Worli Transport Bhavan Delayed as Navy Height Limit Slashes Budget to Ninety Crore
The construction of the Maharashtra Transport Department's long-awaited Transport Bhavan project in Worli, Mumbai, has been delayed by 15 months after the Indian Navy denied height clearance for the original design. This delay has forced a major redesign, a fresh tendering process by the Public Works Department (PWD), and a budget reduction from Rs 179 crore to Rs 90 crore.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had laid the foundation stone for the new headquarters in March 2025, with the state government announcing that the building would be completed by the end of 2027. However, no contractor has been appointed so far, making it increasingly difficult for the project to meet that original timeline.
As a result of the ongoing delay, the 86-year-old Office of the Transport Commissioner will have to continue functioning from its rented premises for several more years. The department is expected to remain in temporary accommodations until the new permanent headquarters is built.
The project design underwent significant changes after the Indian Navy refused the required height clearance for the original 17-storey building proposal. To resolve the issue, the Public Works Department revised the design to a ground-plus-four-storey structure with underground parking.
Under this latest revision, the planned parking facility was reduced from four basement levels to just two levels. Officials stated that additional parking spaces can be developed on the available open land in the future if required.
These technical modifications and the reduction in basement levels have brought down the overall project cost by nearly half. The estimated expenditure has been lowered from Rs 179 crore to about Rs 90 crore. The final building will feature a built-up area of around 12,800 square metres.
Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik confirmed that the High-Powered Committee has approved the revised project and all necessary clearances have been obtained. Sarnaik stated that the PWD will shortly initiate the fresh tendering process, after which the physical construction work will finally commence. A revised completion timeline has not yet been announced.
