Affordable Housing gets a boost in MMR
In a move that could boost the affordable housing segment, the Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP government is planning to construct 11 lakh affordable houses in Mumbai. The government is keen on using salt pan land of the island city to build these houses. The Union urban development ministry has also given an in-principle approval for the utilisation of salt pan land.
Salt pan land to be utilised
According to Housing Minister Prakash Mehta the state government plans to provide 400-sq ft area tenements at affordable rates over the next four years. He claimed that a plan for the construction of around 7 lakh houses is almost already. However, the problem is that the government wants the people to reside in those tenements rather than selling them for some instant benefit. Under this scheme, all the slum dwellers would be asked to register themselves as beneficiaries under the affordable housing scheme. They will be divided into categories as per legal standing of the slum they were residing in, and a data base would be prepared in such a way that the beneficiary can be singled out if it tries to take benefits of any other housing scheme of the government across the state.
Around 5 per cent of MMR land is covered with salt pans. More than 5500 acres of salt-pan land could be used for affordable housing, but most of it is under coastal regulation zone and is ecologically sensitive. The biggest tracts of land are situated in Turbhe-Mandala belt and Mulund-Kanjur belt.
Meanwhile, the Bombay High Court has sought response from Maharashtra and Central government while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) on accessibility of affordable housing in MMR. The court has directed the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), the Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry (MCHI), the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) and other respondents to file an affidavit in response to the PIL in two weeks.
Navi Mumbai emerges as affordable housing hub
Navi Mumbai with all infrastructure developments is expected to be one of the most promising and affordable growth corridors in the MMR Region. The City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (CIDCO) is at the helm of planning structured growth of both residential and office space in Navi Mumbai. The absorption growth in Navi Mumbai has been primarily driven by the affordable housing segment.
Last year in September, CIDCO had announced that it will use a 100-hectare plot that was previously allotted for a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) by Videocon group, to achieve its previously decided target of constructing 10,000 new low cost homes. Around 60 hectares of this land lies in Dronagiri and the rest in Karanjade and Kamothe, all in close proximity of the proposed Navi Mumbai International Airport.
CIDCO has earmarked another 400 hectares (1,000 acres) of land to rehabilitate those affected by the Navi Mumbai airport project. CIDCO will rehabilitate them by giving them 22.5 per cent of developed land near Ulwe and its surrounding areas. CIDCO has also decided to develop a modern township called Navi Mumbai Airport Influence Notified Area (NAINA), close to the new airport in Panvel taluka on 1,200 hectares (3,000 acres) of land.
Experts feel that NAINA will be the epicenter of affordable housing in Navi Mumbai. “Navi Mumbai holds a distinct advantage as it is a planned and structured satellite city with a cosmopolitan and modern outlook. CIDCO has ensured that there is round-the-clock water and power supply and the physical infrastructure is running smoothly. The social infrastructure in terms of schools, medical and engineering colleges has also added value to the lives of residents in Navi Mumbai,” says Rajesh Prajapati, MD, Prajapati Group.
