The long-pending redevelopment of 388 ageing buildings under MHADA in South Mumbai is gradually gaining momentum, with the state government confirming increased developer interest and fresh proposals coming in.
Around three months after authorities stepped in to push the process, ten redevelopment proposals have been received from developers, with a no-objection certificate (NOC) already issued for one project. In addition, ten more proposals have been submitted for cluster redevelopment. This update was shared by Shambhuraj Desai in the state legislative assembly.
The redevelopment of these buildings, many of which are in a dilapidated condition, had been stalled for years due to the absence of clear development norms and the small size of plots, which made projects financially unviable. To address these challenges, the government introduced incentives under the Development Control Regulation (DCR) 33(24), aimed at making such projects more attractive to developers.
Under this framework, tenants are assured a minimum rehabilitation area of 300 sq ft, while developers are offered additional floor space index (FSI) benefits. The regulation applies to older MHADA and civic buildings, including those that are structurally unsafe or over 30 years old.
“To make the redevelopment of the said 388 reconstructed buildings feasible, it has been approved that the developer shall transfer residential units to MHADA equivalent to 25% of the land value calculated as per the prevailing ASR (Annual Statement of Rates), in lieu of land ownership compensation,” Desai said.
“We have granted several such benefits to developers as they were not coming forward. Now they have started showing interest as we have received proposals relating to ten redevelopment projects, of which an NOC was provided for one of them. We have received proposals for ten cluster redevelopment projects,” he added.
Despite these developments, concerns persist over delays, with legislators urging faster execution and interim repair support for residents living in unsafe structures.
Source: Hindustan Times
