DLF puts Andheri project on the block

DLF, India’s largest real estate firm by market capitalisation, is learnt to have put its commercial property in Andheri, a Mumbai suburb, on the block. This project was being developed with Akruti City, and the asking price for the property is said to be at least Rs 500 crore.
The project is spread over 1 million sq ft in the MIDC area of Andheri. Sources familiar with the development said DLF has approached a couple of Mumbai-based property consultants and brokers to execute the transaction.
According to a senior official at a property consultant firm, the decision to sell the asset was taken a week ago. DLF is also believed to have sounded out prominent builders and individual investors. DLF holds 75% in the project with Akruti holding the rest. This is the second big ticket project that DLF has put on the block in the recent past.
Last month, DLF finalised a deal to sell its stake in Hindoostan Mill in Central Mumbai to a Chennai-based investor for Rs 310 crore.
“DLF, which was developing the project with Akruti, is looking to sell the property for Rs 5,000 per sq ft over the actual cost of construction,” said the official. Interestingly, the prevailing market rate in Andheri is around Rs 10,000 per sq ft.
The rationale behind selling the property at half the price is its size. Currently, the project has only a basement and the ground floor. It is divided into two parts by a road with one part covering 7.16 lakh sq ft, with the balance 2.84 lakh square feet on the other side.
An official with DLF confirmed the deal, though the company spokesperson said, “The company would not like to comment on this issue.” It is not clear whether Akruti too would be selling its stake at this point. When contacted, Vimal Shah, MD, Akruti, refused to comment.
DLF had earlier announced that the project would be ready by the end of this year. The company is believed to be selling it to raise capital to repay its debt of around Rs 14,000 crore. A potential buyer will also have to pay for the construction cost that DLF has incurred. DLF officials had earlier announced that they could raise money by selling portions of the land from their existing land banks.