MAJOR BOOST FOR REDEVELOPMENT All cessed bldgs to have FSI of 3

Mumbai: In a major boost for redevelopment of over 14,000 cessed buildings in South Mumbai, the state government on Friday announced that a floor space index (FSI) of three will be extended to B and C category buildings (constructed prior to September 30, 1969). The buildings, pre-1969 tenanted properties in the island city, are classified into three categories: A (pre-1940), B (1940-1950) and C (1950-1969). 

    Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, replying to a debate on the issue in the state legislative assembly, said that all categories of cessed buildings will now have anFSI of three. This followed a demand from Amin Patel (Congress). 
    "Developers never paid attention to B and C cessed buildings as only A category buildings used to get that FSI. Many buildings which used to be neglected by developers for want of incentives can now go in for redevelopment," Patel said. 
    Chavan said the government would encourage cluster redevelopment in the city. "Individual development of buildings does not create social infrastructure. The government has decided to amend rules to get proper parking, gardens and open spaces and other facilities for citizens," he said. 
    Chavan said the first phase (Sector 5) of redevelopment of Asia's largest slum, Dharavi, will be ready by the year-end. The building has stilts plus 18 floors and has 356 flats, Chavan said. Shiv Sena leader Subhash Desai said, "The Congress-NCP should give 400 sq ft flats to slum-dwellers." 
    But Nawab Malik (NCP) alleged that the saffron party was playing politics over the redevelopment issue. 
    Chavan also expressed "displeasure" over the pace of the airport slum redevelopment project. The project, involving the rehabilitation of nearly 75,000 slums, was assigned to HDIL in 2007. The government had set 2011 as the initial deadline for completing the project.