Hindustan Times ST (Mumbai) - Live
NMMC clears revamp of 4 housing societies in city
31 buildings, 616 families to benefit; action on proposals pending for yrs; hope for lakhs of residents
NAVI MUMBAI: In a major relief for the residents of dilapidated buildings in the city, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has sanctioned the redevelopment of buildings in four housing societies in the city on Friday.
The proposal for these buildings was stuck in bureaucratic red tape and political interference for more than five years. The decision has now given hopes to more than four lakh other residents residing in 3,500 dangerous buildings across Navi Mumbai.
The approval for redevelopment was given to 31 buildings in four housing societies in Vashi and Nerul where 616 families reside. The buildings include Nivasti Tvisa Society in Sector 2, Little Flower Society in Sector 9, Utkarsh Society in Sector 9 and Panchsheel Apartment in Sector 1A in Nerul.
The redevelopment issue of Cidco buildings, which are more than 30 years old and declared as extremely dangerous (C1 category) was stuck for over five years. The state government has already sanctioned 2.5 FSI for redevelopment in the city and recently, the CM Uddhav Thackeray has given the green signal for granting 4 FSI, a proposal for which is being readied by Cidco.
NMMC has formed an identification committee for the purpose of scrutinising redevelopment proposals of dangerous and dilapidated buildings. The committee, headed by the municipal commissioner, includes Cidco chief planner, Cidco chief engineer, superintending engineer PWD, Thane, Joint director – town planning, Konkan Division and NMMC chief engineer.
NMMC commissioner, Abhijit Bangar, said, “The residents of buildings declared in C1 category had constantly been following up on the redevelopproposal submitted by them. The approval had been stuck lately due to the Covid pandemic. Now, we have taken up the issue on priority as the residents do not have a proper home of their own. The members of the identification committee personally inspected these buildings on December 15 and 17. They then submitted their report to me based on which the committee has approved the proposals for the redevelopment of the buildings in these four societies.”
Bangar added that the decision to approve redevelopment plans for the four societies will benefit a large number of resiment dents residing in them and help them get quality houses of their own.
Welcoming the sanction by the civic body, BM Siraj (51), a resident of Nivasti Tvisa society, said, “We have long been suffering and waiting for the sanction for long. A lot of people in the society have no other option but to risk their lives on a daily basis by residing here. We know there is still a long way to go before we get new houses as there are several other permissions to get as well. However, this is a very important hurdle that has been crossed and the redevelopment process can finally be set in motion.”