MMRDA that takes care of major infrastructure projects in MMR has given 13,000 homes to authorities to be used for quarantine purposes.
By Varun Singh
Homes from the Rental Housing Scheme (RHS) the ambitious project of MMRDA will be used as quarantine centres for patients of COVID-19.
Seeing the increasing numbers of COVID-19 patients, there will be need of more space to quarantine patients.
According to a senior official from MMRDA 13,000 homes located in various areas of Mumbai Metropolitan Region will be used for quarantine purposes.
Dr B G Pawar, Joint Metropolitan Commissioner, confirmed that they have already handed over these homes to the authorities.
These homes are located in areas like Panvel, Bhiwandi, Thane, Mira-Bhayander and other locations of MMR.
These are the homes that have been built over a period of time under the Rental Housing Scheme.
The prime objective of the Rental Housing Scheme is to make available housing stock for an affordable rent. This idea came up seeing a growing demand for affordable housing from the poor.
MMRDA has been implementing this project since 2008 to provide Rental Housing Units (RHUs). Since year 2008, the RHS is being implemented in Urbanisable areas in MMR except in the limits of Navi Mumbai and Matheran Municipal Council.
According data available on MMRDA website the authority has granted Location Clearance to 51 Rental Housing proposals which shall generate 97,574 rental housing units.
Out of 51, 32 Rental Housing schemes are located in Municipal areas while 19 Rental Housing Schemes are located in U1 U2 areas of MMR.
Under the Rental Housing Scheme, there is a provision to allow additional Floor Space Index (FSI) to the developers and get free houses admeasuring the carpet area of 160/320 sq ft from the developers in lieu of the additional FSI.
Earlier MHADA had found 625 homes in three locations of Mumbai. MHADA also gave these homes to authorities that can be used for quarantine during the Covid-19 crisis.
