The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Standing Committee has approved an Occupation Certificate (OC) amnesty scheme aimed at providing relief to residents living in buildings occupied before November 17, 2016, but lacking occupation certificates due to procedural or compliance-related issues.
The decision comes after the committee sought a review of the proposal last month, requesting greater accountability for developers and architects, clearer implementation provisions and the inclusion of suggestions made by corporators.
The proposal, first introduced in April, had initially faced objections over limiting eligibility to residential units with a carpet area of up to 80 sq m (approximately 860 sq ft). After incorporating several recommendations, the committee cleared the scheme.
BJP Leader of the House Ganesh Khankar said many homebuyers had suffered because of lapses by developers and architects. The absence of occupation certificates has led to difficulties in redevelopment, penalties and legal complications for residents, while several buildings have deteriorated over time.
Standing Committee Chairman Prabhakar Shinde said the revised draft, incorporating corporators’ recommendations, was forwarded to the state government on April 15. While awaiting the government’s decision on the suggested changes, he stressed that residents should not be denied immediate relief.
Corporator Makarand Narwekar said the scheme would benefit thousands of Mumbaikars residing in buildings without occupation certificates. He clarified that the amnesty scheme is not a law and cannot override the Development Control Regulations (DCR) or the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (MMC) Act. According to him, concerns that structurally unsafe buildings or properties violating fire safety norms would automatically receive occupation certificates are misplaced.
As per the state government’s directions issued in December 2025, the eligibility cut-off has been extended from March 25, 1991, to November 17, 2016.
The scheme applies only to buildings with approved plans, valid Intimations of Disapproval (IODs) and Commencement Certificates (CCs). Residential buildings, hospitals and schools occupied before the cut-off date will qualify. It does not regularise unauthorised constructions but grants occupation certificates to approved portions of eligible buildings that remained without OCs due to administrative or compliance-related delays.
Source: The Times of India
