MHADA has proposed a Rs 25-crore fund, only for the maintenance and repairs of these buildings
6,050 families staying in the Prime Minister's Grant Programme Colonies (PMGP) located in Mumbai have reason to cheer. MHADA has proposed a Rs 25-crore fund, only for the maintenance and repairs of these buildings. Apart from this, the authority is even preparing a plan for the redevelopment of these dilapidated structures, spread across the city, most of which are in South Mumbai's Umarkhadi, Byculla regions.
There are 66 such buildings in six colonies. On the other hand, it has identified 46 buildings, too, which can be redeveloped under the Development Control Rules of 33 (9). Tenants want the buildings to be redeveloped on the lines of BDD chawl redevelopment, being carried out by MHADA. Amin Patel, the local MLA from Mumbadevi, in whose constituency a lot of PMGP buildings exist, said: "The money allocated is for repair and maintenance. Till the time the buildings aren't redeveloped, the buildings need to be maintained and hence the budget allocation."
PMGP colonies were very old and there were nearly 239 odd buildings in the city, which MHADA had redeveloped in the early 1980s. These buildings have now come up for re-redevelopment. MHADA has prepared a plan and senior officials claim that even architects have been appointed to find out viable solutions for the redevelopment of these buildings.
Sumant Bhange, Chief Officer, Mumbai MHADA board, said, "The government had asked us to dispense Rs 125 crore for repairs of PMGP colonies over a period of five years, and this Rs 25 crore is for the repair of the buildings. Of all the buildings, 46 buildings have been identified as clusters, which can be redeveloped under DCR 33 (9). There are remaining few buildings, which will have to be redeveloped under other development rules." Under DCR 33 (9), tenants will get nowhere less than 300 square foot home and if the one constructing this building gives fungible FSI to tenants, they will get 35 per cent extra space, taking the total size of the apartment to 405 square foot.
Tenants of these buildings, meanwhile, say that they want MHADA to have a special plan like the one they have for BDD chawls and give them bigger homes, not just 300 square foot ones. The authority claims that they are preparing a plan for redevelopment, but if the tenants want they can appoint a private developer for which the minimum requirement is of 70 per cent consent of the total tenants.
However, Patel also claims that instead of repairs, the authority should think of redevelopment seriously and carry it out fast. "The plan of redevelopment is under DCR 33 (9), but some buildings are on smaller plot size and hence, they will need to think differently for them as DCR 33 (9) requires a plot area of minimum an acre. Hence, special status be given to these building, too, for redevelopment."
A NEW LOOK
- There are 66 such buildings in six colonies. 46 other buildings have also been identified, which can be redeveloped
- Tenants want the buildings to be redeveloped on the lines of BDD chawl redevelopment.
- MHADA has prepared a plan and senior officials claim that even architects have been appointed.
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