Mumbai builders urge digital access restoration

A sudden and unexplained removal of key property and layout databases from multiple government portals has disrupted real estate operations across Mumbai, triggering mounting delays in redevelopment and construction approvals.

Real estate associations and urban planners are now urging state authorities to immediately reinstate the digital datasets critical for the functioning of one of India’s most vital urban economies. Online access to property registration records, cess data for Mumbai properties, and layout sheets for over 110 layouts managed by the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) were abruptly removed in recent weeks. These databases were long considered essential for developers, architects, engineers, and planning professionals to assess property viability, verify compliance, and ensure timely project submissions. The blackout has prompted formal appeals from major industry bodies, including the state chapter of a leading developers’ association and a prominent consortium of engineers, architects, and town planners. These organisations have submitted urgent representations to senior state officials, including the head of the urban development department and the revenue portfolio, warning that the sudden unavailability of digital records has caused project delays of up to three weeks across the city.

Real estate stakeholders argue that this disruption is not merely procedural but systemic, adding layers of manual verification that undermine the pace and transparency of Mumbai’s redevelopment ecosystem. Professionals involved in housing redevelopment say that the disappearance of online layout sheets is especially damaging in a city where every inch of land must be scrutinised for its potential under floor space index (FSI) regulations, zoning laws, and setback requirements. Urban planning experts have further flagged that even where layout plans remain accessible—such as on MHADA’s portal—the information is outdated and does not reflect current prorated calculations or FSI entitlements. Such omissions hinder the redevelopment process, stall society-level decision-making, and delay the submission of building plans to municipal authorities.

The implications of this data vacuum go beyond the construction sector. Citizens seeking to renovate or self-build homes now face extended delays and uncertainty. With no access to online verification, even small-scale building proposals are forced to undergo multiple rounds of physical checks, resulting in higher compliance costs and longer wait times. Urban researchers and civic advocates note that the lack of digital transparency undermines the goals of smart governance, sustainable city planning, and equitable access to urban services. Mumbai, being India’s financial capital, requires agile data infrastructure to support its fast-paced construction economy and rising demand for affordable, climate-resilient housing. The removal of open-access data sets runs counter to these objectives.

At a time when the government is promoting digital-first policies under the Smart Cities and Digital India missions, this rollback appears regressive. Industry experts are calling for the restoration of the full suite of digital land and property records with updated, searchable, and open-format data that is accessible to all stakeholders. Without a clear public statement on the rationale for the data removal or a timeline for reinstatement, trust between the real estate community and regulatory agencies is beginning to fray. Observers say the state must act swiftly to rebuild confidence and prevent any long-term slowdown in Mumbai’s redevelopment drive, which plays a crucial role in the city’s affordable housing pipeline and infrastructure upgrade initiatives.

In an urban landscape where every project hinges on clarity of land title, approval status, and layout permissions, the disappearance of public-facing data has introduced a layer of opacity that many feel is incompatible with modern governance. The onus, they say, is now on the government to restore this critical digital infrastructure—both to support the real estate industry and to uphold the rights of citizens to timely, transparent services.

Mumbai builders urge digital access restoration