the majority of the agreement value. However, as the possession date approached, he suddenly stopped responding to calls from the developer’s sales team regarding the remaining balance, leaving everyone puzzled about his sudden disappearance.
The mystery was later explained when the buyer’s relatives approached the developer for help. They allegedly revealed that the homebuyer had incurred significant betting losses and was being held by a betting syndicate in Mumbai over unpaid debts. The buyer’s brother-in-law reportedly sought financial assistance from the developer so the family could complete the purchase, rent out the property, and gradually repay the debt.
Instead of extending a loan, Ajmera offered to cancel the transaction and process a full refund without making any deductions. He said the family could use the refunded amount to settle the outstanding debts and help the buyer rebuild his life.
The case has also drawn attention to MahaRERA’s rules on cancellations and refunds. While developers are generally allowed to deduct a portion of the agreement value when a buyer withdraws after registration and substantial payments have been made, Ajmera stated that he chose not to exercise that right. According to him, the transaction had progressed well beyond the booking stage, and the developer could have deducted up to 10% of the agreement value. However, citing humanitarian grounds, he waived the deduction and refunded the buyer’s entire payment.
Real Estate News
Reliance Wins 101-Acre Mumbai Slum Redevelopment Project
Reliance Industries’ real estate business, Reliance 4IR Realty Development, as part of a partnership, has obtained rehabilitation rights for the 101-acre Juhu Lane-Gilbert Hill slum cluster in Mumbai’s Andheri, marking the conglomerate’s entry into the city’s slum redevelopment sector.
The project is one of Mumbai’s major redevelopment prospects, and it is strategically located in the western suburbs. Here’s an overview of the project’s location, size, main parties, and what the renovation could entail for residents, developers, and the Mumbai housing market.
All about the Juhu Lane- Gilbert Hill slum complex.
The Juhu Lane to Gilbert Hill Slum Cluster spans 101.36 acres in Mumbai’s Andheri West, making it one of the largest and first projects to be implemented under the Maharashtra government’s new slum cluster redevelopment program.
According to a Hindustan Times report, the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA)-tender project is scheduled to restore more than 28,000 dwellings for eligible slum residents.
According to the report, the land parcel extends from Juhu Lane (CD Barfiwala Road) to JP Road, near the Hansraj Morarji Public School. The property now includes 13,634 slum tenements, some SRA buildings, a private hospital, a police station, a civic market, a retail market, educational institutions, and government offices.
Gilbert Hill: The historic rock structure at the center of Mumbai’s most recent reconstruction project
Gilbert Hill, a remarkable 200-foot-high monolithic basalt rock formation in Mumbai’s Andheri district, is thought to be roughly 66 million years old. It is one of the world’s few surviving basalt monoliths, formed by lava flows connected with ancient Deccan Traps volcanic activity.
The hill’s surroundings include various slum settlements and old structures that are slated to be redeveloped as part of Mumbai’s slum rehabilitation programme. Beyond its geological significance, Gilbert Hill is strategically located in Mumbai’s western suburbs, close to major commercial hubs, metro connectivity, and established residential neighbourhoods, making it a notable landmark from both a heritage and real estate perspective.
Who will build the project?
The nearly 100-acre slum redevelopment cluster will be built by a Reliance-led consortium that includes Mahadev Realtors Juhu Private Limited, an Aspect Realty subsidiary.
The consortium successfully outbid JSW Realty and Infrastructure Pvt Ltd and Shapoorji Pallonji Real Estate Pvt Ltd to win the contract. Bidders were evaluated based on the premium they proposed above the SRA’s ready reckoner land rate, with a 10% minimum bid.
According to the report, the Reliance-led consortium will have to pay around ₹700 crore in transit fee over two years. It must deposit one additional year’s transit rent in post-dated cheques with the SRA to ensure that qualified residents get continuing rental assistance during the rehabilitation and construction phase. The selected bidder must present a performance guarantee of ₹100 crore to the SRA.
According to a media report, the prime land will be redeveloped using the construction-and-development agreement model, in which existing residents will be rehabilitated on-site, the state government will receive a portion of the housing stock, and the developer will be able to sell the remainder on the open market.
The nominated developer will have to build 561 tenements of 300 square feet apiece for current tenants. The developer must deposit ₹1,050 crore with the SRA for three years of transit rent at ₹20,000 per month per tenement. Eligible slum residents would pay a one-time relocation price of ₹15,000.
The timetable for completing the whole rehabilitation component has been established at 9.5 years (114 months) from the date of the initial Commencement Certificate. Upon receipt of the first Commencement Certificate, at least 25% of the permitted buildings must be completed and turned over to families.
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