BMC clears high rise building proposal for Khar Building in just 24 hours.

By Abhay Harish Shah, Realty Quarter

The BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) got into controversy since a decision got in place to clear a proposal for a high-rise commercial building located in Khar. This decision was carried within 24 hours from May 9th to 10th, which consist over 6 stages starting from the engineer’s desk to the commissioner table. A source says that, although it is possible to clear a file within a week for the building proposal department, it never happens.

On behalf of developer Damji Shah, Architect Ameet Pawar presented the Khar construction proposal, said that it was his first proposal, which was so quickly cleared up. For 15 years, he is been practising as an architect. “Maybe because it was a simple plan,” he explained.

When Mehta was asked his opinion on the matter, he refused to comment and said that he has already dismissed office and that he could not comment. Sanjay Jadhav (Building proposal chief engineer) said, that he was on leave and is not to able to recall the proposal. “I do not recall any particular proposals, we receive so many proposals,” he said. The deputy chief engineer (BP, Western suburbs) Ashok Wakade said he is not authorized to speak to the media or is permitted to disclose any proposal in detail.

What raised hackles is that a file has been placed in open areas before the municipal commissioner without insisting on documents/notes from the survey department. “A NOC fire and parking details are required by the department before the file is submitted for concessions. It is odd not to insist on such an important NOC,” said sources.

Development Control Regulation 6, which gives the Commissioner discretionary power, states that relaxation may be granted unless the health, fire, structural and safety of individuals does not affect.

According to Industry experts, they believe that the proposal which was carried out so rapidly cannot be said as Ease of Doing Business (EoDB). We can say Ease of Doing Business at a time when all the proposals are taken place at the same speed.

“It could have been only a person with a powerful political influence. The proposal was studied by five to six officers, making long comments and clearing a file within hours “an expert asked for anonymity. Another one described it like a bullet train that says a file is completely unheard of in one day.

BMC says, there was no order under EoDB for the processing of a file. They explained that before imparting construction permission, the fire NOC and other permissions will be insisted for sure.

In the meantime, at 10.40 on Saturday which was the holiday, the Chief Fire Officer awarded NOC to the project. One reason for the NOC grant is that it has already been approved by the municipal commissioner.