Building curbs cut near Naval units will give a boost to Mumbai redevelopment projects, Real Estate News, ET Real Estate

MumbaiIn a major relief to citizens living near naval installations across India, especially in Mumbai, the Defense Ministry has reduced the construction restrictions near the installations from 500 meters to just 50 metres.

Since 2016, TOI has run a series of articles highlighting the plight of thousands of families living around Army and Navy installations in Mumbai, whose buildings fall within a 500-metre zone, making it impossible for them to redevelop their properties goes.

Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, who thanked the Center and especially PM Modi and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, told TOI on Saturday, “It allows us to speed up redevelopment and expedite slum rehabilitation projects. We had demanded this and I personally met Rajnath Singhji.” Circular dated December 23, 2022 will now allow redevelopment of hundreds of buildings in eastern suburbs Ghatkoparamong other areas.

However, Mumbai-based architect Manoj Daisaria pointed out a hitch in the new circular of the Defense Ministry. According to him, the restricted area around Army installations was reduced from 500 meters to 10 meters a few years back. However, in the new circular, the restricted area for Army installations has been increased to 50 metres.

The easing of the Defense Ministry’s construction restrictions of 50m naval installations will help push forward large-scale redevelopment projects in the city.

However, it will affect residential buildings touching the Army’s Central Ordnance Depot in Kandivali and Malad,” said architect Manoj Disaria. In October 2016, the MoD reduced the security barrier for army installations across the country from 500 meters to just 10 metres, including two depots in Kandivali and Malad. However, as per the new circular, Mumbai’s Ordnance Depot is one of the many depots across the country where the security barrier has been fixed at 50 metres.
Meanwhile, the decision to ease restrictions near naval establishments will help thousands of families living in Ghatkopar (West). They have been stranded for more than a decade after the redevelopment work was stopped by the local military authority due to the Naval Material Organization Stores Depot. “Many buildings were demolished to be redeveloped, but BMC Local MLA Parag Shah said that he was suddenly issued a stop-work notice for not taking the no-objection certificate from the defense establishment.

With the new circular, construction restrictions around naval installations such as INS Trata at Worli, Colaba Military Station, INS Hamla at Malad, Forward Support Base at Erangal at Malad, INS Tanaji at Mankhurd and naval lands at Kalyan and Ambernath have been eased has gone. NOC from the local military authority for construction will now be required only for projects falling within 50 meters of defense installations.

“Where local municipal laws do not require it, however the station commander feels that any construction within 50 meters of a defense installation is a safety hazard, he should immediately refer the matter to the next higher authority. If satisfied, the Station Commander may convey his objections/views to the local municipal or state government agencies. In case the municipal authority/state government does not take cognizance of the objection, the matter may be taken up with higher authorities. .,” the circular said.

Juhu residents recently protested against the pre-World War II Army signaling station near the beach, which has stalled redevelopment within 450 metres. The new circular does not mention any relaxation around this station.