MHADA Becomes Second-Fastest Building Approval Authority In Mumbai After SRA

Mumbai, 4th April 2023: The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) has reportedly disposed of redevelopment proposals quickly since being appointed as the planning authority, with the agency approving over 3,500 proposals and collecting a revenue of Rs 3,500 crore.

Previously, the Building Proposal Department of the Municipal Corporation was responsible for approving redevelopment projects of MHADA settlements. However, the approval process was reportedly taking up to 18 months, leading to the creation of a separate cell for the redevelopment of MHADA Colonies. The Municipal Corporation was also criticized for its slow decision-making process.

After several developers complained, the then Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, appointed MHADA as the planning authority. Since June 2018, the agency has not faced any objections in the High Court or elsewhere regarding any case approved by MHADA as the planning authority. In fact, the MHADA planning department has reportedly accelerated the approval process by a few months and made urgent decisions in pending cases.

According to data from June 2018 to March 2023, MHADA has submitted 3,564 proposals, passed 3,507 motions, and accumulated Rs 3,500 crore in revenue. Of this amount, Rs 2,500 crore has been given to Municipalities, Urban Development, and the Maharashtra State Road Development Board, while MHADA has received Rs 1,000 crore as net revenue.

MHADA has also developed an automated development control system for the approval of regulations, and building permission proposals are being approved online without needing to come to the MHADA office. Software is also being developed to grant concessions and IOA permission online, according to new Development Control Development Rules. Efforts are also underway to connect the MHADA department with the online permission room of the municipal corporation to make the feedback of the development proposal department and the no objection certificate of the fire brigade available. This will further reduce the building permission time, said an official.