2 weeks ago
Mumbai Civic Body Approves Amnesty For Buildings Without Occupation Certificates
Mumbai’s civic government approved a plan for some occupied buildings without Occupation Certificates to apply for them.
An Occupation Certificate shows that a building can legally be occupied.
The plan is mainly meant to help flat owners whose developers did not obtain the certificates.
It covers eligible buildings constructed from 1991 through November 2016.
The buildings must measure up to 80 square metres.
Schools and hospitals can also use the scheme.
Officials said fire-safety rules will not be weakened.
Some opposition members worried that developers might benefit and asked how owners could obtain documents from developers who had disappeared.
The BMC General Body approved an Occupation Certificate amnesty scheme on August 18, 2026.
The scheme targets already occupied buildings whose flat owners lack Occupation Certificates because of developers’ failures.
Eligible buildings must measure up to 80 sq m and have been constructed between 1991 and November 2016.
Schools and hospitals are also eligible, but officials said fire-safety rules and restrictions on unauthorised floors will remain.
Opposition corporators warned the policy could benefit developers and questioned requirements for developer and architect NOCs.
- Who
- The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation General Body, Mumbai corporators, and eligible building owners are involved.
- What
- The General Body approved an Occupation Certificate amnesty scheme for certain occupied buildings without OCs.
- Where
- Mumbai, Maharashtra.
- When
- The approval was given late on August 18, 2026; the scheme had received Standing Committee approval in July.
- Why
- The scheme is intended to help flat owners regularise buildings affected by developers’ failure to obtain Occupation Certificates.
Supporters
Critics
Who benefits
Supporters
The BJP–Mahayuti alliance said the scheme would provide relief to thousands of Mumbaikars affected by developers’ failures.
Critics
Opposition corporators, including Vishakha Raut, warned that developers who failed to obtain OCs could benefit from the policy.
Safety safeguards
Supporters
Leader of the House Ganesh Khankar said there would be no compromise on fire-safety norms or unauthorised-floor restrictions.
Critics
Sachin Padwal questioned whether OCs could be granted to buildings without firefighting systems or with unauthorised floors.
Application requirements
Supporters
The policy requires applicants to obtain NOCs from the developer and architect as part of the process.
Critics
Pravin Chedha questioned how flat owners could obtain developer NOCs when developers had disappeared without securing OCs.
Key facts
- Approval body
- Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation General Body
- Eligibility period
- Buildings constructed between 1991 and November 2016
- Size limit
- Up to 80 sq m (816 sq ft), as stated in the article
- Eligible uses
- Residential buildings, schools, and hospitals
- Safety conditions
- Fire-safety norms and restrictions on unauthorised floors remain applicable
- Announced
- First announced by Maharashtra minister Ashish Shelar in 2025
- Estimated reach
- Ashish Shelar said the amnesty could benefit more than 20,000 buildings in Mumbai
Quotes
BJP corporator Pravin Chedha
BJP corporator in the BMC General Body
“"How will flat owners get an NOC from developers who have already disappeared without obtaining the OC?"”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
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