Developers In Navi Mumbai Under Lens For Skipping Affordable Housing

Maharashtra Government Sets Up High-Level Probe Panel Following Citizen Complaints

In a significant move aimed at protecting the interests of ordinary homebuyers, the Maharashtra government has announced the formation of a high-level committee under the Additional Chief Secretary to investigate complaints against developers in Navi Mumbai. The developers allegedly excluded affordable housing units from their real estate projects built between 2017 and 2022, in violation of housing norms.

The announcement was made in the Legislative Assembly by Minister Dr. Uday Samant, following a Calling Attention motion raised by MLAs Vikrant Patil, Shashikant Shinde, Sanjay Khodke, and Sachin Ahir. Dr. Samant emphasized that despite the implementation of a unified development control and promotion regulation (DCPR) across the state, developers have managed to sidestep mandatory inclusion of affordable housing, potentially denying hundreds of citizens their right to cost-effective homes.

The government’s high-level probe committee will examine how developers secured approvals and the mechanisms used to bypass affordable housing norms, despite regulations mandating such inclusivity. The committee’s findings may lead to further policy tightening or penalties.

This move is expected to reshape compliance behaviour among builders and reinforce the government’s commitment to ensuring housing for all segments, especially in rapidly urbanizing zones like Navi Mumbai.