Mumbai News: CREDAI-MCHI To Meet BMC Chief Ashwini Bhide On PCO Charges, Premium Relief And Project Approval Issues

Mumbai, April 3: The real estate developers’ body CREDAI-MCHI is set to seek an early meeting with the newly appointed BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide to raise a host of long-pending issues impacting project viability and ease of doing business in the city.

Meeting likely next week

CREDAI-MCHI Chief Operating Officer Keval Valambhia said the meeting is likely to take place next week, where the industry will push for priority resolution of “burning issues”, even as several reforms are already under consideration at the civic body level.

Concerns over pest control charges

Among the most pressing concerns is the levy of pest control charges (PCO). Valambhia pointed out that developers are currently required to pay these charges annually from the start of construction till project completion, significantly increasing project costs.

“The BMC charges around Rs 43 per sq metre. As per the Act, this should ideally be a one-time charge, but it is being levied every year and on areas which are not constructed. This needs correction,” he said.

Demand for relief in premiums

The body will also reiterate its demand for relief in premium payments, a long-standing issue for developers. While premiums are governed by the state government, Valambhia said the municipal commissioner’s recommendations hold weight in shaping policy decisions.

Key proposals under consideration include revising the deferment policy for premium payments, with suggestions to reduce interest rates and adopt a staggered 10:10:80 payment structure to ease upfront financial burden on developers. The civic body has also initiated steps towards standardising processes such as CFO NOCs through automation.

Other issues to be raised

Other issues flagged by developers include duplication concerns over fire service fees and scrutiny charges, challenges in obtaining tree NOCs due to space constraints in redevelopment projects, and delays arising from ward-level permissions.

Also Watch:

Policy uncertainties around Development Control and Promotion Regulations (DCPR) provisions, including Regulation 33(12)(B), piped access norms, and redevelopment-related clauses, are also expected to be raised during the meeting.

To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/