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.

Advocate Shreeprasad Parab, expert director of the Maharashtra State Housing Federation, noted that the government had even proposed a 4% subsidised loan to support societies opting for self-redevelopment. “The single-window system will ensure transparency and help in ease of doing business. It will also push for the speedy development of our cities while protecting citizens' rights. We have been regularly following up with the government, and it is about time they make it happen,”.

However, many societies continue to face hurdles. A member of one such housing society shared that obtaining clearances has been particularly challenging due to delays from departments handling property tax, electricity, and other regulatory approvals. “This is a major hurdle for taking forward the redevelopment projects because societies may have to wait for years to secure the clearances,” the member lamented.

The Way Forward

State cooperative department officials have mentioned that no self-redevelopment proposals have been received since the government announced that deemed conveyance for such projects should be granted within a month. Meanwhile, the Centre, through the National Cooperative Union of India, has been encouraging self-redevelopment as a strategy to make housing more affordable.

As housing societies in Maharashtra continue to wait for a streamlined approval process, the implementation of a single-window clearance system could be the catalyst needed to unlock the potential of self-redevelopment, fostering affordable housing and contributing to urban renewal.