Maharashtra government on Tuesday cleared a long-pending proposal to redevelop dilapidated police colony at Vartak Nagar in Thane, and task MHADA to redevelop these 47-year-old buildings, and construct 1000 homes, some of which will be sold by MHADA in its lottery.
The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by state Housing Minister Jitendra Awhad in Mantralaya. Thane Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Sitaram Kunte, Principal Secretary, Housing SVR Srinivasan, and newly appointed MHADA Vice President and Chief Executive Officer Anil Diggikar were present at the meeting.
MHADA had created housing for different sections in the 1960s out of which 10 buildings were handed to Thane police in 1973 for housing its personnel. Some of these buildings were declared dangerous to live and were demolished. Police personnel and their families continue to live in other dilapidated structures. Some police families were moved out into a state rental housing scheme. The previous government had announced cleared a similar redevelopment proposal with 4 FSI, but it continued to be pending.
The existing buildings have 40 tenements of 474 sq ft carpet area for the middle-income group (MIG), 120 tenements of 365 sq ft area for the lower-income group (LIG), and 400 tenements of 160 sq ft area.
According to the proposal, the total area available for redevelopment would be 61,166.94 sq metres and 5.26 FSI could be applicable as per February 2009 government resolution for the project. If implemented with 5.26 FSI, the 120 low-income group tenements could get a larger carpet area of 484 sq ft, and 400 LIG tenements could 322 sq ft carpet area.
The proposal also said MHADA will construct 1000 homes and after handing over 560, the remaining tenements will be sold by MHADA through its lottery at prevailing market rates. Police personnel will be given priority in the lottery distribution, the proposal said. 30-storey towers are proposed to be built over a three year construction period.
MHADA will have to get environment clearance as the 10 buildings are located in three clusters, and two of the clusters have more than 20,000 sq ft developable area which requires mandatory environment clearance. It will also have to apply for a No Objection Certificate from the National Wildlife Board of India.
