SMC approves policy to develop tenement houses

The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) will soon have a separate policy for redeveloping old EWS or tenement quarters under Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. The standing committee approved a policy for Althan tenement, which has more than 1,100 houses.

Civic body officials are planning to re-develop old tenement houses in the city into new modern complexes under PPP model. 

Under the model, old houses and flats will be demolished and new edifice will come up by private builders or land developers.

Flats will be provided to all the residents whose houses will be brought down, after which the space will be utilised by the developer for commercial use. Though officials had planned, they could not implement it due to legal provisions and absence of permission from civic body.

The standing committee recently approved the proposal of formulating a special policy and provisions, required for executing such a plan. Standing committee authorised Municipal commissioner S Aparna for preparing the policy, through which old tenements can be removed for commercialisation, without affecting the residents.

"We selected Althan tenement because it is more than 35 years old and majority of flats are in a bad shape. Tenement owners in Althan will be given a flat of the same size and area," said Mukesh Dalal, chairman of the standing committee.

Dalal added that SMC is not liable for maintenance as maintaining the building is their responsibility. The policy will provide them with better houses and will upgrade their 'standard of living'.