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Many millionaires pay a few thousand rupees annually as lease rent for some of the most expensive Mumbai’s properties they hold. The leases for such properties have been expired long ago but the state government was in no mood to take any initiative to renew.

Indeed, the bungalow of the famous actor Shah Rukh Khan is leased out to him at mere Rs 2325 per year. The property is located in one of the costliest areas of Mumbai. Incidentally, he bought the property on an expired lease.

The issue is not just restricted to residential property. Many business houses and hotels in areas such as Mahalaxmi, Juhu, Bandra, and Dadar are rented out by the government on 3 to 99 year leases.There are 53 such expired leases in Mumbai that accrue only Rs 7 crore to the state government.

The government is planning to release a new policy to calculate the rental value. The leasers started seeking legal assistance when the official asked them to renew the market value. The consultants hired by the government will recalculate the amount, by the end of December, says Rajendra Shingane, MoS, Revenue Department, Maharashtra Government.