Contractor Issued Notice Over Majestic MLA Hostel Delay in Colaba

Early this week, Maharashtra State Legislative Council Chairman Ram Shinde issued a show-cause notice to Tricon Construction due to ongoing delays in the repair and refurbishment of the Majestic MLA hostel in Colaba, Mumbai. The extensive restoration project, which was originally scheduled for completion by September, has faced significant setbacks.

According to Shinde, who is personally overseeing the project, the completion date has now been pushed back. The restoration work on the heritage structure is now expected to be completed only in 2027.

Alongside the timeline delays, the project has also seen a steep escalation in budget. When the proposal for the repair and refurbishment of the hostel was first finalised in 2018, the estimated cost stood at Rs 70 crore. Over the years, this figure has risen substantially, with the current cost of the project now estimated at Rs 118 crore.

The Majestic MLA hostel is designated as a Heritage II-A structure. The restoration proposal aims to preserve the historic external facade of the landmark building while completely restructuring its interior spaces. Once the refurbishment is finished, the hostel will house 68 rooms and two presidential suites, with each individual room spanning approximately 450 square feet.

The building has a rich history in Mumbai. Designed by architect W A Chambers, the original structure was inaugurated as the Majestic Hotel in 1909. In the 1960s, when the Maharashtra state assembly functioned out of the building that now serves as the state police headquarters, the hotel was converted into a hostel for MLAs because of its close proximity to the legislative proceedings.

In the 1980s, the state assembly officially moved when the new Vidhan Bhavan was commissioned at Nariman Point. Despite the relocation of the assembly, the Majestic building continued to serve as an active hostel for members of the legislative assembly.