Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of Maharashtra has declared his intention to expedite the redevelopment of housing societies throughout the state by implementing a cluster-based self-redevelopment program. Speaking on Sunday, March 23, Fadnavis emphasised that the administration has already put 18 important measures promoting self-redevelopment into effect and that additional projects are planned.
Drawing inspiration from the success of self-redevelopment projects in Mumbai—where housing societies have benefited from increased residential unit sizes—the government aims to promote a collective approach. By encouraging societies to join forces, the cluster-based model is expected to streamline the redevelopment process and maximise benefits for residents.
Speaking about the legal framework, Fadnavis pointed out that although there are almost 2.25 lakh housing societies in Maharashtra that are part of the cooperative sector, many of them were not previously subject to the cooperative regulatory framework. Legislative revisions were proposed in 2029 to remedy this, but it took three more years to develop specific rules and regulations. In order to streamline administrative procedures and enable more seamless redevelopment operations, the Chief Minister promised that these long-awaited regulations would be announced within the next ten to twelve days.
Further reforms have also been made to the Apartment Act to resolve redevelopment challenges faced by apartment owners. According to Fadnavis, significant provisions have been incorporated while maintaining governance integrity. A committee led by the Cooperative Commissioner has submitted its recommendations, and the revised Apartment Act is set to be implemented within a month. These amendments aim to eliminate obstacles and offer greater legal clarity to apartment owners undertaking redevelopment.
Along with rehabilitation initiatives, Fadnavis urged housing societies to use the Prime Minister’s “Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme” to boost the use of renewable energy sources.
Source: The Bridge Chronicle
