MUMBAI: Deputy CM Eknath Shinde on Thursday said the state govt will examine if it can allow construction TDR (transfer of development rights) for buildings in the airport’s funnel zone whose redevelopment has been stuck owing to height restrictions. The benefit will be given on a no profit, no loss basis.
The move will clear the decks for redevelopment of over 6,000 buildings in Vile Parle, Santacruz, Kurla and Ghatkopar, giving relief to 6-8 lakh residents, said officials.
Shinde, who holds housing and urban development portfolios, said in the assembly, “If [the developers] are eligible to build 20 floors but can only build 10 due to height restrictions, we will give them construction TDR. We will examine this so that redevelopment becomes viable and feasible.”
The funnel zone includes areas that align with airport runways and the specific paths flights follow during landing and takeoff. TDR allows developers to build beyond the usual limits on a plot in exchange for providing housing to slumdwellers or surrendering land for public use.
In response to a calling attention motion raised by Congress MLA Amin Patel, he said Mhada will soon get a full-time land acquisition officer to fast-track redevelopment of cessed buildings declared dilapidated and dangerous in island city and the housing department will grant approvals in a time-bound manner.
Shinde said Mhada has issued notices to 854 owners of dilapidated and dangerous cessed buildings. Sixty-seven submitted redevelopment proposals, of whom 30 have been given NOCs. “If BMC declares a building dangerous, the building owner is first given an opportunity to redevelop it. If the owner does not submit a proposal in six months, this opportunity is given to the cooperative housing society of the occupants or tenants. If they too do not submit a proposal in six months, then a provision has been made for land acquisition and redevelopment through Mhada.” He also said tenders will soon be floated for redevelopment in Kamathipura and Umerkhadi.
BJP MLA Parag Alavani had raised the issue of redevelopment of buildings falling in the airport funnel zone.
Patel, who has been following up on the redevelopment of old and dilapidated buildings for close to a decade, said many projects have been stuck in the absence of a full-time land acquisition officer.
