Up to 10,000 Maharashtra Housing Societies Await Single-Window Clearance for Self-Redevelopment

Up to 10,000 cooperative housing societies from key cities like Pune, Mumbai, and Thane are eagerly awaiting the implementation of a single-window clearance system to kickstart the self-redevelopment of properties that are 30 years old and above. The proposal, first outlined in a Government Resolution (GR) issued on September 13, 2019 by the state housing department, aimed to streamline clearances by designating the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank as the nodal agency.

Roadblocks to Redevelopment

Despite the promise of a simplified approval process, many housing societies remain stalled due to clearance issues from multiple departments. Suhas Patwardhan, Chairman of the Maharashtra State Cooperative Federation, highlighted that out of the state’s 1.25 lakh registered housing societies, nearly 50% are considering redevelopment options. “According to a recent discussion, 8,000-10,000 societies have expressed their interest in going for redevelopment, but they are hesitant because of the cumbersome clearance process from various departments,” Patwardhan explained.

Federation members have repeatedly reached out to the Chief Minister, urging him to implement the single-window system to remove these bottlenecks and enable societies to proceed with self-development projects. “We hope that the CM meets our demand, paving the way for societies to take up self-redevelopment,” he added.

Proposed Benefits and Current Hurdles

The single-window system is designed to create an integrated, online platform where housing societies or developers can submit their redevelopment plans. The system would automatically forward proposals to the respective departments for scrutiny, suggest necessary corrections, and eventually provide details on premiums, fees, and taxes—all payable online. Once the process is complete, NOCs and approvals would be issued digitally, ensuring transparency and significantly reducing waiting times.

Advocat