Dadar, building type by building type
Dadar was laid out as a planned improvement scheme in the 1920s and the bones of that plan are still there: the grid of Hindu Colony, the tree-lined roads of Parsi Colony, the Deco frontages around Shivaji Park. Behind and around them are mill-land towers on Tulsi Pipe Road and dense commercial Dadar East, which are different markets entirely.
Hindu Colony and Parsi Colony
1920s–1940s low-rise, three to four storeys, in-situ cement tile floors, Burma teak frames and steel casements. Precinct expectations on external changes and mostly no lifts.
Shivaji Park Deco belt
1930s–50s Art Deco frontages around the maidan. Curved balconies, terrazzo, original ironmongery, and societies who guard the elevation.
Tulsi Pipe Road mill-land towers
Post-2005 redevelopment towers. Large layouts, service lifts, written fit-out manuals and modern services.
Dadar East station-side
Dense mixed-use, older buildings, small flats, commercial ground floors and genuinely difficult access.
Dadar interior rates for 2026
A Dadar quotation starts at ₹2,070 per sq ft of carpet area and reaches ₹3,590 at the top of the specification. Multiply your own carpet figure by the column you want.
| Configuration | Typical carpet area | Essential ₹2,070/sq ft | Premium ₹2,800/sq ft | Luxury ₹3,590/sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1BHK (colony) | 420–580 sq ft | ₹8.7 – 12.0 L | ₹11.8 – 16.2 L | ₹15.1 – 20.8 L |
| 2BHK (colony) | 700–950 sq ft | ₹14.5 – 19.7 L | ₹19.6 – 26.6 L | ₹25.1 – 34.1 L |
| 3BHK (Deco / Shivaji Park) | 1,050–1,450 sq ft | ₹21.7 – 30.0 L | ₹29.4 – 40.6 L | ₹37.7 – 52.1 L |
| 3BHK (mill-land tower) | 1,300–1,800 sq ft | ₹26.9 – 37.3 L | ₹36.4 – 50.4 L | ₹46.7 – 64.6 L |
All figures ex-GST, with 18% charged separately. Excludes structural civil work, white goods and loose furniture. Check a different area in the cost calculator.
Restoration is often cheaper than replacement in the colony stock. Grinding and polishing an original cement-tile floor runs ₹90–₹160 per sq ft against ₹280–₹450 for good new tiling laid over a levelled bed, and the result is better. We test-patch during the survey so the decision is made on evidence.
Design and build under one accountable roof in Dadar
What a Dadar survey usually turns up
- The colonies expect the elevation left alone. Hindu Colony, Parsi Colony and the Shivaji Park frontages are precincts in practice if not always on paper. Window replacements, balcony enclosures and AC unit positions are all scrutinised and frequently refused.
- Original material here is usually better than its replacement. In-situ cement tile, Burma teak frames, brass ironmongery and steel casements from the 1930s outperform most of what is sold today. We assess for restoration before pricing replacement.
- Parking does not exist. There is nowhere in Dadar to leave a vehicle for a working day. Material is unloaded and the tempo goes, which means consolidated loads and a crew standing ready.
- Festival season closes the district. Ganpati around Shivaji Park and the Dadar market calendar make access impossible for stretches of September and October. We programme around it rather than through it.
- Timber joists survive in a handful of the oldest blocks. Some pre-1930 buildings have timber intermediate floors under the screed. Before any heavy stone or a filled-in bathtub goes in, we establish what the floor is actually made of.
How a Dadar site actually runs
This is the part of a quotation that separates studios who work here regularly from studios who do not.
| Constraint | The reality here | How we plan for it |
|---|---|---|
| Parking | No vehicle can stand for a working day anywhere in Dadar | Consolidated loads; crew ready to receive; tempo unloads and leaves |
| Precinct expectations | External changes scrutinised in all three colonies | Nothing externally visible designed without written society agreement |
| Festival calendar | Ganpati and the market calendar close access for weeks | Programme planned around the dates at the outset |
| Floor structure | Timber intermediate floors in some pre-1930 blocks | Structure confirmed before any heavy load is designed in |
The spec we write here
What gets specified here is decided by the walls, the air and the society bye-laws, in that order.
| Element | What we specify | Why, here |
|---|---|---|
| Existing floors | Cement tile test-patched and costed for restoration first | Original in-situ tile outperforms most new flooring |
| Windows | Steel casements restored, epoxy-primed and re-glazed | Replacement is dearer, worse and usually refused by the society |
| Timber | Original teak frames and doors retained and re-polished | Better timber than anything currently available |
| Loads | Heavy stone and filled baths assessed against the floor structure | Timber joists under screed in the oldest buildings |
| Services | Full rewire and CPVC replacement assumed in colony flats | Original services here are ninety years old in places |
How long a Dadar flat takes
- Week 0 — survey, test patches, structureMeasure, lift a corner of the flooring, test-patch the cement tile, establish what the intermediate floor is made of, and agree with the society what may not be touched.
- Weeks 1–3 — design, restoration schedule, BOQLayouts plus a separate restoration schedule for floors, windows and timber, priced against the replacement alternative so you can choose.
- Weeks 4–6 — strip-out, services, restorationCareful demolition, rewiring, plumbing, then floor grinding and window restoration.
- Weeks 7–12 — joinery and ceilingNew joinery detailed to sit alongside restored original material rather than compete with it.
- Weeks 13–15 — finishes and handoverPolish, paint, hardware, lighting, clean and snagging.
Two Dadar clients, in their words
They ground the original floor back and it is the best surface in the flat. We had budgeted to tile over it.
The casement windows were stripped, primed and re-glazed. The society, who refuse everything, had no objection at all.
Dadar is a restoration market pretending to be a renovation market. The flats already contain better material than most budgets could buy, and the skill here is knowing what to keep.
What we take on in Dadar
Turnkey design and build
Drawings, procurement and site work under one contract.
→Kitchen design
Layout, carcass, counter and appliance coordination.
→Home renovation
Occupied and vacant flats, phased or in one go.
→Storage and joinery
Wardrobes, crockery units, study and loft work.
→
Selected work by Greenbox Design Studio. Tap any image to enlarge.
Frequently asked questions
What do interior designers charge in Dadar?+
₹2,070–₹3,590 per sq ft of carpet area. A 700–950 sq ft colony 2BHK is ₹14.5–19.7 lakh at an essential finish and ₹25.1–34.1 lakh at luxury, ex-GST. Restoration work on original floors and windows is quoted separately and usually reduces the total rather than adding to it.
Is it worth restoring the original flooring in a Dadar colony flat?+
Almost always. In-situ cement tile from the 1930s is denser and flatter than most new vitrified tile, and grinding and polishing it runs ₹90–₹160 per sq ft against ₹280–₹450 for a good new floor laid on a levelled bed. We test-patch a square metre during the survey so the decision is based on how it actually comes up.
Will Hindu Colony or Parsi Colony allow new windows?+
Usually not, and that is generally the right answer. The original steel casements are heavier section than modern aluminium and, stripped, epoxy-primed and re-glazed, will outlast a replacement. We take the restoration route to the committee with photographs, which is a conversation they are used to having favourably.
How does festival season affect a Dadar project?+
Substantially. Ganpati around Shivaji Park and the Dadar market calendar make vehicle access impossible for stretches of September and October. We set the programme around those dates at the outset — a project planned through them loses two to three weeks and everybody blames everybody else.
Can I put a stone kitchen counter in an old Dadar building?+
Usually yes, but we check the floor structure first. A handful of pre-1930 blocks have timber intermediate floors under the screed, and a full stone counter plus a filled bathtub on the same floor is a load worth calculating rather than assuming. It takes one opening-up during the survey to settle.