Sans impact study, MBMC’s cluster redevelopment in limbo

To tackle the issue of old and rickety buildings, the Fadnavis-led government had made it clear that the long anticipated and much needed cluster development policy will be implemented in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) region.

The announcement which was made during Nagpur’s assembly session in December-2016, came as a welcome respite for residents of the twin-city who are forced to risk their lives by staying put in such shaky and age old structures.

However, uncertainty still looms over the actual implementation of the cluster redevelopment mechanism as the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation, is yet to prepare the mandated Impact Assessment Study (IAR) report to evaluate whether the twin-city had the capacity to take on the additional burden

“Tenders had been floated twice to appoint an agency for the compilation of the IAS report, but the price bids were abnormally high. We have now sought details about competitive agencies

No clusters can be identified for redevelopment without an authentic study in context to load on infrastructure and necessary amenities as well as the traffic and environment for implementation of the projects

from our Thane and Navi Mumbai counterparts,” said standing committee chief Dhruv Kishor Patil.

“Most of the old and dilapidated structures in the region have been built during the erstwhile gram panchayat and municipal council regime by consuming Floor Space Index to such an extent, that redevelopment options are not feasible under the existing permission norms. The IAS is the need of the hour,” said former Mayor and corporator Geeta Jain.

No clusters can be identified for redevelopment without an authentic study in context to load on infrastructure and necessary amenities as well as the traffic and environment for implementation of the projects. Cluster scheme is the collective redevelopment of a number of buildings.

Under this scheme, additional Floor Space Index is given for such areas where it is proposed to undertake cluster projects. As opposed to redevelopment of an individual building, cluster not only turns feasible for the developer but also gives residents several advantages like parking, parks and other lifestyle amenities.