10,000 Housing Societies Await Green Signal for Self-Redevelopment in Maharashtra

Pune, 11th February 2025: Nearly 10,000 cooperative housing societies across Maharashtra, particularly in Pune, Mumbai, and Thane, are eager to initiate self-redevelopment projects but remain stuck due to delays in implementing the single-window approval system promised in 2019.

The state housing department, in a government resolution (GR) dated September 13, 2019, proposed a single-window system to streamline approvals for the self-redevelopment of buildings over 30 years old, with the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank designated as the nodal agency. However, the lack of execution has left thousands of societies in limbo.

According to Suhas Patwardhan, chairman of the Maharashtra State Cooperative Federation, numerous societies are keen on self-redevelopment but are hesitant due to the lengthy and complex approval process.

“Out of the 1.25 lakh registered housing societies in the state, around 50% are considering redevelopment. Recent discussions indicate that 8,000 to 10,000 societies are interested in self-redevelopment. However, they are delaying their plans due to the challenges of securing approvals from multiple departments,” Patwardhan explained.

The federation has urged the Chief Minister to implement the 2019 single-window clearance system, which would simplify and expedite the approval process. “If the government acts on our request, societies will finally be able to move forward with their redevelopment plans,” he added.

Legal expert Shreeprasad Parab, director of the Maharashtra State Housing Federation, pointed out that the government had also proposed a 4% subsidized loan for societies opting for self-redevelopment. However, like the single-window system, this scheme is yet to be effectively implemented.

“Affordable financial assistance would make self-redevelopment a more viable option for housing societies. But without proper execution, many societies are left struggling with funding,” Parab stated.

Residents of housing societies interested in self-redevelopment say delays in obtaining approvals from various departments, including property tax, electricity, and municipal authorities, pose a major challenge.

“The approval process is so slow that societies may have to wait years just to clear the initial hurdles,” said a member of a Pune-based housing society attempting to initiate self-redevelopment.

Despite the government’s directive that deemed conveyance for self-redevelopment should be granted within a month, state cooperative department officials claim they have not received any such applications—suggesting a gap between policy announcements and execution on the ground.