Snubbing the builder lobby, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to develop its markets on its own. For this, the civic body has demanded four FSI (floor space index) from the state government.
The present market policy gives more benefit to developers. However, the BMC has now prepared new guidelines, according to which a developer will not be asked to redevelop municipal markets. The civic body itself will carry out the redevelopment.
Additional municipal commissioner Sanjay Deshumukh said that the BMC would ask for four FSI from the state government on the lines of private developers.
“The state government offers four FSI to private developers. It also gives four FSI to the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) for the redevelopment of slums. If the same FSI is given to the BMC, it will not only redevelop its markets, but also build staff quarters, godowns etc. The godowns can also be given on lease.”
Of the 136 municipal markets, 92 are in dilapidated condition and need to be reconstructed. Of them, 18 have been already given to private parties, while redevelopment of 25 markets was stalled as there was no policy in place. The remaining 49 will be developed phase wise.
The BMC had decided to develop 25 markets as per the existing policy that gave more benefits to the developer.
Of them, the redevelopment procedure of 12 markets was completed. However, later the BMC introduced a revised policy and announced that they too will be developed according to the new rules.
The markets association challenged the decision in the high court. The HC in its verdict had asked the civic body to redevelop these markets as per the existing policy.
Markets to be developed as per existing policy Sant Savata Mandai (Byculla), Dongri, Bhuleshwar, Agar Bazar Mandai (Dadar), SVS Mandai (Mahim), Veer Sambhaji Mandai (Bhandup), Andheri, Dinanath Mangeshkar Mandai (Vile Parle), Santacruz, JVPD Mandai (Andheri), AA Bhau Lad Mandai (Bandra East) and Samarth Ramdas Mandai (Bandra West) has already been undertaken by BMC
