BMC to ease redevelopment process for leased plots

MUMBAI: Redevelopment projects on Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) leasehold plots are set to become easier, with Mumbai's civic body looking to simplify the process and setting a time limit for granting approvals.

With the objective of doing away with agents involved in the procedure for securing these approvals, BMC's estate department has sought to modify five key applications related to this process.

These include the procedure for amalgamation of plots leased by the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) and for granting No Objection Certificate ( NOC) for redevelopment of municipal-leased property un der 33(7), which deals with redevelopment of cessed buildings in the is land city.

It also includes the granting an procedure of granting an NOC to get an Occupation Certificate for redevelopment of municipal leased property.

In terms of timeframe, the civic body has proposed 34 days for granting approval to application of amalgamating leased plots. No Objection Certificate for redevelopment of municipal leased property under 33(7) will be provided within 25 days of application by the lessee or developer.

The civic body has now invited suggestions from citizens on the same by September 3 before finalising the same.

According to reports, the civic body has leased out over 4,200 plots in Mumbai to private entities. These properties have been leased for different use such as residential, educational, charitable and industrial, etc. The period of these leases ranges from 10 to 999 years.Of these, lease for around 230 plots, including the Mahalaxmi Race Course, the Life Insurance Building and Thomas Cook buildings in Fort, have expired about two years ago.