1 hr ago
Mumbai OC Amnesty Applications Delayed by Non-Functional BMC Portal
Mumbai has a new plan to help some people get an occupation certificate for their homes or buildings.
But people cannot apply yet because the city’s online application website is not working properly.
City officials say they are fixing technical problems and expect the website to work by the end of the week.
The application instructions were issued on September 8.
Officials had said the link was live the next day, but residents say they cannot upload their documents.
The plan allows eligible individual flat owners to apply, as well as applications through architects or licensed surveyors.
Some residents and housing experts are unsure how individual applications can succeed if a whole building has problems.
They are also concerned about the cost of hiring an architect.
The scheme applies only to certain buildings and units that meet its rules.
Mumbai residents are still unable to submit applications under the BMC’s Occupation Certificate (OC) Amnesty Scheme because its AutoDCR portal is not functioning.
The BMC issued the scheme’s standard operating procedure on September 8; officials had said the application link was live the next day, but residents report they cannot upload documents.
Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide said technical challenges were being addressed and the portal was expected to become operational by the end of the week.
The scheme covers eligible residential, school and hospital buildings occupied before November 17, 2016, subject to specified permissions and unit-size limits.
Residents and housing experts question how individual applications will work when buildings have shared violations, and whether owners can afford the required architect’s fees.
- Who
- The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Mumbai residents without occupation certificates, and architects or licensed surveyors handling applications.
- What
- Applications under the BMC’s OC Amnesty Scheme are delayed because the AutoDCR portal is not functioning.
- Where
- Mumbai, Maharashtra.
- When
- The BMC issued the scheme’s standard operating procedure on September 8; officials said the portal was expected to work by the end of that week.
- Why
- The BMC says technical challenges are being resolved; residents cannot upload application documents while the portal remains non-functional.
Residents and housing experts
BMC and scheme supporters
Portal readiness
Residents and housing experts
Residents say the application link is unclear and they cannot upload documents, delaying applications.
BMC and scheme supporters
BMC officials say technical challenges are being addressed and the portal is expected to become operational soon.
Individual applications
Residents and housing experts
Residents question whether an individual flat can receive an OC if the building has shared problems, and experts raise concerns about major violations and architect fees.
BMC and scheme supporters
The scheme permits individual flat owners to apply for regularisation, while applications are also to be handled through architects or licensed surveyors.
Likely effectiveness
Residents and housing experts
Housing expert Ramesh Prabhu warned the scheme could fail to get started, citing earlier schemes and unresolved practical issues; the article also reports experts’ concern that builders may benefit more than residents.
BMC and scheme supporters
BMC representatives describe the portal problems as technical issues being corrected; the article does not include a direct BMC response to the experts’ concerns about the scheme’s effectiveness.
Key facts
- Application procedure announced
- The BMC issued the scheme’s standard operating procedure on September 8.
- Portal
- Applications are to be submitted online through the BMC’s AutoDCR system.
- Expected portal availability
- Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide said the portal was expected to be operational by the end of the week.
- Eligible building types
- Residential, school and hospital buildings.
- Occupancy cutoff
- Buildings must have been occupied before November 17, 2016.
- Unit-size limit
- Individual units must have a carpet area of up to 80 square metres (861 square feet).
- Application eligibility
- The article says eligible buildings must have been granted IOD or amendment plans and development or construction permission under the prevailing BMC rules, but must not have received an OC.
- Application support
- Applications may be made by an architect or licensed surveyor, and the scheme also allows an individual flat owner to apply.
Quotes
Ganesh Khankar
BJP leader in the BMC house
“The scheme could be a non-starter, similar to the similar schemes introduced in 1994 and 2012. This particular scheme enables a individual flat owner to apply for regularisation. In instance like if the entire building lacks Fire NOC, how is the individual flat get OC? Will an individual resident able to bear the architect's fees, since online application is mandatorily applied through the architect. How are the authorities going to deal with flats which have major violations like inclusion ofC?”
freepressjournal.in
“When we visit the BMC official website, there is an old link available of building proposal department. However, we not able to upload documents on it. Usually any new live link is flashed on BMC website, but for OC amnesty scheme there is no such seperate link so far. This is delaying our procedure to apply for OC, and our ordeal and stay at alternate accomodation has increased.”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
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