Revised DP report proposes to do away with zoning of NDZ

The report on revised city Development Plan (DP) for 2034, has done away with the controversial zoning of 'No Development Zones' (NDZ) and has instead categorised this land as Special Development Zone-I and II, paving way for it to be opened up for development primarily for affordable housing and civic amenities.
The six-member planning committee of the BMC tasked with looking into the objections and recommendations for the DP, submitted its report to outgoing Mayor Snehal Ambekar yesterday.
This revised DP draft report was submitted after this panel, appointed by the state government proposed as many as 2245 changes, after including people's suggestions and recommendations.

This draft was in the public domain since May 2016 and the panel began hearing the concerns of the citizens from November 16 last year.
The NDZ lands--which has been divided into two categories --Special Development Zones I and II-- will be opened up for redevelopment, mostly for affordable housing, civic amenities and other infrastructural projects.
This implies that areas now marked as NDZs will no longer be restricted areas or protected from development.

The report has recommended a go ahead for the proposed Metro Car Shed within Aarey Colony despite opposition from Shiv Sena, which was against the state government's decision of reserving the plot of 'No Development Zones' in Aarey for the Metro rail project saying that it will create "imbalance" in the the eco-sensitive area.

Shiv Sena's two outgoing corporators Trushna Vishwas Rao and Yashodhan Phanse, who were members of the committee, had however, opposed the construction of the Metro Car Shed at Aarey.
The salient features of the revised draft Development Plan 2034, according to a statement issued by BMC, proposes increase in affordable housing stock by 2034 by providing an FSI of 4.
Besides, three zones have been added to the earlier five in the city, to demarcate its landscape namely Port's Operational Zone (POZ), Port's Water Front Development Zone (PWFDZ) and Green Zone (GZ).
The Mayor will hand over the report to the Municipal Commissioner, who will then submit the revised draft DP along with this report to the general body of the newly-formed civic House in the next meeting.

Earlier the civic body had prepared a development plan in 2015. However, it was scrapped by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis after it received flak from all the sections of the society forcing BMC to come up with a revised draft plan.