By Ashna Shree
The Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (CREDAI) successfully hosted the second edition of its flagship exhibition, EODR 2.0 (Ease of Doing Redevelopment 2.0), bringing together key players from the real estate ecosystem to focus on the growing need and potential for redevelopment in Mumbai’s ageing urban infrastructure.
Held in Mumbai, the exhibition saw active participation from developers, housing society representatives, policymakers, and urban planners, who deliberated on redevelopment hurdles, regulatory frameworks, and strategies for sustainable urban renewal—especially in the city’s sprawling suburbs.
At the centre of these discussions was a strong pitch for extending the benefits of Section 33(7)—a redevelopment provision under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act—beyond South Mumbai. Section 33(7) allows additional Floor Space Index (FSI) and other incentives for redeveloping old buildings, but it currently applies only to Mumbai’s Island city, where many structures are over 100 years old.
Domnic Romell, Managing Director of Romell Group and a vocal advocate for suburban inclusion in redevelopment policies, made a compelling case for regulatory parity. “So the point is that the suburbs are being built by Mumbaikars. All the focus right now is on the island city, where buildings are 100 years old. But if you look at Mumbai, the suburbs—from Bandra to Vasai or from Mulund downwards—were built by Mumbai’s own people, and many of these buildings have also crossed 30 years,” he said.
Romell added that the growing degradation of suburban buildings puts enormous pressure on the need for redevelopment. “My request is that the Government of Maharashtra should introduce a similar regulation like 33(7) for suburbs as well. It would be a positive move to support redevelopment, especially in areas constrained by height or environmental regulations. These suburbs qualify too, and it’s time they receive equal attention,” he urged.
The EODR 2.0 platform fostered meaningful conversations on fast-tracking redevelopment approvals, rationalising FSI policies, and encouraging collaborative models between residents and developers. CREDAI reiterated its commitment to act as a bridge between the private sector and government bodies to ensure smoother execution of redevelopment projects critical to Mumbai’s housing future and infrastructure resilience.
