Civic approval clears way for 22-storey bldgs in Vasai-Virar

Mumbai: The proposed amendment to the Development Control Regulations (DCR) for the Vasai-Virar region has been approved by the civic general body paving the way for high-rises up to 22 storeys in the region. 

    The proposal will now be sent to the state government for sanction. The Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) had moved the proposal to amend the 2004 DCR approved by CIDCO. Last week, the DCR proposal was approved at a special general body meeting of the civic house. The ruling Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) got 51 votes in favour of the amendment. Vasai MLAs' Janandolan Samiti corporators opposed the proposal. 

The proposed DCR offers scope for construction of towers up to 70 metres (22 floors). At present, buildings up to 24 metres or seven floors are permitted as per the 2004 DCR. The civic administration's decision to go vertical is based on a high-power committee recommendation to extend 22 DCR of Mumbai to the rest of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). Several redevelopment projects in the region are awaiting the civic nod. Corporators, however, say that infrastructure needs to go hand in hand with development. The lack of sufficient water supply, problems of load shedding, poor condition of roads and connectivity with Mumbai, need to be tackled before going vertical, said corporators. 

    The civic administration will invite suggestions from the public before submitting the proposal to the government for sanction. Mira-Bhayander also to go vertical T he Mira-Bhayander township is all set to go vertical. The state government has decided to allow an FSI of 2.5 for the extended suburb. The decision will be implemented in the next three months, said Bhaskar Jadhav, minister of state for urban development, said in reply to a calling attention motion. The issue was raised by Shiv Sena group leader in the assembly Subhash Desai. TNN