BMC bringing new policy for city's dilapidated buildings

In a bid to give a push to the repair or redevelopment of some 30,000 dilapidated buildings in the city, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation is coming out with a new policy.
The new policy aims at ensuring more transparency in addressing the issues of old and dilapidated buildings and protecting the rights of tenants living in them, a senior civic official said today.
Formulation of a new policy assumes significance as recently the city witnessed several incidents of building collapse.
"Earlier, there was only one committee to deal with the issue of dilapidated buildings. But now, under the new policy, five committees will address these issues," said the official.

Draft of the proposed policy will be uploaded on BMC's website by December 10.
The new policy is expected to give a boost to the repair or redevelopment of old and dilapidated buildings, including 19,000 dilapidated buildings under the MHADA, the official said.

"It will have immediate, direct and positive impact on the 631 dilapidated buildings which are in C-1 category, located mostly in the Island City," said Nidhi Chaudhary, Deputy Municipal Commissioner.
C-1 category denotes extremely dangerous structures.
"This policy has a bearing on every structure, but the main stress is on buildings which are more than 30 years old," she added.