Mumbai’s Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) has decided to grant permissions within seven days of application by developers to commence a project’s rehabilitation component in a bid to expedite redevelopment of dense slum pockets in the city.
However, this comes with a condition that the developer has to fulfil all statutory compliances including initial documentation and procedures for the project.
The move is aimed at simplifying and speeding up the redevelopment process of slums, which have emerged as Covid-19 hotspots.
According to the existing policy, application for intimation of approval is accepted after the issuance of letter of intent. But now it will be approved simultaneously and the commencement certificate will be issued within seven days of the application.
Besides, the approval of the file will be scrutinised at three levels, as against six levels earlier.
The directive from the nodal agency under the state government to implement the slum redevelopment schemes will come into effect immediately.
In addition to this, the authority has revised bank guarantee rates for rehabilitation projects to 2% of construction value per tenement from 20% earlier.
The cost of construction for the purpose of obtaining approvals is Rs 4.5 lakh per unit for Mumbai city, suburban districts and Thane.
These decisions are in line with the government’s recent announcements on relaxations in its slum redevelopment policy to ensure faster availability of housing for slum dwellers in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
This includes reductions and deferred payments for various premiums related to slum redevelopment projects.
These relaxations and streamlining of processes of SRA guidelines are an outcome of a series of discussions with all stakeholders, following suggestions and objections that have been further pushed by the Covid-19 pandemic in the region.
In the backdrop of the ongoing threat of the pandemic, the government is pushing the rehabilitation of slums with various measures including setting up of a dedicated fund and faster approvals.
It is also looking to plug the loopholes in its healthcare systems, especially in slums, by making it mandatory for every slum redevelopment project to have a primary healthcare centre spread over up to 5,000 sq ft, which will not be included in the project’s permissible development.