Bombay HC Grants Permission for Govinda Tower Reconstruction

The Bombay High Court has granted permission for the redevelopment of the seven-storeyed Govinda Tower at Kherwadi, Bandra East, which had collapsed over 25 years ago. Kherwadi Rajhans CHS has been authorized by the court to select a new developer for the reconstruction project.

Originally constructed on a MHADA-leased plot by Apex Gas Services, Govinda Tower initially had four floors proposed, later increased to seven. Despite initial plans for reconstruction by developer Jairam Chawla of Apex Gas and hotelier Dilip Datwani, the redevelopment faced challenges. In 2001, residents sought intervention from the High Court, urging MHADA and BMC to undertake the reconstruction and provide them with free houses.

In 2009, AA Estate expressed interest in the reconstruction and entered into a development agreement with the society in 2014. However, no progress was made, leading residents to approach the High Court in August 2022 to appoint a developer of their choice. Although the court approved their plea in August 2023, it faced opposition from the resolution professional (RP) overseeing insolvency proceedings against AA. The RP argued that a moratorium was in place, and they were in possession of the property.

News by Rahul Yelligetti