Maharashtra Housing Societies: Approximately 10,000 cooperative housing societies, especially in cities such as Pune, Mumbai, and Thane, are keen to pursue self-redevelopment projects. However, these initiatives have been hindered by the delay in implementing the single-window approval system, which the state government had promised back in 2019.
Government Resolution and Its Implementation Challenges
The Maharashtra state housing department issued a government resolution (GR) on September 13, 2019, proposing a single-window system to streamline approvals for self-redevelopment of buildings older than 30 years. The Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank was designated as the nodal agency for this initiative. Unfortunately, despite the passage of over four years, the system remains non-operational, leaving thousands of societies in limbo.
According to Suhas Patwardhan, chairman of the Maharashtra State Cooperative Federation, numerous housing societies are interested in self-redevelopment but are deterred by the lengthy and complex approval process.
“Out of the 1.25 lakh registered housing societies in Maharashtra, around 50% are considering redevelopment. Recent discussions suggest that 8,000 to 10,000 societies are keen on self-redevelopment but are hesitant due to the challenges of securing approvals from multiple departments,” Patwardhan stated.
Demands for Swift Implementation
The Maharashtra State Cooperative Federation has urged Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to act on the 2019 single-window clearance proposal to ensure a more efficient approval process.
“If the government implements our request, societies will be able to move forward with their redevelopment plans without unnecessary bureaucratic delays,” Patwardhan added.
Financial Roadblocks and Lack of Subsidized Loans
Legal expert Shreeprasad Parab, director of the Maharashtra State Housing Federation, highlighted another major challenge—the lack of affordable financing options.
“The government had also proposed a 4% subsidized loan scheme for housing societies opting for self-redevelopment. However, just like the single-window clearance system, this initiative has not been properly executed,” Parab noted.
Without adequate financial assistance, many societies struggle to fund their self-redevelopment projects, leading them to delay their plans indefinitely.
Approval Delays and Bureaucratic Hurdles
Residents of various housing societies have raised concerns about the slow and tedious approval process. Obtaining approvals from different departments, such as property tax, electricity, and municipal authorities, has been a significant challenge.
“The approval process is so slow that societies may have to wait years just to clear the initial hurdles,” said a member of a Pune-based housing society that has been trying to initiate self-redevelopment.
The government had earlier issued a directive stating that deemed conveyance for self-redevelopment should be granted within a month. However, state cooperative department officials claim they have not received any such applications, indicating a disconnect between government policies and their actual implementation.
The Way Forward
The delay in implementing the single-window approval system and the failure to provide financial support have severely impacted the progress of self-redevelopment projects in Maharashtra. If the government takes swift action to enforce these policies, thousands of housing societies could benefit from a streamlined process, allowing them to improve infrastructure, increase property values, and enhance residents’ quality of life.
For now, societies remain stuck in bureaucratic red tape, awaiting the much-needed reforms that could enable them to proceed with their self-redevelopment projects.
