The Times of India             05.06.2013

MMRDA flats for residents in ‘rickety’ buildings

MUMBAI: The MMRDA has leased out rental houses to the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC).

The civic body will now allot these houses on live and license basis to residents staying in 61 extremely dangerous buildings in the district.

In light of the tragic Mumbra building collapse in April, CM Prithviraj Chavan had issued orders to shift the 80,000 people residing in these buildings to the rental houses developed by MMRDA.

With monsoon around the corner, Chavan had last week ordered that the relocation exercise be carried out within a fortnight.

On Tuesday, MMRDA commissioner UPS Madan agreed to lease out 3,000 odd rental houses on lease to the TMC.

It was decided to allot these houses on long lease to the TMC at nominal rates.

The TMC, in turn, has been allowed to allot these on live and license to the oustees.

The civic body will have to decide the terms and conditions and the rentals for the live and license arrangement, sources said.

With the government planning a drive to relocate residents staying in illegal rickety buildings in Thane, senior officials said the rental houses will serve as transit accommodation for the oustees.