CIDCO drafts Urban Renewal Scheme for old, dilapidated buildings in Navi Mumbai

The scheme provides for 3 FSI and is based on MHADA's development of housing colonies with higher FSI

City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) today said it has drafted an Urban Renewal Scheme for old and dilapidated buildings in Navi Mumbai.

"In its bid to address the issue of old and dilapidated buildings in Navi Mumbai, CIDCO has drafted an Urban Renewal Scheme...the scheme will address the challenges of old and dilapidated buildings and ensure their integrated development," CIDCO said in a release here today.

The scheme provides for 3 FSI (Floor Space Index) and is based on the Maharashtra Housing and Development Authority's (MHDA) development of housing colonies with higher FSI. They said proposal is under consideration of the Maharashtra government's Urban Development Department, the release said.

A recent report by Mirani Committee, set up by CIDCO to survey the present condition of buildings constructed 20-25 years ago in Navi Mumbai, noted that buildings have become decrepit due to lack of maintenance and repairs, it said.

The committee further opined that "The negligence of maintenance of buildings for all these years is a major contribution towards dilapidation. It has come to notice of the committee that many owners have carried out some unauthorised additions and alterations in their tenements." "It is absolutely necessary that such unauthorised alterations and additions should be properly controlled by CIDCO and NMMC without which the buildings, which are already in various stages of ageing, may suffer accelerated damage and become unsafe," the report said.

"A proper system of vigilance and check on the unauthorised alteration should be introduced and implemented," it suggested.

The report also mentioned that the Bombay High Court, while hearing a matter of dangerous and dilapidated buildings in rental housing scheme of BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), recently directed that the owners are responsible for maintenance and repairs of such buildings.

The court also asked the civic body to finalise a policy and set up a committee of technical experts to survey such buildings and fine-tune the way forward.

In view of this, the responsibility of maintenance and repairs of dilapidated buildings is of its residents/owners and societies.

The CIDCO has advised residents of old and dilapidated buildings in its jurisdiction to move to safer places.

It has earmarked tenements for residents of old and dilapidated buildings in Kalamboli and Ulwe and has served notices on residents to shift there.