BMC To Auction Kalbadevi And Chembur Properties Worth Rs 63 Crore Soon

Mumbai’s civic administration has decided to auction two high-value properties in Kalbadevi and Chembur valued at around ₹63 crore, following long-standing property tax defaults. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which had earlier issued a public notice for the auction of five such properties, has now extended the deadline for submission of bids to November 6 after two defaulters cleared their dues.

Civic officials confirmed that the auction is part of BMC’s intensified effort to recover unpaid property taxes, which have collectively mounted to an alarming ₹22,000 crore over the past 15 years. The backlog includes both dues and accrued penalties dating back to 2010, with several large commercial and residential properties failing to meet payment deadlines. According to officials, one of the properties now cleared for auction is a 3,073.14 sq.m. land parcel owned by the Housing Commissioner of Bombay in Chembur, with a base value of ₹37 crore. The second property, a mixed-use commercial and residential structure on Abdul Rehman Street in Kalbadevi, has a base value of ₹26.01 crore spread over 1,648 sq.m. An external agency has been appointed to manage the digital auction process.

The civic body had originally listed five properties for sale in October under its property tax recovery drive. Among these, a Vile Parle-based property owner settled dues and penalties totalling ₹19.36 crore just ahead of the auction, avoiding the sale. Similarly, two other property owners from Chunabhatti and Borivali cleared their outstanding amounts, leaving only two properties on the auction list. Officials stated that for the auction to be deemed successful, a minimum of three eligible bidders must participate. If the required number of bidders is not met, the BMC may conduct a re-auction. The last major property auction of this nature was held nearly four decades ago, underscoring how rare this recovery mechanism has been in recent civic history.

Urban policy experts view the move as a much-needed step towards strengthening fiscal discipline within Mumbai’s property ecosystem. With property tax forming a significant portion of the BMC’s revenue stream—funding essential urban infrastructure, public transport, waste management, and climate resilience projects—the inability to recover dues impacts the city’s long-term sustainability goals. Officials said the property tax recovery initiative will continue in phases, with future auctions likely if large defaulters fail to comply. They emphasised that while auctioning properties remains a last resort, the civic body is committed to ensuring financial accountability and transparency in managing Mumbai’s urban assets.

BMC To Auction Kalbadevi And Chembur Properties Worth Rs 63 Crore Soon