Following the directives of the Supreme Court (SC), the BMC has initiated the process of acquiring a six-acre land parcel located in Lower Parel. In a recent hearing, the apex court confirmed that the land belongs to the BMC and rejected the proposal to transfer it to Century Textiles & Industries Limited.

On Thursday, civic officials conducted an on-site inspection of the property to assess its current condition. According to the 2024-2025 Ready Reckoner rates, the estimated value of this land is approximately Rs. 660 crores. The land parcel in Lower Parel, covering approximately 30,550 square meters, was leased to M/s Century Spinning and Manufacturing Limited (now Century Textiles & Industries Limited) for 28 years, starting from April 1, 1927, with the purpose of housing employees from the poorer class.

The mill built 476 rooms, 10 shops, and a chawl on this land. The lease agreement was signed on October 3, 1928, and the lease term ended on March 31, 1955. As per the terms of the agreement, once the 28-year lease period expired, the lease rights over the property ceased, and the ownership of the land reverted solely to the municipal corporation.

However, instead of returning the land after the lease expired, M/s Century Mill filed a petition in the Bombay High Court (HC) seeking to transfer the property to their name.   A senior legal expert was appointed by the civic body to represent and fight the case in court. On March 14, 2022, the Bombay HC issued a judgment directing the BMC to transfer the conveyance of the plot to the petitioner, M/s Century Textiles & Industries Limited. However, the BMC's Estate Department filed a Special Leave Petition (S.L.P.) in the SC on May 13, 2022, challenging the HC's decision. During a hearing on July 13, 2022, the SC stayed the HC's order.

After further hearings, on January 7, 2025, the SC did not uphold the HC's judgment but instead approved the BMC's appeal, dismissing the petition filed by M/s Century Textiles & Industries Limited. The apex court also resolved any pending petitions related to the case.  

On Thursday, Deputy Municipal Commissioner Sanjog Kabre, Assistant Municipal Commissioner of G/South, Mrudula Ande, and officials from the Estate Department visited the site and immediately began the process of acquiring the land. "Since the legal matter is now settled, the land parcel is under the ownership of the BMC. We have initiated the process of acquiring the land, and the plot is reserved to build homes for the weaker sections of society," said a civic official.