Track2Realty Exclusive
By: Ashok Wankhade
The world’s largest and Mumbai’s oldest Red Light District ‘Kamathipura’ known for its kothas that is brothels engaged in flesh trade is now turning golden with the increasing interest of the real estate developers there. Thanks to the Mumbai police that the increasing pressure on brothels under the Immoral Traffic Prevention Act have compelled the operators to shut the brothels and move to suburban area like Navi Mumbai for resettlement; making way for the real estate developers to plan out commercial complexes in the area.
The area Kamathipura was developed by the British as the entertainment and comfort zone for their soldiers. In the 19th century large numbers of girls from Japan and Continental Europe were brought in to Kamathipura where they worked as sex workers serving the British soldiers and local influential Indians. After the Independence the local sex workers took over the business and at present large number of Nepali girls are being seen entertaining the customers.
In the years 2006 to 2009 Mumbai police took action on two brothels compelling the operators to down the shutters. In the year 2010 Mumbai police closed down 46 brothels forcing the operations to sell off the property and move to new destination. In Jamana Mansion on Grant Road police took action on 40 brothels making the entire building free for the other activities. The VP road police took action on one brothel and Nagpada police on three brothels. The Gali No. One in Kamathipura is 85 % vacant. The Shankar Marawadi Chawal is being considered for redevelopment. The Musa Building in the Seventh Gali is almost vacant, the shady rooms of brothels in 13th Gali are housing the posh offices now.
According to the market sources the owners of the brothels have started selling the property at Rs. 50000 per square feet, where as the properties in the adjoining area around 100 meters away from the infamous locality are being quoted as high as Rs 2 lakh per sq. feet in the commercial complexes.
The market observers opined that in the next two years the Kamathipura will loose the tag of ‘Red Light’ area as the oldest profession of the human civilization is making way for the modern malls and commercial complexes.
2 Comments
Good article and also highlights the nexus. Law enforcers would be the main beneficiaries, then the builders and politicians
I may add that initially kamathipura developed itself as a cluster of Kamathis, the workers- particularly the construction workers. It is the place where workers generally from ,now Andhra Pradesh , specializing in plumbing opted to settle in large numbers.