The Mira-Bhayanda Vasai Virar Police has issued an official notification regarding the ban of heavy and oversized vehicles on the Gaymukh Ghat section of the Ghodbunder Road till October 14 due to the repair works. According to the official notification, the ban will remain effect till 12 am on October 14.

“The work of geometric improvement and asphalting on the Thane-Ghodbunder State Highway (No. 42) in the Gaymukh Ghat section will be carried out by the Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation,” the police said in its post on X.

The stretch between the Ghodbunder–Gaymukh Ghat section has been affected by deep potholes and also has major traffic concerns. The chronic traffic issues have long plagued daily commuters travelling between Mira-Bhayandar, Vasai, Virar, and Thane.

Coming back to the official notification, alternative routes (Diversion Routes) have been planned to ensure smooth traffic flow. Notably, the notification also clarified that the light vehicles and vehicles providing essential services are permitted to travel on the route.

For vehicles coming from Palghar–Virar side: Shirsat Phata → Parol → Akololi (Ganeshpuri) → travel via Ambadi.

For vehicles coming from Palghar–Vasai side: Chinchoti → Kaman → Kharbav → Anjur Phata → travel via Bhiwandi.

Vehicles coming from Western Expressway (Mumbai / Kashimira): Versova Bridge → Gujarat Highway → travel via Shirsat Phata / Chinchoti.

Heavy and oversized vehicles coming from Thane / Mumbai: Entry will be restricted at Y Junction / Kapurbawdi and they can take Kharegaon Toll Plaza → Mankoli → travel via Anjur Phata.

On October 12 frustrated commuters took an extraordinary act of protest by playing garba in the middle of the road. This came after an accident involving a container truck near Gaimukh brought traffic to a standstill, leaving thousands of people stranded for hours.

Mumbai: The Sahar police have registered an FIR against manpower agent Vinayak Koli for allegedly providing a fake appointment letter to a retired Navy Chief Petty Officer, Rakesh Kumar Yadav, 56, in an attempt to send him to Dubai.

Yadav, who retired in 2008 and previously worked as a seaman, had connected with Koli in 2021 while they were both working for the same company in Nigeria. In August 2025, while seeking a new job, Yadav responded to a WhatsApp job advertisement for an Electro Technical Officer. He discovered one of the contact numbers belonged to Koli, who then assured Yadav of an overseas position with Prayati Shipping Company.

Koli collected Yadav’s documents and, on October 9, provided him with an offer letter, an invitation, and a flight ticket from Mumbai to Dubai for the following day. However, on October 10, when Yadav presented the documents at Mumbai International Airport, immigration officers grew suspicious. An inquiry confirmed the offer letter was fraudulent.

Your questions concern most homebuyers facing delayed possession. The answers lie in Section 18(1) of RERA, which states, “Where an allottee does not intend to withdraw from the project, he shall be paid by the promoter, interest for every month of delay, till handing over of possession, at such rate as may be prescribed.” In Maharashtra, the interest rate under Rule 18 is SBI’s highest MCLR + 2% per annum. The interest becomes payable soon after the promised possession date and any grace period mentioned in the agreement.

In your case, the agreed possession date is April 30, and with a six-month grace period, it extends to October 31. Hence, the delay period begins November 1, and the builder must pay monthly interest at MCLR + 2% from that date until actual possession with a valid occupancy certificate. Interest for November should thus be paid in the first week of December 2025, and thereafter every month until possession. As per Section 18, payment of interest is automatic, the homebuyer need not demand it. The builder, aware of the agreed possession date, should start paying interest on the entire amount received.

MahaRERA’s FAQs (Q.21) also confirm that this interest must be automatically paid. However, in practice, many buyers are forced to file complaints before MahaRERA to claim their rightful dues. Therefore, buyers should formally call upon builders to begin payment once delay starts and, if they fail to comply, lodge a complaint with MahaRERA. Your concern about builders citing delays ‘beyond their control’ is valid. But the Supreme Court, in the Newtech Promoters case, has clarified that the right to monthly interest for delay is absolute and non-negotiable.

MahaRERA has echoed this in a recent judgment, stating, “If the respondent fails to hand over possession by the specified date, the respondent shall be liable to pay interest to the complainant. This provision does not provide for any waiver, disclaimer, exception, or force majeure. It is an absolute provision.” It is time MahaRERA issues general directions to all promoters to comply with this statutory obligation, preventing homebuyers from repeatedly approaching the authority for an already settled legal right.