After Mumbai,Pune looks at cluster development

A meeting held on October 15 attended by city developers and members of the Urban Development Department (UDD) deliberated on going in for the cluster development model in Pune. Cluster redevelopment is redeveloping an area comprising several buildings rather than individual buildings.

“If it can work in Mumbai,it can work in Pune as well. Especially the inner city areas and many parts of Pune where there are small plots adjacent to each other and where there are age-old constructions,joining the plots of individuals,can help the developer as well as the individual,” said a senior member of the UDD department.

“Most old buildings are located in south and central Mumbai,which has little open space for new buildings to come up. This creates more real estate space in such localities,” said the officer.

A senior officer from the Mantralaya said the cluster approach is more conducive for development as it will also help develop infrastructure in the locality. “The amendment for the development control rules is welcome as areas where old buildings are located can be developed as clusters instead of just redeveloped individual buildings,” he said.

Hemant Naiknavare,member of city developers’ body CREDAI,said all developed cities are looking at similar development. “We as part of CREDAI will study this development for the city,” he said.

In Mumbai,the state government had decided to constitute a committee of experts from the municipal corporations of Greater Mumbai and Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority for identifying suitable clusters. A similar initiative is now expected in Pune.

“The city area will have to be studied for this initiative and the local authorities should give a green signal at the earliest,” he added.

However,senior officers from the PMC said they are yet to hear of any official announcement to this effect. “Once we have it in the written format,we will work on the plan,” said a senior officer from the PMC.

Suhas Merchant,also of CREDAI,said a proper plan has to be initiated before the Pune cluster plan is rolled out. “It will be easier if a proper plan is readied. It is possible in Kothrud and Patil vasti and detailed plans of the construction cost,saleable unit and the area price as well as the saleable area needs to be worked out,” he said.

In an earlier meeting,officers from the Mantralaya had said that while adopting a cluster model of development,public buildings such as municipal offices,public health clinics and police stations too would be rebuilt. It will also be mandatory for private players to provide amenities like parks and roads. In Mumbai,the redevelopment is through public-private partnership model and the floor space index has been raised to four.