87-Year-Old Bandra Bungalow To Be Replaced By 20-Storey Self-Redevelopment Tower

Roman Catholic society behind Mehboob Studio embraces modern housing model with upfront funding and tax benefits

An 87-year-old Victoria-era bungalow tucked away behind Mehboob Studio in Bandra is set to vanish from the skyline, making way for a gleaming 20-storey self-redevelopment project. The transformation marks one of the earliest such initiatives in this upscale Mumbai suburb.

The bungalow, spread across just 1,250 sq ft, is leased to the Sebastian Homes Housing Society, a Roman Catholic community group. Currently occupied by the Vivian Pereira family, the plot’s redevelopment potential has been pegged at nearly 23,000 sq ft. Plans include two basement levels, a six-storey parking podium, and residential floors beginning from the seventh. Each floor will feature two 800 sq ft flats with modern amenities.

According to project consultant Akbar Jiwani, the self-redevelopment model offers a transparent financial structure, with funding and rent compensation secured upfront. It also allows homeowners greater flexibility in designing their future homes.

The redevelopment, valued at approximately ₹50,000 per sq ft, will be financed through either the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank or Mumbai Bank. Owners are also set to benefit from a 5% GST exemption on their rehabilitation units.

While the letter of intent has already been issued to the society, the formal proposal will soon be submitted to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Notably, the new apartments will be reserved exclusively for members of the Roman Catholic community, a condition that has already attracted strong buyer interest.

If cleared, the project will not only modernize a fading colonial bungalow but also stand as a model for community-led redevelopment in Bandra, an area grappling with space shortages and escalating property prices.