Maharashtra announces new housing policy

Hopes more housing stock will come up in Greater Mumbai especially for common man

The state government has issued a new housing policy for Maharashtra in the run-up to the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election.

It proposes redevelopment of buildings on 7,000 lots in 104 layouts of the state-run Maharashtra Housing & Area Development Authority (MHADA) in Greater Mumbai. A Floor Space Index (FSI) of four will be given for MHADA layouts. A developer will get an FSI of three for redevelopment of a plot up to 2,000 sq mt; for an extra one-FSI, premium will have to be paid and housing stock shared with MHADA.

The government expects at least 30,000 houses to be available with the new policy on MHADA lots in Greater Mumbai.  Redevelopment of old or dilapidated buildings in the suburbs will be carried out under a cluster scheme, currently applicable only to the island city of Mumbai. At least 10,000 old or dilapidated buildings from the suburbs are expected to get a makeover.

According to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the policy also proposes redevelopment of transit camps, where people are shifted.

The policy was announced at a public meeting by Fadnavis, in the presence of Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray,  housing minister Prakash Mehta, his deputy Ravindra Waikar, other state ministers, MPs and legislators. Until recently, the Bharatiya Janta Party and Shiv Sena, coalition allies in the state government, were warring on city politics but have decided to stay together for the BMC polls. Both Fadnavis and Thackeray said Mumbai's common citizen is the focus in the new policy.

The CM added the government was formulating a policy for redevelopment of Asia's biggest slum, Dharavi in this city. And, that 85,000 slum dwellers on Mumbai airport land owned would be rehabilitated within three km of the existing location. THE NEW POLICY

• Redevelopment of buildings on 7,000 lots in 104 layouts of the state-run Maharashtra Housing & Area Development Authority (MHADA) in Greater Mumbai
• A developer will get an FSI of three for redevelopment of a plot up to 2,000 sq mt; for an extra one-FSI, premium will have to be paid
• The government expects at least 30,000 houses to be available with the new policy om MHADA lots in Greater Mumbai
• 85,000 slum dwellers on Mumbai airport land owned would be rehabilitated within three km of the existing location