The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has received 97 registrations under its Occupation Certificate (OC) amnesty scheme for housing societies in Mumbai since its launch in September 2026. However, nearly two months later, only four applicants have submitted all the necessary documents. In response to the limited participation, the civic body is preparing citywide awareness drives to encourage more housing societies to benefit from the initiative.
The scheme was introduced to help residential societies obtain long-pending OCs by paying prescribed charges based on factors such as building size, category, and the nature of existing approval-related deviations.
An estimated 12 lakh homeowners residing in nearly 25,000 buildings across Mumbai currently lack OCs. Under the eligibility conditions, approximately 5,000 housing societies within the BMC’s jurisdiction are expected to benefit.
A civic official confirmed the application figures, stating, “In total four applications are such where they have submitted the applications with all the required documents, and we will now process these files. However, in total 97 applicants have registered their interest to take benefits under the amnesty scheme.”
To improve participation, the BMC plans to organise awareness camps in collaboration with the National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO) and the Practising Engineers, Architects and Town Planners Association (PEATA).
Speaking at an awareness programme on November 3, Sanjay Rathod, Chief Engineer of the BMC’s Development Plan department, said, “For the first time, we have introduced an amnesty scheme under which the penalty has been reduced to zero for a period of six months. The scheme, which began on September 9, is aimed at helping more housing societies obtain deemed conveyance, as well as addressing applications from hospitals, schools and shops.”
Rathod also highlighted challenges involving individual applications and Fire NOCs, adding that provisions had been introduced under AutoDCR to simplify the process.
PEATA Secretary Vilas Nagalkar said wider outreach would be necessary to improve awareness and encourage eligible societies to apply.
Under the scheme, buildings must have been occupied before November 17, 2016, and possess valid IOD and Commencement Certificates. Residential units exceeding 80 sq. metres are excluded. The initiative covers eligible residential buildings, hospitals and schools but does not regularise illegal construction.
Source: Hindustan Times
