More than 80 redevelopment projects in Vasai-Virar have been placed under scrutiny after the municipal corporation found that additional carpet area had allegedly been approved beyond prescribed limits in projects cleared between 2022 and 2025.
The Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) has suspended further additional construction in the identified projects and written to the District Registrar, asking the authority to halt registration of sale documents for flats and commercial units in these developments until the matter is resolved.
Reverification Flags Excess FSI
Redevelopment of ageing buildings gained momentum in Vasai-Virar following the implementation of the Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations (UDCPR) in 2020. However, complaints later emerged alleging irregularities in construction permissions issued during the 2022-25 period.
Following subsequent scrutiny by the civic body’s Town Planning Department, officials reportedly found more than 80 projects where Incentive FSI and additional Floor Space Index (FSI) had been sanctioned beyond permissible limits.
The issue came into sharper focus after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) initiated action against former municipal commissioner Anil Kumar Pawar and then Deputy Director of Urban Planning Y.S. Reddy in connection with alleged irregularities in construction permissions.
The civic administration has now sought guidance from the state government on whether occupancy certificates (OCs) can be granted to the projects flagged during the review.
Developers Asked to Explain Project Status
Notices have been issued to developers involved in the identified projects, directing them to provide details of registration documents, the extent of construction completed and the current status of sanctioned development.
The corporation has instructed that flats and shops in these projects should not be sold until further clarity is provided. To prevent potentially disputed transactions, the District Registrar has also been requested to stop registration of related property documents.
Developers to Get Opportunity to Respond
The municipal corporation has begun hearings to allow developers to present their side before further decisions are taken. Officials will examine the extent of construction, units already sold and other technical and regulatory details.
The Town Planning Department is expected to begin these hearings from Thursday.
The civic body is also reviewing other redevelopment files, meaning the number of projects under scrutiny could increase. For projects where irregularities are confirmed, the earlier construction permissions could be cancelled and developers may be required to obtain fresh commencement certificates (CCs) under revised approvals.
Appeal to Homebuyers
Residents and prospective buyers have been advised to exercise caution while dealing with properties in the identified projects. The civic administration has urged those who have already registered flats or shops to avoid further financial commitments or document transactions until the final status of the projects and their construction approvals becomes clear.
The development could have wider implications for Vasai-Virar’s redevelopment market, particularly as developers, housing societies and buyers await clarity from the state government and municipal authorities on the validity of the disputed approvals and the next steps for affected projects.
Source: Loksatta
