Poll code of conduct looming, MHADA plans ad for low-cost flats in Virar soon

Bhausaheb Dangade, chief officer of MHADA’s Konkan board, said, “We were waiting for the buildings to get a full-height clearance early. However, we have decided to put out a certain number of flats in the lottery as per the height of buildings that we have been allowed as of now. The idea is to publish the advertisement soon, before the election code of conduct kicks in. The pricing of these flats is still under discussion.”

Of the 1,808 houses, 1,176 having a carpet area of 330 square feet each are for the lower-income group, while 632 flats with a carpet area of 653.7 sq ft each have been built for the middle-income group. The cost of construction for the flats for the middle-income group is about Rs 2,200 per sq ft, a MHADA engineer said.

Dangade said, “In addition to the construction cost, we also consider municipal charges, charges of other infrastructure works, interest and so on. For the middle-income group, there will also be 15 per cent profit margin.”

MHADA is constructing 50 buildings over a 14-hectare plot at Bolinj, Virar West. While the plan is for 24-storey high-rises, so far the housing authority has got permission to construct up to 14 floors for 18 buildings and seven for the other 32 buildings. All 50 buildings built up to 24 floors are expected to generate 5,399 houses and 137 shops.

A change in the development control rules of the urban local body will be required to get a height clearance for 24 floors. According to MHADA officials, the process for this is under way.
The construction of the complex, which started in 2012, is 70 per cent complete, a MHADA engineer said. The entire project, which is being executed by BG Shirke Construction, is likely to be complete in 2015, he added.

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