Aaditya Thackeray suggests that the government and developers work together to build better cities.

Aaditya Thackeray, Maharashtra’s Minister of Tourism and Environment, has suggested that real estate developer bodies such as the National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO) work with the government to develop better cities and help citizens realise their basic dream of owning a home.

“We are embarrassed by the ancillary label of builder-politician that has been bestowed upon us.” But I’m here to say that whenever there is a positive builder-politician partnership, we’ve seen the good it can do for citizens, Mumbai, and the real estate industry in recent years,” Thackeray said.

During his speech at the NAREDCO realty conference, he stated that when the government, in consultation with real estate developers, decided to reduce stamp duty and premiums, the sector saw a significant boost.

“Such similar initiatives must collaborate in order to build a better ecosystem,” Thackeray added.

‘It’s not just about building a city, but about building an identity,’ he said of the need to build a better and safer city. When we visit London, Paris, New York, or Australia, the amenities are first thing we notice, followed by the architecture. Mumbai has the best minds in architecture and engineering; if you collaborate to build all of these facilities in-house, you will help us build 5-minute cities rather than 15-minute cities.”

Thackeray also discussed his plans, which include reducing CRZ clearance time to 1-2 months and developing a fully digital interface for any future project approval.

Thackeray applauded Tata Power and NAREDCO’s joint initiative to build 5,000 electric charging stations in Mumbai.

“Whenever there is discussion of EV (electric vehicle) adoption, I’m frequently asked about charging station infrastructure; it’s one of the most significant issues with charging infrastructure facilities,” he said. “Thank you, then, for launching this initiative to build 5,000 electric charging stations in Mumbai.”

Image Source: THE ECONOMIC TIMES