Mumbai: Modifications in development plan for transport projects get easier

The Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) will not require new sanctions or approvals from Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for alignment or realignment of the existing transport corridor projects or any new projects. The Revised Draft Development Control Regulation (DCR), finalised by the civic body, has paved way for the same.

The revised DCR says that any alignment modifications introduced in Metro/Mono/Elevated Corridors/Corridors of Mass Rapid Transport System, including BRTS, by appropriate authority and sanctioned by the government will automatically get amended on the Development Plan as modified.

This means that any changes done in the route of these projects will be automatically changed in the Development Plan without any sanction from the civic body. The revised DCR also paves way for any new "transport corridor" such as Metro/Mono/Elevated Corridors/Corridors of Mass Rapid Transit System, including BRTS, which may come in future as proposed by appropriate authority and sanctioned by the government, will also automatically get added on to the Development Plan.

"If we mark the alignment of transport corridors in the Development Plan, the MMRDA, which is in process of fine-tuning the final designs, will have to seek approvals for the changes, and this will delay the project. Hence, the scope for them to make modifications automatically will only help to simplify the process. Presently, all the approvals of any small in nature for the alignments involve a lot of process and time as it has to move from several offices of the civic administration," said municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta.

Mehta, however, cleared that the realignments will be very small in nature and adequate care will be taken to ensure that no existing structures are affected. "These changes could be small as it will not affect the present structures or any major change in the nature of the area," he added.

Currently, the Metro Rail project is facing lot of objections from the residents of Girgaum as few affected buildings and will have to demolished to make way for the transport corridor.

Town planners see this move as arbitrary, since such changes mean fiddling with the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act of 1888. "This move is not in sync with the Act. The Act requires approvals before making any changes in the DP plan which is for next 20 years and it involves the city and citizens. Making changes in DCR is like changing the provision of the parent Act. You cannot modify it without any restrictions. DCR is the creation of Development Plan, which is in turn the creation of MMC 1888 Act. Such change also involves MR&TP Act and they cannot be overlooked," said Pankaj Joshi, executive director of Urban Design Research Institute (UDRI).