55 MHADA buildings to be redeveloped with 3 FSI

Chavan said,“This is a big decision as it would help redevelopment of MHADA colonies keeping in mind the need for affordable houses in Mumbai. The FSI of three will cater to requirements of affordable houses which is necessary.”

While acknowledging that the rental housing scheme had not worked as expected,he said now the thrust would be on affordable housing.

Chavan said,“In Thane,the 1,200 families living in the 57 very dangerous dilapidated structures will be shifted to MHADA houses on rent.”

The state government will expedite township planning.

CM said,“It will also look at ways to redevelop satellite towns that have 80 to 90 per cent illegal structures.”

The opposition,however,was not happy.

Leader of opposition in the Assembly Eknath Khadse said,“These are promises on paper. There is nothing concrete.”

He had demanded action against misuse of Urban Land Ceiling Act and builders and politicians promoting illegal structures.

Khadse asked the government to recover Rs 17,000 crore from Balewadi Properties Private Limited in Pune with which influential names such as Atul Chordia and Sadanand

Bhalchandra Sule are associated. Khadse claimed Chordia and Sule,husband of NCP MP Supriya Sule,were being given special favours by the government.

Chavan refused to comment on the issue. CM also rejected an opposition demand to extending the scope of the special investigation team set up to probe the irrigation scam to incorporate inquiry of acts of commission.