State boon for 24 developers

Mumbai: The state government on Monday said developers will have to pay the authorities only half of what was stipulated in its public parking policy, in a bonanza for those who have already received permission under it. 

    The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had earlier said that developers pay 40% of the ready-reckoner rate (RRR) for availing the incentive floor space index (FSI) under the parking scheme. But a notification by the urban development department on Monday reduced it by half, or 20%, of the RRR. 
    This will benefit around two dozen developers who had procured sanctions, including letters of intent and commencement certificates before the controversial policy was amended by civic chief Subodh Kumar last May. Builders who submit proposals now will have to pay the full 40% premium to the BMC and state government. 
    A developer described it as "discriminatory''. Few builders who had got permission moved the Bombay high court, after the BMC insisted they pay the new rates. They contended that the state and not BMC could issue a circular asking them to pay a premium. The court concurred with the developers and Monday's notification was an outcome of its directive. 
    The scheme was introduced by then chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh in 2008 
and pushed through at breakneck speed by his successor Ashok Chavan. It offered incentive construction rights to builders who erect parking towers on part of their land and hand it over free to the BMC. 
    Last March, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan told the BMC to review the policy. Developers used the scheme to plan 50-60 storey-high luxury skyscrapers, mainly in central Mumbai.