The state government, however, rejected the last two recommendations, and said that the concession in development charge for a particular city will not be feasible.
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In a bid to encourage cluster development of old and dilapidated buildings in Mumbai, the Maharashtra cabinet on Tuesday approved a 50 per cent concession in development cess and fungible floor space index (FSI) premium for the next one year in redevelopment projects initiated under Section 33(9) of the Development Control Promotion and Regulation (DCPR), 2034.
DCPR Section 33(9) gives the Mumbai municipal commissioner power to approve redevelopment of cluster buildings that are less than 250 metres in height. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) — in its letter dated April 27 this year — had informed the state government that a total of six cluster development schemes were sanctioned between September 1, 2018, and July 8, 2021, under 33(9); while mentioning that the lack of response to the CDS, resulted in the lack of deposit of cess.
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The cabinet note also mentioned the lack of incentives as one of the major reasons for less interest in CDS, adding that the process of proposal for CDS — which also includes fulfilling technical requirements, including approval from the residents among others — takes more than two years, which resulted in a very few CDS taking benefit of the incentive offered on cess. It said that the CDS needs to be promoted as it is the only way to undertake the redevelopment of Mumbai, especially the city area, where buildings are constructed in a congested space.
The civic body had made three recommendations to the Maharashtra government, which included concession in development cess, concession in development charge, and application of several provisions made for slum redevelopment to the CDS.
The state government, however, rejected the last two recommendations, and said that the concession in development charge for a particular city will not be feasible. The development cess is collected directly by the municipal corporation, it said, adding that the provisions for slum redevelopment cannot be applied to the CDS.
Alok Deshpande is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express' Mumbai bureau, recognized for his focused and authoritative reporting on governance, politics, and the socio-economic dynamics of Maharashtra's hinterlands. His unique academic background in Geology and early work in the water sector provides a specialized layer of Expertise to his reporting on resource and environmental issues.
Expertise
Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express, Mumbai.
Core Authority: Alok provides detailed coverage of Maharashtra politics and governance, with a particular emphasis on how policies and power struggles affect the rural and semi-urban areas (the 'hinterlands').
Key Coverage Areas: His reports frequently focus on high-stakes administrative and political topics, including:
State Assembly Proceedings: In-depth reporting on the Legislative Assembly, covering ministerial statements, legislative debates, and inter-party conflict within the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
Policy & Finance: Coverage of state finances, including supplementary budget demands, fiscal deficits, and major government schemes (e.g., Jal Jeevan Mission, Ladki Bahin Yojana).
Rural and Social Issues: Reports on critical health issues (e.g., child deaths in districts), human-animal conflict (leopard attacks, stray dogs), and agrarian concerns (e.g., farmer suicides).
Local and Urban Governance: Covers major announcements regarding urban development (e.g., BMC's OC amnesty scheme, pagdi system push) and local body elections, including political defections and alliance splits.
Unique Credentials & Trustworthiness
Academic Specialization: Holds a Post-graduate degree in Geology. This background gives him a foundational understanding of natural resources, which directly informs his reporting on environment, water, and infrastructure projects.
Early Professional Experience: His shift to journalism came after working with an NGO focused on the water sector. This practical experience strengthens his Expertise in critical areas like water management and rural development, as evidenced by his reporting on the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Journalism Training: An alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, confirming his formal training and commitment to rigorous journalistic standards.
Alok Deshpande's rare combination of scientific education, non-profit sector experience, and deep political reporting makes him a highly trusted and authoritative voice on the governance and ground realities of Maharashtra.
He tweets @alokdesh ... Read More
