Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has urged the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) to hold back the proposed release of more than 80 lakh sq ft of Transferable Development Rights (TDR) linked to a reserved private land parcel in Chitalsar-Manpada until the city’s civic infrastructure is significantly strengthened.
The demand comes amid increasing political opposition to the proposal, with leaders from the BJP and NCP (SP) also raising concerns about Thane’s ability to accommodate large-scale development given existing pressure on roads, water supply and other essential public services.
During a visit to the site near Tikuji-ni-Wadi, Sarnaik questioned the wisdom of permitting a substantial TDR allocation when the city is already grappling with infrastructure challenges. He maintained that civic authorities should first evaluate whether Thane has the capacity to support the additional population that could result from future development.
“Before approving any TDR, the administration should have assessed whether the city has adequate water supply, electricity, roads, health care facilities, sewage treatment and solid waste management systems to accommodate the additional population. The corporation must first prepare a roadmap to strengthen infrastructure before permitting TDR utilisation,” Sarnaik said.
The minister also expressed concerns regarding the revised Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations (UDCPR), stating that developers are already benefiting from additional Floor Space Index (FSI) incentives. According to him, combining these incentives with large-scale TDR could accelerate construction activity and population growth without corresponding upgrades to civic infrastructure.
Sarnaik additionally stressed the need to safeguard environmentally sensitive areas around the project site. Amid public concerns over development near forest zones, he instructed officials to ensure that construction does not extend into green portions of the land. He also insisted that the area earmarked for a public garden should continue to remain a green zone.
However, representatives from the real estate sector argued that delaying TDR approvals would be unfair to landowners. “Infrastructure planning is the corporation’s responsibility and should precede development approvals. Landowners should not be penalised for administrative shortcomings,” said an industry stakeholder on condition of anonymity.
Source: The Times of India
