Thane to be redeveloped under cluster scheme: Maharashtra urban development minister
Mumbai’s neighbouring Thane city’s cluster redevelopment, the first such project in Asia, is likely to be kickstarted soon as Maharashtra’s Minister for Urban Development Department Eknath Shinde has asked authorities to rehabilitate occupiers of unsafe buildings as early as possible.
The minister has also requested commissioners of Mumbai Metropolitan Region to expedite the settlement of existing judiciary cases related to this.
“The proposed cluster development of Thane is one of the ambitious schemes of the government as it will pave the way for the citizens to get their own permanent houses,” Shinde said. “By implementing this, Thane will be the first city in the country to redevelop an entire city, as it will assist the locals in progressing towards sustainable development.”
The scheme will be executed in Thane with the cooperation of both the government and the citizens.
The cluster development will enable the economic growth of residential areas to and also help safeguard open spaces and environmental resources. Under this scheme, houses are built closer together on a specific plot of land rather than distributed uniformly across vast areas across the whole complex, experts said. Incentive costs are being paid to developers through the sale of flats in the building through Floor Space Index, the permissible development on a plot.
The growing population of Thane and the increase in construction of unauthorized buildings has put stress on basic infrastructure making it difficult to offer amenities to every individual. The cluster plan is essential for the forest-land, creek shore, land conservation, infrastructure provision, and planned development of the ward.
The Municipal Corporation of the city has developed a cluster plan to address the issue of hazardous buildings in the MMR region as a special meeting was held under the chairmanship of Urban Development Minister Eknath Shinde to find a lasting solution to the problem.
The proposed cluster plan will also include commercial buildings in certain places. Residents in such buildings will be provided 25% extra free area in addition to their current space.
If a new or redevelopment project has an area of 500 square metres or more, registration under RERA is required. As a result, projects under the cluster plan will be registered under RERA as well.
The minister has requested the concerned Municipal Commissioner that suggestions be made as to what steps the government may initiate to redevelop buildings that were not included in the cluster system and how the current measures might be amended, as dilapidated buildings pose a risk every rainy season.
The minister has also advised setting up transit camps in every municipal area for the temporary shelter of residents living in such buildings and funding should be made available for this purpose.
The value of the land in the cluster plan will be utilised to evaluate the redevelopment potential and the area covered by the scheme will be 125 times the original FSI.
As part of this project, residents living in unauthorised houses will get 300 sq ft of house, whereas those who have shops will get a 160 sq ft space. Residents living in unauthorized houses will have to pay at least 25% of the market value and at a market price rate for houses with an area of more than 100 meters. These houses cannot be handed over for 15 years and the beneficiary will have to pay a premium to seek possession of a house
Source - realty.economictimes.indiatimes.com
