Budgetary provision of ` 250cr for every year to upgrade 56 MHADA colonies

The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development authority (MHADA) has decided to keep a budgetary provision of Rs 250 crores for every year to carry out the reparing and maintainance work of its 56 colonies located in Mumbai and suburban regions. These colonies have about 3,700 residential buildings that are above century old and need to be repaired, especially before the arrival of monsoon.

As per MHADA officials, the need to have a dedicated budgetary provision so to undertake the upgradation work was raised in the authority meeting on Monday. Wherein, considering it as an important issue it was approved by all members present in the meeting. Moreover, it has been decided those colonies which are old and needs immediate attention that will be taken up first.

Chief officer of MHADA, Mumbai board, Deependra Singh Kushwaha said, "The monetary provision is for the infrastructure upgradation. Thirty to fifty years ago, the development on these MHADA layouts was been carried out on one Floor Space Index (FSI) and later as the redevelopment proposals are being approved on three FSI. Resulting in increased density and stress on these layouts in terms of repair work. For instance to fix the water pipeline, sewage lines and other related work by MHADA. Therefore, considering all these factors, the fund provision has been made. Besides this, we are also prioritising the work and preparing a five-year plan."

As per MHADA there are above 76,000 people living in these buildings risking their lives. The role of MHADA is limited except collecting the maintainance charges as its not the owner of these buildings.