Miffed BMC to oppose 25% reduction in FSI

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will oppose the state government’s decision to reduce 25 per cent share of the civic body from revenue accrued from the grant of 0.5 premium FSI in the island city, said sources. The BMC and the state have 50 per cent share each in the revenue accrued from the suburbs’ premium FSI, but for the island city, 25 per cent of the share of both has been demarcated for the redevelopment of Dharavi redevelopment and the sea link project. The decision has been taken without consulting Shiv Sena ministers, the mayor, Mr Vishwanath Mahadeshwar or the civic body, sources added. When The Asian Age tried to contact the Mayor, they were told that he is out of town.
 
The provision of allowing premium FSI was made in the 1991 DP and it was decided that the revenue collection through this would be utilised for developing infrastructure. When the Devendra Fadnavis-led government came to power, they took the decision to give 50 per cent share of premium revenue to the state government and this FSI was only allowed in the suburbs.

The state government wants funds for its projects from BMC’s revenue share and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is looking for political mileage and credit for these two projects in the 2019 elections. While taking this decision, the Sena and the BMC administration were never consulted by the government.

The civic body also needs funds for its infrastructure projects and does not want to give up its share, said sources.

“ Shiv Sena is not getting credit for the projects implemented by MMRDA (Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority) because CM Fadnavis is the Chairman of the authority. So Shiv Sena will make an issue if there is a cut in the revenue share of BMC ,” said a Shiv Sena leader.