{
  "id": 5699627,
  "title": "20 years after Century Mill shut, workers’ families set to get new homes",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/20-years-after-century-mill-shut-workers-families-set-to-get-new-homes",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-05T02:30:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/20-years-after-century-mill-shut-workers-families-set-to-get-new-homes-10863884/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Two decades after Century Mill ceased operations, leaving mill workers and their families residing in outdated tenements in Worli, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is poised to initiate a redevelopment plan that will provide them with new homes while generating Rs 1,351 crore for the civic body. The proposal, intended for presentation to the BMC House on Monday, includes demolishing the 21 existing structures that house the mill workers' families and constructing upscale residential towers. Approximately 500 300-400 sq ft flats have been designated for rehabilitation, with the remaining units available for sale at market rates by the developer. Peddar Realty emerged as the successful bidder for the plot in May this year. The project's lease spans 30 years and includes a renewal option under the private participation model. The total land valuation stands at around Rs 660 crore, with Peddar Realty paying the BMC Rs 1,351 crore for the endeavor. Century Mill's former colony consists of 476 tenements and 10 shops across 21 buildings, with the original dwellings measuring approximately 180 sq ft each. The primary objective of this project is to rehabilitate all the families of the former mill workers who have resided in these 476 housing units, ensuring they receive modern amenities and new homes. The redevelopment effort has been stalled since 2006, due to a protracted legal battle over ownership and lease terms. The land was originally owned by the BMC and leased to Century Spinning and Manufacturing Company in 1927 for 28 years at an annual rent of one rupee under the Bombay Improvement Trust Transfer Act. The lease expired in 1955, but the BMC did not promptly evict the mill management. The issue resurfaced when the mill suspended operations in 2006, leading to a legal notice from the company in 2007 demanding the transfer of the land. Initially, the Bombay High Court ruled in favor of Century Mills. However, the Supreme Court ruled in January 2025 that the lease terms did not obligate the civic body to cede the land to the company, clearing a crucial legal obstacle for the BMC to move forward with the redevelopment. The Congress party within the BMC has raised concerns regarding the project's valuation, questioning whether the BMC is adequately profiting from the venture. Congress leader Ashraf Azmi argued that the land's development potential, considering the current Floor Space Index, could be worth approximately Rs 13,000 crore, while the BMC is receiving around Rs 1,300 crore. Azmi emphasized that the civic body should not relinquish the value of its prime land after seven decades of fighting to reclaim the Century Mill property, and the rights of the existing mill workers' families must take precedence, benefiting the people of Mumbai. The proposal is now set to be reviewed by the BMC House for final approval.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}