Mumbai sitting on a time bomb: Minister

With close to 15,000 buildings in a state of dilapidation, the city could be sitting on a ‘time bomb’, the government has said. Out of 19,000 such buildings, 14,995 were yet to be repaired, minister of state for housing Sachin Ahir told the state legislative council on Friday.

The issue needed urgent attention and a macro policy, said the minister, adding, the government was trying to involve prestigious institutions to take up a study of all such structures.

“We will try to rope in reputed institutions like IIT to get a scientific study of the structures done and invite their suggestion for better maintenance. We are also planning to make it mandatory for architects on the MHADA panel to conduct a review as part of its social commitment,’’ Ahir said.

The minister blamed the rapid deterioration in buildings on changes in the lifestyle of the tenants. The original concrete flooring in the old buildings now have layers of marble or granite on top. Additional amenities like refrigerators, TV sets and cupboards have are adding weight and affecting the strength of the buildings, he said.

Ahir said the government was planning to give the structures an additional Floor Space Index (FSI) of three instead of the existing 2.5 for redevelopment. The increase in FSI would benefit the tenants as they would get 300 sq ft houses after redevelopment instead of the present 225 sq ft.

In the backdrop of the devastation caused by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, Ahir said it was important for the government to think of additional protection to buildings in Mumbai. “The government needs to take a policy decision on the matter. We need to be prepared against such eventualities,” he said.