The Times of India          23.11.2010

Demand to extend 2.5 FSI to MHADA schemes in Pune region

PUNE: The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) in Pune region has demanded that the state government resolution (GR) to extend an Floor Space Index (FSI) of 2.5 to low-cost housing schemes build by the MHADA should be extended to Pune region.

"Former chief minister Ashok Chavan had said that the state government will soon issue a GR permitting 2.5 FSI for housing schemes of MHADA in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad region. However, no further action has been taken on the matter," said Ankush Kakade, chairman, MHADA (Pune region).

Kakade said the decision would help in building smaller flats for the common people under the housing schemes of the MHADA.

A copy of the GR, issued by the state government in January, reached MHADA's Pune office on May 25 when the deadline for receiving suggestions and objections from the public was over.

"Only Mumbai and Nagpur had been earlier granted the 2.5 FSI. After the CM's announcement, a notice was issued by the urban development department on January 1. However, the letter in this regard was issued by the state government on March 23 and it reached Pune only on May 25," said Kakade.

"The delay in the letter reaching Pune has deprived the public of the chance to offer suggestions and objections to the proposal. The state government should not extend 2.5 FSI to Pune region so that MAHDA could build more houses in city like Pune where housing has became a concern for common people," said Kakade.

The MHADA owns over 510 hectares of land in the district, including 168 hectares in the city. An estimated 21,000 tenements have already been constructed on these plots. Kakade said all housing societies built by MHADA would benefit from the 2.5 FSI proposal.