Affordable Housing in Mumbai: In Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) has identified land parcels spread over the area of 1,100 acres for the constructing affordable housing projects. Mumbai Metropolitan Region includes cities of Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai and these land parcels are in Thane, Raigad and Palghar which includes Vasai and Virar.
According to the source, these land parcels are identified on the basis of connectivity and infrastructure including water supply among other facilities which are needed for setting up affordable housing project.
The Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of MHADA, Mr. SS Zende said in his statement that in terms of process, we will now find out reservations, if any, on these land parcels. Following that, we will send our request for these plots to revenue and forest department, all of this is expected to get over in the next two months.
The land cost, the bulk of expenditure for any real estate project, will be minimum in this case as these land parcels will be allotted by the government to the state housing authority. And the further process of planning and drawing of a development plan will be initiated after the land allotment.
According to the earlier announcement of Prakash Mehtra state minister of housing, labor and mines, Maharashtra has considered as land parcels under the no-development zones as well as plots belonging to Indian defence personnel in an effort to build affordable houses in Mumbai. By focusing on the affordable housing Mr. Mehta said that if needed the government will even look at the salt pan land, defence land, airports authority and BPT (Bombay Port Trust) for these projects.
The Maharashtra government has already entered into an agreement with the defence ministry that will allow land under its control in Mumbai to be used for mass housing.
The minister had nudged real estate developers, who drew his attention to high taxes and development levies, to develop more affordable housing projects in the city. Cities across the country have been falling short of planned housing for low income and economically weaker households, resulting in an ever worsening housing shortage.
MHADA’s exercise to identify land parcels for affordable housing projects assumes importance in the backdrop of the government’s vision of achieving Housing for All by 2022, and the state government’s emphasis on bringing efficiency into various government schemes related to housing.
Source: www.realty.economictimes.indiatimes.com